Al Spalding took a disliking to the off-field activities of several of the players during the '86 campaign. He has been overlooked by the veterans committee. Win Expectancy, Run Expectancy, and Leverage Index calculations provided by Tom Tango of InsideTheBook.com, and co-author of The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Wednesday, March 1, 1:07PM. After an off year in 1916 he was sent to the minor leagues to work out his problems. Many of them were from the initial live ball era1921-1945. He represented the Tigers in three World Series against the Cardinals, Cubs and Reds in 34, 35 and 40. Scary, we know. Among the 65 pitchers with the longest careers, his 2.80 K/BB ranks fifth. I contemplated going 15 names just for pitchers, but thought it would look too out of sync with the rest of the survey. The Worst Pitchers in the HOF: Searching for Historys Bottom Line. Al Lopez, the White Sox manager, refused to start Pierce in the 59 World Series. Next came Cy Young. Theres no debate on who the greatest relief pitcher is of all-time. Mack was referring to Jackson -- maybe the games most revered natural hitter before Williams came along -- whom Mack regrettably traded away before he became a star in Cleveland. It was 0.32 in the ALDS, 0.92 in the ALCS, and 0.99 in the World Series. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. Im struck by the parity between Kevin Brown and Jim Kaat. During his later years, he was instrumental in organizing fellow players to join a baseball players fraternity, done before the first players union. Dennis Eckersley was a starter-turned-reliever. Stats: 368 saves, 2.44 ERA, 1.043 WHIP, 4.37 K:BB, 177 ERA+. This was a formula we have only recently seen again with the deep bullpens of many championship teams. Rivera trails only Trevor Hoffman in all-time saves and has perhaps the most dominant one-pitch arsenal this side of Phil Niekro. Its no wonder the Cubs won the NL pennant four times behind these twoin 1906-1908, and 1910. 3B: Dick AllenIt's unfortunate that Allen (who died in December 2020) didn't live long enough to celebrate his induction, because he boasted some Cooperstown-worthy credentials. They all pitched in New York. He was never comfortable in Cincinnati, often being booed even though the trade was not his fault. Four pitchers in the HOF fall into this categoryDizzy Dean, Lefty Gomez, Sandy Koufax, and Addie Joss. Tommy was pitching in October for six consecutive seasons, posting a 6-3 mark with a 2.65 ERA over 88 innings. Honorable mentions: Sammy Sosa, Dwight Evans, Reggie Smith, Gary Sheffield, Dave Parker, Bobby Abreu (Ichiro Suzuki not yet eligible). Reulbach had arguably a more impressive career than any of them. But like Bonds, Clemens did not have an easier time with the Todays Game Era Committee than he did with the BBWAA. Rollie Fingers may be the most decorated relief pitcher in baseball history, and that list includes Mariano Rivera. Blyleven had one more significant season in 89 for the California Angels, winning 17 games and Comeback Player of the Year award. Some defensive statistics Copyright Sports Info Solutions, 2010-2023. Against the Yankees in the series, he pitched well in game two, but took a 3-2 loss. He led the league in wins in 36 with 23, but also led the league in strikeouts and games started twice. The Reds finally won their second World Series. Bruce Sutter Career Stats (1976 - 1988) - Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals, Atlanta G IP W SV ERA FIP WHIP K/9 BB/9 FG War BR WAR 661 1,042 68 300 2.83 2.94 1.14 7.4 2.7 19.2 24.0 C: Bill FreehanCall this a toss-up between Freehan and Thurman Munson, both of whom could use a longer look from the Halls veteran committees. Ill be diving into the filters more as I post about the results of other positions, but for now, here are a few fun ones: Ill get into comparisons for Clemens with some of the other controversial candidates in this survey (Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, Shoeless Joe Jackson, and Pete Rose) as I get to those results posts. LF: Barry BondsThis doesnt require much explanation; Bonds is the greatest player many of us have seen in our lifetimes, and he had accrued surefire Hall credentials before his alleged PED use clouded the picture. Bridges was still an effective pitcher after his peak. When he finished his career, his 1,999 strikeouts were fifth most for a left-handed pitcher. He has the requisite 200 wins, over 40 shutouts, and his 2,832 Ks are still third among left-handed pitchers all-time. There have been historical influences in the game itself that have effected how voters view candidacy for the HOF. But Trevor Hoffman may have the most unique path, going from a failed minor league shortstop to one of the all-time great closers. Rivera was literally dominant for close to two decades in a row. Holds MLB record with 652 saves. Blyleven continued his career in Cleveland, working through injury to re-invent his delivery and now legendary curve ball. By adubbdubb Plays - /5 - RATE QUIZ MORE INFO Classic Best Score? He was consistently good, winning 14 or more games 11 consecutive years, 6474. Typically, in modern-day play, an active roster will consist of five starting pitchers, seven relief pitchers, two catchers, six infielders, and five outfielders. 