I complain about the scarcity of complete games pitched
nowadays in the era of throw as fast as you can as hard
as you can as long as you can, in this Tommy John surgery
era, the way a crotchety senior citizen grouches about his
constantly chronically aching arthritic knees, but that’s because
memory and nostalgia team up and well up in me to trumpet
hero pitchers — not throwers — of the not-so-distant lifespan past.
Three men tied for the most started-and-finished games pitched in
2025 – – – with two complete games each! Now for a brief visit to a
different pitchers era still dwelling comfortably within my recall:
During The two seasons which followed the Phillie Whiz Kids’
appearance in the World Series, their star pitcher, Robin Roberts,
pitched 28 complete game victories in a row! The final one was a
10 inning shutout against the Pirates while in another performance
he went 17 full innings — and let me repeat — Roberts completed
and won ALL 28 Straight!! DO I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION NOW?
Why was he able to accomplish this feat? Because he knew
how to pitch, how to pace himself, change speeds, locate pitches,
not injure his arm or shoulder! He never had to “hit 100 mph on the gun”.
He retired with 305 complete games to his credit, and led the NL in
complete games five years in a row. And he wasn’t unique.
But I won’t bore you by listing those who finished so many times what
They started. You can look it up . . . or ask your most convenient A I pal.
There ought to be a rule: A manager can’t remove a starting pitcher if he’s
winning unless a sudden injury occurs. Michelangelo was allowed to
complete the Sistine Chapel Ceiling, Dickens was allowed to finish
Great Expectations, Poe completed “The Raven” and Beethoven
was permitted to complete Symphony No. 1 in C Major.
And none of them required Tommy John surgery.
Starting pitching should not be a part-time job by definition!!!