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Originally Posted by Scoman
Nolan Ryan,Kal Daniels,Jim Thorpe,Smokey Joe Wood
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Ryan had a good career, with a total W-L record of 241-216. His ERA was 3.64 and his 3809 strikeouts is good for 3rd all time behind only Roger Clemens and Steve Carlton. Unfortunately he also is the all-time leader in walks, with an alarming 2463. He was an important part of the Mets staff for most of his tenure there, 1966-1983, then spent his final 5 years in Cincinnati before retiring at 41. He threw 2 no hitters, one in 1977 and one in 1983. He also won 2 Cy Youngs in 1974 and 1980, but his best season was probably actually 1979 when he went 20-11, with a 2.15 ERA.
Kal Daniels started out fairly well. He was a starter and put up decent power numbers his first five seasons, all with the Reds. He peaked in his second season of 1987, with a .301/33/82 campaign. In 1991 the Reds traded him at the deadline to the Cubs. That would be his last season as a starter. He spent 92 and 93 as a fourth outfielder and pinch hitter for Atlanta, and spent 1994 filling the same role for Minnesota. 1995 he spent entirely with Philadelphia's AAA affiliate, and most of 96 and 97, coming back to the majors for only late season call ups, recieving only 28 total plate appearances with the Phils. In 1998 he did hit .336 with 23 bombs and 100 rbis, but those numbers came with Philly's AA team and he retired after the season.
Thorpe, by contrast, kind of bloomed late. He spent his first four seasons with the Giants doing next-to-nothing. In 1920 he was traded to the Boston Braves and finally got a chance to start with that woeful team. He did pretty well too, hitting .307 in 124 games and stealing 32 bases in 38 attempts. After that season, he was traded to the Cardinals. He spent 1921 as the teams reserve outfielder and hit .327. Then from 1922-24 he started in left and right field for the Redbirds, hitting .255, .312 and .332 and even won a Gold Glove. He was a reserve from there on out, hanging on a couple years too long and hanging them up after the 1928 season, finishing with a .280 career mark.
Finally, Smokey Joe Wood. During his pitching years of 1908-17, he was solid and occasionally exceptional. He went 152-142 total, won 20 games twice, and his best year was unquestionably 1913, when he went 23-13 with a 2.46 era. His career era was 2.73. He was with Boston as a hitter until 1925, and then was traded mid-season to Cincinnati. He finished his career there, retiring in 1928 with a career .250 average. He only had 300 at-bats in a season once and honestly never did much in the second half of his career.