1992 was a memorable year in Major League Baseball that saw great pitching talent across both the American and National Leagues. To commemorate the standout hurlers of the 1992 season, Topps trading cards released insert cards highlighting some of the top “aces” from each league. Let’s take a closer look at these talented pitchers and explore some of their stories and statistics from what was a pitcher-dominated campaign.
In the American League, one pitcher who undoubtedly deserved to be spotlighted as an “ace” was Dennis Martinez of the Montreal Expos. At age 35, Martinez was absolutely dealing in 1992, going 18-8 with a stellar 2.39 ERA over 232.2 innings pitched. He tossed 3 complete games and 2 shutouts while allowing less than a baserunner per inning. Martinez’s efforts helped propel the Expos to an 83-79 record and third place finish in the NL East division. Looking back through his career numbers, the 1992 season stood out as one of Martinez’s strongest years. He would go on to appear in over 500 MLB games and retire in 2004 with a career ERA+ of 118, demonstrating his consistency and longevity as a solid mid-rotation starter.
Another ace featured from the AL was Oakland A’s flamethrower Bob Welch. After missing most of the 1991 season due to injury, Welch bounced back with authority in 1992, recording a career-high 27 starts. He compiled a gaudy 27-6 record with a stellar 2.95 ERA over 213.1 innings of work. Welch’s 27 wins led the American League and broke a franchise record that had stood since 1915. Paired with superstar sluggers Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco, Welch helped power the A’s to an outstanding 103-59 record and AL West division title. At age 35, it was one of Welch’s finest career performances before injuries began slowing him down in later seasons.
Turning to the National League, one pitcher who absolutely dominated in 1992 was Greg Maddux of the Chicago Cubs. Posting video game-like numbers, Maddux went 20-11 with a minuscule 2.18 ERA over 255.2 innings pitched. He surrendered a microscopic 0.965 WHIP and led the NL in both ERA and innings. Maddux’s virtuoso season helped lift the Cubs to a 85-77 record, just missing out on the playoffs. Still only 26 years old at the time, it was a breakout year that showed Maddux was evolving into the elite control artist he would become, winning 4 straight Cy Young awards from 1992-1995. He would go on to become one of the greatest pitchers in MLB history while cementing his Hall of Fame resume.
Another NL ace given a 1992 Topps insert card was Doug Drabek of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Despite pitching for a last place Pirates team that went 58-86, Drabek turned in the best season of his career, going 20-6 with a stellar 2.80 ERA over 223.1 innings. He led the league with 21 quality starts and notched 4 complete games. At just 29 years old, Drabek was in his pitching prime and demonstrating why he had won the 1990 NL Cy Young award. While the Pirates were beginning their slide, Drabek was a lone bright spot and workhorse for the staff. He remained a steady veteran presence in Pittsburgh until being traded in 1993.
No list of 1992’s top NL hurlers would be complete without including David Cone of the New York Mets. In his first season with New York after 5 years in Kansas City, the right-hander exploded with career numbers. Cone went 20-3 with a brilliant 2.24 ERA over 233.1 innings pitched in 33 starts. He tossed 6 complete games and recorded 3 shutouts en route to capturing the NL Cy Young award. Paired with fellow 20-game winner Bret Saberhagen, Cone spearheaded a dominant Mets rotation that helped propel the team to a 92-70 record and NL East division title. At just 30 years old, 1992 represented the apex of Cone’s great seasons before injuries began hampering his performances.
In summarizing, the 1992 MLB season featured incredible pitching across both leagues, with certain hurlers like Maddux, Cone and Martinez truly distinguishing themselves as aces. Topps trading cards helped document these standout seasons through popular inserts that baseball card collectors still seek out today. While injuries began cutting short some careers, others like Maddux maintained elite longevity. The pitchers highlighted all experienced career-defining moments in 1992 that solidified their legacies and places in Cooperstown. Their mastery on the mound played a big role in shaping baseball three decades ago.
