April 23 marks the 102nd anniversary of the birth of the winningest left-handed pitcher in history. Warren Spahn won 363 games, the sixth highest total in history, between his 1942 debut with the Boston Braves and his retirement in 1965 at age 44.
That total is even more remarkable since Spahn arguably lost three full seasons (1943 through 1945) to World War II, where his service included conflict in the Battle of the Bulge.
Although he made four appearances as a 21-year-old in 1942, Spahn did not actually win his first game until he was 25 years old in July of 1946. That first win was a 4-1 Boston Braves decision over the Pittsburgh Pirates in which Spahn pitched a complete game. It was the first of 382 complete games by Spahn, who would lead the league in that department annually from 1957 through 1963.
In honor of Spahn, who died in 2003, the anniversary of his birth is a good time to look at the 10 greatest pitching performances of his remarkable career. It is an amazing list, containing seven games decided by a score of 1-0, several of them extending into extra innings.
Our standard of measurement is Win Probability Added. That calculates the individual’s role in influencing the game’s outcome. For that reason, it emphasizes late-inning game-turning accomplishments. It judges the player’s contribution within the broader context of winning the game.
Here are the 10 greatest games hurled by Warren Spahn, Braves legend and the winningest lefty-hander in baseball history.
10. Sept. 6, 1961, Braves 1, Phillies 0. The pitching matchup was a full-out study in contrasts. The Braves sent out their 40-year-old ace with 297 victories under his belt, against 24-year-old John Buzhardt, a 15-game loser for a Phillies team that just two weeks earlier had ended a 23-game losing streak.
On this Wednesday evening at County Stadium, however, Buzhardt matched Spahn pitch for pitch. The only run scored on a Hank Aaron sacrifice fly in the first that scored Roy McMillan, who had walked and taken third on an Eddie Mathews single. Buzhardt would allow just four more hits.
But Spahn would allow just three, striking out six and walking only one. The Phillies mounted their best threat in the ninth when Ken Walters got a one-out single and Johnny Callison singled with two out, sending Walters to third. Spahn made Charlie Smith his sixth strikeout victim to end the 1-0 shutout. Win Probability Added: 0.723.
9. April 28, 1961, Braves 1, Giants 0. Spahn threw two no-hitters, his first coming against the Phillies in September of 1969. That game does not make our list. His second, however, does. Facing Sam Jones on a Friday night at County Stadium, Spahn struck out five.
Again the only run he needed or would get scored in the first inning, this time on a Hank Aaron single that plated Frank Bolling. Facing a Giants lineup that included Willie Mays, Willie McCovey and Orlando Cepeda, Spahn retired the first nine batters he faced before Chuck Hiller worked him for a walk to begin the fourth. A double play grounder took care of Hiller, as did a fourth inning double play following a walk to McCovey.
That meant Spahn faced the minimum 27 batters all night. Win Probability Added: 0.723.