Mike Mussina Should Already Be in the Hall of Fame

Mike Mussina should have been a first ballot Hall of Famer. Here are some reasons why:

Awards and Recognition

·         He finished in the top six in Cy Young voting nine time—a feat only four others have accomplished.

·         If voting for the 2001 Cy Young was held today, he would probably win w/ the highest WAR and ERA+, lowest WHIP among the contenders

·         Seven time Gold Glove-winner, five time all-star.

·         David Ortiz listed Mussina as one of the five toughest pitchers he ever faced.

Stats

·         His 270 wins are 33^rd in history. He won 20 games in his final season. He won 17 or more games, 8 times; 15 or more, 11 times; and double-digits in 17 straight seasons, an AL record.

·         His 270 careers wins are the 17th-most of any pitcher post-World War II and the most of anyone who began his career after 1990.

·         His .638 winning percentage ranks 37^th all-time (among non-active pitchers). Only 5 Hall of Fame pitchers have more wins and a higher winning percentage than Mussina.

·         His career WAR ranks 23^rd among pitchers all-time and is higher than Glavine, Bob Gibson, Jim Palmer, Bob Feller, and many other HOFers. It is the 14^th best since 1920.

·         He finished in top 5 in WAR for pitchers seven times.

·         He had 10 seasons with a WAR of 5 or greater. Since 1950, only 3 pitchers have had more.

·         He was top 6 in ERA ten times, despite playing in the loaded AL East his entire career.

·         He is one of 12 pitchers with 10 or more seasons of an ERA+ of 125.

·         He was top 5 in WHIP ten times in his career.

·         He is 19^th all-time in strikeouts, just ahead of Cy Young.

·         He finished in the top five in Ks six times, top ten 10 times.

·         His K/9 rate would place him 8^th among starters in the Hall.

·         His K/BB ratio was top 10 in 15 years.

·         Only 3 HOFers have a higher K/BB ratio.

·         Only 7 HOFers have a higher Win Probability Added (WPA)

·         In various seasons, he led the league in wins, win-loss percentage, BB/9, shutouts, and WAR.

·         Only pitcher with 250 wins, 2500 Ks, and 800 or fewer walks in MLB history.

·         One of seven pitchers since 1920 w/ 250 wins, 2500 Ks, and a 120 ERA+

·         While Tom Glavine was a first ballot Hall of Famer (rightfully so), Mussina had a better ERA+, WHIP, K/9, W/9, K/BB, WAR, and winning percentage.

Postseason Performance and Near Misses  

·         Better postseason ERA than Roger Clemens, Pedro Martinez, Randy Johnson, and Jack Morris, among others.

·         His 2001 ALDS game 3 gem is one the most clutch and dominant performances I’ve seen.

·         He was a Mariano Rivera blown save away from winning the World Series in 2001

·         He lost a perfect game after 8 2/3 innings in 2001, in the 9^th in 1997, and 8^th in 1998. Only player to be denied a perfect game twice in the 9^th.