No. 72: Greatest seasons in Angels history: Ken McBride, 1961

Ken McBride, 1961

Stats: 12-15, 3.65 ERA, 11 CG, 241 ²⁄₃ IP, 180 SO, 123 ERA+, 3.94 FIP, 1.37 WHIP

Awards: All-Star

Baseball Reference WAR: 5.1

FanGraphs WAR: 4.1

Combined WAR: 4.6

Ken McBride spent five of his seven big-league seasons with the Angels. He was an All-Star in his first three seasons, but his 1961 campaign is the only one that cracks this Top 100 list.

Although he had a losing record (win-loss record means nothing!) he was still a great member of the starting rotation. His earned-run average was very solid, and he also ate a ton of innings. He gave the Angels 11 complete games, which was the ninth best in the league, while throwing 241 ²⁄₃ innings, also the 11th most in the league. Additionally, his 180 strikeouts were the fifth most.

Aside from his 11 complete games, McBride also had 10 other starts in which he went at least seven innings. Man, they don’t make pitchers like that anymore. His season-high in strikeouts was 11, something he did twice. McBride had 10 games in which he struck out at least seven.

Game of the year:

May 23 vs. Cleveland: 9 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 5 SO, 5 BB // Gamescore: 81

Get caught up on the rest of the “All-Time Angels” lists!

• 100 Greatest Angels of All-Time
• 100 Greatest Seasons in Angels History