Has Any Pitcher Had A Better Two Year Run Than Detroit Tiger Legend Denny McLain? I Think Not! Denny McLain ’68 / ’69 Seasons Were Impressive. Including The World Series Win He Had 32 Wins In 1968, And Add 24 Wins In 1969, Or A Total Of 56 Wins, And Back To Back CY Young Awards, And 1968 AL MVP. Detailed Look: In his 1968 season, Denny McLain achieved a 1.96 ERA and 280 strikeouts. In 1969, his ERA was 3.19 with 184 strikeouts. 1968 Season: ERA: 1.96 Strikeouts: 280 Record: 31-6 Other Notable Stats: 28 complete games, 6 shutouts, led the league in wins, winning percentage, innings pitched, complete games, and strikeouts, according to Call To The Pen. 1969 Season: ERA: 3.19 Strikeouts: 184 Record: 24-9 Other Notable Stats: Won the Cy Young Award again, finished with 24 wins, according to SABR.

Has Any Pitcher Had a Better Two-Year Run Than Detroit Tigers Legend Denny McLain? I Think Not!

When it comes to dominant stretches in Major League Baseball history, few can rival what Denny McLain accomplished in 1968 and 1969. The Detroit Tigers ace didn’t just pitch well — he pitched his way into the history books with a combination of power, control, and durability that has not been seen since. While many pitchers have had great seasons, McLain’s two-year run is arguably unmatched in modern baseball, especially when considering the context, the workload, and the results.

Let’s start with the historic 1968 season — a year so dominated by pitching it’s often referred to as “The Year of the Pitcher.” Even in that elite company, McLain stood far above the rest. He posted an incredible 31-6 record with a 1.96 ERA, 280 strikeouts, 28 complete games, and 6 shutouts. He led the American League in wins, winning percentage, innings pitched, games started, and complete games. No pitcher has won 30 games in a season since McLain did it in ’68, and it’s unlikely anyone ever will again. It’s a feat that defines an era and cements his legacy.

That season didn’t just earn him the Cy Young Award — he also became the American League MVP, a rare honor for a pitcher. Even more importantly, he helped lead the Detroit Tigers to a World Series championship, contributing a win in the Fall Classic and solidifying his place as a postseason hero in the eyes of Tigers fans forever.

Some might suggest that 1969 was a “step back” because his ERA rose to 3.19, but that would be missing the bigger picture. McLain still finished with a dominant 24-9 record, again leading the league in wins and securing his second consecutive Cy Young Award — something only a handful of pitchers have ever accomplished. While the strikeout totals dipped to 184, he still carried the weight of a full season, continuing to dominate opponents even as hitters began to adjust following the mound-lowering rule changes in 1969.

In total, over those two seasons, McLain amassed an incredible 56 wins. That’s not a typo — 56 wins over two seasons. In today’s game, that’s more than most starters record over four or five years. His back-to-back Cy Youngs, MVP award, and World Series title put the finishing touches on a stretch of baseball excellence that remains a gold standard.

Has any pitcher had a better two-year run? Not likely. Others — like Sandy Koufax, Pedro Martínez, or Greg Maddux — have had stretches of dominance, but none have paired the raw win totals, durability, hardware, and historic significance quite like McLain did in ’68 and ’69.

Love him or hate him, McLain’s two-year peak is unmatched. The numbers don’t lie — and until another pitcher wins 56 games over two seasons with multiple Cy Youngs and a ring, Denny McLain’s run stands alone in the annals of baseball greatness.