On September 3rd, 1917, Grover Cleveland Alexander goes the distance in both games of the Phillies’ doubleheader sweep of Brooklyn at Ebbets Field. In his 18 innings of work, the Philadelphia right-hander limits the Dodgers to seven hits en route to posting 5-0 and 9-3 victories in the twin bill.

You read that correctly. Pitchers used to pitch more than 5 innings. Much more. Hall of Fame Grover Cleveland Alexander pitched two complete games in the same day against the same team.

Baseball over the past 100 years has changed a lot. One of the biggest changes is in the role of starting pitcher. Even in my own lifetime there has been an evolution in pitching. Complete games are now a rarity. Even 7-inning starts are uncommon. A “quality start” is now defined as 6 innings with 3 or fewer runs.

Here is how things have changed:

In 1960, when I was born Lew Burdette, Vern Law, and Hall of Famer Warren Spahn led the Majors with 18 complete games each.

• In 1917, Grover Cleveland Alexander had 34 complete games.
• In 1965 & 1966 (when I was 5 and 6 years old) Hall-of-Famer Sandy Koufax led the Majors with 27 both years.
• In 1971, (when I was 11 and playing Little League) Hall-of-Famer Fergie Jenkins had 30 complete games. And a year later, in 1972, Hall of Famer Steve Carlton matched those 30 complete games.
• In 1982 (the year I graduated from college), Carlton again led the majors, this time with 19 complete games.
• In 1990 (the year I turned 30), Dodger Ramon Martinez led the majors with 12 complete games.
• In 2000 (the year I turned 40), Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling shared the Major League lead with 8 complete games.
• In 2010 (the year I turned 50), Roy Halliday led the Majors with 9 complete games.
• In 2020 (the year I turned 60) three pitchers shared the Major League lead with just 2 complete games.
• Last year, 2024, Max Fried and Christopher Sanchez also led the Majors with just 2 complete games.

What happened? Moneyball and data-driven analytics means more relief specialists and a huge change in the game. And it is all within my lifetime.