Wainwright / Larry Jackson comparison

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45s
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Re: Wainwright / Larry Jackson comparison

Post by 45s »

jackson knew when to leave
12xu
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Re: Wainwright / Larry Jackson comparison

Post by 12xu »

Jackson was a remarkably consistent starter. Impeccable control - never walked more than 72 batters in a season, even though he pitched more than 250 innings EIGHT times. He tossed 37 shutouts in his career! His ERA even got better when he pitched for bad cubs and Phillies teams in his last 7 seasons. Unfortunately he never got to pitch in the postseason - was traded from the Cardinals just as they started winning. The Cardinals traded Jackson and Lindy McDaniel to the cubs for George Altman and Don Cardwell after the '62 season. The cubs got the best of that deal, as Altman did poorly in St. Louis. However, the Cardinals quickly sent Cardwell and Julio Gotay to Pittsburgh and got all star SS Dick Groat in return, a huge win.

Their career stats are quite similar but Waino had more strikeouts. Jackson lost a lot more decisions, but this is mostly due to the quality of the teams they pitched for.
OldRed
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Re: Wainwright / Larry Jackson comparison

Post by OldRed »

12xu wrote: 20 Sep 2025 09:10 am Jackson was a remarkably consistent starter. Impeccable control - never walked more than 72 batters in a season, even though he pitched more than 250 innings EIGHT times. He tossed 37 shutouts in his career! His ERA even got better when he pitched for bad cubs and Phillies teams in his last 7 seasons. Unfortunately he never got to pitch in the postseason - was traded from the Cardinals just as they started winning. The Cardinals traded Jackson and Lindy McDaniel to the cubs for George Altman and Don Cardwell after the '62 season. The cubs got the best of that deal, as Altman did poorly in St. Louis. However, the Cardinals quickly sent Cardwell and Julio Gotay to Pittsburgh and got all star SS Dick Groat in return, a huge win.

Their career stats are quite similar but Waino had more strikeouts. Jackson lost a lot more decisions, but this is mostly due to the quality of the teams they pitched for.
I'm a little older than you and remember Jackson very well. True Altman was a huge disappointment; they were expecting power from him right field and he flopped. Jackson like Wainwright both could hit and was one of the best bunting pitchers in his era. Jackson had some great years in a hitter's park in Chicago. The innings he pitched, and his 37 shutouts would be HOF quality today.
peterman'srealitytour
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Re: Wainwright / Larry Jackson comparison

Post by peterman'srealitytour »

Larry Jackson was before my time so I have no preconceived opinions.

It is really hard to compare guys that played in different eras. Statistically, other than winning %, not a lot of differences stand out. Wainwright played on some really good teams and it doesn’t look like Jackson did. Might account for the winning % difference.

How did Jackson compare to his peers vs Wainwright to his? Wainwright never won Cy Young. I would subjectively say that Wainwright was a top 5 pitcher in the NL when he was healthy. Dude had Tommy John twice and tore Achilles so health was a factor.

How would you rank Jackson vs other NL pitchers in his era? Pretty strong group of pitchers I the NL in the 50s and 60s. Koufax, Drysdale, Marichal, Jenkins, Gibby, etc.

Good topic, by the way.
12xu
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Re: Wainwright / Larry Jackson comparison

Post by 12xu »

peterman'srealitytour wrote: 20 Sep 2025 09:34 am Larry Jackson was before my time so I have no preconceived opinions.

It is really hard to compare guys that played in different eras. Statistically, other than winning %, not a lot of differences stand out. Wainwright played on some really good teams and it doesn’t look like Jackson did. Might account for the winning % difference.

How did Jackson compare to his peers vs Wainwright to his? Wainwright never won Cy Young. I would subjectively say that Wainwright was a top 5 pitcher in the NL when he was healthy. Dude had Tommy John twice and tore Achilles so health was a factor.

How would you rank Jackson vs other NL pitchers in his era? Pretty strong group of pitchers I the NL in the 50s and 60s. Koufax, Drysdale, Marichal, Jenkins, Gibby, etc.

