Alejandro Peña

Pena became a full-time starting pitcher in 1983 and 1984, winning the ERA title in 1984 with 2.48 earned run average and leading the league with four shutouts. However, his right shoulder wore down & required surgery in early 1985. Pena was converted to reliever after that. He served as set-up man and part-time closer during his Dodgers tenure.

In the 1988 World Series, Pena pitched the 8th and 9th innings of Game 1, allowing one hit, striking out three, and picking up the win after Kirk Gibson's famous home run. In Game 3, Pena threw three scoreless innings and struck out four.

Peña (center) with Ronald Reagan (left) and Tommy Lasorda in 1988

Peña is best known for his late season success with the Atlanta Braves in 1991. Acquired from the Mets at the end of August (he needed to be on Atlanta's roster on August 31 to pitch in the playoffs), Pena went 13-for-13 in save opportunities, including saving Games 2 and 6 for Steve Avery in the 1991 NLCS. He blew a save in Game 3 of the 1991 World Series, but the Braves later won that game. He was on the mound for the final pitch of that classic series, giving up the base hit to Gene Larkin that won the title for the Minnesota Twins. Peña was the losing pitcher of Game 7. On September 11, 1991, Peña teamed with fellow Braves pitchers Kent Mercker and Mark Wohlers for a combined no-hitter against the San Diego Padres; Peña pitched the final inning of the 1–0 victory for a save. In 1992 he was hampered by tendinitis in his pitching elbow, leading the Braves to leave him off their World Series roster and causing him to miss the 1993 season. In 1995 he was reacquired by the Braves for their World Series run and was the winning pitcher of record for the first two games of their NLDS series.

• List of Major League Baseball annual ERA leaders

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Baseball-Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet