HOF Hypocrisy: Mike Mussina “Not Feared Enough” to be Hall of Famer

In the latest edition of Hall of Fame Hypocrisy, we break down one voter’s reasons for NOT voting Mike Mussina into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

On Wednesday, Paul Daugherty of the Cincinnati Enquirer, published an article explaining why he only voted for Mariano Rivera and Roy Halladay in his 2019 Baseball Hall of Fame Ballot. In his explanation, he stated that he didn’t vote for Mike Mussina because… wait for it… “Who feared Mussina?”

He continues by saying, “what team of hitters went into a big September series saying, ‘Man, I’m glad we miss Mussina?'”

When comparing Mike Mussina’s stats to his counterparts, who are already in the HOF, Mussina has better stats in September than most, if not all of them.

We’re talking about legends of the game: Randy Johnson, Greg Maddux, John Smoltz, Tom Glavine, Pedro Martinez, Jack Morris, Dennis Eckersley, and last but not least, Nolan Ryan. Guys that pitched in some capacity during the Mike Mussina era (1991-2008).

In September/October games, when compared to these pitchers, Mike Mussina has the 2nd Best W-L%, behind Randy Johnson. He bests everyone else on the list when it comes to ERA and WHIP.

The fact of the matter is, while most pitchers started to fade late in the grueling season, Mussina was just getting warmed up.

Who could forget the 1997 ALCS in which Mussina struck-out 15 batters, setting an LCS record.

Also, we’d be remiss to not bring up game 7 of the 2003 ALCS. After Roger Clemens was pulled from the game after only going 3 IP, allowing 4 R, Mussina came in and tossed three scoreless innings to allow the Yankees to get back in the game. It was the first time he had ever entered a game in relief.

These are just two of many memorable moments Mussina had late in the season and during the playoffs.

We haven’t touched on the near-perfect games, especially the one in September of 2001 against the Red Sox. We also haven’t touched on the big postseason games in which it seemed like he was the only reliable SP on the team, like in the 2003 World Series when he beat the World Series MVP, Josh Beckett.

What’s more, Mussina was the definition of consistency in his time in MLB. In 17 or the 18 seasons he pitched in, only twice did he start less than 27 games. His rookie season, when he was called up with just under two months to play, and the strike-shortened 1994 season.

For his career, Mussina averaged 30 GS per season and 198 IP, which is more than you can say about guys like Pedro Martinez and Randy Johnson.

More from Call to the Pen

• Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
• Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
• Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
• Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
• 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals

Sure Mussina didn’t have the flashy nickname, like “Big Unit” or “Rocket,” and sure he was known for being a “cerebral” pitcher who spent much of his free time doing

crossword puzzles

and eating

peanut butter

, but does that make him less “fearful” than his counterparts.

This is precisely why most Hall of Fame voters are not using the tactic Daugherty is using in placing their votes. Because to deny a player who is clearly worthy of the Hall is flat out asinine.

You have to question why some writer’s don’t utilize the tools they are given when making these kinds of decisions. A brief stroll through Baseball Reference or FanGraphs would have informed any writer of Mussina’s worthiness.

The good news is, despite Daugherty and voters like him, 2019 will likely be Mussina’s year, and he deserves it.