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Hall of Fame Debate: Jack Morris

Ryan Lester by Senior Analyst Written on January 07, 2009
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Eric Stashin the Rotoprofessor and I are back to debate Jack Morris’ Hall of Fame worthiness.

The Numbers
254 Wins (40th All-time)
3.90 ERA
2478 Strikeouts (31st All-time)
3824 Innings (49th All-time)
527 starts (35th All-time)
175 Complete Games
28 Shutouts

The Awards
World Series MVP
Five All-Star Appearances
Received MVP votes in five seasons
Received Cy Young votes in seven seasons

Top 10 Finishes
Wins: 12 Times (Led league in ‘81 & ‘92)
ERA: 5 Times
Strikeouts: 8 Times (Led league ‘83)
Innings: 9 Times (Led league in ‘83)
Starts: 11 Times (Led league in ‘90 & ‘91)
Complete Games: 10 Times (Led league in ‘90)
Shutouts: 8 Times (Led league in ‘86)
Winning Percentage: 5 Times

Hall of Fame Yardsticks
Black Ink—Pitching: 20 (89) (Average HOFer ≈ 40)
Gray Ink—Pitching: 193 (47) (Average HOFer ≈ 185)
HOF Standards—Pitching: 39.0 (73) (Average HOFer ≈ 50)
HOF Monitor—Pitching: 122.5 (64) (Likely HOFer > 100)



Lester’s Take
1991.  Game 7.  Minnesota Twins vs. Atlanta Braves.  Jack Morris vs. John Smoltz.  In perhaps the best postseason performance of the modern era, Jack Morris throws 10 innings of shutout ball to deliver a World Series to Minnesota in 1-0 ballgame. 

That’s the stuff that legends are made of.  That’s just one reason he belongs in the Hall of Fame. 

Jack Morris won World Series titles with three different teams (Detroit in ‘84, Minnesota in ‘91, and Toronto in ‘92) compiling a World Series record of 3-0 with a 2.96 ERA in seven games.  He went 6-1 in 13 career playoff starts. 

Morris isn’t limited to that brilliant World Series performance, those seven World Series games, or those 13 playoff games.  His overall numbers speak to his worthiness as well.

Morris had more wins in the 80’s (162) than any other pitcher.  Dave Steib is the next closest with 140.  Every pitcher that has led a decade in wins is in the Hall of Fame.  He was a model of consistency winning at least 15 games in 12 of the 14 seasons in which he had at least 25 starts. 

His dominance is equaled by his durability.  He made over 500 consecutive starts without missing a turn in the rotation.  He also owns a no-hitter (1984 vs. the White Sox).

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written on January 07, 2009 Opinion

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