Chicago Cubs: Hippo Vaughn remains one of the best in franchise history

(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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Chicago Cubs
(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

Making Chicago his home

Over the following five seasons, Vaughn would be exceptional. In four of the five years, he managed to win at least 20 games, posting a career high in wins in 1917 with 23. During this period, Vaughn posted a video game-like 2.11 ERA, with 118 complete games, a 134 ERA+, and a 2.29 FIP.

His best overall season came in 1918. Washington Senators star, and one of the best to ever play the game, Walter Johnson led all pitchers in Major League Baseball in total WAR and ERA. However, Vaughn was not far behind. Vaughn finished third overall in pitcher WAR with 8.1 and second overall in ERA, posting a 1.74 clip.

In just the National League, however, Vaughn would lead the league in WAR, WAR for Pitchers, ERA, wins, WHIP, H/9, K/9, total innings pitched, strikeouts, games started, shutouts, K/BB, ERA+, and FIP.