# 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?

*By YPB Team · Published November 8, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/the-27-greatest-one-season-wonders-in-mlb-history*

---

## Current results (no votes yet)

1. **Mark Fidrych** — score 1000/1000
   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.
2. **Zack Cozart** — score 862/1000
   Reds shortstop who hit .297 with 24 home runs in 2017 and made his only All-Star team.
3. **Joe Charboneau** — score 689/1000
   '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.
4. **Miguel Andujar** — score 689/1000
   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.
5. **Angel Berroa** — score 611/1000
   Kansas City shortstop who won 2003 AL Rookie of the Year hitting .287 with 17 home runs and 21 steals.
6. **Fernando Tatis Sr.** — score 611/1000
   Cardinals third baseman who hit 34 home runs with 107 RBI in 1999, including two grand slams in one inning on April 23.
7. **Oliver Perez** — score 611/1000
   Pittsburgh left-hander who went 12-10 with a 2.98 ERA and 239 strikeouts in 2004.
8. **Brady Anderson** — score 517/1000
   Baltimore's leadoff man hit 50 home runs with 110 RBI in 1996; his next-best total in any season was 24.
9. **Shane Spencer** — score 517/1000
   Yankees rookie who hit 10 home runs in 27 games in 1998, including three grand slams in September.
10. **Ubaldo Jimenez** — score 517/1000
   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.
11. **Bobby Crosby** — score 517/1000
   Oakland shortstop who won 2004 AL Rookie of the Year with 22 home runs and 64 RBI, then never topped 9 homers again.
12. **R.A. Dickey** — score 517/1000
   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.
13. **Jim Konstanty** — score 517/1000
   Phillies reliever who won the 1950 NL MVP with 16 wins, 22 saves and 74 appearances for the pennant-winning 'Whiz Kids'.
14. **Jacoby Ellsbury** — score 517/1000
   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.
15. **Davey Johnson** — score 517/1000
   Atlanta second baseman who hit 43 home runs in 1973; his career high in any other season was 18.
16. **Esteban Loaiza** — score 402/1000
   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.
17. **Chase Headley** — score 402/1000
   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.
18. **Rick Porcello** — score 402/1000
   Red Sox right-hander who won the 2016 AL Cy Young going 22-4 with a 3.15 ERA.
19. **Bill Hall** — score 402/1000
   Milwaukee infielder who hit 35 home runs with 85 RBI in 2006; he never hit more than 18 in any other season.
20. **Steve Stone** — score 402/1000
   Orioles right-hander who won the 1980 AL Cy Young going 25-7; he never won more than 15 games in any other season.
21. **Mark Prior** — score 402/1000
   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.
22. **Domonic Brown** — score 0/1000
   Phillies outfielder who hit 27 home runs in 2013, including 12 in May, and made the All-Star team.
23. **Pat Listach** — score 0/1000
   Milwaukee shortstop who won 1992 AL Rookie of the Year hitting .290 with 54 stolen bases.
24. **Wayne Garland** — score 0/1000
   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.
25. **Ricky Romero** — score 0/1000
   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.
26. **Rich Aurilia** — score 0/1000
   Giants shortstop who hit .324 with 37 home runs and an NL-leading 206 hits in 2001.
27. **Aaron Sanchez** — score 0/1000
   Toronto right-hander who won the 2016 AL ERA title with a 3.00 mark while going 15-2.

Tags: sports, baseball, players, mlb, seasons