WAR Data: Best Starting Pitchers Not In the Hall of Fame
Posted by Neil Paine on May 20, 2010
Yesterday, I looked at the best eligible position players not in the Hall of Fame by WAR, and you responded with your votes by choosing Tim Raines as the non-HoFer you felt was most deserving of the honor. Today, I'm going to do the same thing, but for starting pitchers who haven't been enshrined in Cooperstown yet. Here are the top non-HoF pitchers by WAR who started at least 60% of their career games:
Rk | Player | WAR | From | To | G | GS | CG | SHO | W | L | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | BF | Tm | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Roger Clemens | 128.4 | 1984 | 2007 | 709 | 707 | 118 | 46 | 354 | 184 | .658 | 4916.2 | 4185 | 1885 | 1707 | 1580 | 4672 | 3.12 | 143 | 363 | 20240 | BOS-TOR-NYY-HOU |
2 | Greg Maddux | 94.2 | 1986 | 2008 | 744 | 740 | 109 | 35 | 355 | 227 | .610 | 5008.1 | 4726 | 1981 | 1756 | 999 | 3371 | 3.16 | 132 | 353 | 20421 | CHC-ATL-TOT-SDP |
3 | Randy Johnson | 87.3 | 1988 | 2009 | 618 | 603 | 100 | 37 | 303 | 166 | .646 | 4135.1 | 3346 | 1703 | 1513 | 1497 | 4875 | 3.29 | 136 | 411 | 17067 | MON-TOT-SEA-ARI-NYY-SFG |
4 | Bert Blyleven | 77.4 | 1970 | 1992 | 692 | 685 | 242 | 60 | 287 | 250 | .534 | 4970.0 | 4632 | 2029 | 1830 | 1322 | 3701 | 3.31 | 118 | 430 | 20491 | MIN-TOT-TEX-PIT-CLE-CAL |
5 | Pedro Martinez | 75.9 | 1992 | 2009 | 476 | 409 | 46 | 17 | 219 | 100 | .687 | 2827.1 | 2221 | 1006 | 919 | 760 | 3154 | 2.93 | 154 | 239 | 11394 | LAD-MON-BOS-NYM-PHI |
6 | Mike Mussina | 74.8 | 1991 | 2008 | 537 | 536 | 57 | 23 | 270 | 153 | .638 | 3562.2 | 3460 | 1559 | 1458 | 785 | 2813 | 3.68 | 123 | 376 | 14593 | BAL-NYY |
7 | Tom Glavine | 67.0 | 1987 | 2008 | 682 | 682 | 56 | 25 | 305 | 203 | .600 | 4413.1 | 4298 | 1900 | 1734 | 1500 | 2607 | 3.54 | 118 | 356 | 18604 | ATL-NYM |
8 | Curt Schilling | 65.2 | 1988 | 2007 | 569 | 436 | 83 | 20 | 216 | 146 | .597 | 3261.0 | 2998 | 1318 | 1253 | 711 | 3116 | 3.46 | 128 | 347 | 13284 | BAL-HOU-PHI-TOT-ARI-BOS |
9 | Kevin Brown | 64.8 | 1986 | 2005 | 486 | 476 | 72 | 17 | 211 | 144 | .594 | 3256.1 | 3079 | 1357 | 1185 | 901 | 2397 | 3.28 | 127 | 208 | 13542 | TEX-BAL-FLA-SDP-LAD-NYY |
10 | John Smoltz | 64.6 | 1988 | 2009 | 723 | 481 | 53 | 16 | 213 | 155 | .579 | 3473.0 | 3074 | 1391 | 1284 | 1010 | 3084 | 3.33 | 125 | 288 | 14271 | ATL-TOT |
11 | Luis Tiant | 60.1 | 1964 | 1982 | 573 | 484 | 187 | 49 | 229 | 172 | .571 | 3486.1 | 3075 | 1400 | 1280 | 1104 | 2416 | 3.30 | 115 | 346 | 14365 | CLE-MIN-BOS-NYY-PIT-CAL |
12 | Rick Reuschel | 59.6 | 1972 | 1991 | 557 | 529 | 102 | 26 | 214 | 191 | .528 | 3548.1 | 3588 | 1494 | 1330 | 935 | 2015 | 3.37 | 114 | 221 | 14888 | CHC-TOT-PIT-SFG |
13 | Jerry Koosman | 57.6 | 1967 | 1985 | 612 | 527 | 140 | 33 | 222 | 209 | .515 | 3839.1 | 3635 | 1608 | 1433 | 1198 | 2556 | 3.36 | 110 | 290 | 15996 | NYM-MIN-TOT-CHW-PHI |
14 | Tommy John | 56.4 | 1963 | 1989 | 760 | 700 | 162 | 46 | 288 | 231 | .555 | 4710.1 | 4783 | 2017 | 1749 | 1259 | 2245 | 3.34 | 111 | 302 | 19692 | CLE-CHW-LAD-NYY-TOT-CAL |
15 | Billy Pierce | 53.5 | 1945 | 1964 | 585 | 432 | 193 | 38 | 211 | 169 | .555 | 3306.2 | 2989 | 1325 | 1201 | 1178 | 1999 | 3.27 | 119 | 284 | 13853 | DET-CHW-SFG |
16 | Chuck Finley | 53.4 | 1986 | 2002 | 524 | 467 | 63 | 15 | 200 | 173 | .536 | 3197.1 | 3069 | 1517 | 1366 | 1332 | 2610 | 3.85 | 115 | 304 | 13638 | CAL-ANA-CLE-TOT |
17 | Dave Stieb | 53.0 | 1979 | 1998 | 443 | 412 | 103 | 30 | 176 | 137 | .562 | 2895.1 | 2572 | 1225 | 1106 | 1034 | 1669 | 3.44 | 123 | 225 | 12072 | TOR-CHW |
18 | Bret Saberhagen | 52.6 | 1984 | 2001 | 399 | 371 | 76 | 16 | 167 | 117 | .588 | 2562.2 | 2452 | 1036 | 952 | 471 | 1715 | 3.34 | 126 | 218 | 10421 | KCR-NYM-TOT-BOS |
19 | Frank Tanana | 52.1 | 1973 | 1993 | 638 | 616 | 143 | 34 | 240 | 236 | .504 | 4188.1 | 4063 | 1910 | 1704 | 1255 | 2773 | 3.66 | 106 | 448 | 17641 | CAL-BOS-TEX-TOT-DET |
20 | Larry Jackson | 51.8 | 1955 | 1968 | 558 | 429 | 149 | 37 | 194 | 183 | .515 | 3262.2 | 3206 | 1405 | 1233 | 824 | 1709 | 3.40 | 113 | 259 | 13593 | STL-CHC-TOT-PHI |
21 | Orel Hershiser | 51.5 | 1983 | 2000 | 510 | 466 | 68 | 25 | 204 | 150 | .576 | 3130.1 | 2939 | 1366 | 1211 | 1007 | 2014 | 3.48 | 112 | 235 | 13150 | LAD-CLE-SFG-NYM |
22 | Tommy Bridges | 50.7 | 1930 | 1946 | 424 | 362 | 200 | 33 | 194 | 138 | .584 | 2826.1 | 2675 | 1321 | 1122 | 1192 | 1674 | 3.57 | 126 | 181 | 12165 | DET |
23 | Bob Friend | 49.9 | 1951 | 1966 | 602 | 497 | 163 | 36 | 197 | 230 | .461 | 3611.0 | 3772 | 1652 | 1438 | 894 | 1734 | 3.58 | 107 | 286 | 15214 | PIT-TOT |
24 | Kevin Appier | 49.9 | 1989 | 2004 | 414 | 402 | 34 | 12 | 169 | 137 | .552 | 2595.1 | 2425 | 1168 | 1078 | 933 | 1994 | 3.74 | 121 | 232 | 10958 | KCR-TOT-OAK-NYM-ANA |
25 | Eddie Cicotte | 48.2 | 1905 | 1920 | 502 | 361 | 249 | 35 | 209 | 148 | .585 | 3226.0 | 2897 | 1161 | 853 | 827 | 1374 | 2.38 | 123 | 32 | 12731 | DET-BOS-TOT-CHW |
