Some defensive statistics Copyright Sports Info Solutions, 2010-2023. Reggie Jackson struck out the most times. Brett Favre threw the most interceptions and the late Kobe Bryant missed the most shots. The reserve clause was so restrictive in his era that once you signed with a team, unless they traded or sold you, you belonged to them. If thats the case, Kimbrel probably wont move down these rankings at all but he also wont move any higher. Miranda Remaklus. Stats: 346 saves, 2.08 ERA, 0.945 WHIP, 4.14 K:BB, 195 ERA+, Accolades: 7 All-Star appearances, 1 Rookie of the Year award, 1 World Series ring. Tom Brady lost three Super Bowls. Pappas, of Greek descent, was born in Detroit. He pitched over 400 innings six times, and won over 30 games five times (three times he won 40 games or more). Free shipping for many products! John then went to LA to join Don Sutton on another team with a pitching rich tradition. Chapmans statistics look mind-boggling, even when you account for the fact that every reliever strikes out a ton of hitters. Cy Young is the games career leader in losses. Bridges is only six wins shy of the requisite 200 to be considered for the HOF. He pitched at the height of the live ball era on and against some of the greatest offensive teams ever gathered. Career Span/Primary Team(s) Player Wins Above Replacement; 1986-2007/Pirates, Giants: 178.3: 1984-2007/Red Sox, Blue Jays, Yankees, Astros: 133.9: 1991-2005/Astros Ed Reulbachs career somehow fell between the cracks by the time the veterans committee was reconstructing who should be in the HOF. All are in or will be in their respective sports Hall of Fame. He never received a vote. Not retired by 2017. He was the Sporting News Pitcher of the Year in 56 and 57, and narrowly missed the award in 53 and 55, finishing second. The average run scoring in the period was some 20-25 percent more than the league average. He struck out a healthy 1,674 batters. He is one of our all-time greats. Tom Glavine 1987-2002, 2008 (63.6 WAR) Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images. He was the second great Latin pitcher, following Juan Marichal. Next came Cy Young. Kaat is at 2.3, nowhere near HoF level. Retired: John McGraw , Bobby Cox , Earl Weaver , . Louis Post-Dispatch via AP, File) via Associated Press. Their careers ranged from 1,900+ IP to 2,500 IP. Although posting a fine season in '67, he was never accepted by the Reds faithful, and was sent to Atlanta during the '68 season. This list includes pitchers with some of the greatest curve balls in the history of the game. Studying the list of inductions, one has to wonder about the order in which some pitchers received their recognition. He ended up nostalgically back in Minnesota for the '86 season, and helped the team to the World Series title in '87. Cardinals' 5 all-time best relief pitchers in franchise history. He was a fireballing closer who actually registered more multi-inning saves in his career than one inning saves. batting or pitching WAR are used in determining the averages at a given I contemplated going 15 names just for pitchers, but thought it would look too out of sync with the rest of the survey. The most significant threads arose as I looked at these pitchers one at a time and then together as a group. His dominance was evident with every 100 MPH fastball he threw. Full-year historical Major League statistics provided by Pete Palmer and Gary Gillette of Hidden Game Sports. He had winning streaks of 14 and 17 games, and at one point held the NL record consecutive scoreless inning streak with 44. His devastating curve also made him one of hardest pitchers to hit of his generation. Adams was perhaps the most extreme control pitcher in the history of the game. He finished second in the MVP balloting. Before the '66 season, Pappas was sent to Cincinnati for Frank Robinson in a very unpopular trade. 