BS
1984–2001 · P
Bret Saberhagen
6' 1", 160 lbs·Lived to 62·Bats R / Throws R
2×Cy Young AwardGold GloveAll-Star
The Almanac's Take
Saberhagen was a complete pitcher whose peak rivaled any starter of the 1980s. His 1989 season stands as one of the era's finest, with a 2.16 ERA and 193 strikeouts across a 23-win campaign that produced an ERA+ of 171. Over his 18-year career, he posted a 167-117 record with a 3.34 ERA and 1715 strikeouts, earning two Cy Young Awards and three All-Star selections. Though injuries limited his consistency in later years, Saberhagen's two dominant decades established him as a hallmark workhorse of Kansas City's pitching staff.
Career Highs
2.16
Best ERA · 1989
23
Most W · 1989
193
Most K · 1989
0.961
Best WHIP · 1989
Career Arc · OPS
5 seasonsCareer Arc · ERA
16 seasonsStatistical Comps
Career · Hitting
16 seasons| Year | Team | G | AB | HR | RBI | AVG | OPS | OPS+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | KC | 39 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — |
| 1985 | KC | 32 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — |
| 1986 | KC | 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — |
| 1987 | KC | 33 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — |
| 1988 | KC | 35 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — |
| 1989 | KC | 39 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — |
| 1990 | KC | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — |
| 1991 | KC | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — |
| 1992 | NYM | 17 | 28 | 0 | 0 | .107 | .245 | 35 |
| 1993 | NYM | 19 | 45 | 0 | 0 | .111 | .333 | 45 |
| 1994 | NYM | 24 | 58 | 0 | 1 | .172 | .433 | 57 |
| 1995 | NYM | 25 | 49 | 0 | 0 | .102 | .260 | 34 |
| 1997 | BOS | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | 0 |
| 1998 | BOS | 31 | 5 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | 0 |
| 1999 | BOS | 22 | 4 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .200 | 26 |
| 2001 | BOS | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — |
| Career | 403 | 190 | 0 | 1 | .121 | — | — | |
Career · Pitching
16 seasons| Year | Team | G | IP | W | L | ERA | ERA+ | SO | WHIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | KC | 38 | 157.7 | 10 | 11 | 3.48 | 109 | 73 | 1.104 |
| 1985 | KC | 32 | 235.3 | 20 | 6 | 2.87 | 136 | 158 | 1.058 |
| 1986 | KC | 30 | 156.0 | 7 | 12 | 4.15 | 95 | 112 | 1.244 |
| 1987 | KC | 33 | 257.0 | 18 | 10 | 3.36 | 127 | 163 | 1.163 |
| 1988 | KC | 35 | 260.7 | 14 | 16 | 3.80 | 98 | 171 | 1.266 |
| 1989 | KC | 36 | 262.3 | 23 | 6 | 2.16 | 171 | 193 | 0.961 |
| 1990 | KC | 20 | 135.0 | 5 | 9 | 3.27 | 118 | 87 | 1.289 |
| 1991 | KC | 28 | 196.3 | 13 | 8 | 3.07 | 127 | 136 | 1.070 |
| 1992 | NYM | 17 | 97.7 | 3 | 5 | 3.50 | 107 | 81 | 1.137 |
| 1993 | NYM | 19 | 139.3 | 7 | 7 | 3.29 | 127 | 93 | 1.062 |
| 1994 | NYM | 24 | 177.3 | 14 | 4 | 2.74 | 164 | 143 | 1.026 |
| 1995 | NYM | 25 | 153.0 | 7 | 6 | 4.18 | 106 | 100 | 1.294 |
| 1997 | BOS | 6 | 26.0 | 0 | 1 | 6.58 | 67 | 14 | 1.538 |
| 1998 | BOS | 31 | 175.0 | 15 | 8 | 3.96 | 112 | 100 | 1.200 |
| 1999 | BOS | 22 | 119.0 | 10 | 6 | 2.95 | 159 | 81 | 1.118 |
| 2001 | BOS | 3 | 15.0 | 1 | 2 | 6.00 | 74 | 10 | 1.267 |
| Career | 399 | 2562.6 | 167 | 117 | — | — | 1715 | — | |
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