Not all of those players are eligible, of course. Dropping active players or those who retired before the 2005 season, you get this list (we'll leave pre-1900 players to the Veteran's Committee):
Rk | Player | WAR | From | To | G | GS | CG | SHO | W | L | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | BF | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4 | Bert Blyleven | 77.4 | 1970 | 1992 | 692 | 685 | 242 | 60 | 287 | 250 | .534 | 4970.0 | 4632 | 2029 | 1830 | 1322 | 3701 | 3.31 | 118 | 430 | 20491 |
11 | Luis Tiant | 60.1 | 1964 | 1982 | 573 | 484 | 187 | 49 | 229 | 172 | .571 | 3486.1 | 3075 | 1400 | 1280 | 1104 | 2416 | 3.30 | 115 | 346 | 14365 |
12 | Rick Reuschel | 59.6 | 1972 | 1991 | 557 | 529 | 102 | 26 | 214 | 191 | .528 | 3548.1 | 3588 | 1494 | 1330 | 935 | 2015 | 3.37 | 114 | 221 | 14888 |
13 | Jerry Koosman | 57.6 | 1967 | 1985 | 612 | 527 | 140 | 33 | 222 | 209 | .515 | 3839.1 | 3635 | 1608 | 1433 | 1198 | 2556 | 3.36 | 110 | 290 | 15996 |
14 | Tommy John | 56.4 | 1963 | 1989 | 760 | 700 | 162 | 46 | 288 | 231 | .555 | 4710.1 | 4783 | 2017 | 1749 | 1259 | 2245 | 3.34 | 111 | 302 | 19692 |
15 | Billy Pierce | 53.5 | 1945 | 1964 | 585 | 432 | 193 | 38 | 211 | 169 | .555 | 3306.2 | 2989 | 1325 | 1201 | 1178 | 1999 | 3.27 | 119 | 284 | 13853 |
16 | Chuck Finley | 53.4 | 1986 | 2002 | 524 | 467 | 63 | 15 | 200 | 173 | .536 | 3197.1 | 3069 | 1517 | 1366 | 1332 | 2610 | 3.85 | 115 | 304 | 13638 |
17 | Dave Stieb | 53.0 | 1979 | 1998 | 443 | 412 | 103 | 30 | 176 | 137 | .562 | 2895.1 | 2572 | 1225 | 1106 | 1034 | 1669 | 3.44 | 123 | 225 | 12072 |
18 | Bret Saberhagen | 52.6 | 1984 | 2001 | 399 | 371 | 76 | 16 | 167 | 117 | .588 | 2562.2 | 2452 | 1036 | 952 | 471 | 1715 | 3.34 | 126 | 218 | 10421 |
19 | Frank Tanana | 52.1 | 1973 | 1993 | 638 | 616 | 143 | 34 | 240 | 236 | .504 | 4188.1 | 4063 | 1910 | 1704 | 1255 | 2773 | 3.66 | 106 | 448 | 17641 |
20 | Larry Jackson | 51.8 | 1955 | 1968 | 558 | 429 | 149 | 37 | 194 | 183 | .515 | 3262.2 | 3206 | 1405 | 1233 | 824 | 1709 | 3.40 | 113 | 259 | 13593 |
21 | Orel Hershiser | 51.5 | 1983 | 2000 | 510 | 466 | 68 | 25 | 204 | 150 | .576 | 3130.1 | 2939 | 1366 | 1211 | 1007 | 2014 | 3.48 | 112 | 235 | 13150 |
22 | Tommy Bridges | 50.7 | 1930 | 1946 | 424 | 362 | 200 | 33 | 194 | 138 | .584 | 2826.1 | 2675 | 1321 | 1122 | 1192 | 1674 | 3.57 | 126 | 181 | 12165 |
23 | Bob Friend | 49.9 | 1951 | 1966 | 602 | 497 | 163 | 36 | 197 | 230 | .461 | 3611.0 | 3772 | 1652 | 1438 | 894 | 1734 | 3.58 | 107 | 286 | 15214 |
24 | Kevin Appier | 49.9 | 1989 | 2004 | 414 | 402 | 34 | 12 | 169 | 137 | .552 | 2595.1 | 2425 | 1168 | 1078 | 933 | 1994 | 3.74 | 121 | 232 | 10958 |
25 | Eddie Cicotte | 48.2 | 1905 | 1920 | 502 | 361 | 249 | 35 | 209 | 148 | .585 | 3226.0 | 2897 | 1161 | 853 | 827 | 1374 | 2.38 | 123 | 32 | 12731 |
26 | Urban Shocker | 47.0 | 1916 | 1928 | 412 | 317 | 200 | 28 | 187 | 117 | .615 | 2681.2 | 2709 | 1131 | 945 | 657 | 983 | 3.17 | 124 | 127 | 11137 |
27 | Dwight Gooden | 46.9 | 1984 | 2000 | 430 | 410 | 68 | 24 | 194 | 112 | .634 | 2800.2 | 2564 | 1198 | 1091 | 954 | 2293 | 3.51 | 111 | 210 | 11705 |
28 | Dennis Martinez | 46.5 | 1976 | 1998 | 692 | 562 | 122 | 30 | 245 | 193 | .559 | 3999.2 | 3897 | 1835 | 1643 | 1165 | 2149 | 3.70 | 106 | 372 | 16754 |
29 | David Cone | 46.4 | 1986 | 2003 | 450 | 419 | 56 | 22 | 194 | 126 | .606 | 2898.2 | 2504 | 1222 | 1115 | 1137 | 2668 | 3.46 | 121 | 258 | 12184 |
31 | Steve Rogers | 45.8 | 1973 | 1985 | 399 | 393 | 129 | 37 | 158 | 152 | .510 | 2837.2 | 2619 | 1122 | 1001 | 876 | 1621 | 3.17 | 116 | 151 | 11702 |
32 | Jimmy Key | 45.7 | 1984 | 1998 | 470 | 389 | 34 | 13 | 186 | 117 | .614 | 2591.2 | 2518 | 1104 | 1010 | 668 | 1538 | 3.51 | 122 | 254 | 10719 |
33 | Mickey Lolich | 45.6 | 1963 | 1979 | 586 | 496 | 195 | 41 | 217 | 191 | .532 | 3638.1 | 3366 | 1537 | 1390 | 1099 | 2832 | 3.44 | 105 | 347 | 15140 |
34 | Babe Adams | 45.2 | 1906 | 1926 | 482 | 354 | 206 | 44 | 194 | 140 | .581 | 2995.1 | 2841 | 1133 | 917 | 430 | 1036 | 2.76 | 118 | 67 | 11947 |
35 | Wilbur Cooper | 44.7 | 1912 | 1926 | 517 | 406 | 279 | 35 | 216 | 178 | .548 | 3480.0 | 3415 | 1406 | 1119 | 853 | 1252 | 2.89 | 116 | 103 | 14377 |
36 | Ron Guidry | 44.4 | 1975 | 1988 | 368 | 323 | 95 | 26 | 170 | 91 | .651 | 2392.0 | 2198 | 953 | 874 | 633 | 1778 | 3.29 | 119 | 226 | 9794 |
37 | Vida Blue | 43.8 | 1969 | 1986 | 502 | 473 | 143 | 37 | 209 | 161 | .565 | 3343.1 | 2939 | 1357 | 1213 | 1185 | 2175 | 3.27 | 108 | 263 | 13837 |
39 | Wes Ferrell | 42.6 | 1927 | 1941 | 374 | 323 | 227 | 17 | 193 | 128 | .601 | 2623.0 | 2845 | 1382 | 1177 | 1040 | 985 | 4.04 | 117 | 132 | 11568 |
40 | Mel Harder | 42.5 | 1928 | 1947 | 582 | 433 | 181 | 25 | 223 | 186 | .545 | 3426.1 | 3706 | 1714 | 1447 | 1118 | 1161 | 3.80 | 113 | 161 | 14861 |
41 | Dizzy Trout | 42.0 | 1939 | 1957 | 521 | 322 | 158 | 28 | 170 | 161 | .514 | 2725.2 | 2641 | 1166 | 979 | 1046 | 1256 | 3.23 | 124 | 112 | 11615 |