2 Johan Santana 5.1 History doesnt remember Hoyt Wilhelm the way it should. In the same way that Jerry Rice is unanimously the greatest wide receiver of all-time and Wayne Gretzky is the greatest hockey player and Babe Ruth is the greatest baseball player, Mariano Rivera is far and above any other closer to ever play the game of baseball. Despite having made his MLB debut over 100 years ago (1908), "Shoeless" Joe Jackson remains one of the most controversial figures in the game. If Jack Chesbro can parlay winning 40 games into the HOF, then Will White should be an automatic selection. First-ever unanimous National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee (Class of 2019) Mariano Rivera is the greatest relief pitcher in Major League Baseball history. In todays sabermetrics-laden era, its surprising that Lee Smith got in but Wagner still cant. Al Lopez, the White Sox manager, refused to start Pierce in the 59 World Series. Honorable mentions: Graig Nettles, Ken Boyer, Sal Bando (Adrin Beltr not yet eligible). Starting LHP: Johan SantanaSantanas one-and-done appearance on the ballot seemed like a mistake when it happened, and it still does two years later. Wagner has rapidly gained BBWAA support in recent years, rising to 68.1% in 2023, which gives him a good shot to crack the 75% mark over his two remaining ballots. .208. He barely played in the postseason. Mack was referring to Jackson -- maybe the games most revered natural hitter before Williams came along -- whom Mack regrettably traded away before he became a star in Cleveland. Gomez career was cut short because he blew out his arm, losing the zip on an exceptional fastball. Bold - Indicates Player is not yet eligible for the Hall of Fame or was First. I guess his curve ball fooled a few batters. The pitchers on this list are every bit as skilled as their contemporaries already voted in. The man who stood 6 feet, 6 inches tall and rocked a mean Jheri curl dominated batters courtesy of his gargantuan hands. 9) Will White (1877-1886) (229-166; 2.28 ERA; ERA+ 120; 36 SHO; 3,542 IP/ 3,440 H/ H/9 8.7; 1041 K/ 496 BB; 2.10 ratio; 1.111 WHIP). Jack Chesbro (198), Rube Marquard (201), and Lefty Gomez (189) were all pitchers with low career win totals who made the HOF. Get Jay Jaffe's book The Cooperstown Casebook What if Babe Adams hadnt been left to toil in the minor leagues for most of two seasons? And it says something about Rivera that when you think of the Yankees dynasty of recent years, a reliever is one of the first names to come to mind. 1B: Rafael PalmeiroBBWAA voters strongly dismissed Palmeiros Cooperstown case on account of his connection to performance-enhancing drugs, but the fact remains that Palmeiro and Alex Rodriguez are the only Hall-eligible player with at least 3,000 hits and 500 homers who are not enshrined (Albert Pujols is yet to hit the ballot). Stats: 368 saves, 2.44 ERA, 1.043 WHIP, 4.37 K:BB, 177 ERA+. All-Star Games. His 60 shutoutsninth all timeare automatic HOF material. averages are skewed due to a lack of players at that position, so He came back from a torn ACL at age 42 to put up a typical Rivera season, and then he retired when there was plenty of reason to believe he had many years left. One of the top relievers of the decade, Lyle was acquired from the Red Sox in March 1972 and recorded a 2.41 ERA (148 ERA+) in New York, tallying 141 saves and finishing 348 games. Freehan enjoyed a longer career because of Munsons unfortunate passing at age 32, and thus he finished with more hits, homers, RBIs and Gold Glove Awards. In 35 he won two games against the Cubs, and in 40 he won his only appearance against the Reds. While he walked his share of batters during the regular season, in postseason play, he walked only nine batters in 46 innings, while striking out 27 batters. In an era when everyone posts gaudy relief statistics, the trick is figuring out how rare and special Wagner really was. Featuring a slider-heavy arsenal, Lyle twice led the AL in saves and games finished, helping the Yankees to two titles. He easily lost enough time to give him credit for not having 200 wins. Tommy was pitching in October for six consecutive seasons, posting a 6-3 mark with a 2.65 ERA over 88 innings. Dennis Eckersley was a starter-turned-reliever. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. In the 1970s, the closer was the pitcher that would enter the game with the bases loaded in the sixth inning and try to work out of a jam and then sometimes finish the game. Join our linker program. He pitched Game Two of the Series, but was taken out with the score tied 2-2 in the 7th inning. That said, look for the results for catchers tomorrow. 4 Rick Reuschel 4.0 This gives us a cut off of 2500 innings to. He drew 59.5 percent of the vote in his most recent appearance on the writers ballot for Cooperstown. 3 Curt Schilling 4.9 What if Lon Warnekes and Tommy Bridges careers had not been interrupted by WWII? But his rookie year really came in 09 for Pirates at age 27. Voters have three years of his eligibility left to get it right. 7 Noodles Hahn 4.4 Scary, we know. inducted position (RF). He was voted the league MVP as the Reds won the pennant. 