The Greatest Pilots (All-Time): Part 2

The Greatest Pilots (All-Time): Part 2, Pitchers

By Paul Semendinger

***

NOTE - I wrote this article for the IBWAA. This article appeared in their newsletter, Here's The Pitch on April 26, 2025

***

The Seattle Pilots existed for only one major-league season (1969), but because that season is chronicled in Jim Bouton's notorious book Ball Four, the team lives on forever in the hearts of many baseball fans.

While many of the Pilots had careers that were not all that noteworthy, there were a few players on the team who went on to have somewhat lengthy and significant careers.

This is the second article in a two-part series. Last week, I ranked the top five greatest position players to have played for the Seattle Pilots. Today I'll determine the top five pitchers to have played for the Pilots.

Honorable Mention: Jim Bouton

Some readers will probably take issue with this pick because it can be argued that Jim Bouton wasn't even the sixth-best pitcher to play for the Pilots. (That honor might go to Jack Aker, who pitched for 11 seasons, mostly out of the bullpen and even led the A.L. in saves in 1966.) Bouton was an All-Star who went 21-7, 2.53 in 1963 and followed that up with an 18-win season in 1964. Unfortunately for Bouton, his career went south after that. He won a combined 14 games over his final six seasons. Bouton, though, also made a successful comeback and, after leaving baseball after the 1970 season, returned to pitch in the big leagues for five games with Ted Turner’s Atlanta Braves in 1978. Without Bouton's Ball Four, the Pilots would be all but forgotten. That is good enough for me to award him Honorable Mention.

5th Place: Diego Segui

The "fireman" out of the bullpen, who also started for the Pilots in 1969, Diego Segui appeared in 66 games, going 12-6 with 12 saves and an ERA of 3.35. No pitcher appeared in more games than Diego Segui for the Pilots. Over the course of his 15-year career, Segui pitched for the Kansas City A's, Oakland A's, St. Louis Cardinals, Boston Red Sox, Washington Senators, and Seattle Mariners, in addition to the Pilots in his career. In 1970, while pitching for the Oakland A's, Diego Segui led the A.L. in ERA (2.56). He was the only player to be a Pilot and a Mariner and was actually an Opening Day starter for both clubs. Over 15 seasons, Diego Segui accumulated 12.0 WAR.

4th Place: Marty Pattin

Marty Pattin didn't do so well for the Pilots. He went 7-12, 5.62 in 1969, but after that was a pretty good pitcher. Between 1970 and 1973, he won 60 games. He was also an All-Star in 1971. In addition to pitching for the Pilots, Pattin also threw for the Brewers, Royals, Red Sox, and Angels. Over a 13-year career, Pattin went 114-109, 3.62. He accumulated 21.2 WAR, more than any Pilots' pitcher.

3rd Place: Steve Barber

It always seemed when reading Ball Four, that Steve Barber was injured. In 1969, he appeared in 25 games, making 16 starts and going 4-7, 4.80. Barber reached the major leagues in 1960. He led the A.L. in shutouts in 1961, was an All-Star in 1963 and 1966, and a 20-game winner in 1963. Barber played for seven teams over his 15-year career, accumulating an overall record of 121-106, 3.36 with 18.1 WAR.

2nd Place: Gary Bell

Gary "Ding Dong" Bell was an All-Star more times in his career than any pitcher who pitched for the Pilots, going to the mid-summer classic four times (twice in 1960, 1953, and 1968). For the Pilots, he wasn't so good, pitching to a record of 2-6, 5.31. Overall, though, Bell went 121-117, 3.68 with 14.4 WAR pitching for the Indians, Red Sox, White Sox, and Pilots.

1st Place: Mike Marshall

The only Pilots player to ever win a Cy Young Award, Mike Marshall was the 1974 N.L. Cy Young Award winner for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Marshall went only 3-10, 5.13 for the Pilots, but by the time he was a Dodger, he was something special. Marshall led the N.L. in games pitched in 1972 (65), 1973 (92), and 1974 (106!). In that 1974 season, Marshall threw 208.1 innings — all out of the bullpen! He was an All-Star in 1974 and 1975. He also led the league in saves three times and games finished five times. In his 14-year career, Mike Marshall pitched for the Pilots, Expos, Dodgers, Twins, Braves, Tigers, Mets, Rangers, and Astros. He accumulated 17.2 WAR over the course of his career.

***

Paul Semendinger, Ed.D. is a retired school principal who now serves as an educational consultant and also teaches as an adjunct professor at Ramapo College. The author of a host of books, Paul gives engaging presentations, motivational talks, and has the privilege of serving as a lay minister on occasion in local churches. Paul was supposed to be the Opening Day starting pitcher for his baseball team on April 6, but the game was rained out. The next game was also rained out! He is hoping to again get the nod when the season opens April 27.