The 1995 Major League Baseball season featured many standout pitchers who carried their teams with dominant performances on the mound. These “aces” were the undisputed top starters for their rotations and consistently pitched like true number one starters. While offense across the league was down that year, several hurlers had career-defining seasons that showcased their ace-like abilities.
Greg Maddux of the Atlanta Braves had perhaps the finest season of any pitcher in 1995. The crafty right-hander went 19-2 with a 1.63 ERA over 33 starts, leading the NL in wins, ERA, winning percentage (.905), WHIP (0.811), and strikeout-to-walk ratio (5.56). Maddux’s control was impeccable as he issued just 15 walks all year long over 226.1 innings pitched. His 19 wins tied for the second-most in the NL and his microscopic ERA was the lowest by any qualified pitcher since 1968. Maddux was named the NL Cy Young Award winner for the third consecutive season and fourth time overall, cementing his status as the ace of the Braves staff.
Another dominant NL hurler was Pedro Martinez of the Montreal Expos. In his first full season as a starter, Martinez went 17-8 with a 1.90 ERA and 0.932 WHIP over 29 starts. The flame-throwing righty led the league with 313 strikeouts, the second-highest single-season total of all-time at the time. Martinez’s electric stuff overpowered hitters as he allowed just 146 hits in 231 innings of work. At just 23 years old, Martinez emerged as the Expos’ unquestioned ace and one of the most feared pitchers in baseball with his breakout campaign.
Tom Glavine, Maddux’s teammate in Atlanta, also had an ace-caliber season in 1995. The crafty left-hander went 20-6 with a 2.94 ERA and 1.158 WHIP over 33 starts. Glavine’s 20 wins tied for the NL lead and his stellar control allowed just 45 walks in 229.1 innings pitched. Along with Maddux, Glavine gave the dominant Braves a formidable 1-2 punch at the top of their rotation. The duo became the first teammates to finish 1-2 in Cy Young Award voting since 1956.
In the American League, Randy Johnson of the Seattle Mariners took his game to new heights in 1995. Already one of baseball’s most intimidating hurlers due to his towering 6-foot-10 frame, “The Big Unit” struck out a whopping 294 batters over 204.2 innings in 31 starts. Johnson’s 15-9 record was stellar considering the lack of run support he received, as was his 2.48 ERA. His ERA+ of 179 was the best in the AL and the second-highest single-season mark of all-time. Johnson’s overpowering fastball-slider combination made him virtually unhittable at times. At age 31, he emerged as the ace Seattle had longed for.
David Cone turned in another stellar season for the Kansas City Royals in 1995. The veteran righty went 18-5 with a 2.95 ERA and 1.178 WHIP over 32 starts. Cone’s 18 wins tied for the AL lead and he finished third in Cy Young Award voting thanks to his workhorse performances every fifth day. At 33 years old, Cone showed he still had frontline stuff while firmly establishing himself as the Royals’ staff leader. His excellent control allowed just 52 walks in 237.1 innings as Kansas City’s lone All-Star representative.
Jack McDowell enjoyed a bounce-back season as the ace of the Chicago White Sox in 1995. After injuries limited him to 21 starts the previous year, McDowell went 16-10 with a 3.41 ERA over 31 starts in 1995. The right-hander struck out 195 batters in 202.2 innings to regain his form as one of baseball’s most dependable starters. McDowell’s steady presence atop a young White Sox rotation helped lead Chicago to an AL Central title.
In Cleveland, Dennis Martinez enjoyed a career revival as the Indians’ staff leader at age 39. The veteran righty went 18-8 with a 3.27 ERA and 1.173 WHIP over 31 starts, earning Comeback Player of the Year honors. Martinez’s guile and control allowed just 48 walks in 222.2 innings as he proved that age was still just a number. Along with young fireballer Orel Hershiser, Martinez gave Cleveland a formidable 1-2 punch at the front of their rotation.
Maddux, Martinez, Glavine, Johnson, Cone, McDowell, and Martinez were the clear aces of their respective staffs in 1995 with their dominant performances. While the steroid era was just beginning, these hurlers stood out with their pitching prowess, consistency, and leadership abilities for their teams. Their ace-like seasons helped carry their clubs to success during an offensive-starved season in Major League Baseball.
