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0x NBA/NFL Champion said 07/07, 06:26 PM
Gibson had a great year. I narrowed my choices down to Steve Carlton in 1972 and Dwight Gooden in 1985. I am going to go with Gooden, and I will explain why. Here is some of what he did:

24 W's- LED LEAGUE
268 K's- LED LEAGUE
1.53 ERA- LED LEAGUE

As you can see, Gooden won the Pitching Triple Crown, which has only been done 12 times since 1940 in BOTH leagues. Something that Gibson did not do. Gooden also had:

16 CG's - LED LEAGUE
276.66 IP- LED LEAGUE
8 Shutouts- 2nd in league

As you can see, Gooden led the league in arguably the five most important categories for pitching. Twice that year, he pitched NINE INNING SHUTOUTS and got no decisions, which could have easily been 2 more wins. In his 5 L's, he allowed just 26 HITS IN 28 INNINGS!

Next, consider the fact that Dwight Gooden was just 20 years old! Imagine dominating the NL at just 20 years old. Then, throw in the fact that he played in New York. New York is probably the hardest city to play in, and Gooden managed to dominate while playing their when he was just 20.

Then, look at what he did in September. In the middle of the pennant race, he went:

4-0
.34 ERA

One of the best endings to a season that was the best ever.

0x NBA/NFL Champion said 07/08, 02:48 PM
As you said, Gibson had 268 K's in 304 IP. Gooden had 268 K's in just 276 IP. That is an incredible stat, and it shows just how flat-out dominating Gooden was. He had the same amount of K's in 28 less innings pitched. He also gave up the same amount of hits; in 28 less IP.

Gooden- 24 wins-4 losses
Gibson- 22 wins- 9 losses

So Gooden had more wins AND less losses.

Gibson had an incredible ERA of 1.13. But as you said it was "THE YEAR OF THE PITCHER". The AVERAGE ERA WAS UNDER 3! So by comparison, what Gooden did was far more impressive. Remember, his ERA was also an incredible 1.53! His 1.53 ERA is the best of the modern era.

Gooden also had some tremendous feats:

Threw two 2 hitters
Threw a 3 hitter
Threw two 4 hitters
Threw two 5 hitters
Won 14 straight games
48 straight innings without an earned run
49 straight innings without an earned run

As you can see, Gooden twice went 48+ innings without allowing an earned run; which is incredibly impressive.

Gooden did go 24-4, which is a great record. But he started off fairly slow. After May 25th, Gooded only lost 1game! It was a game he lost 3-2. What does it mean? For almost four months, Gooden was flat-out unbeatable.

0x NBA/NFL Champion said 07/08, 04:43 PM
Yes, but he didn't. Gooden did. He should of, could of, it's all relative at some point. Gooden did it, and Gibson didn't. That's nothing against Gibson, he had a great year. But Gooden's was better.

Yes, Gooden gave up two more runs. But he pitched in a much tougher era. 1968 was "The Year of the Pitcher". Carl Yastrzemski had the LOWEST BA of a batting title winner of all time. The BA for the league was .240, the LOWEST OF ALL TIME. The slugging % was .340, the LOWEST OF ALL TIME.

In 1985, Gooden pitched in a year that was far more difficult for the pitcher. In 1985, 17 players hit .300+. In 1968, just 6 players .300+.

In 1985, 13 players hit 30+ HR's. In 1968, just 7 players hit 30+ HR's.

In 1985, 4 players had 200+ hits, while 4 more had at least 197 hits. In 1968, just 2 players had 200+ hits, and no one in the AL had more than 177.

Both pitchers had great seasons, but Gooden did his in a harder era, and was more dominant that Gibson was. Take a look:

24-4- LED LEAGUE IN W'S
268 K's- LED LEAGUE IN K'S
1.53 ERA- LED LEAGUE IN ERA
16 CG's- LED LEAGUE IN CG
276.7 IP- LED LEAGUE IN IP
8 SO's- 2ND IN LEAGUE

Gooden did this when he was just 20 years old, playing in New York.