Moose Deserves the Hall

The official announcement of Mike Mussina's retirement is rekindling the argument about whether he belongs in the Hall of Fame. I think it's a close call, but I would certainly give Moose the plaque.

Although wins are a poor way to judge a pitcher due to the variances of run support and bullpen production, winning 20 in his last year may help him garner enough Hall of Fame votes when his eligibility roles around.

Mike got his 229 win in his 450th start. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, only seven pitchers during the expansion era (since 1961) have won more games than Mussina in their first 450 starts: Tom Seaver (236-131), Bob Gibson (236-137), Juan Marichal (236-139), Jim Palmer (234-130), Roger Clemens (233-124), Randy Johnson (231-116) and Greg Maddux (230-128).

And this was before he went out and won 20 this year.

As if that weren't enough good company, Mussina ranks among the all-time leaders for Runs Saved Above Average (RSAA), which is a more accurate measurement of a pitcher's worth than won-loss.

Just look at the company Mussina is keeping:

CAREER
1920-2007
                                 RSAA
1    Roger Clemens        732
2    Lefty Grove             668
3    Greg Maddux           559
4    Randy Johnson        519
5    Pedro Martinez         511
6    Tom Seaver             404
7    Carl Hubbell             355
8    Bob Gibson              350
9    Curt Schilling           346
10   Bert Blyleven           344
11   John Smoltz            323
12   Phil Niekro              322
13   Whitey Ford            321
14   Warren Spahn         319
15   Mike Mussina          318
16   Gaylord Perry          317
17   Jim Palmer              314
18   Tom Glavine            313
19   Hal Newhouser        309
20  Kevin Brown             304

There is more good company here for Mike when you measure Baserunners per 9 innings. Then consider the horrendous Yankee defense that has burdened Mussina since he came to New York.

CAREER
1920-2007
3,000 IP
                   BASERUNNERS/9 IP      
1    Juan Marichal             10.02
2    Tom Seaver               10.23
3    Catfish Hunter            10.34
4    Curt Schilling             10.38
5    Don Sutton                10.42
6    Ferguson Jenkins        10.44
7    Greg Maddux              10.51
8    Carl Hubbell                10.62
9    Robin Roberts             10.63
10   Dennis Eckersley        10.65
11   John Smoltz               10.67
12   Mike Mussina             10.68
13   Jim Palmer                 10.71
14   Don Drysdale             10.73
15   Gaylord Perry             10.81
16   Warren Spahn            10.82
17   Roger Clemens           10.84
18   Randy Johnson           10.90
19   Luis Tiant                   10.91
20   Bob Gibson                 10.93

And for those who insist on winning percentage:
CAREER
1920-2007
3,000 IP
                       WINNING  PCT
1    Whitey Ford               .690
2    Lefty Grove                .680
3    Roger Clemens           .658
4    Randy Johnson           .648
5    Jim Palmer                 .638
5    Mike Mussina              .638
7    Juan Marichal             .631
8    Carl Hubbell               .622
9    Bob Feller                   .621
10   Greg Maddux             .610
11   David Wells               .604
12   Tom Seaver               .603
13   Tom Glavine              .600
14   Freddie Fitzsimmons .598
15   Warren Spahn            .597
16   Curt Schilling             .597
17   Kenny Rogers            .595
18   Kevin Brown              .594
19   Bob Welch                 .591
20   Bob Gibson                .591

And an added benefit, Moose doesn't have to answer any questions about steroid use. But he did have to pitch against those who do. I say put him in the Hall of Fame.
More stats from Elias:

Won 20 Games in Final Season, Since 1900
Sandy Koufax     1966     27-6
Lefty Williams     1920     22-14
Ed Cicotte           1920     21-10
Henry Schmidt    1903     22-13
*NOTE: Sandy Koufax had to retire due to injury; Williams and Cicotte were a part of the Black Sox scandal
 
Oldest Pitchers, 20+ Wins in Season, Since 1969
                          Wins   Age
2003 Jamie Moyer    21 40
1979 Phil Niekro      21 40
1978 Gaylord Perry  21 39
2008 Mike Mussina   20 39
 
 
Mike Mussina, 2007 vs 2008
            2007   2008
W-L      11-10  20-9
ERA      5.15   3.37
Opp BA .311   .278
Starts     27    34
 
Highest First-pitch strike pct in MLB, 2008 Season
                            
Mike Mussina, NYY     68.0   
Greg Maddux, LAD      67.8   
Kevin Slowey, MIN     67.4   
Ervin Santana, LAA    67.3   
Cliff Lee, CLE            67.1   

 
Most 10+ Win Seasons, American League History
Walter Johnson    18
Mike Mussina       17
Roger Clemens     17
Ted Lyons            17