Top 25 MLB pitching seasons of all time

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LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 9: Pitcher Sandy Koufax #32 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws a pitch as his hat falls off during his perfect game against the Chicago Cubs on September 9, 1965 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. This would be Koufax’s 4th no-hitter and only perfect game. (Photo by B Bennett/Getty Images) /

9. Sandy Koufax, 1965

The Numbers: 26-8, 2.04 ERA, 384 strikeouts, 27 complete games, eight shutouts, perfect game, Cy Young World Series MVP

The great Sandy Koufax almost did not start the 1965 season due to elbow troubles that would eventually end his career after the 1966 season. He pitched most of the season with a heavy dose of painkillers, even taking codeine in the middle of games. Nevertheless, he had one of the greatest seasons ever for a starting pitcher.

In 1965, Koufax set the single-season record for strikeouts. Only Nolan Ryan has topped it. Koufax also threw his fourth career no-hitter and first perfect game. His perfecto came on September 9 against the Mets, and he was the first left-hander to attain perfection since 1880. Koufax struck out 14 hitters in his perfect game, the most ever.

Koufax won his second pitcher’s Triple Crown in 1965 and carried his dominance into the World Series. He refused to pitch Game 1 of the Series because it fell on the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur. Koufax came back to pitch three games of the World Series and won two games for the Dodgers, earning himself MVP honors.

Somehow, even with an arthritic elbow beginning to flare up, Koufax completed 27 games. Could his career have been lengthened by a reduced workload? Or would the chronic soreness in his elbow have ended his career prematurely either way?

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