What Mike Mussina meant to the New York Yankees

Mike Mussina was the mark of consistency for his 18-year career and if he was on the mound for the New York Yankees that meant it was a big game.

If you had to define newly-minted Hall-of Famer Mike Mussina’s career with the New York Yankees, I think the phrase that works best is “very rewarding, but quite frustrating at the same time.” Mussina was never a part of a World Series-winning team as his two Fall Classic (2001 against the Arizona Diamondbacks and 2003 against the Florida Marlins) appearances ended in losses.

However, he played a major role in the franchise’s two greatest postseason wins. Mussina’s pitching performance in those games enhanced his place in Yankees folklore. He rose to the challenge by shining the brightest under the spotlight that comes with playing for the Bronx Bombers.

Now, Mussina was never a huge personality in his entire big league career. He was regularly touted as a cerebral pitcher who graduated from Stanford University and was reported to have stayed in his hotel room eating peanut butter when the New York Yankees played against the Tampa Bay Rays in Japan.

Either way, he had a long, consistent career with more shining moments than you could imagine. Let’s take a look at some of those moments.