Tallied 118 victories, highlighted by two 20 win seasons in both the NL and AL.....one of only 23 hurlers to do so....But overall inconsistent; all other seasons could only max out at 13 wins in a given campaign......attributed to poor run support (1967-68), a bout hepatitis (1970), two hand injuries from HBP (1970, 1972), and finally back issues deeply cut into the tally column.....Groomed with Don Sutton and various others to be the heir apparent to Sandy Koufax....The 1969 season represented a superior effort aided by team who hit twenty five points better than the paltry 1968 season....result the 315.7 innings pitched, 2.38 ERA and ranking in the top 10 of major pitching categories.....victories tumbled in 1970 to 8 (see injuries above) but Singer was effective in games he did pitcher and added a no hitter as to his career highlight.....Next two years found Singer lost two games for every game won.....Traded to Angel was a restart of career without relocation.....Responded with his second 20 win mark......but also ironically a duplication of 4 years earlier, next year was effective but shorten by injuries, followed with a year of double losses to win.....1976 was traded to Texas then midyear to Minnesota but the season was considered a success tallying 13 wins and 10 losses.....but Twins owner Cal Griffin balked at the prospect of extending his contract....Placed on the unprotected list, was selected by the expansion Toronto Blue Jays...Rumor has it that NYY offered the infant Blue Jays Ron Guidry in a straight up trade, should took it......nevertheless was bestowed the honor of being starter on opening day.....result no decision....not much left in the tank going 2-8 with a career high, soaring ERA....Followed a career path in Real Estate after playing.
Sutton debuted in 1966 (replacing Johnny Podres in the rotation) and Singer debuted in 1967 (replacing Sandy Koufax).
ReplyDeleteEarly-on, Singer was often found among the league's strikeout leaders.
When Singer was good, he was very good. Consistency was the issue.
ReplyDeletePat Gillick has mentioned on a few occasions that he had a deal worked out with the Yankees to trade Singer for Guidry. However Peter Bavasi, the Jays GM at the time, nixed the trade. He wanted to keep Singer because he was considered a name player on the expansion Jays.
ReplyDeleteIt's tough to say if Guidry would have had the career that he did with a team going through the expansion process.
Guidry dominance was an unexpected benefit to the Yankees who were quickly establishing themselves as the free agency king pin. I doubt he'd had the same result as a Blue Jay.
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