The 1968 Major League baseball season probably will be forever known as “The year of the pitcher.” Quite a few factors went into making ’68 a pitcher’s year.
Some of the best pitchers in the history of baseball were a part of the '68 season with Bob Gibson leading the way. But it was a season where the mound was at a height of 15 inches and the strike zone was a lot bigger than it is today.
Depending on the umpire, a normal strike zone is from the armpits to the top of the knees. But from 1963 to 1968 the rule was changed to be from the shoulders to the top of the knees. Why? Expansion.
Four teams were added during this time frame and the thinking was there would be some pitchers who probably would never have pitched at this level and succeeded without the bigger strike zone.
All the pitchers at the time benefited and 1968 was a stellar year.
Bob Gibson’s ERA was 1.12. Denny McLain won 31 games. Don Drysdale pitched a record 58 and a third scoreless innings. Luis Tiant had a 41 scoreless inning run on his way to an ERA of 1.60. Several pitchers had ERAs under 2.00
Batting averages plummeted naturally. Seven teams hit .230 or lower. Mickey Mantle in his last season hit .214. Carl Yastrzemski won the batting title with a .301 average.
Changes came in 1969 when the mound was lowered from 15 inches to 10 and the strike zone restored to the original intent. Also, the anti-spitball rule was rewritten due to the wave of moistened pitches in 1968. Gaylord Perry had a no-hitter against Bob Gibson that year.
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