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I was just thinking about teams that went from great to crap instantly, like the 1914 and 1915 A's, and started wondering about teams that turned around the other direction fastest. Thought of Detroit in the 1880's. In 1884, they went 28-84, for a .250 winning percentage- same as the '62 Mets. They had three starters who hit under .200, although to be fair, two of those players were the shortstop and the right fielder- who were two of the starting picthers when not in the field, although they managed a combined 12-44 on the mound, so their pitching was as bad as their hitting.
Two years later, they were 87-36 and lost the pennant to Chcago by two games (they won it the next year, however). Their lineup suddenly included Dan Brouthers, Sam Thompson, Hardy Richardson, Fred Dunlap, Jack Rowe, and Deacon White, and on the mound Lady Baldwin and Pretzels Getzein had career years.
That's a pretty fast one. Any other good ones spring to mind?
Two years later, they were 87-36 and lost the pennant to Chcago by two games (they won it the next year, however). Their lineup suddenly included Dan Brouthers, Sam Thompson, Hardy Richardson, Fred Dunlap, Jack Rowe, and Deacon White, and on the mound Lady Baldwin and Pretzels Getzein had career years.
That's a pretty fast one. Any other good ones spring to mind?
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