After making 43 starts in 1975, Wood only made seven in 1976 before a line drive off the bat of Ron LeFlore fractured his kneecap in a game against the Detroit Tigers. He underwent months of rehabilitation, returning in April of 1977, though, as he put it, he was somewhat "gun-shy" upon his return. After posting the worst earned run average among qualifying AL pitchers in 1978 (5.20), he retired. Wood's 90 wins from 1971–74 were the most in the major leagues.