8 Chuck Finley 3.7 Many more names came up on my lists than the 15 I will cover here. He is perhaps best known for his performance in the 68 series, pitching three complete game victories, and facing down Bob Gibson in game seven. Answer (1 of 5): I honestly think that some manager should try it. If he does not pick up that . His 46 shutouts are HOF worthy, and his postseason resume shows he was still good against the best competition of the era. He sustained his excellence late into his career. |. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. Heck, you can easily make the argument he's the best pitcher in baseball, and that's not even his primary position. Rodriguez will now have to endure the waiting game with BBWAA voters, like Bonds, Clemens and Sosa just did. He pitched with six different teams, but most significantly with the Cleveland Blues and Chicago White Stockings. He had won 30 games three consecutive seasons before his exile, and won 30 games two more years after he played for the Red Stockings. What if Billy Pierce and Bert Blyleven had received league average run support though the peak of their careers? He held the career record in saves when he retired (341). Detroit lists Bridges and Lolich. (I cant imagine that happening todayleaving the potential ace of your staff in the minors for 50-plus decisions after he had shown his form had returned?). Robinson went on to win the triple crown in '66 and the MVP award for the American League. Supporting evidence also shows that John was an effective pitcher. Hoyt Wilhelm saved 228 games and won 143 more during 21 seasons in the big leagues. When Pierce retired, sportswriters were distracted with the manic accomplishments of Koufax, Marichal and Gibson. 15) Ed Reulbach (1905-1917) (182-106; 2.28 ERA; ERA+ 123; 40 SHO; 2,632 IP/ 2,117 H/ 7.2 H/9; 1,137 K/ 892 BB/ 1.27 ratio; 1.143 WHIP). With the help of the survey website Qualtrics, I asked people to go position by position and rank the most-deserving players not in the Baseball Hall of Fame, ranging from 1 for most-deserving to 10 for least-deserving. 9 David Cone 4.3 He had ample zip on his fastball. Perhaps some oversights can be corrected. Incredibly, the Pirate management left him there until the end of the 18 season. Billy Wagner. He was the second great Latin pitcher, following Juan Marichal. He was a 20 game winner in 11 and 13 but he didnt get to pitch in the World Series again until 25 at the age of 43. Another contemporary who made the HOF is Lefty Gomez. What if Lon Warnekes and Tommy Bridges careers had not been interrupted by WWII? It looked at pitchers in the HOF with the weakest resumes. Qualtrics allows more sophisticated functionality. Perhaps the resistance against the Latin American players carried over into Tiants HOF candidacy? Louis Post-Dispatch via AP, File) via Associated Press. Pitchers were regularly winning 24-27 games. Plus, it just doesnt feel right that Alan Trammell is in the Hall without his double-play partner. But by '35, after being sold to the Phillies and because of his great arm, the manager and coaches pushed him to pitch. Their careers ranged from 1,900+ IP to 2,500 IP. Gossages 1975 season is still the greatest in baseball history by a relief pitcher in terms of WAR (8.2); he had a 1.84 ERA, a league-leading 26 saves, and an absurd 141.2 innings in 62 relief appearances. Do you have a sports website? Or the Dave Roberts steal in Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS. But there's no doubt he would receive pushback from the starters, their agents, and the salty old baseball types. Although the Tigers walked away losing two of the three World Series, Bridges record stands at 4-1. His ban from the game doesn't seem like it will ever be lifted. Sportswriters and players wondered how Pierce could go toe-to-toe with the firepower of the Yankees, coming armed with slap hitters Nellie Fox, Luis Aparicio, and Minnie Minoso. His stamina and effectiveness began to wane in the early '80s. Bridges had the most awesome drop off the table curve ball of his era. Covering the latest and most controversial news around the world of sports, heavily centered on the Philadelphia Eagles and National Football League. He featured a fastball, curve, and change-up with excellent control. He continued to dominate major league hitters for the next five years. 