MLB: Top 25 Players Not in Baseball Hall of Fame
By David Hill
Rick Reuschel: 214-191, 3.37 ERA, 1.275 WHiP, 68.2 WAR, 0.4% (1997)
When one thinks of a Hall of Fame caliber pitcher, Rick Reuschel is not the type of player that comes to mind. After all, he only had one 20 win season, never won a Cy Young award or received an MVP vote, and only made three All Star Games. However, that does not change the fact that Reuschel was one of the more valuable pitchers of his time.
A workhorse for some mediocre Chicago Cubs teams, Reuschel was a surprisingly solid athlete, despite his portly build. He was used as a pinch hitter and a pinch runner, and was an excellent fielder, winning two Gold Glove awards. He was a solid piece to slot in to the middle of a rotation.
Yet, Reuschel was far more than that. Based on several metrics, he was actually a top 100 player in MLB history, and one of the best pitchers in the history of the game. His 68.2 WAR is 34th in MLB history for pitchers, ahead of such unquestioned Hall of Famers as Jim Palmer, Bob Feller, and Juan Marichal. Among pitchers not already enshrined, Reuschel ranks sixth, and the other five will appear later on this list.
Overall, Reuschel’s 70.0 WAR, accounting for his defense and ability with the bat, places him 98th in the history of the game. Only 15 players not in the Hall rank higher, and of those, five are ineligible. Regardless of what his overall numbers may say, Reuschel was a stellar pitcher.
In fact, the reason why his numbers are so deceiving has to do with his unearned runs. Reuschel had 164 unearned runs, accounting for 10.9% of the total runs scored against him in his career. Even cutting that total in half could dramatically change his won-loss record, giving him a better chance at the recognition he deserves.
One of the better players in MLB history, Rick Reuschel was criminally underrated throughout his career. With the value he provided on the field, he certainly has a case for the Hall of Fame.
Next: The defensive specialist