The 10 Best Pitching Seasons in Milwaukee Brewers Franchise History

Joel Reuter by Correspondent Written on June 11, 2009

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NEW YORK - JULY 15:  National League All-Star starting pitcher Ben Sheets #15 of Milwaukee Brewers pitches in the first inning of the 79th MLB All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium on July 15, 2008 in the Bronx borough of New York City.  (Photo by Nick Laham/Ge
Nick Laham/Getty Images

Continuing on with my series, and sticking in the National League Central, I have run down my top single season pitching performances in Milwaukee Brewers history.

With so few successful seasons under the franchise's belt, there were not all that many great pitching seasons to choose from.

The 1992 season, in particular, was an impressive one; however, there are three guys who had great seasons that year, as the team won 92 games.

As with previous lists, each pitcher is only allowed to appear on the list once, to prevent one guy from dominating the list.

Hope you enjoy this, and being a Cubs fan, I look forward to hearing from Brewers fans in particular as to what they think of my selections.

No. 10: Chris Bosio, 1992

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Triple Crown Stats: 16-6, 3.62 ERA, 120 Ks
Other Key Stats: 4 CG, 2 SHO, 1.7 BB/9
Accolades: None
Percentage of Teams Wins: 17.4

One of the more consistent pitchers in franchise history, Bosio won double-digits four times in his six seasons with the team.

He led the National League in fewest walks per nine innings and finished fourth in winning percentage, as he helped the Brewers to a 92-win season.

No. 9: Jamie Navarro, 1992

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Triple Crown Stats: 17-11, 3.33 ERA, 100 Ks
Other Key Stats: 5 CG, 3 SHO, 246 IP
Accolades: None
Percentage of Teams Wins: 18.5

Navarro was the "winnning-est" pitcher for the 92-win Brewers team of 1992, and he enjoyed by far the best season of his career that year.'

While he was only 25-year old when he posted this impressive season, he was never able to build off of it, and while he was a successful pitcher off and on throughout his career at the time he seemed destined for greatness.

No. 8: Chris Capuano, 2005

HOUSTON - APRIL 19: Pitcher Chris Capuano #39 of the Milwaukee Brewers winds up the pitch during the game against the Houston Astros on April 19, 2006 at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Triple Crown Stats: 18-12, 3.99 ERA, 176 Ks
Other Key Stats: 35 starts, 219 IP, 7.2 K/9
Accolades: None
Percentage of Teams Wins: 22.2

Capuano had the best season of his brief five year career in '05, as he was one of the best lefties in the game at the time.

He was named to his first and only All-Star team the next season, as but he finished that season with an 11-12 record.

No. 7: Cal Eldred, 1992

6 Mar 1998:  Pitcher Cal Eldred of the Milwaukee Brewers in action during a spring training game against the Seattle Mariners at the Maryvale Sports Complex in Maryvale, Arizona. The Mariners defeated the Brewers 18-3. Mandatory Credit: Jed Jacobsohn  /Al

Triple Crown Stats: 11-2, 1.79 ERA, 62 Ks
Other Key Stats: 2 CG, 1 SHO, 5.6 K/9, 14 starts
Accoldes: fourth in Rookie of the Year
Percentage of Teams Wins: 12.0

The Brewers first round pick in 1989, Eldred came out of the gates on fire, following up a 2-0 record in three September starts in '91 by dominating American League hitters all season long.

He followed that season up with a 16-win season, but after that his career more or less came to a stand still.

No. 6: Ben Sheets, 2004

NEW YORK - MAY 12: Ben Sheets #15of the Milwaukee Brewers delivers the pitch against the New York Mets on May 12, 2007 at Shea Stadium in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. The Brewers defeated the Mets 12-3. (Photo by Jim M

Triple Crown Stats: 12-14, 2.70 ERA, 264 Ks
Other Key Stats: 4 CG, 10.0 K/9, 1.2 BB/9
Accolades: eighth in Cy Young, All-Star
Percentage of Teams Wins: 17.9

While his win-loss record was not the best of his career, Sheets' other numbers were outstanding and had it not been for the poor team around him he certainly would have been a 20-game winner.

He led the NL in K:BB ratio, while ranking third in ERA and second in strikeouts in the National League.

No. 5: Jim Colborn, 1973

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Triple Crown Stats: 20-12, 3.18 ERA, 135 Ks
Other Key Stats: 22 CG, 4 SHO, 1 SV, 43 games
Accolades: sixth in Cy Young, All-Star
Percent of Teams Wins: 27.0

Colborn had a breakout season in '73, far exceeding the numbers he put up the rest of his ten-year career, as he only had one other winning season.

While his other numbers were not that great, his 20 wins were impressive considering the team only won 74 games that season.

No. 4: Teddy Higuera, 1986

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Triple Crown Stats: 20-11, 2.79 ERA, 207 Ks
Other Key Stats: 15 CG, 4 SHO, 7.5 K/9
Accolades: second in Cy Young, 15th in MVP, All-Star
Percent of Teams Wins: 26.0

Higuera's career started out fantastically, as he posted a 69-38 record over the course of his first four seasons.

However, because he was already 26-years old during his rookie season, his career was a short one.

Still, his '86 season was an impressive one, as he finished third in the National League in wins, second in ERA, and sixth in strikeouts.

No. 3: Pete Vuckovich, 1982

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Triple Crown Stats: 18-6, 3.34 ERA, 105 Ks
Other Key Stats: 9 CG, 1 SHO
Accolades: Cy Young, 15th in MVP
Percentage of Teams Wins: 18.9

Vuckovich was the ace of the staff for the Brewers team that reached the World Series in '82, as he and Mike Caldwell combined for 35 wins.

He led the American League in winning percentage in route to winning the Cy Young, as he edged out an aging Jim Palmer for the award.

No. 2: C.C. Sabathia, 2008

MILWAUKEE - JULY 8: CC Sabathia #52 of the Milwaukee Brewers delivers the ball against the Colorado Rockies in his first start since being traded by the Cleveland Indians at Miller Park July 8, 2008 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty

Triple Crown Stats: 11-2, 1.65 ERA, 128 Ks
Other Key Stats: 7 CG, 3 SHO, 8.8 K/9, 17 starts
Accolades: fifth in Cy Young, sixth in MVP
Percentage of Teams Wins: 12.2

While it cost them uber-prospect Matt LaPorta, the Brewers rode the incredible performance of mid season acquisition Sabathia to their first playoff berth since 1982.

He led the National League in complete games and shutouts, despite only making 17 starts, and he was the talk of the baseball world as he absolutely dominated NL hitters.

No. 1: Mike Caldwell, 1978

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Triple Crown Stats: 22-9, 2.36 ERA, 131 Ks
Other Key Stats: 23 CG, 6 SHO, 1 SV, 4.0 K/9
Accolades: second in Cy Young, 12th in MVP
Percent of Teams Wins: 23.7

Caldwell is one of the better pitchers in Brewers history with a career record of 102-80 in his eight seasons with the team.

He also had a 16 and a 17 win season, but '78 was by far his best season, as he also led the National League complete games.

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written on June 11, 2009 Rankings/List

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