42 | Bob Welch | 41.9 | 1978 | 1994 | 506 | 462 | 61 | 28 | 211 | 146 | .591 | 3092.0 | 2894 | 1310 | 1191 | 1034 | 1969 | 3.47 | 107 | 267 | 12956 |
43 | Nap Rucker | 41.7 | 1907 | 1916 | 336 | 274 | 186 | 38 | 134 | 134 | .500 | 2375.1 | 2089 | 823 | 639 | 701 | 1217 | 2.42 | 119 | 41 | 9441 |
45 | Larry French | 41.2 | 1929 | 1942 | 570 | 383 | 198 | 40 | 197 | 171 | .535 | 3152.0 | 3375 | 1440 | 1206 | 819 | 1187 | 3.44 | 114 | 164 | 13465 |
46 | Mark Langston | 41.0 | 1984 | 1999 | 457 | 428 | 81 | 18 | 179 | 158 | .531 | 2962.2 | 2723 | 1438 | 1306 | 1289 | 2464 | 3.97 | 108 | 311 | 12562 |
48 | Sam McDowell | 40.6 | 1961 | 1975 | 425 | 346 | 103 | 23 | 141 | 134 | .513 | 2492.1 | 1948 | 999 | 879 | 1312 | 2453 | 3.17 | 112 | 164 | 10587 |
49 | Bob Shawkey | 40.3 | 1913 | 1927 | 488 | 333 | 197 | 33 | 195 | 150 | .565 | 2937.0 | 2722 | 1200 | 1008 | 1018 | 1360 | 3.09 | 114 | 114 | 12019 |
50 | Frank Viola | 40.3 | 1982 | 1996 | 421 | 420 | 74 | 16 | 176 | 150 | .540 | 2836.1 | 2827 | 1303 | 1175 | 864 | 1844 | 3.73 | 112 | 294 | 11933 |
51 | Dolf Luque | 40.2 | 1914 | 1935 | 550 | 367 | 206 | 26 | 194 | 179 | .520 | 3220.1 | 3231 | 1412 | 1161 | 918 | 1130 | 3.24 | 118 | 113 | 13470 |
52 | Milt Pappas | 40.0 | 1957 | 1973 | 520 | 465 | 129 | 43 | 209 | 164 | .560 | 3186.0 | 3046 | 1331 | 1203 | 858 | 1728 | 3.40 | 110 | 298 | 13198 |
53 | Claude Osteen | 39.8 | 1957 | 1975 | 541 | 488 | 140 | 40 | 196 | 195 | .501 | 3460.2 | 3471 | 1435 | 1268 | 940 | 1612 | 3.30 | 104 | 249 | 14433 |
54 | Jim Kaat | 39.6 | 1959 | 1983 | 898 | 625 | 180 | 31 | 283 | 237 | .544 | 4530.1 | 4620 | 2038 | 1738 | 1083 | 2461 | 3.45 | 108 | 395 | 19023 |
55 | Jack Morris | 39.3 | 1977 | 1994 | 549 | 527 | 175 | 28 | 254 | 186 | .577 | 3824.0 | 3567 | 1815 | 1657 | 1390 | 2478 | 3.90 | 105 | 389 | 16120 |
56 | Curt Simmons | 39.2 | 1947 | 1967 | 569 | 462 | 163 | 36 | 193 | 183 | .513 | 3348.1 | 3313 | 1551 | 1318 | 1063 | 1697 | 3.54 | 111 | 255 | 14144 |
57 | Fernando Valenzuela | 38.9 | 1980 | 1997 | 453 | 424 | 113 | 31 | 173 | 153 | .531 | 2930.0 | 2718 | 1303 | 1154 | 1151 | 2074 | 3.54 | 104 | 226 | 12398 |
58 | Harry Brecheen | 38.8 | 1940 | 1953 | 318 | 240 | 125 | 25 | 133 | 92 | .591 | 1907.2 | 1731 | 701 | 618 | 536 | 901 | 2.92 | 134 | 117 | 7821 |
59 | Jon Matlack | 38.7 | 1971 | 1983 | 361 | 318 | 97 | 30 | 125 | 126 | .498 | 2363.0 | 2276 | 970 | 835 | 638 | 1516 | 3.18 | 114 | 161 | 9789 |
60 | Larry Dierker | 38.1 | 1964 | 1977 | 356 | 329 | 106 | 25 | 139 | 123 | .531 | 2333.2 | 2130 | 948 | 857 | 711 | 1493 | 3.31 | 103 | 184 | 9661 |
61 | Lon Warneke | 38.1 | 1930 | 1945 | 445 | 343 | 192 | 30 | 192 | 121 | .613 | 2782.1 | 2726 | 1164 | 984 | 739 | 1140 | 3.18 | 119 | 175 | 11608 |
62 | Mel Stottlemyre | 37.9 | 1964 | 1974 | 360 | 356 | 152 | 40 | 164 | 139 | .541 | 2661.1 | 2435 | 1003 | 878 | 809 | 1257 | 2.97 | 112 | 171 | 10972 |
63 | Ed Reulbach | 37.8 | 1905 | 1917 | 399 | 300 | 201 | 40 | 182 | 106 | .632 | 2632.1 | 2117 | 887 | 668 | 892 | 1137 | 2.28 | 123 | 33 | 10521 |
64 | Bucky Walters | 37.6 | 1934 | 1950 | 428 | 398 | 242 | 42 | 198 | 160 | .553 | 3104.2 | 2990 | 1343 | 1139 | 1121 | 1107 | 3.30 | 115 | 154 | 13140 |
65 | Hippo Vaughn | 37.3 | 1908 | 1921 | 390 | 332 | 214 | 41 | 178 | 137 | .565 | 2730.0 | 2461 | 1039 | 754 | 817 | 1416 | 2.49 | 120 | 39 | 11225 |
66 | Bill Donovan | 36.6 | 1900 | 1918 | 356 | 318 | 281 | 35 | 183 | 131 | .583 | 2851.2 | 2508 | 1116 | 832 | 977 | 1505 | 2.63 | 107 | 30 | 11640 |
67 | Bob Rush | 36.6 | 1948 | 1960 | 417 | 321 | 118 | 16 | 127 | 152 | .455 | 2410.2 | 2327 | 1128 | 977 | 789 | 1244 | 3.65 | 109 | 176 | 10219 |
68 | George Uhle | 36.0 | 1919 | 1936 | 513 | 368 | 232 | 21 | 200 | 166 | .546 | 3119.2 | 3417 | 1635 | 1384 | 966 | 1135 | 3.99 | 106 | 119 | 13597 |
69 | Jerry Reuss | 35.8 | 1969 | 1990 | 628 | 547 | 127 | 39 | 220 | 191 | .535 | 3669.2 | 3734 | 1700 | 1483 | 1127 | 1907 | 3.64 | 100 | 245 | 15582 |
70 | Doc White | 35.7 | 1901 | 1913 | 427 | 363 | 262 | 45 | 189 | 156 | .548 | 3041.0 | 2738 | 1118 | 808 | 670 | 1384 | 2.39 | 113 | 33 | 12093 |
71 | Virgil Trucks | 35.6 | 1941 | 1958 | 517 | 328 | 124 | 33 | 177 | 135 | .567 | 2682.1 | 2416 | 1124 | 1009 | 1088 | 1534 | 3.39 | 117 | 188 | 11378 |
72 | Andy Messersmith | 35.6 | 1968 | 1979 | 344 | 295 | 98 | 27 | 130 | 99 | .568 | 2230.1 | 1719 | 812 | 709 | 831 | 1625 | 2.86 | 121 | 174 | 9120 |
73 | Tom Candiotti | 35.5 | 1983 | 1999 | 451 | 410 | 68 | 11 | 151 | 164 | .479 | 2725.0 | 2662 | 1299 | 1130 | 883 | 1735 | 3.73 | 108 | 250 | 11568 |
74 | Chris Short | 35.5 | 1959 | 1973 | 501 | 308 | 88 | 24 | 135 | 132 | .506 | 2325.0 | 2215 | 991 | 886 | 806 | 1629 | 3.43 | 104 | 183 | 9801 |
75 | Camilo Pascual | 35.4 | 1954 | 1971 | 529 | 404 | 132 | 36 | 174 | 170 | .506 | 2930.2 | 2703 | 1334 | 1183 | 1069 | 2167 | 3.63 | 104 | 256 | 12415 |
76 | Carl Mays | 35.4 | 1915 | 1929 | 490 | 324 | 231 | 29 | 208 | 126 | .623 | 3021.1 | 2912 | 1211 | 979 | 734 | 862 | 2.92 | 120 | 73 | 12352 |
