Cooperstown 2016: Mike Mussina

MIKE MUSSINA
Third Year on Ballot (24.6% last year)

PLAYING CAREER:  Baltimore Orioles (1991–2000) and New York Yankees (2001–2008)

ACHIEVEMENTS:  270 career wins rank him 33^rd all-time. Only five Hall-eligible pitchers have more wins and are not in Cooperstown. Double digit in win in seventeen straight seasons, including one 20 win season (2008), two 19 win seasons, three 18 win seasons, and two 17 win seasons. His 2813 strikeouts place him 19^th all-time and make him only the fourth pitcher with 2800 or more strikeouts not in the Hall of Fame. A five-time All-Star (1992–1994, 1997 and 1999) and seven-time Gold Glove winner (1996–1999, 2001, 2003 and 2008), his consistency resulted in six top-five finishes in the voting for his league’s Cy Young Award.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ON TWITTER:

@pedrogomezESPN Also, why doesn't Mike Mussina get more love??? He could have hobbled his way to 300. He went out on top.

— Benjamin Moss (@TheOriginalMoss) December 24, 2015

*HOF tweet alert*: If you're voting for Mike Mussina but not Curt Schilling you should lose your vote.

— RhodyBeers (@SteveEdwardo) December 23, 2015

Mike Mussina won't get in the HoF and it's gonna be so sad

— je (@TheAttack5) December 23, 2015

HOVG THOUGHTS: To me, Mussina is an interesting case. On paper, you see a HUGE winning percentage (.638), a brilliant 270 and 153 record and 2813 Ks. His career ERA is 3.68 and one could argue that had he not toiled for more than half of his career in Baltimore…he would be as much of a Hall candidate as Tom Glavine was two years ago. However, Glavine had five seasons with more than 20 wins. Mussina, while he’s hit double digits in wins seventeen straight years, only reached 20 once. The Cy Young award eluded Mussina as well. And unfortunately, six top five finishes and no hardware doesn’t make for the best Hall of Fame case. Although, I admit it…I’m coming around on “Moose” and will concede that he’ll find his way to Cooperstown at some point.