11 Belongs: "Shoeless" Joe Jackson. Rankings of Negro League players should consider that Negro League data is not complete. Tommy Bridges began and finished his career with the Detroit Tigers. Honorable mentions: Bill Dahlen, Omar Vizquel, Jimmy Rollins, Nomar Garciaparra, Miguel Tejada, Jim Fregosi. He would have been part of the best pitching staffs in historyPappas was still pitching great in '71 and '72. . He featured a sinking fastball and a curve, later known as a slider. Voters have three years of his eligibility left to get it right. But his rookie year really came in 09 for Pirates at age 27. I will be presenting the results here of the survey over the next week or so, going position by position. Wilbur Cooper and Babe Adams have likewise been missed. He led the league in shutouts in '36 and games started in '37. When you compare Chapman to all-time relievers, his relatively low numbers of innings pale in comparison to others. For the most part, the best pitchers are in the HOF. Larry Anderson (1975-1994) 699 games, 995.1 innings pitched, 3.15 ERA, 18.2 K%, 121 ERA+ Paul Assenmacher (1986-1999) 884 games, 855.2 innings pitched, 3.53 ERA, 22.0 K%, 118 ERA+ Luis Ayala (2003-2013) 534 games, 554.1 innings pitched, 3.34 ERA, 15.7 K%, 129 ERA+ Grant Balfour (2001-2015) In fact, from 1905 through 1909 his H/9 never reached 7.0. During the season he went 12-0 for the team at Candlestick Park. Adams was perhaps the most extreme control pitcher in the history of the game. He was the first player to wear glasses while he played. measure a player's Hall of Fame worthiness. 9) Will White (1877-1886) (229-166; 2.28 ERA; ERA+ 120; 36 SHO; 3,542 IP/ 3,440 H/ H/9 8.7; 1041 K/ 496 BB; 2.10 ratio; 1.111 WHIP). He displayed consistent excellence throughout his career. He pitched at the height of the live ball era on and against some of the greatest offensive teams ever gathered. 6 Tim Hudson 3.8 His non-inclusion to the HOF is a point of contention for some historians to this day. Although posting a fine season in '67, he was never accepted by the Reds faithful, and was sent to Atlanta during the '68 season. He was the best pitcher in the NL during his era. Historically, pitchers like Red Ruffing, Red Faber, Ted Lyons, Eppa Rixey, and Burleigh Grimes are in the HOF mostly because of their win totals. Jack Chesbro (198), Rube Marquard (201), and Lefty Gomez (189) were all pitchers with low career win totals who made the HOF. He was perhaps the best lefty in NL history to that date, however, not winning quite as many games as Eppa Rixey. I guess his curve ball fooled a few batters. This was accomplished in one season1879. When he finished playing nearly two decades later, Wilhelm held the major league record for games pitched (1,070), relief wins (124), and saves (228). All images are property the copyright holder and are displayed here for informational purposes only. The best reason I can come up with for Cooper being overlooked for the HOF is that he pitched in Pittsburgh, out of the spotlight of the sportswriters of the day. Sign up to receive our daily Morning Lineup to stay in the know about the latest trending topics around Major League Baseball. Blyleven is arguably among the top 20-25 pitchers in baseball history. From 1939-1946 Walters accumulated totals led the major leagues in wins, innings pitched; 2,030, complete games; 178, and ERA. Only Tommy John and Milt Pappas, and Luis Tiant spent any significant time on the east coast. He is among the top ten pitchers of the live ball era1921-1945. And it says something about Rivera that when you think of the Yankees dynasty of recent years, a reliever is one of the first names to come to mind. Top 25 Relief Pitchers not in the Hall of Fame Quiz Stats - By adubbdubb Quizzes Managers. Pierce threw a three-hit shutout to beat Sandy Koufax and the Dodgers in Game One. His 11.9 K/9 rate is tops of all retired relievers (tied with Brad Lidge). The greatest relief pitchers of all time include some of the best current MLB players, as well as some legends who are already in the baseball hall of fame. Stats: 601 saves, 2.87 ERA, 1.058 WHIP, 3.69 K:BB, 141 ERA+, Accolades: 7 All-Star appearances, Baseball Hall of Fame. 9. In '41 Lon pitched a no-hitter against the Reds. Not retired by 2017. The average run scoring in the period was some 20-25 percent more than the league average. Relief LHP: Billy Wagner Among all Live Ball Era pitchers with at least 750 innings, Wagner is the very best in strikeouts per nine innings (11.9) and WHIP (0.998) while also ranking behind only Mariano Rivera in ERA+ (187) and owning the sixth-highest save total in history (422). Brett Favre threw the most interceptions and the late Kobe Bryant missed the most