The big news today seems to be that Joba Chamberlain has put on a few pounds. Yet, as CC Sabathia has shown, who knows where the sweet spot for pitching wait lies? Here is how things have worked out for Yankees pitchers in the past. Some notable pitchers in each weight category (and take these with a grain of salt, because was David Wells really 187 pounds?):
SUPER-HEAVYWEIGHTS (Over 250 pounds)
Pitcher | Height | Weight | IP | W | ERA |
Jumbo Brown | 6’4" | 295 | 281 | 19 | 4.74 |
CC Sabathia | 6’7" | 290 | 467.2 | 40 | 3.27 |
HEAVYWEIGHTS (230-250 pounds)
Pitcher | Height | Weight | IP | W | ERA |
J. Albaladejo | 6’5" | 248 | 59.1 | 5 | 4.70 |
Hideki Irabu | 6’4" | 240 | 395.2 | 29 | 4.80 |
Andy Pettitte | 6’5" | 235 | 2535.2 | 203 | 3.98 |
D. Rasmussen | 6’7" | 230 | 597.1 | 39 | 4.28 |
Jaret Wright | 6’2" | 230 | 204 | 16 | 4.99 |
Carl Pavano | 6’5" | 230 | 145.2 | 9 | 5.00 |
J. Chamberlain | 6’2" | 230? | 353.1 | 18 | 3.72 |
CRUISERWEIGHT (210-229 pounds)
Pitcher | Height | Weight | IP | W | ERA |
Doc Medich | 6’5" | 225 | 787 | 49 | 3.40 |
Randy Johnson | 6’10" | 225 | 430.2 | 34 | 4.37 |
L. Guetterman | 6’8" | 225 | 347.1 | 21 | 3.73 |
Jeff Nelson | 6’8" | 225 | 311 | 23 | 3.47 |
Phil Hughes | 6’5" | 220 | 369 | 31 | 4.20 |
Bob Turley | 6’2" | 215 | 1268 | 82 | 3.62 |
Tiny Bonham | 6’2" | 215 | 1178 | 79 | 2.73 |
Don Larsen | 6’4" | 215 | 656 | 45 | 3.50 |
Hippo Vaughn | 6’4" | 215 | 432.2 | 23 | 3.18 |
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (190-209 pounds)
Pitcher | Height | Weight | IP | W | ERA |
Red Ruffing | 6’1" | 205 | 3168 | 231 | 3.47 |
Vic Raschi | 6’1" | 205 | 1538 | 120 | 3.47 |
Roger Clemens | 6’4" | 205 | 1103 | 83 | 4.01 |
Jack Quinn | 6’0" | 196 | 1278.1 | 81 | 3.14 |
Allie Reynolds | 6’0" | 195 | 1700 | 131 | 3.30 |
Ralph Terry | 6’3" | 195 | 1197.2 | 78 | 3.44 |
Carl Mays | 5’11" | 195 | 1090 | 79 | 3.25 |
Dave Righetti | 6’4" | 195 | 1136.2 | 74 | 3.11 |
Ray Caldwell | 6’2" | 190 | 1718.2 | 95 | 3.00 |
Johnny Murphy | 6’2" | 190 | 989 | 93 | 3.54 |
SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT (170-199 pounds)
Pitcher | Height | Weight | IP | W | ERA |
David Wells | 6’3" | 187 | 851.2 | 68 | 3.90 |
Mike Mussina | 6’2" | 185 | 1553 | 123 | 3.88 |
Ed Lopat | 5’10" | 185 | 1496.2 | 113 | 3.19 |
Fritz Peterson | 6’0" | 185 | 1855.2 | 109 | 3.10 |
Spud Chandler | 6’0" | 181 | 1485 | 198 | 2.84 |
Waite Hoyt | 6’0" | 180 | 2273 | 157 | 3.48 |
Jack Chesbro | 5’9" | 180 | 1952 | 128 | 2.58 |
Whitey Ford | 5’10" | 178 | 3171 | 236 | 2.74 |
Mel Stottlemyre | 6’1" | 178 | 2662 | 164 | 2.97 |
Lefty Gomez | 6’2" | 173 | 2498.2 | 189 | 3.34 |
LIGHTWEIGHT (150-169 pounds)
Pitcher | Height | Weight | IP | W | ERA |
Bob Shawkey | 5’11" | 168 | 2488.2 | 168 | 3.12 |
Mariano Rivera | 6’2" | 168 | 1150 | 74 | 2.23 |
Ron Guidry | 5’11" | 161 | 2392 | 170 | 3.29 |
Herb Pennock | 6’0" | 160 | 2189 | 162 | 3.56 |
Pascual Perez | 6’2" | 155 | 57.2 | 3 | 2.87 |
Edwar Ramirez | 6’3" | 150 | 98.1 | 6 | 5.22 |
FEATHERWEIGHT (Less than 150 pounds)
Pitcher | Height | Weight | IP | W | ERA |
Bobby Shantz | 5’6" | 139 | 462 | 30 | 2.73 |