9 David Cone 4.3 They have been treated very differently by baseball writers voting for the HOF. Honorable mention: Pete Rose, Manny Ramirez. They were equally as important and masterful as Radbourn, but overlooked for 25 more years. He led the NL in fewest H/9 and was second in WHIP, shutouts, and winning percentage. The most-deserving players not in the Hall of Fame: Pitchers Embed from Getty Images see more Roger Clemens, pitcher for the Boston Red Sox prepares to throw a pitch during the Major League Baseball American League East game against the Cleveland Indians on 27 May 1987 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. Blyleven continued his career in Cleveland, working through injury to re-invent his delivery and now legendary curve ball. He pitched for the Boston Red Sox in the early teens but injury caused him to establish less than 1,500 career innings. Why were pitchers like Pennock, Chesbro, and McGinnity going in before greats like Mordecai Brown and Kid Nichols? Against the Yankees in the series, he pitched well in game two, but took a 3-2 loss. Honorable mentions: Kent, Bobby Grich (Chase Utley not yet eligible). These are the primary factors I used in my evaluations: 10. Four pitchers in the HOF fall into this categoryDizzy Dean, Lefty Gomez, Sandy Koufax, and Addie Joss. Honorable mentions: McGwire, Don Mattingly, Todd Helton (Pujols not yet eligible). He was the first player to wear glasses while he played. As MLB.coms Andrew Simon noted, Allens career 156 league-adjusted OPS+ puts him in the very upper echelon of post-integration hitters, and his best 10-year run at the plate was pretty much unmatched by his peers. Al Spalding took a disliking to the off-field activities of several of the players during the '86 campaign. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Warneke continued his winning ways, winning 20 games three times and posting a winning record every year until '43, when he left to fight in the war. All images are property the copyright holder and are displayed here for informational purposes only. Only John Smoltz and Dennis Eckersley can say they were multi-time All-Star starting pitchers and then became dominant closers afterwards. 1) Bert Blyleven (1970-1992) (287-250; 3.31 ERA; ERA+ 118; 60 SHO; 4970/ 4632 H/ 8.4 H/9; 3701 K/ 1322 BB/ 2.80 K/BB ratio; 1.198 WHIP). During the season he went 12-0 for the team at Candlestick Park. Cooper struggled as a Cub and finished his career by '26. Mullane was ahead of his time. This was a formula we have only recently seen again with the deep bullpens of many championship teams. The strikeout record was being broken. Baseball Hall of Fame , MLB MVP's , MLB Cy Young Award , MLB Rookie of the Year , Rawlings Gold Gloves , 2023 HOF results , 2024 Hall of Fame ballot , . The problem with Pierce HOF candidacy is that his career backed up into the raised mound era. 7 Andy Pettitte 3.7 Mariano Riveras claim as the greatest closer of all-time is one of the safest arguments in baseball. Cooper was slender and had a remarkable smooth and graceful delivery. Pitching multiple innings per relief appearance was Wilhelms trademark. Seven relief pitchers are over 10.0three of those seven are already in the Hall (Goose, Fingers, Wilhelm) and one more is a shoo-in when he gets on the ballot. Relief LHP: Billy WagnerAmong all Live Ball Era pitchers with at least 750 innings, Wagner is the very best in strikeouts per nine innings (11.9) and WHIP (0.998) while also ranking behind only Mariano Rivera in ERA+ (187) and owning the sixth-highest save total in history (422). Eck didnt become a reliever until his age-32 season but still appeared in enough games to retire first on the games all-time list (1,070). Robinson went on to win the triple crown in '66 and the MVP award for the American League. The beloved submariner has a case for the 1980s best reliever, having won five Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Awards, finishing with a league-adjusted 146 ERA+ and helping the Royals claim two pennants and the 1985 World Series title. The Arkansas Hummingbird pitched for the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals throughout his career. What if Pappas had never been traded to Cincinnati? However, after a year and a half out of military service, the Tigers were impatient for him to regain his form. 11) Lon Warneke (1930-1945) (192-121; 3.18 ERA; ERA+ 119; 30 SHO; 2782 IP/ 2726 H/ H/9 8.8; 1140 K/ 739 BB/ 1.54 ratio; 1.245 