Mike Scott

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Lore & Background

Scott was selected by the New York Mets in the second round of the 1976 Major League Baseball draft from Pepperdine University. He made his major league debut with the Mets in 1979. By the end of the 1982 season, Scott had compiled a 14–27 record with a 4.65 ERA and three saves. After going 7–13 with a 5.14 ERA in 37 games with the Mets in 1982, he was traded to the Houston Astros for Danny Heep at the Winter Meetings on December 10. During his first season in Houston in 1983, Scott went 10–6 with a 3.72 ERA. He struggled in 1984, going 5–11 with a 4.68 ERA. The turning point came in 1985 when he learned the split-finger fastball from pitching coach Roger Craig, becoming an 18-game winner. He was rewarded with a three-year deal valued at $2 million. Scott had his most successful season in 1986, posting an 18–10 record with a 2.22 ERA, striking out a league-leading 306 batters. On September 25, 1986, he threw a 2–0 no-hitter against the San Francisco Giants at the Astrodome to clinch the National League West division title. He led a strong starting rotation that included Bob Knepper, Nolan Ryan, and Jim Deshaies. Scott had a stretch from May 9 to August 8 where he had a quality start in all twenty games started, setting a club record. In the 1986 NLCS, the Astros lost to the New York Mets in six games, but Scott won Games 1 and 4 with a 0.50 ERA, 19 strikeouts, 8 hits and only one walk in 18 innings. He was awarded the 1986 NL Cy Young Award and was voted NLCS MVP, the first time a member of the losing team was so honored. In 1987, Scott was the National League starter in the All-Star Game, throwing two scoreless innings. He went 16–13 with a 3.23 ERA, eight complete games and three shutouts in 247.2 innings while finishing second in the National League with 233 strikeouts. In 1988, he had a 14–8 record with a 2.92 ERA, eight complete games and five shutouts in 218.2 innings while having 190 strikeouts. In 1989, Scott won 20 games (while losing 10) and finished second in NL Cy Young Award voting. He had a 3.10 ERA, nine complete games and 172 strikeouts in 229 innings pitched. His 1990 season was his last full season, going 9–13 with a 3.81 ERA in 32 games. He played in just two games in the 1991 season, losing both games. Scott retired after the 1991 season. On October 3, 1992, he and his former teammate José Cruz had their jersey numbers retired by the Astr

In Their Own Story

The 1986 National League Championship Series defined Mike Scott's legacy. Facing the New York Mets, the Astros lost the series in six games, but Scott was the hero of Games 1 and 4. In Game 1, he yielded just five singles and struck out an LCS-record 14 hitters. The Mets aggressively voiced suspicions that he was doctoring the baseball to the media, yet nothing was ever found to support these claims. His dominance in those two games—posting a 0.50 ERA with 19 strikeouts and only one walk in 18 innings—made Game 6 feel like a "must win" for New York. The Mets survived a grueling 16-inning victory in Game 6 to avoid facing Scott again in Game 7 at the Astrodome, eventually winning the pennant. Despite the loss, Scott's regular season brilliance earned him the NL Cy Young Award and made him the first member of a losing team to be named NLCS MVP.

Reader's Guide

During his career with the Astros, Scott accumulated the most regular-season outings with a game score of 90 or higher in club history (6). In the 1986 playoffs, Scott tossed one other such outing. He is fourth all-time for the Astros in wins (110) and fifth in strikeouts (1318), and sixth in games started (259).

Did You Know?

• Scott was accused of scuffing baseballs by Chicago Cubs manager Jim Frey in 1986, and later by Mets players and manager Davey Johnson—though his own pitching coach Roger Craig defended him. No evidence was ever found to
• Scott's 20 consecutive quality starts in 1986 was a club record until Framber Valdez passed him on August 2022.

Opening Day Dominance and Early Season Masterpieces

Mike Scott was a reliable anchor for the Houston Astros, serving as the Opening Day starter three consecutive times from 1987 to 1989. In 1987, he opened the season with a strong performance that contributed to an 16–13 record and eight complete games. The following year, on June 12, 1988, Scott came within one hit of his second no-hitter against the Atlanta Braves. He was denied the feat when Ken Oberkfell singled to right with two outs in the ninth inning. Despite falling short of a second no-hitter, Scott finished the 1988 season with an impressive 14–8 record, a 2.92 ERA, and five shutouts over 218.2 innings. His ability to dominate Opening Day and sustain excellence throughout the spring months highlighted his status as one of the league's premier pitchers during this era.

All-Star Recognition and League-Wide Acclaim

Mike Scott's dominance in 1986 and 1987 earned him significant league-wide recognition. In 1987, he was selected as the National League starter in the All-Star Game, where he threw two scoreless innings. This honor capped a season where he finished second in the NL with 233 strikeouts and recorded three shutouts. His accolades extended beyond the regular season; his performance in the 1986 NLCS made him the first player from a losing team to win the series MVP award. Although the Astros lost the pennant, Scott's individual brilliance was undeniable, leading the league in strikeouts with 306 and posting a 2.22 ERA. His reputation was further solidified when he won the Cy Young Award, becoming the first Astros pitcher to receive the honor.

A Historic Offensive Outburst by Kevin Bass

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Team Context and the Legacy of Nolan Ryan

During Mike Scott's tenure with the Astros, he led a strong starting rotation that included legends like Nolan Ryan. In 1986, Scott's dominance was complemented by the presence of Ryan, Bob Knepper, and Jim Deshaies. While Scott focused on his Cy Young-winning season in 1986, the source does not provide specific statistics for Ryan during that exact year but notes their rotation was a key factor in the team's success. The Astros' pitching staff remained formidable through 1987, with Scott posting an 8–3 record and three shutouts in his first full season as the ace. Although the team faced injuries later in Scott's career, the core of this rotation defined the late 1980s for Houston.