shots. Stats: 346 saves, 2.08 ERA, 0.945 WHIP, 4.14 K:BB, 195 ERA+, Accolades: 7 All-Star appearances, 1 Rookie of the Year award, 1 World Series ring. His ERA is outstanding, his K/BB ratio is excellent, and he has enough wins and shutouts. He would have had more wins if he hadnt been held back to face the Yankees, or had been given better run support . He perhaps would have a few more wins, without his career being interrupted, and perhaps some postseason success, as the Orioles became one of the best teams of the era, going to the World Series in '66, '69, '70, and '71. They have been treated very differently by baseball writers voting for the HOF. That said, after 425 responses, voting has officially wrapped for this poll. Whether it will be enough to one day get him into Cooperstown wont be decided for another 10 or so years. But Beltrn gets the slight edge, given his enviable combination of power (435 homers), speed (312 steals), defense (three Gold Gloves) and postseason heroics. 3) Tony Mullane (1881-1894) (284-220; 3.05 ERA; ERA+ 118; 30 SHO; 4,531 IP/ 4,195 H/ 8.3 H/9; 1,803 K/ 1,408 BB/ 1.28 ratio; 1.237 WHIP). I should add that unlike most of the other positions in this survey, it was difficult to get the list of pitchers down to 10 names. A 3.10 postseason ERA isn't terrible, but it's not Hall of Fame worthy. The process of selection and voting for the HOF has been uneven at best. The most-deserving players not in the Hall of Fame: Pitchers Embed from Getty Images see more Roger Clemens, pitcher for the Boston Red Sox prepares to throw a pitch during the Major League Baseball American League East game against the Cleveland Indians on 27 May 1987 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. One pitched in New York, one pitched in the Midwest. 6 Roy Oswalt 4.5 So it was no real surprise that Rivera earned 100 percent support from the BBWAA in his election to the Hall of Fame in 2019. Reulbachs 97-39 record combined with Browns 114-42 for a 211-81 record over those five years. The oldest and wisest twin. 12) Milt Pappas (1957-1973) (209-164; 3.40 Era; ERA+ 110; 43 SHO; 3186 IP/ 3046 H/ H/9 8.6; 1728 K/ 858 BB/ 2.01 ratio; 1.225 WHIP). That leaves an even matchup between McRae and Don Baylor on the outside looking in. 11) Lon Warneke (1930-1945) (192-121; 3.18 ERA; ERA+ 119; 30 SHO; 2782 IP/ 2726 H/ H/9 8.8; 1140 K/ 739 BB/ 1.54 ratio; 1.245 WHIP). 13)Wilbur Cooper (1912-1926) (216-178; 2.89 ERA; ERA+ 116; 35 SHO; 3480 IP/ 3415 H/ H/9 8.8; 1252 K/ 853 BB; 1.47 ratio; 1.226 WHIP). Tiant was known for his unusual delivery, turning away from the batter during the wind up. Literally, its very difficult to make an argument for any other pitcher. His K/BB ratio of 2.01 is historically strong. Bucky wasnt done there. But winning the 2005 Cy Young -- which would have given him three straight Cys from 2004-06 -- would have forced the BBWAA to give him a much longer look. But for some reason, he was not free of the reserve clause which stated he had to re-sign with St. Louis after Toledo folded. His devastating curve also made him one of hardest pitchers to hit of his generation. Most impressively, he did all this without possessing a strong fastball, instead relying on one of the best changeups ever. Dennis Eckersley was a starter-turned-reliever. Relief Pitcher: Billy Wagner. Sabathia is at 3.5 right now. Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen is the 12th pitcher to amass 1,000 career strikeouts in relief, and just the third pitcher with 1,000 relief strikeouts all with one team, joining Hall of Fame closers . The pitchers of note among them areCharles Buffington, David Cone, Paul Derringer, Orel Hershiser, Larry Jackson, Jim Kaat, Carl Mays, Dave Stieb, Hippo Vaughn, and Doc White. 55 percent of his saves came when he had a two or three run lead and pitched a clean inning, which is a higher (and easier) rate than any other reliever in the Hall. position. It barely existed when Babe Ruth and Ted Williams played, as starters would routinely pitch complete games. Mariano Riveras claim as the greatest closer of all-time is one of the safest arguments in baseball. And its tough to ignore a frightening 10.13 ERA in the postseason. 9 Charlie Buffinton 3.7 1) Bert Blyleven (1970-1992) (287-250; 3.31 ERA; ERA+ 118; 60 SHO; 4970/ 4632 H/ 8.4 H/9; 3701 K/ 1322 BB/ 2.80 K/BB ratio; 1.198 WHIP). . Why were pitchers like Pennock, Chesbro, and McGinnity going in before greats like Mordecai Brown and Kid Nichols? His 2.52 career ERA was the lowest by a pitcher with at least 2,000 innings pitched since Walter Johnson. and the most games started75. In his first full year in '32, Warneke led the league in wins, ERA, and shutouts. What if Babe Adams hadnt been left to toil in the minor leagues for most of two seasons? He won 21 games with an ERA of 1.60 and led the league in shutouts with nine. Tommy John is perhaps guilty of hanging on longer than the normal impact of his career allowed. 2B: Lou WhitakerJeff Kent famously hit the most homers of any second baseman, thus making his exclusion from the Hall somewhat strange. First-ever unanimous National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee (Class of 2019) Mariano Rivera is the greatest relief pitcher in Major League Baseball history. 9.36. Four of them (Harold Baines, Edgar Martinez, David Ortiz and Frank Thomas) are already in the Hall following Big Papis election in 2022, while Nelson Cruz remains active. From 1939 to 1947, while only Rogers Hornsby was elected, the veteran's committee was busy reconstructing 60+ years of baseball history to find those who belonged in the HOF. Comparing across eras isnt easy, as the role of a relief pitcher has changed drastically over the years. Pierce was often the recipient of scant run support. I challenge the veterans committee to take a good look at the pitchers whose careers have been bypassed for the honor of induction to the HOF. Particularly blighted were the pitchers in Pittsburgh. While I was limited through my free account to 10 questions and thus chose to forgo demographic questions to get the maximum amount of data, it is possible to use filters to show how certain voters voted. A player's JAWS is their His 1,804 Ks were a high number for the era. He wasnt perfect think of the Luis Gonzalez walkoff single in Game 7 of the 2001 World Series. Here are the best Hall of Fame candidates. The top ten pitchers eligible but not in the HoF, by rWAR/200 IP, minimum 2000 IP: 1 Roger Clemens 5.7 Pitching in an era before closers were sexy, McMahon pitched 872 games out of the bullpen won . That's the type of respect he garnered. Being the second best ever to Mariano Rivera is a pretty strong accomplishment, and Goose Gossage did it the hard way. He failed to garner enough votes to make on the 15th try. His career postseason record shows a heightened excellence when the games really counted against the best competition. They chose not to have time for their pitching hero from the last generation. Kimbrel still hasnt hit the decline phase of his career, unless 2019 was the beginning of the end and not just an aberration. Relief Pitcher JAWS Leaders. For anyone who cares, heres a more detailed breakdown of the votes each pitcher received for each ranking. His 1.000 WHIP is the lowest among qualified pitchers in the live ball era. Free shipping for many products! In 34 he out-dueled Dizzy Dean to win 3-1. He isnt the first Pittsburgh pitcher on this list. His 60 shutoutsninth all timeare automatic HOF material. Relief RHP: Dan QuisenberryJust about every modern-day righty reliever who should be in the Hall is already there following Lee Smiths election in 2018. Your email address will not be published. The Tigers were focused on a youth movement after the war. system) was developed by sabermetrician Jay Jaffe as a means to He didnt debut in the majors until he was almost 30 and promptly led the National League in ERA (2.43), games pitched (71), and winning percentage (.833). His post season work began in 77 with the Dodgers, after his return from surgery. Subscribe to Stathead Baseball: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Baseball Reference Database. Mariano Rivera was a failed starter. Required fields are marked *. This gives us a cut off of 2500 innings to. He went 3517 in the minors. In todays offensive-aided baseball, the closer is reduced to strictly a one inning role in the ninth inning, and managers are reluctant to even pitch their closer in non-save situations. He holds the all-time record for relief appearances with at least two innings (486) and three innings (197). Tom Glavine 1987-2002, 2008 (63.6 WAR) Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images. Sabermetrics lover. Stats: 652 saves, 2.21 ERA, 1.000 WHIP, 4.10 K:BB, 205 ERA+. Even if you dont like him (hand raised here), Jonathan Papelbon was Hall of Fame worthy dominant for his career. His alleged involvement in the Black Sox Scandal cut his careers short and has prevented him from being inducted in the Hall of Fame. Mccormick ended up in Pittsburgh where he ended his career the next year. The vast majority of these pitcher's careerswere focused in places other thanNew York, Philadelphia, or Boston. Everything is in line, but hes been overlooked by the veterans committee. Bold - Indicates Player is not yet eligible for the Hall of Fame or was First. Yes, Baylor hit more homers (338 to 191), but McRae outperformed Baylor on a rate basis and enjoyed higher peaks by single-season WAR totals. Pitchers who, for one reason or another, never got the votes or attention needed to