Jim Whitney's rookie season showed that as in 1881 with the Boston Red Stockings, he led the National League in both Wins (31) and Losses (33), and his 552.1 Innings also was a first place finish. Whitney would later win the Strikeout title with 345, and that would begin a three-year streak of leading the NL in SO/BB and BB/9, as well as two straight years of finishing atop the leaderboard in FIP.
Whitney, who was nicknamed the "Grasshopper Jim" for the way he appeared to jump while pitching, was with Boston for five seasons, which was his career's best run. However, he would lead the NL in BB/9 twice more (extending that streak to five) in a season, each with the Kansas City Cowboys and the original Washington Nationals. In his first four seasons in baseball, he was in the top five in bWAR for Pitchers, top seven in WHIP, top seven in Wins, and top six in Strikeouts.
Whitney was also capable of playing in the Outfield, and he was a decent hitter. In 1882, he was fifth in Batting Average (.323) and third in OPS (.892). He would overall bat .261 with 559 Hits.
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