Wednesday evening brings us the announcement of the “Cy Young Award” winner in each league. So, its now time for the VORG to announce the winners of the 2016 “Pi Young Awards”, celebrating the pitchers with ERAs closest to 3.1415927 . . . . (Here’s a refresher on the whys and wherefores of the award).
For the AL ERA qualifiers (one inning pitched per team game), Corey Kluber hit the magic number on the button (see the bottom of this post for his standing all-time in closeness to pi). The Red Sox’ Rick Porcello missed by 1/100 of a run, with J.A. Happ finishing third.
| Player | Tm | W | L | IP | ER | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corey Kluber | 3.14 | CLE | 18 | 9 | 215.0 | 75 |
| Rick Porcello | 3.15 | BOS | 22 | 4 | 223.0 | 78 |
| J.A. Happ | 3.18 | TOR | 20 | 4 | 195.0 | 69 |
Generated 10/4/2016.
In the AL/no minimum innings category, the top two finishers were the same, with Kluber and Porcello this time followed by the Twins’ Brandon Kintzler.
| Player | Tm | W | L | IP | ER | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corey Kluber | 3.14 | CLE | 18 | 9 | 215.0 | 75 |
| Rick Porcello | 3.15 | BOS | 22 | 4 | 223.0 | 78 |
| Brandon Kintzler | 3.15 | MIN | 0 | 2 | 54.1 | 19 |
Generated 10/4/2016.
Next, the National League/ERA qualifiers. The Cubs’ Jake Arrieta ended the season .04 away from the golden number, good enough to edge the Braves’ Julio Teheran and Carlos Martinez of the Cardinals.
| Player | Tm | W | L | IP | ER | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jake Arrieta | 3.10 | CHC | 18 | 8 | 197.1 | 68 |
| Julio Teheran | 3.21 | ATL | 7 | 10 | 188.0 | 67 |
| Carlos Martinez | 3.04 | STL | 16 | 9 | 195.1 | 66 |
Generated 10/4/2016.
Finally . . . the National League/no minimum innings pitched award. Jumbo Diaz just edged out the Marlins’ Nick Wittgren, with Ian Krol finished a competitive third.
| Player | Tm | W | L | IP | ER | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jumbo Diaz | 3.14 | CIN | 1 | 1 | 43.0 | 15 |
| Nick Wittgren | 3.14 | MIA | 4 | 3 | 51.2 | 18 |
| Ian Krol | 3.18 | ATL | 2 | 0 | 51.0 | 18 |
Generated 10/4/2016.
Here is the updated list of those pitchers who finished a season with an ERA closest to 3.1415927:
| Name | Season | IP | ER | ERA | Absolute Diff. |
| Mel Parnell | 1948 | 212 | 74 | 3.14151 | 0.000083266 |
| Paul Foytack | 1957 | 212 | 74 | 3.14151 | 0.000083266 |
| Jerry Koosman | 1970 | 212 | 74 | 3.14151 | 0.000083266 |
| Dizzy Trout | 1945 | 246.333 | 86 | 3.14208 | 0.000491622 |
| Scott Baker | 2011 | 134.667 | 47 | 3.14109 | 0.000502036 |
| Fernando Valenzuela | 1986 | 269.333 | 94 | 3.14109 | 0.000503202 |
| Lon Warneke | 1940 | 232 | 81 | 3.14224 | 0.000648679 |
| Kirby Higbe | 1941 | 298 | 104 | 3.14094 | 0.000653103 |
| Andy Coakley | 1906 | 149 | 52 | 3.14094 | 0.000653103 |
| Mike Hampton | 2000 | 217.667 | 76 | 3.14242 | 0.000827864 |
| Mickey Lolich | 1969 | 280.667 | 98 | 3.14252 | 0.000925861 |
| Frank Sullivan | 1954 | 206.333 | 72 | 3.14055 | 0.00104292 |