77 | Rick Wise | 35.1 | 1964 | 1982 | 506 | 455 | 138 | 30 | 188 | 181 | .509 | 3127.1 | 3227 | 1455 | 1281 | 804 | 1647 | 3.69 | 101 | 261 | 13157 |
78 | Jim Perry | 34.8 | 1959 | 1975 | 630 | 447 | 109 | 32 | 215 | 174 | .553 | 3285.2 | 3127 | 1407 | 1258 | 998 | 1576 | 3.45 | 106 | 308 | 13732 |
79 | Mark Gubicza | 34.8 | 1984 | 1997 | 384 | 329 | 42 | 16 | 132 | 136 | .493 | 2223.1 | 2239 | 1063 | 978 | 786 | 1371 | 3.96 | 109 | 155 | 9487 |
80 | Jim Maloney | 34.7 | 1960 | 1971 | 302 | 262 | 74 | 30 | 134 | 84 | .615 | 1849.0 | 1518 | 729 | 655 | 810 | 1605 | 3.19 | 116 | 138 | 7745 |
81 | Jeff Pfeffer | 34.3 | 1911 | 1924 | 347 | 279 | 194 | 28 | 158 | 112 | .585 | 2407.1 | 2320 | 921 | 742 | 592 | 836 | 2.77 | 113 | 67 | 9968 |
82 | Burt Hooton | 34.3 | 1971 | 1985 | 480 | 377 | 86 | 29 | 151 | 136 | .526 | 2652.0 | 2497 | 1112 | 996 | 799 | 1491 | 3.38 | 108 | 193 | 11025 |
83 | Paul Derringer | 34.2 | 1931 | 1945 | 579 | 445 | 251 | 32 | 223 | 212 | .513 | 3645.0 | 3912 | 1652 | 1401 | 761 | 1507 | 3.46 | 108 | 158 | 15391 |
84 | Mike Garcia | 34.1 | 1948 | 1961 | 428 | 281 | 111 | 27 | 142 | 97 | .594 | 2174.2 | 2148 | 888 | 789 | 719 | 1117 | 3.27 | 118 | 122 | 9237 |
85 | Sam Leever | 33.9 | 1900 | 1910 | 332 | 257 | 204 | 35 | 172 | 77 | .691 | 2248.2 | 2070 | 822 | 588 | 460 | 711 | 2.35 | 124 | 22 | 8971 |
86 | Johnny Antonelli | 33.9 | 1948 | 1961 | 377 | 268 | 102 | 25 | 126 | 110 | .534 | 1992.1 | 1870 | 860 | 739 | 687 | 1162 | 3.34 | 116 | 186 | 8424 |
87 | Ned Garver | 33.4 | 1948 | 1961 | 402 | 330 | 153 | 18 | 129 | 157 | .451 | 2477.1 | 2471 | 1184 | 1027 | 881 | 881 | 3.73 | 112 | 213 | 10584 |
88 | Bruce Hurst | 33.0 | 1980 | 1994 | 379 | 359 | 83 | 23 | 145 | 113 | .562 | 2417.1 | 2463 | 1143 | 1052 | 740 | 1689 | 3.92 | 104 | 258 | 10204 |
89 | Noodles Hahn | 32.4 | 1900 | 1906 | 205 | 197 | 180 | 21 | 107 | 86 | .554 | 1720.1 | 1636 | 693 | 482 | 313 | 772 | 2.52 | 129 | 24 | 6889 |
90 | Schoolboy Rowe | 32.1 | 1933 | 1949 | 382 | 278 | 137 | 22 | 158 | 101 | .610 | 2219.1 | 2332 | 1075 | 955 | 558 | 913 | 3.87 | 110 | 132 | 9398 |
91 | Preacher Roe | 31.8 | 1938 | 1954 | 333 | 261 | 101 | 17 | 127 | 84 | .602 | 1914.1 | 1907 | 799 | 730 | 504 | 956 | 3.43 | 116 | 199 | 7904 |
92 | Eddie Lopat | 31.8 | 1944 | 1955 | 340 | 318 | 164 | 27 | 166 | 112 | .597 | 2439.1 | 2464 | 1008 | 869 | 650 | 859 | 3.21 | 116 | 179 | 10197 |
93 | Charlie Leibrandt | 31.7 | 1979 | 1993 | 394 | 346 | 52 | 18 | 140 | 119 | .541 | 2308.0 | 2390 | 1068 | 952 | 656 | 1121 | 3.71 | 109 | 172 | 9774 |
94 | Thornton Lee | 31.5 | 1933 | 1948 | 374 | 272 | 155 | 14 | 117 | 124 | .485 | 2331.1 | 2327 | 1105 | 921 | 838 | 937 | 3.56 | 119 | 121 | 9999 |
95 | Freddie Fitzsimmons | 31.5 | 1925 | 1943 | 513 | 425 | 186 | 30 | 217 | 146 | .598 | 3223.2 | 3335 | 1505 | 1257 | 846 | 870 | 3.51 | 112 | 186 | 13570 |
96 | Dean Chance | 31.4 | 1961 | 1971 | 406 | 294 | 83 | 33 | 128 | 115 | .527 | 2147.1 | 1864 | 832 | 697 | 739 | 1534 | 2.92 | 119 | 122 | 8906 |
97 | Pat Hentgen | 31.4 | 1991 | 2004 | 344 | 306 | 34 | 10 | 131 | 112 | .539 | 2075.1 | 2111 | 1076 | 996 | 775 | 1290 | 4.32 | 108 | 269 | 8925 |
98 | Jose Rijo | 31.0 | 1984 | 2002 | 376 | 269 | 22 | 4 | 116 | 91 | .560 | 1880.0 | 1710 | 772 | 676 | 663 | 1606 | 3.24 | 121 | 147 | 7867 |
99 | Dutch Leonard | 30.9 | 1913 | 1925 | 331 | 272 | 152 | 33 | 139 | 113 | .552 | 2192.0 | 2022 | 851 | 672 | 664 | 1160 | 2.76 | 115 | 54 | 8907 |
100 | Bill Hands | 30.4 | 1965 | 1975 | 374 | 260 | 72 | 17 | 111 | 110 | .502 | 1951.0 | 1895 | 834 | 727 | 492 | 1128 | 3.35 | 115 | 167 | 8116 |
Here are all of the starting pitchers (as defined by GS/G>60%) in the Hall of Fame:
Player | WAR | IP | From | To | G | GS | CG | SHO | W | L | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | BF | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Monte Ward | 25.4 | 2469.2 | 1878 | 1884 | 293 | 262 | 245 | 24 | 164 | 103 | .614 | 2324 | 1185 | 576 | 253 | 920 | 2.10 | 119 | 26 | 10164 |
Rube Marquard | 30.7 | 3306.2 | 1908 | 1925 | 536 | 407 | 197 | 30 | 201 | 177 | .532 | 3233 | 1443 | 1130 | 858 | 1593 | 3.08 | 103 | 107 | 13641 |
Catfish Hunter | 32.5 | 3449.1 | 1965 | 1979 | 500 | 476 | 181 | 42 | 224 | 166 | .574 | 2958 | 1380 | 1248 | 954 | 2012 | 3.26 | 105 | 374 | 14032 |
Jesse Haines | 33.8 | 3208.2 | 1918 | 1937 | 555 | 386 | 208 | 24 | 210 | 158 | .571 | 3460 | 1556 | 1298 | 871 | 981 | 3.64 | 109 | 165 | 13644 |
Burleigh Grimes | 35.4 | 4180.0 | 1916 | 1934 | 616 | 497 | 314 | 35 | 270 | 212 | .560 | 4412 | 2050 | 1638 | 1295 | 1512 | 3.53 | 108 | 148 | 17974 |
Jack Chesbro | 36.8 | 2896.2 | 1899 | 1909 | 392 | 332 | 260 | 35 | 198 | 132 | .600 | 2647 | 1206 | 864 | 690 | 1265 | 2.68 | 111 | 39 | 11632 |
Chief Bender | 38.5 | 3017.0 | 1903 | 1925 | 459 | 334 | 255 | 40 | 212 | 127 | .625 | 2645 | 1108 | 823 | 712 | 1711 | 2.46 | 112 | 40 | 11895 |
