Fantastic Mr. Fried: How Max Fried's debut Yankee season compares to pinstripe pitchers

Honorable mentions

Russ Ford may not be a household name, but his impact on the game is undeniable. His creative use of an emery board during the dead-ball era helped him scuff baseballs and give them unpredictable movement, and he put up great numbers in his first full season in 1910 (26-6, 1.65 ERA over 33 starts). A few years later, in 1927, Wilcy Moore went 19-7 and led the American League with a 2.28 ERA in his Yankee debut, only to be overshadowed by the "Murderer's Row" lineup that led to the Bronx Bombers' second championship.

10. Jimmy Key

After George Steinbrenner's suspension from baseball, Gene "Stick" Michael took control of personnel decisions, and he's largely credited with putting together the "core four" that led to the late-90s Yankees dynasty. Michael also signed starter Jimmy Key to a four-year deal, and in 1993, Key went 18-6 (3.00 ERA) as the Yankees missed the playoffs again. Key finished fourth in the Cy Young race for his efforts.

9. Sparky Lyle

Sparky Lyle might be better known for his clubhouse antics and his best-selling book "The Bronx Zoo," but he was also a late-inning force for the '70s Yankees. After coming over in a preseason trade in 1972, Lyle earned a league-leading 35 saves and finished third in MVP voting.

8. Chien-Ming Wang

If we go by qualifying MLB seasons (one inning pitched per team game), then Chien-Ming Wang's first full season was his finest. In 2006, Wang went 19-6 (3.63 ERA) and finished second in Cy Young voting, his first of back-to-back 19-win seasons. The sinkerballer had injury issues a few years later and struggled to regain his earlier form.

7. Tommy John

Tommy John isn't just a much shorter way to say "ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction," he was also a skilled pitcher in his own right. Following an All-Star season with the Dodgers at age 35, John signed a three-year deal to pitch in the Bronx. While the Yankees didn't make the playoffs that year, it wasn't because of their new pitcher, who won his first nine decisions en route to a 21-9 record (2.96 ERA) in 1979.

6. Gerrit Cole

The COVID-shortened 2020 season might be difficult to remember, but it was Gerrit Cole's first season as a Yankee after signing a monster nine-year contract worth $324 million. Cole made 12 starts and looked like a true ace (7-3, 2.84 ERA) while finishing fourth in the Cy Young race. 

5. Mike Mussina

Mike Mussina missed a World Series on either end of his Yankees tenure, joining just after 2000 and retiring just before 2009. His knuckle-curve and quick glove helped him excel as a Yankee, and his fabulous 2001 season (17-11, 3.15 ERA) was overshadowed by teammate (and Cy Young winner) Roger Clemens.

4. Max Fried

Fried could rise depending on how he pitches in the playoffs. While he won't win the Cy Young this year, Fried will certainly get down-ballot votes.

3. Ron Guidry

One of the greatest starters in Yankee history, Ron "Gator" Guidry's first full season in 1977 (16-7, 2.82 ERA) was a sign of things to come. Guidry bounced between the bullpen and the starting rotation before settling in as a successful starter. "Louisiana Lightning" finished seventh in Cy Young voting and helped the Yankees win the World Series that year.

2. Catfish Hunter

When George Steinbrenner took over the Yankees, he wanted to make a major splash in the free agent market, and Catfish Hunter was his prize in 1975. Hunter, who was pursued by most MLB teams that year, rewarded the boss with a fantastic season (23-14, 2.58 ERA in 39 starts). He led the majors with a now-unthinkable 328 innings pitched and was the Cy Young runner-up.

1. C.C. Sabathia

The gold standard in free agent pitching acquisitions, Carsten Charles Sabathia Jr., joined the Yankees ahead of the 2009 season and helped lead the Bronx Bombers to their first World Series since 2000. Sabathia signed a seven-year, $161 million deal that was the largest contract for an MLB pitcher at the time, and his '09 season (19-8, 3.37 ERA) ranks among his finest.