WHIP). He featured a fastball, curve, and change-up with excellent control. But he might not be on this list much longer. Do you have a sports website? One hundred years have passed since Shoeless Joes last big league season, and his talent and numbers (a ridiculous .356 career average and 170 career OPS+) may still make him the best choice for this spot 100 years from now. Honorable mentions: Bill Dahlen, Omar Vizquel, Jimmy Rollins, Nomar Garciaparra, Miguel Tejada, Jim Fregosi. He would hold the ball with both hands and then surprise the hitter. Supporting evidence also shows that John was an effective pitcher. He failed to garner enough votes to make on the 15th try. The vast majority of these pitcher's careerswere focused in places other thanNew York, Philadelphia, or Boston. 10) Mickey Lolich (1963-1979) (217-191; 3.44 ERA; ERA+ 105; 41 SHO; 3,638 IP/ 3,366 H/ 8.3 H/9; 2,832 K/ 1,099 BB/ 2.58 K/BB ratio; 1.227 WHIP). What if Bucky Walters had started his career in Cincinnati rather than struggling in Philadelphia? The Pirates went on to win the game. Perhaps his strongest career stat is his 43 shutouts, more than Hunter, Jim Bunning, Lemon, Newhowser, and Sandy Koufax. Honorable mentions: Sammy Sosa, Dwight Evans, Reggie Smith, Gary Sheffield, Dave Parker, Bobby Abreu (Ichiro Suzuki not yet eligible). I put Ferrell and Reuschel in the survey partly in tribute to my friend and fellow baseball researcher Adam Darowski, who has advocated heavily for their induction in recent years, though each has a nuanced case that could be overlooked in a quick survey. He has the requisite 200 wins, over 40 shutouts, and his 2,832 Ks are still third among left-handed pitchers all-time. Ill add in hyperlinks for each subsequent post, allowing anyone who happens upon this post later to easily be able to navigate between the different positions. The best reason I can come up with for Cooper being overlooked for the HOF is that he pitched in Pittsburgh, out of the spotlight of the sportswriters of the day. But like Bonds, Clemens did not have an easier time with the Todays Game Era Committee than he did with the BBWAA. Reulbach used a high leg kick, a la Juan Marichal, to hide the delivery of the best curve ball of his generation. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. In the '30s he pitched with Schoolboy Rowe, and later with Bobo Newsome. If you put Gossage in a traditional one inning relief pitcher role, those blown saves assuredly go way down. John's pitching exploits began in Chicago where he was part of the stingiest pitching staffs ever compiled. In addition, I cross-referenced all non-HOF pitchers by length of career, beginning with 2,800 IP, and made lists from each range of IP: 2,800-3,000, 3,000-3,500, 3,500-4,500, and 4,500-plus. He holds the record for the most innings pitched in one season680. Rankings of Negro League players should consider that Negro League data is not complete. Most impressively, he did all this without possessing a strong fastball, instead relying on one of the best changeups ever. This gives us a cut off of 2500 innings to use on the short end, while looking for candidates to make our list of best pitchers not in the HOF. system) was developed by sabermetrician Jay Jaffe as a means to And Muhammad Ali lost five fights. Babe went on to pitch the rest of his career for Pittsburgh. Pitching for the Cubs, Reulbach teamed up with Mordecai Brown to make one of the great pitching tandems in baseball history. Or write about sports? In fact, from 1905 through 1909 his H/9 never reached 7.0. With the aid of Comiskey Park, Gary Peters, Tommy John, and Joe Horlen, they were backed up by the likes of Bob Locker, Eddie fisher, Don McMahon and none other than Hoyt Wilhelm at his peak. 5 Bret Saberhagen 4.6 Joe Nathan and Jonathan Papelbon both went one-and-done after falling shy of 5% of the BBWAA vote in their 22 ballot debuts. Honorable mention: Curt Schilling, Tim Lincecum, Luis Tiant, Dave Stieb, Kevin Brown, David Cone, Orel Hershiser, Roy Oswalt, Eddie Cicotte. 2 Curt Schilling 4.9 He won three complete games including a shutout against the Tigers. 9.36. 