Herb Pennock | 39.2 | 3571.2 | 1912 | 1934 | 617 | 419 | 247 | 35 | 241 | 162 | .598 | 3900 | 1699 | 1428 | 916 | 1227 | 3.60 | 106 | 128 | 15096 |
Dizzy Dean | 39.6 | 1967.1 | 1930 | 1947 | 317 | 230 | 154 | 26 | 150 | 83 | .644 | 1919 | 774 | 661 | 453 | 1163 | 3.02 | 131 | 95 | 8171 |
Addie Joss | 40.9 | 2327.0 | 1902 | 1910 | 286 | 260 | 234 | 45 | 160 | 97 | .623 | 1888 | 730 | 488 | 364 | 920 | 1.89 | 142 | 19 | 8891 |
Bob Lemon | 42.4 | 2850.0 | 1946 | 1958 | 460 | 350 | 188 | 31 | 207 | 128 | .618 | 2559 | 1185 | 1024 | 1251 | 1277 | 3.23 | 119 | 180 | 12099 |
Waite Hoyt | 42.9 | 3762.1 | 1918 | 1938 | 674 | 425 | 226 | 26 | 237 | 182 | .566 | 4037 | 1780 | 1500 | 1003 | 1206 | 3.59 | 112 | 154 | 16010 |
Lefty Gomez | 43.0 | 2503.0 | 1930 | 1943 | 368 | 320 | 173 | 28 | 189 | 102 | .649 | 2290 | 1091 | 930 | 1095 | 1468 | 3.34 | 125 | 138 | 10729 |
Clark Griffith | 46.6 | 3385.2 | 1891 | 1914 | 453 | 372 | 337 | 22 | 237 | 146 | .619 | 3670 | 1852 | 1246 | 774 | 955 | 3.31 | 122 | 76 | 14335 |
Joe McGinnity | 47.1 | 3441.1 | 1899 | 1908 | 465 | 381 | 314 | 32 | 246 | 142 | .634 | 3276 | 1436 | 1016 | 812 | 1068 | 2.66 | 120 | 52 | 14132 |
Rube Waddell | 49.2 | 2961.1 | 1897 | 1910 | 407 | 340 | 261 | 50 | 193 | 143 | .574 | 2460 | 1063 | 711 | 803 | 2316 | 2.16 | 135 | 37 | 11717 |
Eppa Rixey | 51.2 | 4494.2 | 1912 | 1933 | 692 | 554 | 290 | 37 | 266 | 251 | .515 | 4633 | 1986 | 1572 | 1082 | 1350 | 3.15 | 115 | 92 | 18754 |
Red Ruffing | 51.4 | 4344.0 | 1924 | 1947 | 624 | 538 | 335 | 45 | 273 | 225 | .548 | 4284 | 2115 | 1833 | 1541 | 1987 | 3.80 | 109 | 254 | 18546 |
Early Wynn | 52.0 | 4564.0 | 1939 | 1963 | 691 | 612 | 290 | 49 | 300 | 244 | .551 | 4291 | 2037 | 1796 | 1775 | 2334 | 3.54 | 107 | 338 | 19408 |
Mordecai Brown | 53.2 | 3172.1 | 1903 | 1916 | 481 | 332 | 271 | 55 | 239 | 130 | .648 | 2708 | 1044 | 725 | 673 | 1375 | 2.06 | 139 | 43 | 12422 |
Stan Coveleski | 54.0 | 3082.0 | 1912 | 1928 | 450 | 385 | 224 | 38 | 215 | 142 | .602 | 3055 | 1227 | 990 | 802 | 981 | 2.89 | 128 | 66 | 12729 |
Sandy Koufax | 54.5 | 2324.1 | 1955 | 1966 | 397 | 314 | 137 | 40 | 165 | 87 | .655 | 1754 | 806 | 713 | 817 | 2396 | 2.76 | 131 | 204 | 9497 |
Ed Walsh | 54.8 | 2964.1 | 1904 | 1917 | 430 | 315 | 250 | 57 | 195 | 126 | .607 | 2346 | 873 | 598 | 617 | 1736 | 1.82 | 146 | 23 | 11413 |
Red Faber | 55.2 | 4086.2 | 1914 | 1933 | 669 | 483 | 273 | 29 | 254 | 213 | .544 | 4106 | 1813 | 1430 | 1213 | 1471 | 3.15 | 119 | 111 | 17104 |
Whitey Ford | 55.3 | 3170.1 | 1950 | 1967 | 498 | 438 | 156 | 45 | 236 | 106 | .690 | 2766 | 1107 | 967 | 1086 | 1956 | 2.75 | 133 | 228 | 13036 |
Hal Newhouser | 56.3 | 2993.0 | 1939 | 1955 | 488 | 374 | 212 | 33 | 207 | 150 | .580 | 2674 | 1197 | 1016 | 1249 | 1796 | 3.06 | 130 | 136 | 12648 |
Mickey Welch | 56.5 | 4802.0 | 1880 | 1892 | 565 | 549 | 525 | 41 | 307 | 210 | .594 | 4588 | 2556 | 1447 | 1297 | 1850 | 2.71 | 114 | 106 | 20308 |
Dazzy Vance | 56.5 | 2966.2 | 1915 | 1935 | 442 | 349 | 216 | 29 | 197 | 140 | .585 | 2809 | 1246 | 1068 | 840 | 2045 | 3.24 | 125 | 132 | 12366 |
Vic Willis | 57.2 | 3996.0 | 1898 | 1910 | 513 | 471 | 388 | 50 | 249 | 205 | .548 | 3621 | 1620 | 1167 | 1212 | 1651 | 2.63 | 118 | 66 | 16263 |
TEd Lyons | 58.8 | 4161.0 | 1923 | 1946 | 594 | 484 | 356 | 27 | 260 | 230 | .531 | 4489 | 2056 | 1696 | 1121 | 1073 | 3.67 | 118 | 223 | 17797 |
Jim Bunning | 58.8 | 3760.1 | 1955 | 1971 | 591 | 519 | 151 | 40 | 224 | 184 | .549 | 3433 | 1527 | 1366 | 1000 | 2855 | 3.27 | 114 | 372 | 15618 |
Amos Rusie | 60.6 | 3778.2 | 1889 | 1901 | 463 | 427 | 393 | 30 | 246 | 174 | .586 | 3389 | 2068 | 1288 | 1707 | 1950 | 3.07 | 129 | 75 | 16313 |
Jim Palmer | 63.5 | 3948.0 | 1965 | 1984 | 558 | 521 | 211 | 53 | 268 | 152 | .638 | 3349 | 1395 | 1253 | 1311 | 2212 | 2.86 | 126 | 303 | 16114 |
Juan Marichal | 64.0 | 3507.0 | 1960 | 1975 | 471 | 457 | 244 | 52 | 243 | 142 | .631 | 3153 | 1329 | 1126 | 709 | 2303 | 2.89 | 123 | 320 | 14236 |
Don Sutton | 64.2 | 5282.1 | 1966 | 1988 | 774 | 756 | 178 | 58 | 324 | 256 | .559 | 4692 | 2104 | 1914 | 1343 | 3574 | 3.26 | 108 | 472 | 21631 |
Carl Hubbell | 64.4 | 3590.1 | 1928 | 1943 | 535 | 433 | 260 | 36 | 253 | 154 | .622 | 3461 | 1380 | 1188 | 725 | 1677 | 2.98 | 130 | 227 | 14805 |
Don Drysdale | 65.7 | 3432.0 | 1956 | 1969 | 518 | 465 | 167 | 49 | 209 | 166 | .557 | 3084 | 1292 | 1124 | 855 | 2486 | 2.95 | 121 | 280 | 14097 |
Bob Feller | 66.0 | 3827.0 | 1936 | 1956 | 570 | 484 | 279 | 44 | 266 | 162 | .621 | 3271 | 1557 | 1384 | 1764 | 2581 | 3.25 | 122 | 224 | 16180 |
Pud Galvin | 68.1 | 6003.1 | 1875 | 1892 | 705 | 688 | 646 | 57 | 365 | 310 | .541 | 6405 | 3352 | 1903 | 745 | 1807 | 2.85 | 108 | 121 | 25415 |
Old Hoss Radbourn | 71.6 | 4527.1 | 1881 | 1891 | 527 | 502 | 488 | 35 | 309 | 194 | .614 | 4328 | 2273 | 1347 | 875 | 1830 | 2.68 | 120 | 117 | 18918 |
Eddie Plank | 76.3 | 4495.2 | 1901 | 1917 | 623 | 529 | 410 | 69 | 326 | 194 | .627 | 3958 | 1566 | 1174 | 1072 | 2246 | 2.35 | 122 | 42 | 17803 |
