The 27 Greatest One-Season Wonders in MLB History

Rookie of the Year flashes, a surprise Cy Young and home run spikes nobody saw coming: each player here caught fire for exactly one summer. Which lightning strike deserves the top spot?

1. 1
   Mark Fidrych

   Detroit's 'Bird' went 19-9 with an AL-best 2.34 ERA and 24 complete games in 1976, winning AL Rookie of the Year before arm injuries.
   1000pts
2. 2
   Zack Cozart

   Reds shortstop who hit .297 with 24 home runs in 2017 and made his only All-Star team.
   862pts
3. 3
   Joe Charboneau

   'Super Joe' hit .289 with 23 home runs and 87 RBI for Cleveland in 1980 to win AL Rookie of the Year, and was out of the majors after 1982.
   689pts
4. 4
   Miguel Andujar

   Yankees third baseman who hit .297 with 27 home runs and 47 doubles in 2018 and finished second in AL Rookie of the Year voting.
   689pts
5. 5
   Angel Berroa

   Kansas City shortstop who won 2003 AL Rookie of the Year hitting .287 with 17 home runs and 21 steals.
   611pts
6. 6
   Fernando Tatis Sr.

   Cardinals third baseman who hit 34 home runs with 107 RBI in 1999, including two grand slams in one inning on April 23.
   611pts
7. 7
   Oliver Perez

   Pittsburgh left-hander who went 12-10 with a 2.98 ERA and 239 strikeouts in 2004.
   611pts
8. 8
   Brady Anderson

   Baltimore's leadoff man hit 50 home runs with 110 RBI in 1996; his next-best total in any season was 24.
   517pts
9. 9
   Shane Spencer

   Yankees rookie who hit 10 home runs in 27 games in 1998, including three grand slams in September.
   517pts
10. 10
    Ubaldo Jimenez

    Colorado right-hander who went 19-8 with a 2.88 ERA in 2010, threw a no-hitter on April 17 and started the All-Star Game.
    517pts
11. 11
    Bobby Crosby

    Oakland shortstop who won 2004 AL Rookie of the Year with 22 home runs and 64 RBI, then never topped 9 homers again.
    517pts
12. 12
    R.A. Dickey

    Mets knuckleballer who won the 2012 NL Cy Young Award at 37, going 20-6 with a 2.73 ERA and an NL-leading 230 strikeouts.
    517pts
13. 13
    Jim Konstanty

    Phillies reliever who won the 1950 NL MVP with 16 wins, 22 saves and 74 appearances for the pennant-winning 'Whiz Kids'.
    517pts
14. 14
    Jacoby Ellsbury

    Red Sox outfielder who hit 32 home runs with 105 RBI in 2011 and finished second in AL MVP voting; he never hit more than 16 otherwise.
    517pts
15. 15
    Davey Johnson

    Atlanta second baseman who hit 43 home runs in 1973; his career high in any other season was 18.
    517pts
16. 16
    Esteban Loaiza

    White Sox right-hander who went 21-9 with a 2.90 ERA and an AL-leading 207 strikeouts in 2003, finishing second for the Cy Young.
    402pts
17. 17
    Chase Headley

    San Diego third baseman who hit 31 home runs with an NL-leading 115 RBI in 2012, winning a Silver Slugger and a Gold Glove.
    402pts
18. 18
    Rick Porcello

    Red Sox right-hander who won the 2016 AL Cy Young going 22-4 with a 3.15 ERA.
    402pts
19. 19
    Bill Hall

    Milwaukee infielder who hit 35 home runs with 85 RBI in 2006; he never hit more than 18 in any other season.
    402pts
20. 20
    Steve Stone

    Orioles right-hander who won the 1980 AL Cy Young going 25-7; he never won more than 15 games in any other season.
    402pts
21. 21
    Mark Prior

    Cubs right-hander who went 18-6 with a 2.43 ERA and 245 strikeouts in 2003, finishing third for the NL Cy Young before injuries.
    402pts
22. 22
    Domonic Brown

    Phillies outfielder who hit 27 home runs in 2013, including 12 in May, and made the All-Star team.
    0pts
23. 23
    Pat Listach

    Milwaukee shortstop who won 1992 AL Rookie of the Year hitting .290 with 54 stolen bases.
    0pts
24. 24
    Wayne Garland

    Orioles right-hander who went 20-7 with a 2.67 ERA in 1976, then signed a 10-year deal with Cleveland and never had another winning season.
    0pts
25. 25
    Ricky Romero

    Toronto left-hander who went 15-11 with a 2.92 ERA in 2011 and made the All-Star team, then posted a 5.77 ERA in 2012.
    0pts
26. 26
    Rich Aurilia

    Giants shortstop who hit .324 with 37 home runs and an NL-leading 206 hits in 2001.
    0pts
27. 27
    Aaron Sanchez

    Toronto right-hander who won the 2016 AL ERA title with a 3.00 mark while going 15-2.
    0pts

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