Gaylord Perry later became baseball's first pitcher to win a Cy Young Award in both leagues—excelling for Cleveland in the American League and San Diego in the National League. It’s easy for casual fans to overlook his remarkable ten-year stretch of consistent durability in Northern California. He made his major-league debut in April 1962, and initially faced challenges in securing a permanent spot, battling structural inconsistency and often pitching as an unpredictable reliever out of the bullpen. However, everything changed around 1964 when he fully mastered a highly controversial, grease-slicked spitball—an infamous pitch, real or imagined, that showcased his exceptional resilience and endurance.
His 1966 debut as a full-time, leading anchor immediately disrupted the senior circuit rankings. Perry made playing intense, high-stakes matches a disciplined daily practice, resulting in an impressive breakthrough. He ended the season with a 21–8 record, a sterling 2.99 ERA, and a career-high 201 strikeouts across 290.2 heavy frames to command his very first career All-Star selection.
This was just the beginning.
Perry established himself as a consistent presence at the top of the rotation, consistently maintaining an ERA below 3.00. He led the National League in innings pitched consecutively in 1969 (325.1) and 1970 (328.2). Additionally, he secured a place in the franchise's no-hit history by delivering a famous 1–0 game against Bob Gibson and the St. Louis Cardinals in September 1968.
The peak of his West Coast career came during an exceptional 1970 regular season. Perry delivered an outstanding display of durability, leading the major leagues with a career-high 23 wins and 29 complete games. His performance featured a historic run where he tied the franchise record with four straight shutouts and pitched 40 consecutive scoreless innings. His remarkable efficiency earned him a starting spot for the National League in the All-Star Game and a close second in the NL Cy Young Award voting behind Bob Gibson.
After a 1971 season where his wins dropped to 16, the front office became concerned about age. Believing that the 33-year-old starter had no more physical potential and that his prime was behind him, management made a heavily one-sided winter trade in November 1971, trading their star pitcher to the Cleveland Indians for Sam McDowell. This trade quickly gained a reputation as one of the worst in franchise history.
Although McDowell quickly faded on the West Coast, Perry turned his departure into a new chapter of national prominence, winning the 1972 AL Cy Young award in Cleveland and continuing his successful career for over a dozen more seasons, ultimately reaching 300 wins and 3,000 strikeouts.
Perry had 1606 strikeouts with a 134-109 record with the Giants, and he entered the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991. San Francisco retired his number 36 in 2005, and three years later he was part of the Wall of Fame's first monstrous class.