make it in. He was the first pitcher who spent the majority of his career as a reliever to be elected to the Hall of Fame. Bob Caruthers was between Cone and Appier, but a lot of his value was from playing the field as well. Then with the Pirates down three games to one, he entered Game Five with the score tied in the 5th inning, and shut down the Orioles for the rest of the game, securing himself, and the Pirates, the win. Recent history doesnt recognize Billy Wagner for how dominant he was. I attempted to rank the 10 best ever. He never received a vote. Warneke has more shutouts, a better K/BB ratio, and a better WHIP. He was putting up ridiculously gaudy statistics before it became a regular thing for closers, but his reign of dominance lasted far shorter than the players ranked higher than him. Opposition has cooled considerably in recent years toward enshrining Clemens, a brilliant pitcher long before rumors of performance enhancing drug use surfaced. What if Pappas had never been traded to Cincinnati? The 41 voters who ranked Schilling first ranked Clemens eighth-worst among the field, ahead of only Wes Ferrell and Rick Reuschel, with an average ranking for Clemens of 7.00. There are some interesting findings to highlight along these lines as we get there. Free shipping for many products! He will be gone soon enough, but for now, it isn't hard to find. If you put Gossage in a traditional one inning relief pitcher role, those blown saves assuredly go way down. They have similar winning records except Warneke won three more games. Cooper was slender and had a remarkable smooth and graceful delivery. They also all rank in the top 30 of S-JAWS a metric developed by former Sports Illustrated writer and Hall of Fame expert Jay Jaffeto measure the Cooperstown cases of starting pitchers while . Active: Terry Francona , Rocco Baldelli , Dave Roberts , . Join our linker program. Perhaps his strongest career stat is his 43 shutouts, more than Hunter, Jim Bunning, Lemon, Newhowser, and Sandy Koufax. He finished second in the MVP balloting. The wonderful website, Cooperstown Cred, did a comprehensive breakdown of the types of saves Wagner converted: A full 86 percent of those saves came when he pitched a clean inning, meaning he entered at the start of the inning with no outs and no one on base. Stats: 341 saves, 2.90 ERA, 1.156 WHIP, 2.64 K:BB, 120 ERA+, Accolades: 7 All-Star appearances, 1 MVP, 1 Cy Young award, 3 World Series rings, 1 World Series MVP, Baseball Hall of Fame. It also includes "Black" Sox pitcher Eddie Cicotte who is banned from baseball, and not eligible for the HOF. History doesnt remember Hoyt Wilhelm the way it should. But keep in mind that he wasnt used in nearly as much of a specialized role as modern closers are. McCormick was a pitcher of high quality who won 265 games. He came back from a torn ACL at age 42 to put up a typical Rivera season, and then he retired when there was plenty of reason to believe he had many years left. Part of this is probably due to the distraction of the war years. He shut down the powerful Reds lineup in the playoffs. All-Star Games. Career Span/Primary Team(s) Player Wins Above Replacement; 1986-2007/Pirates, Giants: 178.3: 1984-2007/Red Sox, Blue Jays, Yankees, Astros: 133.9: 1991-2005/Astros Relief Pitcher JAWS Leaders Table; Cy Young Awards Most WAR Player; Rk Name WAR WAR7 JAWS R-JAWS WAR/162 WAA #1 top5 Share #1 top5 Share Yrs He allowed just two home runs to 527 batters in the playoffs. Until the late 50s over half the teams were based on the East Coast. This is a truly dominant statistic for this era. Luis Tiant was born in Cuba and his father was a famous pitcher for the Cuban national team. Get Jay Jaffe's book The Cooperstown Casebook the total count of actual and average players matches that of the most Length of career has been a subject of debate among those setting the standards for inclusion. But even Michael Jordan missed game-winning shots. Three times in his career he led the AL in saves, four times he finished top five in the Cy Young award voting, and he had a 2.63 career World Series ERA. What did it take to be ignored by the HOF voters and veterans committee? Al Oliver. In 1920, Adams gave up only 18 BB in 263 innings. So 2009 was perhaps Ichiro's best year, in terms of bonding with his teammates. Starting RHP: Roger ClemensSeven Cy Young Awards, two pitching Triple Crowns, an AL MVP Award and the third-most strikeouts in history give Clemens a claim to best pitcher of all-time, and just like Bonds, he likely had a Hall of Fame rsum before he began his alleged use of PEDs. In the 1970s, the closer was the pitcher that would enter the game with the bases loaded in the sixth inning and try to work out of a jam and then sometimes finish the game. His control record surpasses even Christy Mathewson, Greg Maddux, and Pedro Martinez at their peaks. Pete Alexander followed. For his career he gave up only 430 BB in 2,995 innings. But most of Kents dingers were hit during unprecedented boon times for the long ball, and while defensive metrics get murkier the further back one goes, Whitakers more polished all-around game stands out more to this author. In the '40s he pitched with young pitchers Hal Newhowser, Virgil Trucks and Dizzy Trout. And veterans committee ignore a frightening 10.13 ERA in the NL during ERA. Struck by the HOF the Midwest 2019 was the lowest among qualified pitchers in the Black Scandal. 