In December 2009, R.A. Dickey joined Flushing on a modest minor league deal, as a 35-year-old journeyman fighting to stay in baseball. For years, he had been a fringe major leaguer struggling to master his pitching, especially after learning he entirely lacked an ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing elbow.
Dickey was highly effective right from the start, posting a remarkable 2.84 ERA in 2010 and pitching over 200 innings in 2011. He utilized what analysts described as a "hard knuckleball," delivering the pitch at an unprecedented 78-to-80 mph with sharp, late movement.
That solid foundation led to an extraordinary standout during the legendary 2012 season. That summer, Dickey hit a career peak, delivering a remarkable campaign that is arguably the best individual season by a knuckleballer in Major League history. He impressed the city by going 20-6 and leading the National League in strikeouts (230), innings pitched (233.2), complete games (5), and shutouts (3). His efficiency peaked in June when he threw consecutive one-hitters with double-digit strikeouts, setting a franchise record with 32.2 straight scoreless innings and earning an All-Star nod. His historic dominance was confirmed when he was named the clear winner of the National League Cy Young Award, marking the first time a knuckleball pitcher won this honor.
In December 2012, at the peak of his trade worth, the rebuilding Mets sent the reigning Cy Young winner to the Toronto Blue Jays in a major seven-player trade that brought back numerous top prospects, such as future All-Star catcher Travis d'Arnaud and pitcher Noah Syndergaard. He left Queens with an impressive 39-28 record and a remarkable 2.95 ERA over three seasons with the team.
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