Mussina a Hall of Famer?
Posted by Ed Valentine in New York Yankees
November 20th, 2008 at 8:00 am ET
With Mike Mussina of the New York Yankees ready to announce his retirement, the obvious question to ask is ‘has done enough to merit a plaque in Cooperstown?’
* 270 career victories.
* A 3.68 career ERA.
* A .638 winning percentage.
* Seventeen consecutive seasons of at least 10 wins.
* A 20 victory season at the age of 39.
Mussina was never the dominant pitcher in the league, and never won a Cy Young. He was almost always among the best, however.
Before last season I thought he was short of Hall of Fame caliber. Now, considering how the game has changed and that the 300-victory plateau should probably not be the benchmark, I’d say he should get in.
Highly-regarded writer Joe Posnanski makes the case for Mussina by comparing his career to that of Hall of Famer Juan Marichal. Posnanski also debunks the myth that Mussina was not a clutch pitcher.