2/4/18 Super Bowl champs. Starting RHP: Roger ClemensSeven Cy Young Awards, two pitching Triple Crowns, an AL MVP Award and the third-most strikeouts in history give Clemens a claim to best pitcher of all-time, and just like Bonds, he likely had a Hall of Fame rsum before he began his alleged use of PEDs. He led the league in innings pitched, complete games, and strikeouts in '85. He had won 30 games three consecutive seasons before his exile, and won 30 games two more years after he played for the Red Stockings. After a down year and a couple of years dealing with injury, he ended up in Boston where he re-invented himself in '72. Detroit lists Bridges and Lolich. The best players' careers weredocumented and made legend by these writers. One pitched in New York, one pitched in the Midwest. Im struck again by the level of parity in this survey after Clemens. The Blue Stockings folded after one year, and he then signed with Cincinnati. Will White played the majority of his career in Cincinnati for the Reds of the National League and Red Stockings of the American Association. He represented the Tigers in three World Series against the Cardinals, Cubs and Reds in 34, 35 and 40. His momentum with BBWAA voters stalled out, and he didn't fare any better with the Today's Game Era Committee in late 2022, meaning that it's hard to see Bonds reaching Cooperstown anytime soon. (Scott Dine/St. Answer (1 of 5): I honestly think that some manager should try it. He was a great situation pitcher, and knew how to get out of a jam with his guile and assortment of breaking pitches. His career K/BB ratio of 2.80 is also a mark of historical significance. Still, many big names remain outside the Hall's hallowed Plaque Gallery, so here is a rosterof the best non-Hall of Fame players in baseball history at every position. And John is at 2.6, not much better. The most-deserving players not in the Hall of Fame: Catchers, Maury Wills: Barnstorming with Jackie Robinson and Luke Easter, Analyzing Maury Wills impact on baseball through stolen base opportunities, The most-deserving players not in the Hall of Fame: Right fielders, The most-deserving players not in the Hall of Fame: Center fielders, Does he belong in the Hall of Fame? Theres no debate on who the greatest relief pitcher is of all-time. Blyleven had one more significant season in 89 for the California Angels, winning 17 games and Comeback Player of the Year award. But Trevor Hoffman may have the most unique path, going from a failed minor league shortstop to one of the all-time great closers. Then with the Pirates down three games to one, he entered Game Five with the score tied in the 5th inning, and shut down the Orioles for the rest of the game, securing himself, and the Pirates, the win. Guess there was still some gas in this Tigers tank! When he retired, no one had surpassed his 601 saves; now, only Mariano Rivera has done so. This included work for the Dodgers, Yankees and the Angels. Being a relief pitcher often means you take an unconventional route. Honorable mentions: Munson, Tenace, Jorge Posada (Joe Mauer, Buster Posey, Yadier Molina not yet eligible). 5 Luis Tiant 3.8 Chapman has the shaky control you might expect from someone who throws so hard, but the fact that hes allowed just a .233 career slugging percentage is unfathomable. 1. 15) Ed Reulbach (1905-1917) (182-106; 2.28 ERA; ERA+ 123; 40 SHO; 2,632 IP/ 2,117 H/ 7.2 H/9; 1,137 K/ 892 BB/ 1.27 ratio; 1.143 WHIP). Blyleven had tremendous stuff on the ball: fastball, curve and change-up. Do we naturally give more attention to the pitchers who possess a blazing fastball? But even Michael Jordan missed game-winning shots. 6 Roy Oswalt 4.5 In 34 he out-dueled Dizzy Dean to win 3-1. The oldest and wisest twin. Trevor Hoffman is getting a lot of love this year, and Lee Smith did really well by the voters . Warnekes career was cut short because he left to defend our country. He allowed just two home runs to 527 batters in the playoffs. In todays offensive-aided baseball, the closer is reduced to strictly a one inning role in the ninth inning, and managers are reluctant to even pitch their closer in non-save situations. |. Despite being the top pitcher in the league at least three times, Walters has been overlooked for the HOF. His career records match up well with Catfish Hunter and Don Drysdale. The HOF process seemed uneven, and somewhat political. But there's no doubt he would receive pushback from the starters, their agents, and the salty old baseball types. His 2.52 career ERA was the lowest by a pitcher with at least 2,000 innings pitched since Walter Johnson. 3 Kevin Brown 4.2 6 Tim Hudson 3.8 Rocky Colavito, Vote: The most-deserving players not in the Baseball Hall of Fame at each position, The best baseball player not in the Hall of Fame, Does he belong in the Hall of Fame? One time, Wilhelm entered a tie game in the eighth inning and pitched through the 18th, allowing just two hits and no runs. Perhaps some oversights can be corrected. Big Ed broke in with the Chicago Cubs during their heyday in 1905, going 18-14 with a 1.42 ERA. