Wayne Gretzky and 20 Most Statistically Outlandish Seasons of All Time
As the old saying goes, statistics can be misleading. But not always.
More importantly, some stats are just ingrained into our heads, like Hank Aaron's 755 or Dan Marino's 48 touchdown passes.
And like those two great feats, records were made to be broken.
But some individual seasons feature such ridiculous statistical numbers that at the time—or even years later—they qualify as "eye-popping."
Here are 20 such seasons.
No. 20: Jerry Rice, 1987
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Statistic: 22 touchdown catches
The 1987 NFL season was not officially a "strike-shortened season," like 1982 was in the NFL or 1999 in the NBA. Replacement players ("Scabs") filled in for the NFL from Weeks 3 through 5.
That left the NFL with just 12 real games (what was supposed to be Week 3 was canceled).
Nevertheless, San Francisco wide receiver Jerry Rice had a season for the ages.
In those 12 games, he caught 65 passes for 1,078 yards. Had he played a 16-game schedule, those stats alone would have been mind-boggling.
But he caught 22 touchdowns in those 12 games, nearly two per game. Even with Joe Montana, Dan Marino and John Elway in their prime, the NFL wasn't nearly as pass-happy back then as it is today.
The stat is even more wacky considering that it wasn't broken for another 19 years. In 2007, Randy Moss broke it by a single touchdown; and of course, he had four more games to do it.
No. 19: Denny Mclain and Bob Gibson, 1968
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Statistic: 31 wins, 1.12 ERA, 13 shutouts
It's no coincidence that the two most unapproached pitching records in the modern era occurred during the same season.
Late in the 1960s the strike-zone had already been significantly shrunk when, prior to 1968, the mound was raised 5 inches. That gave pitchers and incredible advantage.
Bob Gibson, already a surefire Hall of Famer, didn't need that edge. Nevertheless he took advantage, posting (modern-day) records with 13 shutouts and a microscopic 1.12 ERA.
Over in the American League, Denny McLain was equally dominating, winning 31 games. Since 1920 only two other pitchers (Lefty Grove and Dizzy Dean) have won 30+ and they did it in the 1930s. No one has come close to breaking 30 since Mclain.
The fact that only one man hit better .300 in the AL in 1968 (Carl Yastrzemski, who hit .301) was proof that the entire game was at an odd point that year.
No. 18: Richard Petty, 1967
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Statistic: 27 NASCAR wins
Five decades after Petty won 27 races no one has ever come close to matching the feat.
Certainly the sport wasn't at the point it is today. But 27 wins in year averages out to better than one win ever two weeks.
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No. 17: Wilt Chamberlin, 1961-62
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Statistic: 50.4 points per game
It helps your per-game total when you toss in 100 on one of those nights.
There's not much more to say about a guy who averages half-a-hundred per night during the course of an 80-game season.
Except this. It helps when you're that much bigger and taller and better than anyone out there. Chamberlain also averaged nearly 26 rebounds per game that season. That is the only reason that stat isn't much higher on the list.
No. 16: Dave Schultz, 1974-75
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Statistic: 472 minutes in the penalty box
The most heavily incarcerated of the Flyers "Broad Street Bullies" of the 1970s, played in 76 games during the 1974-75 season and spent 472 minutes in the penalty box.
That means he spent more than 10 percent of his time in uniform in the penalty box.
No. 15: Eric Gagne, 2003
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Statistic: 55 for 55 in Save Opportunities
Granted the save is not a perfect stat. There are too many permutations and the context of a save can be misappropriated.
Gagne wasn't "perfect" in 2003. He lost three games, gave up 11 earned runs, two homers and walked 20 batters. But when called upon to do his job—preserving the lead in the ninth inning of a close game—he came through each time.
With all the pressure of a ninth inning, especially when one pitch can often blow the lead or the game, to be 55 for 55 in one season is fairly outlandish.
No. 14: Pete Maravich, 1966-67
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Statistic: 44.5 points-per-game
Everyone of Maravich's seasons at LSU were unbelievable. He averaged 40+ each of his three varsity years there.
As a senior, his points-per-game total in a 40-minute game is remarkable. He also somehow managed to turn out 6.2 assists per game.
It would have been nice to see how he did in the NCAA Tournament that year but the Tigers failed to qualify.
No. 13: Oscar Robertson, 1961-62
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Statistic: 12.5 Rebounds-Per-Game, 11.4 Assists-Per-Game, 30.8 Points-Per-Game
During the same season in which Wilt Chamberlain was averaging his 50.4 each time he stepped on the hardwood, Oscar Robertson was having an even better season.
Today we laud players like Jason Kidd and LeBron James for posting a triple-double.
Fifty years ago, Robertson AVERAGED a triple-double for an entire 79-game season.
No. 12: Ricky Henderson, 1982
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Statistic: 130 Stolen Bases
Ricky was the greatest base stealer of his time. There's no argument about it.
But just to put an exclamation point on it, he went after the single-season record in 1982. Lou Brock held the record with 118.
Ricky took that record from Brock then the career record from him a decade later.
What makes this stat so remarkable is the current state of the stolen base in baseball. When a player steals 50 or 60 bases that's usually more than enough to lead the league.
Since the late 1980s no one has come even close to reaching triple digits, which makes Ricky's 130 totally crazy.
No. 11: Byron Nelson, 1945
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Statistic: 18 Victories
There were 35 Tour events in 1945. Nelson won more than half of them.
He also won 11 consecutive tournaments in which he played.
Considering how great he was that year (his stroke average was 68.33) he would have been a favorite to win the Masters, US Open and British Open. But because of World War II, those tourneys weren't played.
He did win the only major contested that year, however, the PGA Championship.
Oh, and he also finished second in seven other Tour stops that year.
