Mike Mussina, King of Almost, enters the Hall of Fame
By Manny Gómez
On his 6th time on the ballot, Mike Mussina, the King of Almost, has finally made it to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, but just barely.
In order to make it to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, a player requires 75% of the vote. On his 6th time on the ballot, Mike Mussina (aka “Moose”) has finally reached that number, but just barely. He received just 76.7% of the vote.
Nothing represents Moose more than that word: “Barely.” His entire career is mired with almosts and barelys.
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He only managed to win 20-games in a season once; in his final MLB season on the final game of his career.
He almost completed a perfect game… twice.
Once with the Baltimore Orioles in 1997 against the Cleveland Indians. In this attempt, Mussina came within 2-outs of baseball immortality. Then he did it again with the New York Yankees in 2001 against the Boston Red Sox. This time he came within 1-out of the accomplishment.
Mussina never won a World Series, though he almost did.
In 2001, Mussina helped the Yanks reach game-7 of the World Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. A bloop single off of Mariano Rivera sent the team home losers, but another opportunity would arise two years later.
In 2003, Moose played a major role in the Yankees defeating the Red Sox in walk-off fashion in game-7 of the ALCS. In that game, he came in relief for the first time in his career and pitched a stellar three frames, allowing the Yanks to mount an epic comeback.
Unfortunately for Moose and the Bronx Bombers, the Yankees went on to lose the World Series against Josh Beckett and the Florida Marlins.
Mussina doesn’t have 300 wins, instead, he retired with 270; he doesn’t have 3000 strikeouts, instead, he retired with 2813; and he doesn’t have a Cy Yong award, though he came close to winning it several times in his career.
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If there’s one thing Mike Mussina isn’t almost, it’s a great, Hall of Fame-worthy MLB starting pitcher. Don’t miss the induction ceremonies are set to take place Sunday, July 21st at 1:30 PM.