Scott Erickson

One of the most durable starters of the 90’s, right-hander Scott Erickson thrived on a sinking fastball that induced numerous ground-ball outs off the bats of frustrated hitters. After notable early-career success, including a 2.87 ERA in his rookie year of 1990 and a 20-win campaign for the World Champion Twins in 1991 (when he finished second to Roger Clemens in the Cy Young Voting), Erickson seemed to lose his way in the mid-90’s.

Though he notched one of his career highlights by tossing a no-hitter against the Brewers on April 27, 1994, Erickson lost 52 games from 1993 through 1996, a stretch that saw him three times average more than five earned runs per nine innings. Traded to the Orioles in mid-season 1995, Erickson gradually recovered his form in Baltimore, going 47-32 for the Birds from 1997 through 1999. In 1998 he solidified his status as an innings-eater by leading the AL in starts (36), innings pitched (251.1) and complete games (11). After making at least 32 starts every year in the 90’s save the strike-shortened 1994 season, Erickson was limited to just 16 starts in 2000 by elbow injuries that would eventually require season-ending “Tommy John” surgery.