Some of the greatest individual seasons in baseball history have come in the past few years, from players who are among today's brightest stars. Think Clayton Kershaw's magnificent 2014 campaign (1.77 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, National League Cy Young Award), Bryce Harper in '15 (1.109 OPS, 42 home runs, NL Most Valuable Player Award) and Michael Trout in '16 (173 OPS+, 29 homers, 30 steals, American League MVP).
Is this trio of contemporary stars represented in MLB Network's ranking of greatest individual seasons? And what other incredible single-season performances make the list? Tune in at 8 p.m. ET tonight to find out, as MLB Network reveals the top 25 individual seasons dating back to 1940.
Speaking of a sub-2.00 single-season ERA, where would Bob Gibson's otherworldly 1968 campaign rank? The right-hander posted a 1.12 ERA over 304 2/3 innings for the Cardinals that year. Or how about Mickey Mantle's '56 season, in which he hit 52 homers and slugged .705 en route to winning his first AL MVP Award?
There are so many potential seasons to choose from, such as the last in which a batter hit .400 or better -- Ted Williams' 1941 campaign, in which he hit .406. And there's Roger Maris' record-breaking '61 season, in which he surpassed Babe Ruth's mark by hitting his 61st homer on the final day of the season. What about a pair of Triple Crown seasons from Carl Yastrzemski (1967) and Jose Cabrera (2012)?
There's "Fernandomania" with Fernando Valenzuela in 1981, Greg Maddux's '95 season (1.63 ERA, 0.81 WHIP) and so many others.
Which will make the top 25? And which will be ranked the greatest individual-season performance of all time? Find out on Sunday.