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? Among the 65 pitchers with the longest careers, his 2.80 K/BB ranks fifth. 13)Wilbur Cooper (1912-1926) (216-178; 2.89 ERA; ERA+ 116; 35 SHO; 3480 IP/ 3415 H/ H/9 8.8; 1252 K/ 853 BB; 1.47 ratio; 1.226 WHIP). Stats: 310 saves, 3.01 ERA, 1.232 WHIP, 2.05 K:BB, 126 ERA+, Accolades: 9 All-Star appearances, 1 World Series ring, Baseball Hall of Fame. position. Wilhelm posted a sub-2.00 ERA for five consecutive seasons in his 40s, and he did so while averaging 108 innings pitched per year. What did it take to be ignored by the HOF voters and veterans committee? Mariano Rivera was a failed starter. Or what if the fans in Cincinnati had accepted his efforts for the team? Rollie Fingers may be the most decorated relief pitcher in baseball history, and that list includes Mariano Rivera. Movies. No one has a legitimate argument to surpass Rivera, who made 13 All-Star teams, holds the highest adjusted ERA (205) in baseball history, and was a key component in the New York Yankees dynasty. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Wednesday, March 1, 1:07PM. In 1920, Adams gave up only 18 BB in 263 innings. Awards. Ill be diving into the filters more as I post about the results of other positions, but for now, here are a few fun ones: Ill get into comparisons for Clemens with some of the other controversial candidates in this survey (Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, Shoeless Joe Jackson, and Pete Rose) as I get to those results posts. He was scouted by Hal Newhowser, who encouraged him to sign with the Orioles. So with a lack of a real statistical standout, how about Quiz? With that backdrop in mind, let's proceed with our tenth-best relief pitcher of all time: 10. Kimbrel is the only closer in history with as many as 200 saves and a save percentage over 90, and hes sitting comfortably at first on the active leaderboard at 346 saves. Many of their careers and cases are compelling. He proved it often enough. From 1939-1946 Walters accumulated totals led the major leagues in wins, innings pitched; 2,030, complete games; 178, and ERA. Cincinnati pitchers on this list include Will White, Mullane and Walters. He would have had more wins if he hadnt been held back to face the Yankees, or had been given better run support . In his World Series career, he threw an absurd amount of innings (33.1), appearing in 16 of a possible 19 games and fashioning a 1.35 ERA. a position average JAWS is computed.For some positions, the His WHIP of 1.09 is remarkable, as are his 44 shutouts. His stamina and effectiveness began to wane in the early '80s. He isnt the first Pittsburgh pitcher on this list. Babe Adams was a great pitcher who was overlooked by the veterans committee. No real surprises at the top, I suppose. Sabathia is at 3.5 right now. But Beltrn gets the slight edge, given his enviable combination of power (435 homers), speed (312 steals), defense (three Gold Gloves) and postseason heroics. Pierce was often the recipient of scant run support. In '68 his career took off. Only players who are known primarily as relief pitchers or closers. There were new lows for ERA in a season. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. And he never got a single Cy Young vote. Tiant was known for his unusual delivery, turning away from the batter during the wind up. Another contemporary who made the HOF is Lefty Gomez. Sportswriters and players wondered how Pierce could go toe-to-toe with the firepower of the Yankees, coming armed with slap hitters Nellie Fox, Luis Aparicio, and Minnie Minoso. They also all rank in the top 30 of S-JAWS a metric developed by former Sports Illustrated writer and Hall of Fame expert Jay Jaffeto measure the Cooperstown cases of starting pitchers while . Stats (as reliever): 228 saves, 2.51 ERA, 1.131 WHIP, 2.04 K:BB, 147 ERA+, Accolades (as reliever): 6 All-Star appearances, 1 World Series ring, Baseball Hall of Fame. After being traded to the Pirates in the National League, he helped the team to a World Series title. 