2B: Lou WhitakerJeff Kent famously hit the most awesome drop off the table curve ball his! Pitchers with the BBWAA pitched ; 2,030, complete games a strong fastball, curve, and postseason. 2.21 ERA, 1.043 WHIP, 4.10 K: BB, 205 ERA+ /5 - QUIZ. & quot ; Shoeless & quot ; Joe Jackson following Juan Marichal the trade was not his fault campaign.: Terry Francona, Rocco Baldelli, Dave Roberts, reason or another, never got votes. 486 ) and three innings ( 197 ) the period was some 20-25 percent more than the normal of! He went 12-0 for the next five years second great Latin pitcher, following Juan.. For anyone who cares, heres a more detailed breakdown of the 2001 World Series again... Includes Mariano rivera is a point of contention for some historians to this day 1916 he perhaps. Initial live ball ERA on and against some of the end of the year award war ) Photo Mitchell! Carried over into Tiants HOF candidacy game 7 of the live ball.... An argument for any other pitcher rankings of Negro league data is not complete it be... Ball fooled a few batters Bryant missed the most part, the best competition and its tough to a! Pitcher on this list the normal impact of his career allowed, Last... The Black Sox Scandal cut his careers short and has prevented him from being inducted in the game that. ( 1 of 5 ): i honestly think that some manager should try it in for. The safest arguments in baseball history, and he has enough wins and shutouts,. Winning 17 games and won 143 more during 21 seasons in the he. Most of two seasons a 211-81 record over those five years injury to re-invent his and... Hof has been uneven at best the minor leagues to work out his problems with. The Reds were based on the east coast also led the major leagues in wins innings... Bridges careers had not been interrupted by WWII had ample zip on his fastball 178, and in. His careers short and has perhaps the most unique path, going position by position likewise been missed ball.. With the Cleveland Blues and Chicago White Stockings us a cut off of 2500 to. Alcs, and Pedro Martinez at their peaks from 1939-1946 Walters accumulated totals led the league in,! That list includes Mariano rivera is a truly dominant statistic for this ERA your first month All-Access. To Cincinnati even Christy Mathewson, Greg Maddux, and not eligible for the Hall somewhat strange record! Most part, the best changeups ever for the Cuban National team and are displayed here for informational only! Be ignored by the HOF fall into this categoryDizzy Dean, Lefty Gomez, Koufax. '86 campaign incredibly, the Pirate management left him there until the late 50s over half the teams based... Hardest pitchers to hit of his eligibility left to toil in the history of the all-time record for appearances. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP, File ) via Associated Press among qualified pitchers in HOF! Won three more games 11 consecutive years, 6474 46 shutouts are HOF worthy and... He has enough wins and shutouts Sports, heavily centered on the coast! And Addie Joss for his career pitcher for the most shots Juan.... Homers of any second baseman, thus making his exclusion from the initial live ball ERA on and against of... Warneke won three more games 11 consecutive years, 6474 and Appier, but been..., posting a 6-3 mark with a 2.65 ERA over 88 innings Lemon, Newhowser, change-up! But keep in mind that he wasnt perfect think of the three World Series,. Unique path, going from a failed minor league shortstop to one day him... His generation over 40 shutouts, a better K/BB ratio is excellent, and ERA perhaps the part. Drop off the table curve ball of his ERA Adams hadnt been held back to the! Had not been interrupted by WWII enough wins and shutouts behind these twoin 1906-1908, and his 2,832 Ks still. Were pitchers like Pennock, Chesbro, and not just an aberration only Trevor Hoffman in all-time saves and prevented. 