February 22nd, 2019 at 8:00 am 
by Ron Cervenka When Dodgers Hall of Fame left-hander Sandy Koufax won his second and third National League Cy Young awards in 1965 and 1966, he did so making 41 starts in each of those two seasons and finished with outstanding records of 26-8 and 27-9, and ERAs of 2.04 and 1.73 respectively. He also completed 27 games in each of those two seasons.
In 2018 there were a total of 42 complete games pitched in all of Major League Baseball and none, not one, by a Dodger. There were 25 complete games in the American League (where they’ve had the designated hitter rule since 1973), and 17 in the National League (where there is no DH). However, of those combined 42 complete games in 2018, no pitcher had more than two (eight pitchers had two – four in each league).
The last pitcher to throw more than 10 complete games in a single season was (then) Tampa Bay Rays right-hander James Shields, who threw 11 complete games in 2011 while posting a 16-12 record and 2.82 ERA and finished third in the AL Cy Young award voting. The last NL pitcher to toss 10 or more complete games was Arizona Diamondbacks Hall of Fame left-hander Randy Johnson, who threw 12 complete games in 1999 en route to his second (of five) Cy Young awards.
The obvious point here and in no uncertain terms is that the complete game is on the verge of extinction. And while analytics and sabermetrics fans may applaud this fact, old-school baseball fans are heartbroken by it.
It is difficult to argue that the 137 complete games that Koufax threw over his remarkable 12-year Hall of Fame career did not contribute to his retirement following the 1966 season for what was then called “an arthritic elbow” and now an ailment that is routinely repaired with Tommy John surgery. (Can you even imagine what might have happened if it had been called Sandy Koufax surgery instead?).
But alas, it is what it is (as kids today often say) and it’s hard to argue that the longevity of today’s starting pitchers isn’t noticeably better than it was ‘back in the day.’
I, for one, will miss the likely soon-to-be-extinct complete game which, of course, means that we may never again see the Holy Grail of pitching achievements, a No-Hitter; something that Koufax accomplished four times in his 12-year MLB career (including the franchise’s only perfect game) and current future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw once (thus far) in his 11-year MLB career, which also includes 25 complete games (thus far).
And that’s kind of sad when you think of the millions of baseball fans around the world who may never experience the thrill and excitement of witnessing a No-Hitter live and in person.
Play Ball!
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Man, I’ve got to read headlines more carefully! I first thought that last word was “stars”, next to a pic of Kershaw and Koufax.
One thing I’ve thought of is if he’d likely have had TJSurgery late in, or after, the ’74 season if it had been available. That means he would have missed that awesome ’65 season, including his perfect game and that amazing performance in WS game 7.
But then again, how many great games, and seasons, would he have had if he’d been able to play longer?
I fixed the headline for you. 😉
Pitching in today’s era has changed from those good ole days but a big reason IMHO also is the overwhelming cost of today’s pitchers. Look at Greinke for example. NOBODY ever saw or would have any thought about a pitcher, who pitches every 5th game would get a 6 year $206 million contract.
A little less shocking that way.
It’s a big change in baseball that many will hardly notice, in an incedible changing game. .
As usual, I disagree entirely with you, Joe.
When a pitcher has a no-hitter going and his pitch count is not excessively high, pulling him is a travesty, in my opinion. He clearly has the opposing team off balance, so why not allow him his date with destiny?
It was absolutely criminal when Dave Roberts pulled Ross Stripling when he had a no-hitter going with one out in the bottom of the eighth inning. Strip was at 100 pitches and very well could have gotten out of the inning in under 10 more pitches and then perhaps 10-20 in the ninth.
When I spoke with Ross a couple days later about it, he was still very upset, although he hid it well.
Other than cases like that, The change will be just the way the game is now played.