Pitchers That Excelled After Joining the Yankees: Allie Reynolds and Ed Lopat
May 28, 2012 · Harold Friend · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
There have been many pitchers that were traded to the New York Yankees that performed much better with the Yankees than they had with their former team(s).
The fact that in most instances the pitchers were becoming members of a better team is recognized.
We will start with the 1947 world champions.
Allie Reynolds
On October 11, 1946, the Cleveland Indians traded right-handed pitcher Allie Reynolds to the Yankees in exchange for the services of 1942 MVP and six-time all-star second baseman Joe Gordon.
With the Indians from 1943-46, Reynolds had his best season in 1945. He was 18-12 with a 3.20 ERA, but that calculated to only a 101 ERA+. Reynolds led the league with a 130 walks, which translated to a 1.443 WHIP.
When he was sent to the Yankees, Reynolds was 51-47 with a 98 ERA+ during his time with the Tribe.
Reynolds became one of the all-time great Yankees’ pitchers, especially in the World Series. In six World Series, he was 7-2 and was the primary reason the Yankees beat the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1952.
That 1952 season, Reynolds won 20, lost eight, and led the league with a 206 ERA, a 161 ERA+ and 160 strikeouts.
The Yankees won the 1947 World Series, but Gordon paid great dividends in 1948 as the Indians beat the Boston Braves to become world champions.
Eddie Lopat
It wasn’t Eddie Lopat’s fault.
On Feb. 24, 1948, the Yankees obtained left-handed pitcher Lopat from the Chicago White Sox. He had pitched with Chicago from 1944-47, never winning more than 16 games in any one season.
After winning 17, 15 and 18 games, Lopat became a 20-game winner for the Yankees in 1951. He was 21-9 with a 2.91 ERA, a 132 ERA+ and a 1.193 WHIP, which led the league.
In 1952, Lopat led the league with an .800 winning percentage, a 2.42 ERA, a 152 ERA+ and a 1.127 WHIP.
Reynolds and Lopat certainly aren’t the only pitchers the Yankees acquired through trades that had fine careers with the team.
More to follow.
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