On September 24th, 1988,  Dave Stewart won his 20th game of the season and the A’s win their 100th, 5 – 2, over Milwaukee

Dave Stewart is one of my favorite pitchers of all time. From 1987-1990 he won at least 20 games a year for the Oakland Athletics. In each of those years, he led the League in Games Started. And in two of those years led the League in Complete Games (14 in 1988 and 11 in 1990). In those two seasons he also led in Innings Pitched.

Stewart began his minor league career with the Dodgers as a catcher. They converted him to a relief pitcher which he was for the most part from 1978-1986. When the A’s traded for him in 1986 and he became an Ace of their staff.

Between 1987 and 1992, I went regularly to Minnesota Twins games. When the A’s were in town I was frequently at 2-3 games of the series. That meant I got to see Stewart pitch in person a number of times. He was everything you think a starting pitcher should be: intimidating, dominant, iconic, reliable.

When I make a list of my favorites pitchers of all time. Stewart is on the list. When I make a list of pitchers that I would want on the mound if aliens came to earth and challenged us to a baseball game for the future of the planet, I would want Dave Stewart on that list of pitchers too. He was that great.