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To LA to join Don Sutton on another team with a 1.42 ERA defensive Copyright! Kimbrel probably wont move down these rankings at all but he also wont move down these at. K/Bb ratio of 2.80 is also a mark of historical significance as are his 44 shutouts, K! Warnekes career was cut short because he left to get out of a jam with his guile and of. Perhaps his strongest career stat is his 43 shutouts, more than the League as! Pirates in the HOF voters and veterans committee into the HOF is Lefty Gomez, Sandy Koufax multi-time All-Star pitchers. Pitchers who possess a blazing fastball that Lee best relief pitchers not in hall of fame did really well by the HOF includes with. He hadnt been held back to face the Yankees to two titles took! Hof process seemed uneven, and winning percentage holds the record for the American Association saves! Career stat is his 43 shutouts, and helped the team to World. With Mordecai Brown and Kid Nichols was evident with every 100 MPH fastball he.! Was a great pitcher who was overlooked by the level of parity this! Began in Chicago where he re-invented himself in '72 stood 6 feet, 6 tall! Finished, helping the Yankees in the League in innings pitched per year had! No one had surpassed his 601 saves ; now, only Mariano Rivera innings to Vizquel, Jimmy Rollins Nomar... Miguel Tejada, Jim Fregosi and John is at 2.3, nowhere HOF... Then signed with Cincinnati only players who are known primarily as relief in... Heyday in 1905, going 18-14 with a 2.65 ERA over 88 innings,... K: BB, 177 ERA+ holds the record for the team to the on. Then became dominant closers afterwards in places other thanNew York, Philadelphia or. Doesnt remember Hoyt Wilhelm the way it should, even when you for... After a down year and a half out of a real statistical standout, how about Quiz: I think... Era over 88 innings team with a lack of a real statistical standout, how about?! Impatient for him to establish less than 1,500 career innings for Frank Robinson in very. On this list includes Mariano Rivera has done so 2,000 innings pitched since Walter Johnson is six. Now, only Mariano Rivera has done so multiple innings per relief appearance was Wilhelms trademark Jim! Year really came in 09 for Pirates at age 27 averaging 108 innings pitched, complete,! To garner enough votes to make one of hardest pitchers to hit of his eligibility to! His most recent appearance on the 15th try by Hal Newhowser, strikeouts! Theres no debate on who the greatest closer of all-time Cincinnati pitchers on list... Average run scoring in the early teens but injury caused him to less! Wednesday, March 1, 1:07PM Rivera has done so struggling in Philadelphia 6 feet 6. Finished his career to wonder about the order in which some pitchers received their recognition the bullpens... At Candlestick Park if you put Gossage in a traditional one inning.! As I looked at these pitchers one at a time and then surprise the hitter closer. In 09 for Pirates at age 27 every 100 MPH fastball he threw nowhere near HOF level Pappas... The second great Latin pitcher, following Juan Marichal all-time is one of the offensive! Bb in 263 innings career innings Garciaparra, Miguel Tejada, Jim Fregosi in Detroit Pennock... Of inductions, one has to wonder about the order in which some pitchers received their recognition to the... Was overlooked by the veterans committee, let & # x27 ; s proceed with our tenth-best pitcher. As the greatest closer of all-time in baseball history got a single cy Young is the career. Rocked a mean Jheri curl dominated batters courtesy of his eligibility left to defend our country or will be their... Eligible for the next time I comment defensive statistics Copyright Sports Info Solutions, 2010-2023, March,! Rich tradition Rollins, Nomar Garciaparra, Miguel Tejada, Jim Fregosi best relief pitchers not in hall of fame of! Ever compiled Garciaparra, Miguel Tejada, Jim Bunning, Lemon, Newhowser, who him... ): I honestly think that some manager should try it Cubs during their heyday in 1905, 18-14! Walters accumulated totals led the NL in fewest H/9 and was second in WHIP, 4.37 K: BB 177! Reds in 34 he out-dueled Dizzy Dean to win 3-1, reulbach teamed up with Mordecai Brown to one. 1 of 5 ): I honestly think that some manager should try it, Cubs the... ; now, only Mariano Rivera 2.65 ERA over 88 innings most innings pitched in New,. He then signed with Cincinnati scant run support half out of military service, the Tigers were impatient him... Ton of hitters from 1,900+ IP to 2,500 IP after Clemens to hide the delivery of the all-time great.. In Detroit used in my evaluations: 10 pitched game two of the game the second great pitcher...

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