John Clarkson | 76.6 | 4536.1 | 1882 | 1894 | 531 | 518 | 485 | 37 | 328 | 178 | .648 | 4295 | 2384 | 1417 | 1191 | 1978 | 2.81 | 134 | 159 | 19146 |
Fergie Jenkins | 78.0 | 4500.2 | 1965 | 1983 | 664 | 594 | 267 | 49 | 284 | 226 | .557 | 4142 | 1853 | 1669 | 997 | 3192 | 3.34 | 115 | 484 | 18400 |
Robin Roberts | 78.2 | 4688.2 | 1948 | 1966 | 676 | 609 | 305 | 45 | 286 | 245 | .539 | 4582 | 1962 | 1774 | 902 | 2357 | 3.41 | 113 | 505 | 19174 |
Tim Keefe | 84.3 | 5049.2 | 1880 | 1893 | 600 | 594 | 554 | 39 | 342 | 225 | .603 | 4438 | 2470 | 1474 | 1233 | 2564 | 2.63 | 127 | 75 | 20941 |
Nolan Ryan | 84.8 | 5386.0 | 1966 | 1993 | 807 | 773 | 222 | 61 | 324 | 292 | .526 | 3923 | 2178 | 1911 | 2795 | 5714 | 3.19 | 112 | 321 | 22575 |
Bob Gibson | 85.6 | 3884.1 | 1959 | 1975 | 528 | 482 | 255 | 56 | 251 | 174 | .591 | 3279 | 1420 | 1258 | 1336 | 3117 | 2.91 | 128 | 257 | 16068 |
Steve Carlton | 87.2 | 5217.2 | 1965 | 1988 | 741 | 709 | 254 | 55 | 329 | 244 | .574 | 4672 | 2130 | 1864 | 1833 | 4136 | 3.22 | 115 | 414 | 21683 |
Gaylord Perry | 87.7 | 5350.0 | 1962 | 1983 | 777 | 690 | 303 | 53 | 314 | 265 | .542 | 4938 | 2128 | 1846 | 1379 | 3534 | 3.11 | 117 | 399 | 21953 |
Christy Mathewson | 88.3 | 4788.2 | 1900 | 1916 | 636 | 552 | 435 | 79 | 373 | 188 | .665 | 4219 | 1620 | 1135 | 848 | 2507 | 2.13 | 136 | 89 | 18913 |
Warren Spahn | 92.7 | 5243.2 | 1942 | 1965 | 750 | 665 | 382 | 63 | 363 | 245 | .597 | 4830 | 2016 | 1798 | 1434 | 2583 | 3.09 | 119 | 434 | 21547 |
Tom Seaver | 95.3 | 4783.0 | 1967 | 1986 | 656 | 647 | 231 | 61 | 311 | 205 | .603 | 3971 | 1674 | 1521 | 1390 | 3640 | 2.86 | 128 | 380 | 19369 |
Phil Niekro | 97.2 | 5404.0 | 1964 | 1987 | 864 | 716 | 245 | 45 | 318 | 274 | .537 | 5044 | 2337 | 2012 | 1809 | 3342 | 3.35 | 115 | 482 | 22677 |
Lefty Grove | 98.3 | 3940.2 | 1925 | 1941 | 616 | 457 | 298 | 35 | 300 | 141 | .680 | 3849 | 1594 | 1339 | 1187 | 2266 | 3.06 | 148 | 162 | 16622 |
Kid Nichols | 101.8 | 5067.1 | 1890 | 1906 | 621 | 562 | 532 | 48 | 361 | 208 | .634 | 4929 | 2480 | 1664 | 1272 | 1881 | 2.96 | 140 | 156 | 21082 |
Pete Alexander | 101.9 | 5190.0 | 1911 | 1930 | 696 | 600 | 437 | 90 | 373 | 208 | .642 | 4868 | 1852 | 1476 | 951 | 2198 | 2.56 | 135 | 164 | 20893 |
Walter Johnson | 127.7 | 5914.1 | 1907 | 1927 | 802 | 666 | 531 | 110 | 417 | 279 | .599 | 4913 | 1902 | 1424 | 1363 | 3509 | 2.17 | 147 | 97 | 23405 |
Cy Young | 145.4 | 7356.0 | 1890 | 1911 | 906 | 815 | 749 | 76 | 511 | 316 | .618 | 7092 | 3167 | 2147 | 1217 | 2803 | 2.63 | 138 | 138 | 29565 |
A brief look at the top 10 non-HoFers by WAR:
10. Frank Tanana, 52.1 WAR - Behind Three Finger Brown on the career WAR list; more career value than Early Wynn, Red Ruffing, Eppa Rixey, Rube Waddell, & Lefty Gomez, among others. Led the league in pitching WAR in 1975, and finished in the top 5 2 other times ('76 & '77). Compiled numbers over 20 years and nearly 4200 IP. Career ERA+ of 106 not HoF-caliber. 52 WAR would be in the bottom 1/3 of all HoF starters.
9. Bret Saberhagen, 52.6 WAR - In same group as Tanana. Led league in WAR in both Cy Young seasons, finished top 5 2 other times. 8.6 WAR in 1989 was the 10th best pitching season of the past 30 years. Career ERA+ of 126 in top half of HoF starters, tied with Jim Palmer. Didn't have longevity of most HoF starters.
8. Dave Stieb, 53.0 WAR - Career peers by WAR same as Tanana & Saberhagen. 3-time league leader in pitching WAR (1982, '83, '84), top 5 3 other times. Best starting pitcher of the 1980s, by a wide margin. Same career ERA+ as Juan Marichal.
7. Chuck Finley, 53.4 WAR - More career value than Mordecai Brown. Same ERA+ as Ferguson Jenkins, Steve Carlton, & Phil Niekro, but in about 2,000 fewer innings. Low peak by HoF standards; never led pitchers in WAR, only 3 top 5s, only one season of >7 WAR. The 7th-best pitcher of the 1990s. Did not particularly stand out from his peers.
6. Billy Pierce, 53.5 WAR - 2-time league leader in WAR (1953, '55). Quietly the 3rd-best starter of the 1950s (though a distant 3rd behind Robin Roberts & Warren Spahn). Didn't have an eye-popping peak, but spread value over a lot of good seasons. Same career ERA+ as Spahn, but in significantly fewer innings.
5. Tommy John, 56.4 WAR - More career value than Hal Newhouser & Whitey Ford. Never led the league in WAR; best finish was 3rd in 1970. Peak very low by HoF standards, but made up for it by pitching more than 4,700 IP over 26 seasons. Often criticized as a "compiler".
4. Jerry Koosman, 57.6 WAR - Workhorse averaged 229 IP per season in 19 years. Never led league in WAR; top 5 three times, 11 years apart (1968, '73, '79). 12th-best starter of the 1970s. 110 ERA+ low compared to other HoF starters.
3. Rick Reuschel, 59.6 WAR - Brilliant 1977 season (8.7 WAR) one of the seventies' best. Four other top-5 finishes by WAR. Probably a better pitcher than Mickey Welch or Jim Bunning, which would rank him in the middle of the pack for HoF starters.
