September 16th, 1958: Orel Hershiser is Born

September 16, 1958

In 1988, Orel Hershiser put together one of the best single seasons in MLB pitching history.  Today is his birthday.  That year, he led the league in wins (23), innings pitched (267), and complete games (15).  He was unanimously selected as the National League Cy Young Award winner and earned his first Gold Glove.  In the 1988 National League Championship Series between the New York Mets, Hershiser started Games 1 and 3, recorded a Game 4 save in a relief appearance and pitched a complete game shutout in Game 7.  He was selected MVP of the series (duh).

Hershiser then capped his historic season in the World Series by pitching complete games in Game 2 and the clinching victory in Game 5, winning the World Series MVP Award.  Hershiser is the only player to win the Cy Young award, the Championship Series MVP award, and the World Series MVP award in the same season.

Although considered a tremendously humble athlete, Hershiser is known for his stoic sideline glares at rowdy fans while working for the Worldwide Leader.

Impress your co-workers: In 1988, Hershier finished the season with a record 59 consecutive scoreless innings pitched.  Since then, only Arizona’s Brandon Webb has come remotely close, throwing 42.0 innings (2007) without giving up a run.  42.0 innings is impressive, but even more so when you consider that Hershiser threw roughly two whole complete game shutouts after Webb was done was his handiwork.

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