After compiling a nondescript 14-27 record with the New York Mets, Mike Scott went to Houston for Danny Heep and became a star. Scott learned to throw the split-finger fastball from Roger Craig, then led the Astros past Craig’s Giants and Cincinnati to win the 1986 NL Western Division pennant. Scott won the pennant clincher by pitching a no-hitter against the Giants. He became the second righthander in NL history and 11th pitcher overall to reach 300 strikeouts (306) and won the Cy Young Award. He was the Most Valuable Player of the Championship Series with a part of complete-game victories, including a LCS-record 14 strikeouts in the first game, the first 1-0 decision in NLCS history. In 1987 Scott and Nolan Ryan became the first teammates since Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale to finish first and second in the NL strikeout race. His won-loss record suffered in 1987, possibly due to increasing complaints that Scott was scuffing the baseball. When Craig had taught him the split-finger, he had warned Scott that accusations would result; Craig was among the first to charge Scott with chicanery.