Good topic, by the way.
I don't consider Jackson as elite as those guys, he was more on the level of contemporaries like Bob Friend, Milt Pappas, Curt Simmons, and even Lew Burdette. Very good pitchers for their era, but not quite HOF worthy.
Hazelwood72
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Re: Wainwright / Larry Jackson comparison

Post by Hazelwood72 »

12xu wrote: 20 Sep 2025 10:03 am
peterman'srealitytour wrote: 20 Sep 2025 09:34 am Larry Jackson was before my time so I have no preconceived opinions.

It is really hard to compare guys that played in different eras. Statistically, other than winning %, not a lot of differences stand out. Wainwright played on some really good teams and it doesn’t look like Jackson did. Might account for the winning % difference.

How did Jackson compare to his peers vs Wainwright to his? Wainwright never won Cy Young. I would subjectively say that Wainwright was a top 5 pitcher in the NL when he was healthy. Dude had Tommy John twice and tore Achilles so health was a factor.

How would you rank Jackson vs other NL pitchers in his era? Pretty strong group of pitchers I the NL in the 50s and 60s. Koufax, Drysdale, Marichal, Jenkins, Gibby, etc.

Good topic, by the way.
I don't consider Jackson as elite as those guys, he was more on the level of contemporaries like Bob Friend, Milt Pappas, Curt Simmons, and even Lew Burdette. Very good pitchers for their era, but not quite HOF worthy.
12xu, you nailed it. Jackson was very good, but not elite. You cited a good comparison group with Friend, et al.

Ah, I vividly remember Lew Burdette — master of the 12 hit complete game shutout. He had a knack for successfully pitching out of trouble. I’ll bet opposing players and managers scratched their heads saying “Why can’t we get this guy when he’s on the ropes?!?!”
OldRed
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Re: Wainwright / Larry Jackson comparison

Post by OldRed »

12xu wrote: 20 Sep 2025 10:03 am
peterman'srealitytour wrote: 20 Sep 2025 09:34 am Larry Jackson was before my time so I have no preconceived opinions.

It is really hard to compare guys that played in different eras. Statistically, other than winning %, not a lot of differences stand out. Wainwright played on some really good teams and it doesn’t look like Jackson did. Might account for the winning % difference.

How did Jackson compare to his peers vs Wainwright to his? Wainwright never won Cy Young. I would subjectively say that Wainwright was a top 5 pitcher in the NL when he was healthy. Dude had Tommy John twice and tore Achilles so health was a factor.

How would you rank Jackson vs other NL pitchers in his era? Pretty strong group of pitchers I the NL in the 50s and 60s. Koufax, Drysdale, Marichal, Jenkins, Gibby, etc.

Good topic, by the way.
I don't consider Jackson as elite as those guys, he was more on the level of contemporaries like Bob Friend, Milt Pappas, Curt Simmons, and even Lew Burdette. Very good pitchers for their era, but not quite HOF worthy.
Very good comparisons.
DwaininAztec
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Re: Wainwright / Larry Jackson comparison

Post by DwaininAztec »

I loved Jackson and McDaniel, and was very upset when they traded them. Larry was a very good starter who went out there and gave you solid innings, while McDaniel was an elite fireman during that time along with Face and L. Sherry. They weren't closers, they were firemen. When an inning started heating up, they came in to put out the flames. Then they stayed for another inning or two. Face got to be known as a vulture as he would end up with more wins than most of the starters. Friend and Law were the 1 & 2 in the Pirates starters. Law, a preacher IIRC, threw a spitball.
OldRed
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Re: Wainwright / Larry Jackson comparison

Post by OldRed »

DwaininAztec wrote: 20 Sep 2025 15:21 pm I loved Jackson and McDaniel, and was very upset when they traded them. Larry was a very good starter who went out there and gave you solid innings, while McDaniel was an elite fireman during that time along with Face and L. Sherry. They weren't closers, they were firemen. When an inning started heating up, they came in to put out the flames. Then they stayed for another inning or two. Face got to be known as a vulture as he would end up with more wins than most of the starters. Friend and Law were the 1 & 2 in the Pirates starters. Law, a preacher IIRC, threw a spitball.
You have the wrong preacher.
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