| Ken Holtzman | 1975 | 266.333 | 93 | 3.14268 | 0.001086041 |
| David Wells | 1990 | 189 | 66 | 3.14286 | 0.001264443 |
| Matt Albers | 2013 | 63 | 22 | 3.14286 | 0.001264443 |
| Bryan Morris | 2015 | 63 | 22 | 3.14286 | 0.001264443 |
| Matt Cain | 2010 | 223.333 | 78 | 3.14328 | 0.001691351 |
| Chick Fraser | 1900 | 223.333 | 78 | 3.14328 | 0.001691351 |
| Pete Harnisch | 1998 | 209 | 73 | 3.14354 | 0.00194797 |
| Red Barrett | 1938 | 28.6666 | 10 | 3.13954 | 0.002050515 |
| Kirt Ojala | 1997 | 28.6666 | 10 | 3.13954 | 0.002050515 |
| Joe Hesketh | 1987 | 28.6666 | 10 | 3.13954 | 0.002050515 |
| Glen Perkins | 2007 | 28.6666 | 10 | 3.13954 | 0.002050515 |
| Clay Condrey | 2006 | 28.6666 | 10 | 3.13954 | 0.002050515 |
| Ted Power | 1981 | 14.3333 | 5 | 3.13954 | 0.002050515 |
| Larry Andersen | 1977 | 14.3333 | 5 | 3.13954 | 0.002050515 |
| Tony Ghelfi | 1983 | 14.3333 | 5 | 3.13954 | 0.002050515 |
| John Tudor | 1989 | 14.3333 | 5 | 3.13954 | 0.002050515 |
| Hipolito Pena | 1988 | 14.3333 | 5 | 3.13954 | 0.002050515 |
| Ben Van Dyke | 1912 | 14.3333 | 5 | 3.13954 | 0.002050515 |
| Stan Coveleski | 1927 | 14.3333 | 5 | 3.13954 | 0.002050515 |
| Ray Prim | 1933 | 14.3333 | 5 | 3.13954 | 0.002050515 |
| Bob Darnell | 1954 | 14.3333 | 5 | 3.13954 | 0.002050515 |
| Ed Donnelly | 1959 | 14.3333 | 5 | 3.13954 | 0.002050515 |
| Dallas Green | 1965 | 14.3333 | 5 | 3.13954 | 0.002050515 |
| Dave Leonhard | 1967 | 14.3333 | 5 | 3.13954 | 0.002050515 |
| Harry Eisenstat | 1940 | 71.6666 | 25 | 3.13954 | 0.002054896 |
| Marshall Bridges | 1962 | 71.6666 | 25 | 3.13954 | 0.002054896 |
| Tim Crews | 1988 | 71.6666 | 25 | 3.13954 | 0.002054896 |
| Paul Lindblad | 1976 | 114.667 | 40 | 3.13954 | 0.002055991 |
| Matt Lindstrom | 2008 | 57.3333 | 20 | 3.13954 | 0.002055991 |
| Sam LeCure | 2012 | 57.3333 | 20 | 3.13954 | 0.002055991 |
| Bill Brandt | 1943 | 57.3333 | 20 | 3.13954 | 0.002055991 |
| Jack (DA) Jones | 1883 | 157.667 | 55 | 3.13954 | 0.002056489 |
| Juan Berenguer | 1983 | 157.667 | 55 | 3.13954 | 0.002056489 |
| Chad Billingsley | 2008 | 200.667 | 70 | 3.13954 | 0.002056773 |
| Bob Locker | 1969 | 100.333 | 35 | 3.13954 | 0.002056773 |
| Fred Norman | 1974 | 186.333 | 65 | 3.13954 | 0.002057255 |
| Dan Haren | 2009 | 229.333 | 80 | 3.13954 | 0.00205736 |
| Bob Knepper | 1986 | 258 | 90 | 3.13954 | 0.002057816 |
| Stephen Strasburg | 2014 | 215 | 75 | 3.13954 | 0.002057816 |
| Walt Woods | 1898 | 215 | 75 | 3.13954 | 0.002057816 |
| Al Schulz | 1916 | 215 | 75 | 3.13954 | 0.002057816 |
| Rube Schauer | 1917 | 215 | 75 | 3.13954 | 0.002057816 |
| Tom Seaver | 1979 | 215 | 75 | 3.13954 | 0.002057816 |
| Corey Kluber | 2016 | 215 | 75 | 3.13954 | 0.002057816 |
| Braden Looper | 2002 | 86 | 30 | 3.13954 | 0.002057816 |
| Al Mamaux | 1921 | 43 | 15 | 3.13954 | 0.002057816 |
| Ron Villone | 1996 | 43 | 15 | 3.13954 | 0.002057816 |
| Jumbo Diaz | 2016 | 43 | 15 | 3.13954 | 0.002057816 |
| Steven Jackson | 2009 | 43 | 15 | 3.13954 | 0.002057816 |