2. Luis Tiant, 60.1 WAR - Led 1968 AL in pitching WAR, top 5 two other times. One of the 10 best pitchers of his era, but not one of the 5 best. Same ERA+ as Jenkins, Carlton, & Niekro, but not as durable. The last starting pitcher to retire with fewer than 63 career WAR and make the Hall of Fame was Catfish Hunter (32.5), a Tiant contemporary (and a pitcher Tiant was significantly better than), but Hunter is the exception, not the rule -- every other Hall of Fame SP to retire since 1975 had at least 63 WAR.
1. Bert Blyleven, 77.4 WAR - The best eligible non-HoF starter, and by a significant margin. Only 16 HoF pitchers had more career value. Probably a better pitcher over his entire career (11 more WAR, ERA+ of only 4 points less) than Bob Feller, a 1st-ballot selection. Second only to Phil Niekro in total WAR during the 70s and 80s combined. Best pitcher in baseball in 1973 and '81; top 5 seven other times. Impressive combination of durability and peak performance. Career year (9.2 WAR in 1973) was the 11th-best season by a starter in the last 40 years.
Your Turn!
May 20th, 2010 at 4:35 pm
My vote for John was based more on his effect on the game in general. Just call him the Candy Cummings of the Twentieth Century.
May 20th, 2010 at 4:38 pm
The Jack Morris fans just wrote of WAR as the stupidest thing ever.
May 20th, 2010 at 4:38 pm
Blyleven is at 100% right now, which isn't surprising, given the crowd, the sales pitch and his own great career. It would be better to ask who other than Blyleven warrants being in the Hall of Fame. Two other notes:
* The other guy who is always brought up with Blyleven and is getting votes (and he'll make it in in the end), Jack Morris, has a career IP and ER that is Dave Stieb's ... with Todd Van Poppel's. And Stieb is pretty darn short of Hall-worthiness.
* The sum for clear picking is about 70 WAR. The only guys who have been out of baseball long enough to get in the Hall, who have 70 WAR and are not in the Hall of Fame are Blyleven (87.6), Bill Dahlen (75.9), Pete Rose (75.3) and Bob Caruthers (71.4). Dahlen played a hundred years ago and might have been unlikeable, given his nickname of "Bad Bill;" Pete had a little gambling problem and Caruthers pitched in the American Association.
* The list of career WAR above is missing something. Blyleven's page has a higher number.
May 20th, 2010 at 5:06 pm
My, my my. How people forget that Blyleven was never in his day considered a number 1 starter (even for the championship teams he was a part of), but yet is considered a legitimate HOF candidate? I don't get it. There's too many better pitchers in his era you'd give the ball to first.
May 20th, 2010 at 6:06 pm
Never mind that he performed like one, if people didn't think Rik Aalbert Blyleven sounded like a number 1 starter, he must not have been. What do we need numbers for, then?
May 20th, 2010 at 10:09 pm
I think the thing that gets Blyleven criticized is that he wasn't a flamethrower. He got his strikeouts due to his amazing curveball. Also, Blyleven pitched for some truly horrible teams, which is also not his fault.
May 20th, 2010 at 10:14 pm
This is a peculiar stat. Allie Reynolds was considered one of the best pitchers of his era and yet his WAR was only 29.0.
May 20th, 2010 at 10:24 pm
After Bly - and c'mon, we all know it's Bly - I'm torn between Sabes and Tommy John. TJ, of course, gets bonus points for the surgery and for pitching for a million years. I think Cooperstown needs to acknowledge his impact in some way, shape, or form, and a plaque is as good a way as any. Sabes collected two Cy Youngs, both thoroughly legit, and might have won another one if not for Greg Maddux and the strike. He was very, very successful when he could take the hill, and I think you have to respect that. If he hadn't had injury problems, I think he'd already be in. Don't forget that he pitched very well in Boston at the end of his career, so that isn't a crazy thing to say. He clearly had it in him, since you could see it every time he pitched. I also think Sabes deserves credit for winning a World Series MVP by pitching two great complete games during the '85 World Series - giving up just one run when the Royals were down 2-0 and shutting the Cardinals out in Game 7. That's not enough by itself, but I think it helps. I'd take Sabes over any number of guys in the Hall of Fame.
Besides, I love calling him "Sabes".
May 20th, 2010 at 11:03 pm
Bigoldcat, WAR does not give Reynolds any postseason or "big game" credit, which he would should surely deserve (and need) if you were making a HOF case for him. He also had a short career; there's only a couple HOF starters with fewer IP than him. So it shouldn't be surprising he doesn't tally highly in a counting stat like this. He only had 182 wins, which might also seem incommensurate with his being one of the best pitchers of his era, but there it is.
But I have to say, looking at Reynolds's page, I am confused by his RAR and WAR totals. In '46, for example, he is rated 5 runs ABOVE replacement, and yet this is somehow coverted to 0.1 wins BELOW replacement. How does that work? And in '53, he was 21 RAR, but only 1.2 WAR -- a conversion of about 17.5 runs per win, which would seem to require teams scoring about 10 runs per game.
May 20th, 2010 at 11:05 pm
One other comment; for the Veterans Committee, it's long about time we honored the Count, Tony Mullane. Sure, he was not a model citizen {like Babe Ruth or Ty Cobb got tons of Valentines}; but both his wins total and his unique talent as the most prolific ambidextrous pither in history make his exclusion a travesty. But then, I always voice my support for amnesty for Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jakson. And, while we're at it, why is the original Louisville Slugger almost ignored, if not forgotten, in these discussions?
How ignored is he? I would be willing to bet that when I mentioned that moniker, the name Pete Browning didn't immediately come to mind.
May 20th, 2010 at 11:49 pm
There are actually MANY old, OLD school players who are being ignored. Not just Tony Mullane and Pete Browning, but what about Bobby Mathews? Is 297 career wins competely unimpressive because it doesn't end in '00'?
May 21st, 2010 at 12:33 am
Mathews had zero success in the NL. His best years were in the AA and the NA, which MLB doesn't even recognize as a major league.
May 21st, 2010 at 2:00 am
I was surprised to see an old fave, Jerry Koosman, rank so high. I always loved Kooz, and felt he got snubbed/overlooked a few times because of Seaver.
May 21st, 2010 at 3:12 am
Well, yet more proof that Blyleven is getting crapped on ever HOF election. Though if Blyleven was never the #1 on his staff I'd like to know who was. Like with mid-70s Twins for instance was it Dave Goltz or Ray Corbin who was the ace?
May 21st, 2010 at 8:22 am
Though this thread is clearly for retired pitchers, just wanted to get people's thoughts on Roy Halladay's early case. Granted, he may still have 5 years as a premier pitcher to add to his resumee. I have a feeling when Roy retires, he will be one of the first non-300 game winners of the 2000's to make the Hall (Pedro is a lock and Schilling / Mussina are borderline to do so in the 90's). I just have a feeling that the HOF voter of the future will be more made of sabremetric guys vs. old school writers that will focus on success within an era and not gaudy totals acquired by pitching past your prime. I brought this up because people are remembering Blyleven as a no. 2 starter on his own team and certainly not a premier pitcher of his era. Roy will be a certified no. 1 (on any team) for a decade and a top-5 pitcher in the league for nearly as long. Shouldn't this be worth more than Blyleven getting a lot of strikeouts over 20 years of pitching?
May 21st, 2010 at 9:11 am
I thought dropping the ones who aren't yet eligible dropped out something interesting about Blyleven - which is that he is right in the middle of a group of guys who will almost certainly go to the Hall - RJ and Glavine are locks, Pedro and Mussina are both strong contenders. Schilling and Brown are contenders, as well.
Question - how does Blyleven's peak, I dunno, 10-15 years compare to these guys?
May 21st, 2010 at 11:52 am
Really great to see my favorite player, Jerry Koosman rated so high. As for this list, with Bly so high on the all time shutout list, I think he is due to get in the Hall. Maybe you should have had a vote for second most deserving. I like Allie Reynolds, even though he doesn't do well on the WAR.
May 21st, 2010 at 2:13 pm
[...] something for Baseball In-Depth, examining a Baseball-Reference blog post that ranked the best pitchers and position players not in the Hall of Fame based on their WAR [...]