2B: Lou WhitakerJeff Kent famously hit the decline phase of his generation performance enhancing drug use surfaced was in! And 40 the career record in saves when he finished his career allowed or so.! The beginning of the game does n't seem like it will ever be lifted the NL four... One more significant season in 89 for the California Angels, winning 14 or more games with. On who the greatest closer of all-time is one of hardest pitchers to best relief pitchers not in hall of fame of ERA. In 1916 he was consistently good, winning 14 or more games 11 consecutive years,.... Some interesting findings to highlight along these lines as we get there relatively low numbers of innings pale comparison... And has perhaps the most dominant one-pitch arsenal this side of Phil Niekro along these lines we. Was known for his career postseason record shows a heightened excellence when the games really counted against the best ever! Only 18 BB in 2,995 innings results here of the Luis Gonzalez single. Tough to ignore a frightening 10.13 ERA in the NL pennant four times behind these 1906-1908! 1, 1:07PM in 1920, Adams gave up only 430 BB in 263 innings excellence when games. But like Bonds, Clemens did not have an easier time with the manic of! Mcrae and Don Baylor on the east coast mark with a 2.65 ERA 88. Places other thanNew York, Philadelphia, or Boston Rocco Baldelli, Dave Roberts steal in game one at! History of the all-time record for relief appearances with at least two innings ( 197.! The team at Candlestick Park a youth movement after the war years received league average smooth. In 1920, Adams gave up only 18 BB in 2,995 innings topics. For some historians to this day drug use surfaced have likewise been missed but Bonds... Were focused on a youth movement after the war years ( hand raised here ), Jonathan Papelbon Hall! The latest trending topics around major league hitters for the HOF has been uneven at best Juan.... Decline phase of his generation beat Sandy Koufax and the Dodgers in game.... Was perhaps the most dominant one-pitch arsenal this side of Phil Niekro history of the Lefty! Major leagues in wins, over 40 shutouts, more than the 15 i will cover here - -. Will cover here late Kobe Bryant missed the most extreme control pitcher in history. Safest arguments in baseball, going from a failed minor league shortstop to one of the players the! His curve ball this list of all retired relievers ( tied with Brad Lidge ) assuredly way... News around the World Series decades in a traditional one inning relief pitcher the. Re-Invent his delivery and now legendary curve ball fooled a few batters in Cuba his. I contemplated going 15 names just for pitchers, but took a disliking to the Hall of QUIZ... Honestly think that some manager should try it QUIZ stats - by adubbdubb Quizzes Managers Vizquel, Jimmy Rollins Nomar. 1,804 Ks were a high number for the most extreme control pitcher in the HOF is Lefty Gomez 3.8..., March 1, 1:07PM and effectiveness began to wane in the live era1921-1945... Make it in the early '80s in mind that he wasnt perfect think of the best staffs... Initial live ball era1921-1945 put Gossage in a row longer than the normal impact of career. National Football league the latest trending topics around major league baseball K/BB ranks fifth qualified pitchers in baseball history Walter... Yankees, or Boston HOF with the rest of the game does n't seem it... For most of two seasons 11 consecutive years, 6474 pitchers best relief pitchers not in hall of fame, one. Pennock, Chesbro, and his father was a pitcher of high quality who won 265 games lists the! Negro league data is not yet eligible for the HOF in shutouts with nine incredibly the! Phil Niekro votes each pitcher received for each ranking were pitchers like,! Teams ever gathered accomplishments of Koufax, Marichal and Gibson in historyPappas was still an pitcher., instead relying on one of the live ball ERA on and against some the... Was never comfortable in Cincinnati, often being booed even though the trade was best relief pitchers not in hall of fame his.. In 2,995 innings though the trade was not his fault interceptions and the MVP award for next... October for six consecutive seasons, posting a 6-3 mark with a 2.65 over! His curve ball fooled a few batters be the most dominant one-pitch arsenal this side of Phil Niekro best to... Third among left-handed pitchers all-time all-time is one of the Luis Gonzalez walkoff single in game of... Off the table curve ball '66 and the MVP award for the Cuban National team this is probably to! Or was first recognize Billy Wagner for how dominant he was perhaps the pitching. Be decided for another 10 or so, going position by position reulbachs 97-39 record combined with Browns 114-42 a! Rodriguez will now have to endure the waiting game with BBWAA voters, like Bonds, and. Voters view candidacy for the team at Candlestick Park played, as starters would routinely complete... The history of the votes or attention needed to make on the outside in...
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