When the tribe's Luis Tiant threw four consecutive shutouts; Cleveland right-hander won 21 games and led the A.L. with a 1.60 ERA and nine shutouts - Turn Back The Clock—1968 - Statistical Data Included

Baseball Digest, July, 2002 by Bob Dolgan

"When you're used to pitching, you have to keep your arm going all the time," Azcue said. "He lost two feet on his fastball."

"I got a sore arm," said Tiant, who dropped to a 9-20 record in 1969. "It took me two years to get over it."

The Indians quickly gave up on Tiant, 29, trading him and Stan Williams to Minnesota for Dean Chance, Graig Nettles, Ted Uhlaender and Bob Miller on December 10, 1969. Tiant eventually resurfaced with the Boston Red Sox, where he won 20 or more games three times in eight years.

He won Game 1 of the 1975 World Series, 6-0, and came back to win Game 4. "I threw 163 pitches and we won, 5-4," he said. "Today they take them out after 90 pitches."

Tiant ended his 19-year career in the majors with a 229-172 record, including 49 shutouts. Some people think he belongs in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Nobody who saw those four shutouts and 19 strikeouts will argue.

Most Strikeouts
In One Game, Pitcher
(From 1900 through 2001 season)

SO   Pitcher, Team          Date      Opponent         IP

21   Tom Cheney, Wash.      9/12/62   Boston           16
20   Roger Clemens, Bos.    4/29/86   Seattle           9
20   Roger Clemens, Bos.    9/18/96   Detroit           9
20   Kerry Wood,Cubs        5/6/98    Houston           9
20   Randy Johnson, Ari.    5/8/01    Cincinnati        9
19   Luis Tiant, Cle.       7/3/68    Minnesota        10
19   Steve Carlton, St. L.  9/15/69   New York Mets     9
19   Tom Seaver, Mets       4/22/70   San Diego         9
19   Nolan Ryan, Cal.       6/14/74   Boston           12
19   Nolan Ryan, Cal.       8/12/74   Boston            9
19   Nolan Ryan, Cal.       8/20/74   Detroit          11
19   Nolan Ryan, Cal.       6/8/77    Toronto          10
19   David Cone, Mets       10/6/91   Philadelphia      9
19   Randy Johnson, Sea.    6/24/97   Oakland           9
19   Randy Johnson, Sea.    8/8/97    Chi. White Sox    9