1986–1998 · P

Doug Drabek

6' 1", 185 lbs·Lived to 64·Bats R / Throws R

Cy Young AwardAll-Star

The Almanac's Take

Drabek's 1990 Cy Young season stands as one of the most dominant pitching performances of the early 1990s. That 22-6 record with a 2.76 ERA wasn't just impressive — it carried Pittsburgh to within one game of the World Series. His 139 ERA+ that year represented a massive leap from his typical production, making it one of baseball's great single-season peaks.

The right-hander was the epitome of consistency throughout his career, posting a 112 ERA+ over 13 seasons while eating innings at an old-school pace. He averaged nearly 200 innings per year during his prime, something today's pitch-count obsessed game makes nearly impossible.

What made Drabek special wasn't overpowering stuff but surgical precision. He struck out 1,594 batters while maintaining excellent control, the hallmark of pitchers who could succeed in the transition era between the offensive explosion of the late 1980s and the pitcher-friendly mid-1990s.

Career Highs

2.76

Best ERA · 1990

Most W · 1990

177

Most K · 1992

1.060

Best WHIP · 1992

Career Arc · OPS

10 seasons

Career Arc · ERA

13 seasons

Statistical Comps

Stephen Kolek

99%

2025 season

K/9 6.2 · BB/9 2.5 · HR/9 0.72 · SP · FB 93.8 mph · Whiff% 16

Adrian Houser

98%

2025 season

K/9 6.6 · BB/9 2.7 · HR/9 0.72 · SP · FB 94.6 mph · Whiff% 17

Sandy Alcantara

98%

2023 season

K/9 7.4 · BB/9 2.3 · HR/9 1.07 · SP · FB 97.8 mph · Whiff% 24

Career · Hitting

13 seasons

Year	Team	G	AB	HR	RBI	AVG	OPS	OPS+
1986	NYY	27	0	0	0	—	—	—
1987	PIT	30	59	0	4	.119	.294	39
1988	PIT	33	76	0	5	.171	.466	67
1989	PIT	40	77	0	3	.104	.265	38
1990	PIT	33	84	1	6	.214	.532	75
1991	PIT	36	84	0	2	.179	.379	54
1992	PIT	35	89	0	6	.157	.367	52
1993	HOU	34	71	1	3	.085	.265	36
1994	HOU	24	58	0	6	.241	.538	71
1995	HOU	33	60	0	8	.233	.541	72
1996	HOU	32	56	0	3	.179	.375	49
1997	CWS	32	1	0	0	.000	.000	0
1998	BAL	23	1	0	0	.000	.000	0
Career		412	716	2	46	.166	—	—

Career · Pitching

13 seasons

Year	Team	G	IP	W	L	ERA	ERA+	SO	WHIP
1986	NYY	27	131.7	7	8	4.10	97	76	1.337
1987	PIT	29	176.3	11	12	3.88	110	120	1.197
1988	PIT	33	219.3	15	7	3.08	121	127	1.112
1989	PIT	35	244.3	14	12	2.80	132	123	1.162
1990	PIT	33	231.3	22	6	2.76	139	131	1.063
1991	PIT	35	234.7	15	14	3.07	127	142	1.308
1992	PIT	34	256.7	15	11	2.77	135	177	1.060
1993	HOU	34	237.7	9	18	3.79	110	157	1.271
1994	HOU	23	164.7	12	6	2.84	158	121	1.075
1995	HOU	31	185.0	10	9	4.77	93	143	1.400
1996	HOU	30	175.3	7	9	4.57	101	137	1.529
1997	CWS	31	169.3	12	11	5.74	76	85	1.411
1998	BAL	23	108.7	6	11	7.29	61	55	1.537
Career		398	2535.0	155	134	—	—	1594	—

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