Cooperstown Chronicles - Frank Viola

Photo courtesy of TSN Archives/Icon SMI

Favre_is_overrated_2007, a friend of mine from Sporting News, suggested Frank Viola.  Here are my findings.

The Numbers
420 Starts
2836.3 Innings Pitched
176-150 Record
.540 Winning %
3.73 ERA (compared to 4.18 League ERA)
1.301 WHIP
1844 Ks
74 Complete Games
16 Shutouts
Two 20 Win Seasons

Playoffs:  5 Starts, 3-1 record, 4.31 ERA, 25 Ks

Awards
1988 Cy Young
1987 Babe Ruth Award
1988 AL Sporting News Pitcher of the Year
1987 World Series MVP
3 All-Star Appearances
Cy Young Votes in 3 Seasons
MVP Votes in 1 Season

Top Ten Finishes
Wins - Six Times (Led league in 1988)
ERA - Five Times
Winning % - Once (Led league in 1988)
Innings - Seven Times (Led league in 1990)
Strikeouts - Five Times
Starts - Nine Times (Led league in 1986 & 1990)
Complete Games - Four Times
Shutouts - Four Times

Sweet Music had a great nickname.  He’s basically Orel Hershiser without the scoreless inning streak. He basically had four really good seasons (84, 85, 88, 90).  He was a real good pitcher, but comes up shy in the Hall of Fame Department.

References
Baseball-reference.com

Past Chronicles
Bert Byleven
Andre Dawson
Dale Murphy
Mark McGwire
Bobby Matthews
Tommy John
Buck O’Neill & Minnie Minoso
Jim Rice
Ted Simmons
Lee Smith
Jack Morris
Al Oliver
Steve Garvey
Jim Kaat
Pete Ro$e
Shoeless Joe Jackson
Dave Concepcion
Lou Whitaker
Alan Trammell
Ron Santo
Ron Guidry
Gil Hodges
Dave Parker
Tony Mullane
Keith Hernandez
Don Mattingly
Dwight Evans
Ralph Houk (Manager)
Jimmie Dykes (Player/Manager)
Charlie Grimm (Player/Manager)
Billy Martin (Player/Manager)
Harold Baines
Gene Mauch (Manager)
Whitey Herzog (Manager)
Tom Kelly (Manager)
Joe Carter
Rusty Staub
Gary Gaetti
Jimmy Ryan
George Van Haltren
Roger Maris
Lance Parrish
Mo Vaughn
Mark Grace
Dennis Martinez
Chuck Finley
Fred McGriff
Wes Parker
Steve Finley
Orlando Cepeda*
Albert Belle
Willie Randolph
Graig Nettles
Luis Gonzalez
Lefty O’Doul
Rocky Colavito
Boog Powell
Jerry Koosman
Mike Cuellar
Edgar Martinez
Brooks Robinson*
Roberto Alomar
Dave Stieb
John Franco
Maury Wills
Sherry Magee
Phil Rizzuto*
Orel Hershiser

* signifies actual Hall of Famers