(Zell's Pinstripe Blog)

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 A.L. 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 ⅔) 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