In 1962, the Cleveland Indians Dick Donovan won 20-games. While winning 20-games is always impressive, doing it while pitching for the often offensive-challenged Cleveland Indians–who that season went 80-82–always makes it even more special. It’s not like this was the 90’s juggernauts. Winning did not come easy in Cleveland.
Dick Donovan was a great player too, though largely forgotten about in Cleveland. Donovan made the majors in 1950, but he would not see regular innings until 1955 with the White Sox. From 1955-1958 he was a very solid starting pitcher, going 58-39 with a 121 ERA+, and was an All-Star in 1955.
Following a couple of down seasons Donovan would have a fantastic 1961 season for the expansion Washington Senators, going 10-10 with a league-leading 2.40 ERA and 163 ERA+. He would earn his second All-Star selection. Cleveland swung a deal for Donovan that winter, and he would continue to pitch well, winning 20-games for the Tribe in 1961. He would also play in his third, and final, All-Star game.
Donovan would spend three more seasons in the majors, but was less than league average and was pushed out of the Cleveland rotation by young pitchers like Sonny Siebert and Luis Tiant. He would be released in 1965.