May 21st, 2010 at 3:41 pm
Paul, I think Halladay is well-positioned to make the HOF eventually. He's probably not there yet, but if he just adds a bit more bulk to his career, I believe he would make it. Considering he's probably still as good as he's ever been, he should be able to add more than just "bulk." His peak has not been so impressive that he would make it with just over 150 wins and 2000 IP (the Koufax/Dean area), but getting to 200 wins probably makes voters feel comfortable picking him.
Incidentally, Halladay is in good position to reach at least 10 CG this year (he has 4). No one's reached double digits since Randy Johnson had 12 in '99. This would be the 6th time Halladay has led the league in CG and only Spahn did that more (9).
May 21st, 2010 at 5:02 pm
"I thought dropping the ones who aren't yet eligible dropped out something interesting about Blyleven - which is that he is right in the middle of a group of guys who will almost certainly go to the Hall - RJ and Glavine are locks, Pedro and Mussina are both strong contenders. Schilling and Brown are contenders, as well.
Question - how does Blyleven's peak, I dunno, 10-15 years compare to these guys?"
Blyleven would be stuck carrying Pedro's briefcase in their best years. That's how they compare.
May 21st, 2010 at 5:07 pm
Since Pedro at his best was quite possibly the best pitcher ever, that's not especially news.
But he didn't have 15 good years, and Blyleven did.
May 21st, 2010 at 6:37 pm
Johnny, thanks for proving my point. Blyleven had good years. HOF pitchers tend to have great ones, and when you compare him to others of his era, Carlton, Seaver, Palmer, Niekro, Sutton, just to name plenty, he falls short. Blyleven had too many good years and very few great ones. Reminds me a lot of Dwight Evans.
May 21st, 2010 at 6:47 pm
Actually, the Evans analogy is really apples and oranging it, but my point is the HOF should be really selective. HOFs really should have some very memorable dominant seasons in their career somewhere, and a lot of the problem is that many look at compiling stats as opposed to the dominating seasons.
May 21st, 2010 at 6:55 pm
Blyleven had 10 seasons of 15+ wins, but Pedro's seven years of 15+ were undeniably of better quality.
Had he not missed so much of 2001, Pedro might have also run off a string of five straight ERA titles. As it was, his 2.39 (in 116.2 innings) was .66 better than the league leader (Freddy Garcia, 3.05).
Five in a row is Koufax territory.
Bert was durable, won some big games in the postseason, but was never the best pitcher in the league. Injuries aside, Pedro may have been the best pitcher of his generation.
Interesting note about Blyleven: for a pitcher known so well for his career strikeout totals, he only led the league once.
Then again, Gaylord Perry (8th) and Greg Maddux (10th) never did.
May 21st, 2010 at 7:52 pm
Why is Catfish Hunter in and Bert out? Why is Jim Rice in and...well, I think that says it all.
May 21st, 2010 at 8:14 pm
Let's not forget that Hunter did win 20+ games five straight seasons, and 146 games in just seven years. He twice posted seasonal WHIPS under 1.000, won five Series rings, and had four straight top-four Cy Young finishes (one win).
He also made eight All-Star teams.
Not exactly chopped liver. Good enough in my book for admittance to the Hall as a no-brainer.
May 21st, 2010 at 8:20 pm
I don't mind him getting in as much as I think that Bert deserves to be in more than he does. A lot more.
May 21st, 2010 at 8:32 pm
Exactly, JeffW. I can't disagree with anything you've stated. I was going to mention Catfish in the previous post, but I figured I'd stop with 5 pitchers. Blyleven was also only a 2 time All Star, which would be a pretty sorry case for induction for a career spanning 20+ years when you consider the managers select the staff every year.
May 22nd, 2010 at 12:33 am
I'm not going to lead the Blyleven brigade, there's many other people who feel more passionate about him than I. I will just point out that there are many players already in the HOF who did just amass a lot of good seasons, not necessarily many great ones. As you can see above, there are about 60 SP in the HOF, and obviously not all of them were dominant or considered the best pitcher in baseball.
May 22nd, 2010 at 11:19 am
Sometimes, it's just tough to get noticed.
Maybe we don't really appreciate the pitching impact of the '70's-'80's era. There were so many great pitchers that guys who posted 280+ victories -- cream of the crop in the annuls of the game -- aren't getting the props of their previous generations.
I've posted in another blog thread that maybe there was just a overabundance of great pitchers. Seaver, Carlton, Hunter, Blyleven, John, Sutton, Niekro, Morris (top winner for an entire decade, let's remember), Ryan, Palmer, Saberhagen, Dennis Martinez (when he was sober), Jenkins.
This class is so good, that we ignore flameouts like Gooden, and never give a second look to guys like Key, Steib, Tanana, Vida Blue, even short-burst studs like Dennis Leonard, Wilbur Wood (138 wins, 52 saves, '68-'75), or J.R. Richard. Valenzuela? For all his short-term impact, he's largely forgotten, as is Hershiser.
Frankie V? 126 wins in six years. Ron Guidry, anyone? Dave Stewart? Got his life straightened out and became the terror of the American League for four magnificent seasons. Of course, he couldn't even get the props when he was doing it (Cy Who?).
These guys were better than we give them credit for, when Dave Stewart couldn't cop a Cy Young in any of his four 20-win seasons.
Take it back the other way, and look at guys like Stottlemyre, Mickey Lolich, Mike Cuellar, Ken Holtzman (134 wins in eight seasons).
Now, I'm not promoting Smoke for the Hall. But let's consider that many of these short-burst guys -- even the ones who couldn't win the Cy -- took (and still take) the attention away from some of the guys who performed year-in and year-out over an extended period (Blyleven, John) and compiled the appropriate numbers.
Many of the borderline cases may not be the Babe Ruth or Willie Mays of the pitching pool, but they are very much comparable to the Tony Perez or Billy Williams types.
May 22nd, 2010 at 12:10 pm
Blyleven was probably the best pitcher in his league in 1973, and had 6 years of 134 ERA+ or better, not sure what more you want. He pitched mostly for small market teams and was overlooked for All-Star.
Hunter's accomplishments are mainly TEAM ones (see how he stacks up with Blyleven in INDEPENDENT stats).
And why no love for Jim McCormick?
May 22nd, 2010 at 11:01 pm
WAR is an interesting way to track players not in Cooperstown who perhaps should be. I wrote a post for my blog this evening about another way to do it, a stat I named Hall of Fame +/-. It measures how many future Hall of Famers a ballplayer finished in front of in Cooperstown voting compared to how many non-members beat them out. I would love to see this stat added to Baseball-Reference if possible.
May 23rd, 2010 at 2:22 am
[...] the heels of a pair of great Baseball-Reference blog posts this week ranking the best pitchers and position players not in the Hall of Fame based on their Wins Above Replacement data, I may have [...]
May 26th, 2010 at 12:08 am
"Question - how does Blyleven's peak, I dunno, 10-15 years compare to these guys?"
"Blyleven would be stuck carrying Pedro's briefcase in their best years. That's how they compare."
Well, the yearly WAR data is available on their pages, so I decided to do just that.
Here's their ten best years, by WAR:
http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/5337/peak10.png
And their fifteen best:
http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/1153/peak15.png
Looks to me like Blyleven holds his own okay.
May 26th, 2010 at 12:09 am
Since they aren't labelled, the vertical axis is WAR, and the horizontal is season, with 1 being that players best season, 2 his second-best, and so on.
May 27th, 2010 at 9:00 pm
where's jim kaat in all of this?..283 wins and 16 gold gloves..he should be right up there with blyleven in terms of who earned his way to the hall of fame and has been kept out the the longest
May 28th, 2010 at 4:00 am
Zeff is really showing his knowledge of the game with things like "who would you hand the ball to?" and naming how many all-star games he's been in.
May 30th, 2010 at 11:14 pm
This is a good list, but I would add Allie Reynolds to it, too. When Allie was with the Yankees he won SIX World Series rings and had a 7 - 2 World Series record. He was a consistent pitcher who was also great in the clutch. Compare to Whitey Ford who was 6 - 5 in World Series play. Whitey was 10 - 8 as a WS pitcer.
May 31st, 2010 at 11:18 am
It may be worth mentioning that Eddie Cicotte is technically not eligible for the HOF, as he was banned from baseball following the Black Sox scandal.