Seven Years Nobody Could Touch

Some careers fade slowly. Dutch Leonard's changed almost overnight, and the calendar tells you why.

From 1913 to 1919, the Red Sox left-hander was as tough as any pitcher in baseball. He posted a 0.96 ERA in 1914, still the lowest of the 20th century. He threw two no-hitters and won World Series games for Boston in 1915 and 1916. In seven seasons, his ERA never went above 2.77.

Then came 1920. Babe Ruth hit 54 home runs, the ball started flying, and the dead-ball era that built pitchers like Leonard was suddenly over. Leonard turned 28 that spring and finished the year with a 4.33 ERA. Salary disputes and a long suspension followed, then a bitter falling-out with Ty Cobb in Detroit. By 1925 he was done.

His career wasn't long enough for Cooperstown. But for seven years, very few pitchers have ever been harder to score against.