Does Mike Mussina deserve to be in the Hall of Fame?

http://zellspinstripeblog.com/2008/11/2 ... l-of-fame/

Mike Mussina (5X All-Star, 7X Gold Glove Winner) never won 300 games, he never won a Cy Young, or even get that World Series ring he always wanted, but he had one heck of a career. He compiled 270 Wins, a 3.68 Career ERA, and 2813 Strikeouts through 18 years in the major leagues. He didn’t play in any division, but he pitched in the powerhouse of baseball. The strongest division in baseball is where he spent his 18 seasons. So many championships have come out of the AL East, and it has proved to be the best division in baseball over the past 20 years. He pitched against the Jays in ‘92 & ‘93, the Yankees golden years from ‘96-2000, and most recently..those Red Sox. I don’t think it’s necessary for a pitcher to get 300 wins to make the HOF. It is a lock if you get it, but just because you don’t go for it…that shouldn’t keep you out. If I had a vote..I would vote him into the Hall of Fame.

Interesting fact: Last pitcher to retire after a 20 win season was Sandy Koufax.

Awards/Achievements

Seven-time Gold Glove award winner.
Seven-time Cy Young Award nominee, placing in the top five six times.
Two-time MVP award nominee, garnering 2 points in 1992 and 8 in 1994.
1994 Baseball America First-Team American League All-Star starting pitcher.
1999 Baseball America Second-Team American League All-Star starting pitcher.
Led AL in Won-Loss percentage (.783) in 1992
Led AL in Wins (19), Walks/9IP (2.03) and Shutouts (4) in 1995
Led AL in Games Started (36) in 1996
Led AL in Innings (237 ?) in 2000
Reached both the 2001 and 2003 World Series with the New York Yankees
Won 15 games in a season 11 times.
One 20 win season (2008), two 19 win seasons, three 18 win seasons, and two 17 win seasons.
Here is some data brought to you by the LoHud Yankees Blog & Was Watching:

Let’s go over the facts….

Mike Mussina spent his entire careeer in the American League East.
He faced eight teams that won the World Series (Blue Jays 1992-93, Yankees ‘96, 1998-2000, Red Sox 2004, ‘07).
This is how Mike performed against those championship teams:

vs. 1992 Blue Jays: 3 GS, 1-1 W/L, 19.6 IP and an ERA of 4.58
vs. 1993 Blue Jays: Never Faced The Jays That Season
vs. 1996 Yankees: 3 GS, 0-3 W/L, 15.6 IP and an ERA of 6.32
vs. 1998 Yankees: 2 GS, 0-1 W/L, 13.3 IP and an ERA of 4.72
vs. 1999 Yankees: 3 GS, 2-0 W/L, 18.6 IP and an ERA of 0.96
vs. 2000 Yankees: 1 GS, 1-0 W/L, 6.3 IP and an ERA of 1.42
vs. 2004 Red Sox: 3 GS, 1-1 W/L, 18.0 IP and an ERA of 3.50
vs. 2007 Red Sox: 2 GS, 0-1 W/L, 11.6 IP and an ERA of 9.26

Mike’s Postseason Numbers:

139.2IP GS 21 (W-L) 7-9 3.42ERA 121H 53ER 33BB 145K

and last but not least..his Career Numbers:

3562.2IP 270W 153L 3460H 1559R 1458ER 785BB 2813SO 3.68ERA 1.19WHIP

hells no.

I doubt he'll get in on the first ballot, but I think he'll end up in the Hall.

I say yes, but not first ballot.

I say yes. I hope the voters take into consideration the lack of talent (minus Cal) that surrounded him while he was in Baltimore. It seemed like game after game he would pitch a 1 run game and still lose. Angelos should have paid the man. I am still bitter about that!

Nothing against Moose but I would vote "No" to him being inducted into the Hall of Fame. I think he's had a really good career but not a Hall of Fame career.

Heck yes he does!

THREADKILLER-crohrer said:

I say yes. I hope the voters take into consideration the lack of talent (minus Cal) that surrounded him while he was in Baltimore. It seemed like game after game he would pitch a 1 run game and still lose. Angelos should have paid the man. I am still bitter about that!

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Mussina will have to wait in line behind Blyleven for the "pitched great and lost" sympathy vote.

Pitching in the A.L. East his whole career in a good arguement, but he laso had the benefit of pitching for teams that scored a lot of runs and in NY he had the best closer of this era.

Gossage got in, Moose will too, probably in 2018 when the HOF needs to put someone in

I think he will but not first ballot. If he does get voted in, i hope he goes in as an Oriole.

I believe that 3.68 ERA would give him the second highest ERA of anyone in the Hall. He was fortunate to play on division contending teams for most of his career and thus racked up the wins. After his first two seasons, never had a sub. 3.00 ERA season. Didn't win 20 games until this last season. Only made 5 All-Star games. Outside of 1999, never finished in the top 3 in Cy Young voting in any season.

He's had a really nice career, but I feel he will be one of those borderline potential HOF'ers, that may get in later on down the road. I don't see him getting in on the first ballot.

He was never the dominant pitcher for his era. That doesn't mean he won't get in, but I don't think he will first-ballot.

He had a great 2008.

if today were November 25th, 2007, would there even be a thread about this? nope.

He had a sensational career, but I just do not think that he will get in. If he does, it will be atleast 10 years down the road

ThoseBackPages said:

Gossage got in, Moose will too, probably in 2018 when the HOF needs to put someone in

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To make a long winded post short, I would love to see him get in. However I just can not say he is without doubt HOF material. And I think the HOF should be for the 'without doubt' type of players. Ken Griffey Jr, Randy Johnson, Greg Maddux, Arod, these guys are 'without doubt' because they were DOMINANT, they were the best of the best and made baseball what it is today.

When I think of Mussina, can I really say he was dominant and made baseball what it is today? I just do not know...