No. 10: Orel Hershiser, 1988
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Statistic: 15 Complete Games, 8 Shutouts, 59 consecutive scoreless innings
In 1988, the Bulldog's conventional stats—23-8, 2.26 ERA—were great, but not historic.
But the shutouts, complete games and consecutive scoreless streak were absurd statistics. By average, 59 scoreless innings would translate to nearly seven straight complete games without allowing a run. Enough said.
No. 9: Gary Anderson, 1998
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Statistic: 35 for 35 on Field Goals, 59 for 59 on Extra Points
For purposes of this list we'll forget what happened towards the end of the 1998 NFC Championship Game loss at home, in the Dome, to Atlanta.
If you're looking at just regular season statistics, what Anderson did—making every single kick during a 16-game schedule—is the very definition of perfect.
Sorry, to bring up Gary Anderson and the 1998 team, Vikings fans. You've had a tough stretch lately.
No. 8: Wayne Gretzky, 1981-82
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Statistic: 92 Goals, 120 Assists, 212 Points
Several of "The Great One's" individual season could be considered. Still, the 1981-82 season was the most baffling.
The 92 goals in an 80-game season remain an NHL record. But when the season began he was just 20 years old.
And his 200-point season was the first of three in league history. No one else has matched that feat either.
No. 7: Ben Hogan, 1953
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Statistic: 5 Victories, 3 Major Championsips
Hogan's 1953 season is remarkable for a few reasons. Most notably that he had nearly died in a car accident four years earlier. He had a hard time standing, let alone walking, let alone playing golf, let alone playing winning golf.
Nevertheless he did returned to top form beginning in 1950.
Three years later he completed the "Hogan Slam." He won the Masters in April, then the US Open and British Open that summer, at two of the toughest courses in the world, Oakmont and Carnoustie. (The win at the British was his first and only appearance at the Scottish course).
But he could not play in the PGA because he was busy winning at Carnoustie so there was no chance at the yet-to-be accomplished professional Grand Slam.
He only won two other events but, because of his accident, he only played in a handful of tournaments each year. From a major championship standpoint, his stats are incredible.
No. 6: Dan Marino, 1984
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Statistic: 5,084 yards passing, 48 touchdowns, 362 of 564 pass completed
Only the yardage figure still stands. The touchdowns, attempts, and completions records have been surpassed but not by the same person and not in the same season.
Still, in one single season he rewrote all of the major statistics at his position.
Yes, it's apples to oranges but it's not that far from Albert Pujols setting the batting average record, home run record and RBI record in the same year.
No. 5: O.J. Simpson, 1973
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Statistic: 332 caries, 2,003 yards, 12 touchdowns
Thanks to Lou Saban's new offense, the 1968 Heisman Trophy winner from USC finally started living up to his first overall draft status in 1972, gaining nearly 1,300 yards on the ground.
A year later, Simpson did the unthinkable, breaking the 2,000-yard mark in 1973. That year he set a new league record with 332 carries, nearly 24-per-game. All of those records have since been surpassed.
Those figures were unheard of at the time. But it's another variation on his 1973 stats that is most historic and stands to this day.
Because he played during the 14-game season, Simpson averaged 143 yards per game, ten yards better than anyone in history.
The NFL can increase the season to an 18 or 20 or 25 game schedule and Simpson's 2,000 season will look less impressive. But not the fact that he averaged nearly 150 yards per game.
No. 4: Barry Bonds, 2004
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Statistic: 232 Bases-on-Balls, .362 Batting Average, .609 On-Base Percentage, 373 At Bats
Bonds' 2001 season, in which he hit 73 home runs is better known. That is also the year he blew by Babe Ruth's unbreakable .847 slugging percentage.
But 2004 was even more statistically significant. His OBP was astronomical: even the king of OBP, Ted Williams never did better than .553.
Bonds' walk totals were alone ridiculous. But the fact that—because of all those walks and another nine hit-by-pitches—he posted 45 home runs and 101 RBIs in just 373 at bats, is incomprehensible.
That whole BALCO thing does cast a bit of a shadow over them, however.
No. 3: Ted Williams, 1941
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Statistic: .406 Batting Average
Williams won the triple crown in 1942 season and again in 1947.
But as far as ridiculous statistical seasons go, hitting .400—which no one else has done since—is the greatest single feat a position player can achieve.
But Joe DiMaggio won the league MVP that year. Why? Because he hit safely in 56 consecutive games.
No. 2: Tiger Woods, 2000
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Statistic: 3 Major Championships, 9 Wins, 67.79 Stroke Average
Tiger's run in 2000 was the greatest in the history of individual sports.
Forget what he did at the British Open (8-stroke victory) and the PGA (a thrilling win over Bob May). HE won the US Open by 15 shots! That doesn't happen, regardless of the location or weather or player.
In the history of the sports toughest championship, he was nearly a stroke better at every hole than the next best competitor.
Finishing in the top 10 at 17 of his 20 appearances was not nearly as satisfying to him as his six non-major additional wins. (He also finished fifth at the Masters). But the 67.79 stroke average: "he's gotta be pleased with that."
No. 1: Barry Sanders, 1988
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Statistic: 344 carries, 2,628 yards rushing, 238 yards-rushing-per-game, 37 touchdowns
Those weren't his high school numbers. That's what Sanders did as junior at Oklahoma State.
The lowest total he ever posted in a game that year was 157 yards. The highest: 332. He topped the 200-yard mark six times, the 300-yard mark twice and six times he had four or more touchdowns in a game.
And, don't forget that Sanders' Cowboys were playing in the Big 8 Conference. His opponents in 1988 included Colorado, Nebraska, and Oklahoma.
He also chipped in a "marginal" 222 yards and five touchdowns in team's Holiday Bowl win.
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