The American League East has a rich history of legendary players who have delivered some of the greatest single-season performances in MLB history. Here, we highlight the best individual seasons by a pitcher and a batter for each franchise in the AL East.
Baltimore Orioles
Best Hitter: Frank Robinson (1966)
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Stats: .316 AVG, 49 HR, 122 RBI, 1.047 OPS
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Robinson became the only player to win MVP awards in both leagues, capturing the AL MVP and leading Baltimore to its first World Series title. He also won the Triple Crown.
Best Pitcher: Jim Palmer (1975)
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Stats: 23-11, 2.09 ERA, 323 IP, 193 K
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Palmer won his second Cy Young Award, leading the league in ERA and complete games (25), showcasing his durability and dominance.
Boston Red Sox
Best Hitter: Ted Williams (1941)
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Stats: .406 AVG, 37 HR, 120 RBI, 1.287 OPS
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Williams remains the last player to hit over .400 in a season, cementing his legacy as one of the best pure hitters in history.
Best Pitcher: Pedro Martínez (1999)
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Stats: 23-4, 2.07 ERA, 213.1 IP, 313 K
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Martínez’s 1999 season was one of the most dominant ever. He led the league in ERA, strikeouts, and WHIP (0.92) while securing the Cy Young Award.
New York Yankees
Best Hitter: Babe Ruth (1927)
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Stats: .356 AVG, 60 HR, 165 RBI, 1.258 OPS
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Ruth set a then-record with 60 home runs while leading the Yankees to one of the greatest team seasons in MLB history.
Best Pitcher: Ron Guidry (1978)
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Stats: 25-3, 1.74 ERA, 273.2 IP, 248 K
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Guidry's incredible Cy Young-winning season included a league-best ERA and a dominant win total, making him the ace of the Yankees' championship squad.
Tampa Bay Rays
Best Hitter: Carlos Peña (2007)
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Stats: .282 AVG, 46 HR, 121 RBI, 1.037 OPS
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Peña set the Rays’ single-season home run record and provided the franchise with a much-needed power presence.
Best Pitcher: Blake Snell (2018)
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Stats: 21-5, 1.89 ERA, 180.2 IP, 221 K
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Snell’s dominant Cy Young-winning season saw him lead the AL in ERA while racking up strikeouts in fewer than 200 innings.
Toronto Blue Jays
Best Hitter: José Bautista (2010)
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Stats: .260 AVG, 54 HR, 124 RBI, .995 OPS
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Bautista shocked the baseball world by leading MLB in home runs, setting a Blue Jays franchise record in the process.
Best Pitcher: Roger Clemens (1997)
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Stats: 21-7, 2.05 ERA, 264 IP, 292 K
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Clemens won the AL Cy Young with one of the best single seasons in Blue Jays history, leading the league in wins, ERA, and strikeouts.
Final Thoughts
The AL East has long been home to some of the game’s greatest talents. From Babe Ruth’s historic power to Pedro Martínez’s pitching dominance, each team has witnessed record-breaking performances that remain iconic in baseball history.
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