Greatest Individual Season in Buffalo History

[Mango]

Full offseason mode. What’s the greatest single season by one player in the cities professional sports history.
 

I’ll create a poll if this picks up, but thought I’d get feedback from some people a bit older than me. I certainly came of age for Buffalo Sports in the 90’s.
 

For me it’s easy and not close. Hasek in 99. 

 

98-99 Domink Hasek: Carried a flawed roster 6 games into the Stanley Cup Final. Won his 3rd Vezina with a .935 S% and 1.85 GAA. There’s an argument that 97-98 might be a better individual season, but he carried the entire team to the show. I think Hasek voter fatigue is the only reason he didn’t get the Hart trophy three years in a row. As I write this and think of all the other players that have come and gone, Hasek is likely the greatest athlete in Buffalo pro-sports history. 
 

1990 Bruce Smith: Bills make their first run to the Super Bowl. Bruce records 19 sacks only overshadowed by Derrick Thomas 20. 7th best season of all time all from the 3-4 DE.

 
1991 Thurman Thomas: 1400 rushing yards at 4.9 ypc. Plus 600 yards receiving. NFL MVP and OPOY. 7th best season by a RB at the time. 

92-93 Alexander Mogilny: 76 goals, 51 assists. 127 points. Tied Selanne in Goals. 7th in total points.  5th best season of all time. He is the only player in the top 30 not in the HoF. 

Rudy Pikuzinski: Mullets and Mustaches

 

1975 Bob McAdoo: NBA MVP 34.5 points, 14.1 rebounds. and 2.12 blocks per game, while shooting 51.2% from the field and 80.5% from the free-throw line

 

1973 OJ Simpson: 2003 yards in 14 games

 

1975 OJ Simpson: 329 carries for 1817 yds (5.8 ypc) and 16 TDs. 129.8 ypg average; 28 receptions for 426 yds (15.2 ypc) and 7 TDs. 30.2 ypg average. In 14 games he generated 2243 yards and 23TDs. That's 160 ypg  and 1.65 TDs per game. 

 

Edited February 23, 2023 by Mango
Poll and added seasons.

[uticaclub]

98-99 was also the height of Flutiemania and a #1 defense, if you are talking about most success period across the franchise

[K-9]

1973,  OJ 2,003 yards in 14 games

74-75, Bob McAdoo led the NBA in scoring with a 34.5 avg.

 

[Mango]

1 minute ago, uticaclub said:

98-99 was also the height of Flutiemania and a #1 defense, if you are talking about most success period across the franchise.

 

It’s been nearly 25 years. Kids were born, came of drinking age, got 401k’s, and produced grand children between now and then.

 

What a heart break year and that still might be the best combined year in Buffalo sports history. 

3 minutes ago, K-9 said:

1973,  OJ 2,003 yards in 14 games

74-75, Bob McAdoo led the NBA in scoring with a 34.5 avg.

 

I was conflicted on whether or not to include OJ. 

[K D]

9 minutes ago, Mango said:

I was conflicted on whether or not to include OJ. 

He's a top 10 RB all time in NFL history and he might be #1 on the list of best Buffalo seasons ever.

 

He also likes to murder but that's besides the point.

[CSBill]

Bob McAdoo = 1973 NBA Rookie of the year, or the 1975 NBA MVP (34.5 points, 14.1 rebounds. and 2.12 blocks per game, while shooting 51.2% from the field and 80.5% from the free-throw line) . . . . And his reward for that MVP season, they traded him (and Tom McMillen) for a hamburger and some cash to the Knicks--which was the beginning of the end of the Buffalo Braves.

[Dan Darragh]

Jack Kemp, 1996.  Nominated as his party's candidate for VP.

[freddyjj]

OJ Simpson 1975 season. 

329 carries for 1817 yds (5.8 ypc) and 16 TDs. 129.8 ypg average. 

28 receptions for 426 yds (15.2 ypc) and 7 TDs. 30.2 ypg average. 

 

In 14 games he generated 2243 yards and 23TDs!!!  That's 160 ypg  and 1.65 TDs per game. 

Edited February 23, 2023 by freddyjj

[BillsPride12]

Solid list OP.  Not much to disagree with there

[Behindenemylines]

7 hours ago, uticaclub said:

98-99 was also the height of Flutiemania and a #1 defense, if you are talking about most success period across the franchise

Did they stay in the nickel all season?😁

[Gregg]

Before my time but what about the 1964 & 1965 Buffalo Bills. Two-time AFL champions and the only Buffalo team between the Bills and Sabres to win it all.

[Ethan in Cleveland]

Any list like this must have OJ 2003 yards.

 

I would nominate Bryce Paup 1995, 17.5 sacks and Defense POY to add to the list.

Edited February 23, 2023 by Ethan in Cleveland

[Gregg]

OJ 2,003 yards in 14 games. The real rushing record. Sorry Eric.

[BobbyC81]

Having witnessed it, it’s OJ’s 2003 yard season. 

[D. L. Hot-Flamethrower]

I'm not so sure that OJ in 1975 wasn't better than 1973. Had 2243 yards from scrimmage vs 2073 and set the NFL record with 23 TDs vs 12 in '73. He had 1800+ rushing yards and the Bills used him in the passing game a ton more in 1975.

[The Frankish Reich]

3 hours ago, CSBill said:

for a hamburger

John Gianelli would prefer the term "meatball"

[Mango]

OJ deserves to be part of the conversation. But as impressive as that feat was, he didn’t even make the playoffs. Hasek single handily dragged the team 6 games in the Stanley Cup. 
 

Advantage Hasek. 

[Drew21PA]

1991 Thurman was amazing 

[dpberr]

I'd nominate Bryce Paup for his 1995 tour de force.

 

1995 DPOY

1995 Sacks leader (17.5) (4th highest total in the entire decade)

[Dopey]

2 hours ago, Behindenemylines said:

Did they stay in the nickel all season?😁

Did they win a Super Bowl? Nope, not even a playoff win. 😁