The 2005 World Series

BRET SABERHAGEN

A 19th round draft selection, Bret Saberhagen became the youngest player to ever win the Cy Young Award, when he collected the honor at the age of 21 in 1985. That season he won Game Seven of the World Series, leading the Royals to their first World Championship. Also during that series, he became a father, as he lived a storybook season. In 1989, Saberhagen won his second Cy Young, posting 23 wins with a 2.16 ERA, after going 18-2 in his last 20 decisions and blazing a miniscule 1.29 ERA over the last two months of the season. That big year followed a poor '88 campaign, in what was a bizarre every-other-year pattern for the hurler. Not until 1994 was Saberhagen able to have a winning record in an even-numbered year, and the inconsistency occurred in mid-season as well, with the right-hander often having a poor second half after a great first half of the season. In 1987, Saberhagen was 13-2 with a 2.17 ERA in April, May and June; 4-8 with a 4.68 ERA in July, August and September. The following season he was 10-6 (3.34) through the end of June, and 4-10 (4.27) the rest of the way. In 1990 he was 5-3 with a 2.75 ERA in early June before an arm injury kept him from winning a game the rest of the year. In his 30s, Saberhagen had four injury-plagued years with the Mets, joined the Rockies for the stretch run of their 1995 wild card season, and battled injuries in four seasons with the Red Sox, with moderate success.

Played For
Kansas City Royals (1984-1991), New York Mets (1992-1995), Colorado Rockies (1995), Boston Red Sox (1997-1999, 2001)

Post-Season
1984 ALCS, 1985 ALCS, 1985 World Series, 1995 NLDS, 1998 ALDS, 1999 ALDS, 1999 ALCS

World Champion?
Yes, 1985 Royals.

Ultimate Games (3-0)
1985 ALCS Game Seven, 1985 World Series Game Seven, 1999 ALDS Game Five

Saberhagen started all three of these Ultimate Games, winning one and get a no-decision in the other two. He pitched well in the '85 playoff game against the Blue Jays and left leading 2-0 in the 5th. In the 1985 WS he shut out the Cardinals on five hits, but in the 1999 Division Series he lasted less than two innings, giving up five runs to the Indians.

Honors
All-Star (3): 1987, 1990, 1994; Gold Glove 1989; American League Cy Young Award 1985 and 1989; 1985 World Series Most Valuable Player

Stats
Career stats from baseball-reference.com

Similar Players
Curt Schilling, Mike Mussina

Players Linked
George Brett... Bill Buckner collected his 2,500th hit off Saberhagen on May 19, 1987... In 1990, the Royals became the first team to have both of the reigning Cy Young winners, when they signed free agent Mark Davis, joining Saberhagen.

Position
Starting pitcher

Major League Debut: April 4, 1984

Feats
Saberhagen turned a rare feat on August 21, 1991, when he faced Bernie Williams of the Yankees five times and struck him out each time.

Uniform #'s
#31 (1984-1986, 1995 Rockies), #18 (1987-1993), #17 (1994-1995 Mets, 1997-1999, 2001)

Transactions
June 7, 1982: Drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 19th round of the 1982 amateur draft; December 11, 1991: Traded by the Kansas City Royals with Bill Pecota to the New York Mets for Kevin McReynolds, Gregg Jefferies, and Keith Miller; July 31, 1995: Traded by the New York Mets with a player to be named later to the Colorado Rockies for Juan Acevedo and Arnold Gooch (minors). The New York Mets sent David Swanson (minors) (August 4, 1995) to the Colorado Rockies to complete the trade; October 29, 1996: Granted Free Agency; December 9, 1996: Signed as a Free Agent with the Boston Red Sox; October 31, 1997: Granted Free Agency; November 17, 1997: Signed as a Free Agent with the Boston Red Sox; November 5, 2001: Granted Free Agency.

The New York Media
Saberhagen had a difficult time adjusting to the media microscope he was placed under while playing in the Big Apple. He once sprayed bleach at a group of reporters in the clubhouse, which resulted in a fine and a five-game suspension. Another time, Saberhagen tossed a firecracker at reporters.

Best Season, 1985
Saberhagen pitched more consistently in '89, but 1985 gets the edge because of his stellar performance in the World Series. Saberhagen allowed only 12 Cardinal baserunners in his two complete game wins.

FACTOID
In 1994, Saberhagen had more wins (14) than walks (13). It was the second time a pitcher had accomplished that since the end of World War I.

Tiger Tamer
No team has ever been hotter than the Detroit Tigers at the start of the 1984 season. They won 18 of their first 20, 26 of 30 and 35 of 40. Saberhagen defeated them in their tenth game of the season, ending their nine-game winning streak to start the season. Saberhagen beat the Tigers two more times that year, but Detroit swept the Royals aside in the playoffs.

Replaced
In 1984, the Royals had five left-handed starters in their rotation at various times: Bud Black, Larry Gura, Charlie Leibrandt, Mike Jones, and Danny Jackson. Saberhagen earned a spot as a fifth starter in April and was in and out of the rotation all year, along with fellow righty Mark Gubicza.

Replaced By
Pedro's brother, Ramon.

Best Strength as a Player
Control

Largest Weakness as a Player
Inconsistency