Remarkable: one-season performances: here are some extraordinary accomplishments achieved by batters and pitchers that are among the greatest in baseball history

Baseball Digest, Sept, 2005 by George Vass

Admittedly, the ball itself was "juiced" in 1930, but even so Wilson enjoyed one of the most remarkable seasons ever. It's a shame it's overlooked other than the 191 RBI.

Reliever Face's 18-1 record in 1959, which stands as the highest percentage (.847) of games won, season (16 or more decisions), hasn't been so much ignored as it has been dismissed in some quarters. The skeptics argue that Face's record relied on being something of a "vulture"--in other words, getting credit for a win after giving up the tying run, then benefiting from a rally by his team, entering with the game tied.

Still, it's not easy to ignore the fact that few pitchers, even outstanding starters, win 18 games, especially these days, or that being the losing pitcher in just one of 19 decisions hardly needs an apology. No one else has ever done it.

And no amount of scoffing can disprove that Face posted one of the most remarkable seasons ever by a relief pitcher.

The figures show that in addition to that 18-1, and 10 saves, he posted a fine 2.70 ERA while appearing in 57 games. Only one other Pirates pitcher won as many games, Vern Law going 18-9.

Never mind all the nay-sayers, and there have been plenty over the years to dismiss Face's 1959 achievement, among them statistics guru Bill James, who virtually ignores him in his books.

The irrefutable fact is that no other pitcher in baseball history won as many games in a campaign as Face did without starting a single one. Not only that, he tied his team's best starter for most wins, making his accomplishment all the more exceptional.

A remarkable season. You bet! Obviously, there have been many others like those noted here. It's just a shame that the sparkling details of most tend to be overlooked, dismissed, or forgotten only too readily.

Time and the present-obsessed or historically-challenged media are merciless.

Most RBI Consecutive Seasons

RBI     Player             Team          Seasons

358     Lou Gehrig         Yankees       1930-1931
350     Hack Wilson        Cubs          1929-1930
335     Lou Gehrig         Yankees       1931-1932
332     Jimmie Foxx        Athletics     1932-1933
329     Hank Greenberg     Tigers        1937-1938
322     AI Simmons         Athletics     1929-1930
317     Lou Gehrig         Yankees       1927-1928
316     Babe Ruth          Yankees       1930-1931
315     Chuck Klein        Phillies      1929-1930
311     Lou Gehrig         Yankees       1936-1937
310     Babe Ruth          Yankees       1920-1921
310     Babe Ruth          Yankees       1926-1927
310     Manny Ramirez      Indians       1998-1999
309     Hank Greenberg     Tigers        1934-1935
307     Babe Ruth          Yankees       1929-1930
307     Joe DiMaggio       Yankees       1937-1938
306     Babe Ruth          Yankees       1927-1928
304     Lou Gehrig         Yankees       1933-1934
303     Vern Stephens      Red Sox       1949-1950
302     Jimmie Foxx        Red Sax       1937-1938
300     Lou Gehrig         Yankees       1929-1930
300     Babe Ruth          Yankees       1931-1932

Most Wins For Pitchers With One Loss in A Season

Year     Pitcher              Team           W-L

1959     ElRoy Face           Pirates       18-1
1966     Phil Regan           Dodgers       14-1
1966     Jim Nash             A's           12-1
1939     Steve Sundra         Yankees       11-1
1987     Terry Leach          Mets          11-1
1970     Stan Williams        Twins         10-1
1972     Tom Hall             Reds          10-1
1977     Kent Tekulve         Pirates       10-1
1984     Aurelio Lopez        Tigers        10-1
1999     Mike Remlinger       Braves        10-1
1950     Whitey Ford          Yankees        9-1
1955     Ray Narleski         Indians        9-1
1964     Dick Hall            Orioles        9-1
1975     Paul Lindblad        A's            9-1
1978     Dave Tomlin          Reds           9-1
1983     Ron Reed             Phillies       9-1
1992     Jeff Parrett         A's            9-1
1992     Xavier Hernandez     Astros         9-1
1996     Arthur Rhodes        Orioles        9-1
2001     Felix Rodriguez      Giants         9-1
1909     Sam Leever           Pirates        8-1
1953     Frank Smith          Reds           8-1
1955     Don Bessent          Dodgers        8-1
1974     Al Hrabosky          Cardinals      8-1
1976     Tom Burgmeier        Twins          8-1
1987     Juan Berenguer       Twins          8-1
1992     Tim Wakefield        Pirates        8-1
1995     Stan Belinda         Red Sox        8-1
1995     Brad Clontz          Braves         8-1
2000     Rich Garces          Red Sox        8-1