But even Michael Jordan missed game-winning shots. The strikeout record was being broken. For his career he gave up only 430 BB in 2,995 innings. Qualtrics allows more sophisticated functionality. The knock against Wagner is that he got some easy saves throughout his career. Bridges was still an effective pitcher after his peak. Im a little bummed to see Wes Ferrell and Rick Reuschel anchoring the list, though its not stunning. He re-surfaced with incredible campaigns in '84 and '85. They were equally as important and masterful as Radbourn, but overlooked for 25 more years. The greatest relief pitchers of all time include some of the best current MLB players, as well as some legends who are already in the baseball hall of fame. He shut down the powerful Reds lineup in the playoffs. The Reds finally won their second World Series. Pitchers were regularly winning 24-27 games. He pitched at the height of the live ball era on and against some of the greatest offensive teams ever gathered. His alleged involvement in the Black Sox Scandal cut his careers short and has prevented him from being inducted in the Hall of Fame. History doesnt remember Hoyt Wilhelm the way it should. 2 Johan Santana 5.1 Voters have three years of his eligibility left to get it right. The HOF process seemed uneven, and somewhat political. Stats: 652 saves, 2.21 ERA, 1.000 WHIP, 4.10 K:BB, 205 ERA+. He sustained his excellence late into his career. 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. On a 25-man roster, teams typically carry 12 or 13 pitchers. Honorable mention: Nathan, Papelbon, Rodrguez, Keith Foulke, Tom Gordon, Tom Henke, Firpo Marberry, Troy Percival, Kent Tekulve, John Wetteland. 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. A player's JAWS is their Or what if the fans in Cincinnati had accepted his efforts for the team? He had ample zip on his fastball. His 287 wins are certainly HOF material with any historical perspective. His 2.41 K/BB ratio is exceptional as well. Rivera was literally dominant for close to two decades in a row. 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? He won 20 games three consecutive years right at the Tigers heyday in the mid-30s. Particularly blighted were the pitchers in Pittsburgh. hide this ad PLAY QUIZ Score 0/25 Timer 10:00 Recently Published Actresses. 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. He found success again after arriving in Chicago with the Cubs during the '70 season, winning 17 games in both '71 and '72. He was consistently excellent for the Orioles, winning 12 or more games and posting a winning record every year with the team. Wilbur Cooper and Babe Adams have likewise been missed. His fastball had lots of movement and a darting action. In '41 Lon pitched a no-hitter against the Reds. It's fitting that Smoltz, Maddux, and Tom Glavine came back-to-back-to-back on this list, because for over a decade . Pierce got his chance to test his grit in postseason action in 62 for the Giants. Chapmans statistics look mind-boggling, even when you account for the fact that every reliever strikes out a ton of hitters. He broke in going 123 with an exceptional 1.11 ERA on a staff that included Vic Willis at the end of his career. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. He holds the record for the most innings pitched in one season680. This gives us a cut off of 2500 innings to. 5 Luis Tiant 3.8 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. But Trevor Hoffman may have the most unique path, going from a failed minor league shortstop to one of the all-time great closers. Typically, in modern-day play, an active roster will consist of five starting pitchers, seven relief pitchers, two catchers, six infielders, and five outfielders. Kaat is at 2.3, nowhere near HoF level. 11 Belongs: "Shoeless" Joe Jackson. Sanders projects well, with a 3.64 peak xFIP, but one has to wonder if Brian's real motivation behind this pick was based on Sanders' Hall of Fame name." We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. I found some interesting threads that could be followed up. Bob Caruthers was between Cone and Appier, but a lot of his value was from playing the field as well. So with a lack of a real statistical standout, how about Quiz? This time he refused and was forced to sit out a season in order to play for Cincinnati, which he did. 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. By '59, Pappas was a mainstay of the Orioles staff. Tom Glavine 1987-2002, 2008 (63.6 WAR) Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images. Fingers career ERA+ of 120 is lower than youd expect (24th among 30 closers with at least 300+ saves). 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. Hoffman broke in with the inaugural Florida Marlins team, was traded for Gary Sheffield, and then racked up an absurd 15 seasons of 30+ saves and nine of 40+, each of which still stands as MLB records. Every supporting evidence points to him being a HOF pitcher. Honorable mention: Andy Pettitte, Mark Buehrle, Ron Guidry, Tommy John, Mickey Lolich, Jimmy Key (CC Sabathia not yet eligible). Sabathia is at 3.5 right now. Pierce threw a three-hit shutout to beat Sandy Koufax and the Dodgers in Game One. Do we naturally give more attention to the pitchers who possess a blazing fastball? Al Lopez, the White Sox manager, refused to start Pierce in the 59 World Series. When he retired, no one had surpassed his 601 saves; now, only Mariano Rivera has done so. 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. Wagner had three of them, and they came in three consecutive years (1997, 1998, and 1999). In todays sabermetrics-laden era, its surprising that Lee Smith got in but Wagner still cant. Guess there was still some gas in this Tigers tank! He relented, signed with St. Louis, but they then shipped him off to the expansion Toledo Blue Stockings. To start, there are only eight primary relievers in Cooperstown; Rivera, Dennis Eckersley, Hoyt Wilhelm, Goose Gossage, Rollie Fingers, Bruce Sutter, Lee Smith, and Trevor Hoffman. Career: 16 years (1995-2010) Teams: Houston Astros, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Mets, Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves. With 696 home runs, 2,086 RBIs, three AL MVP Awards, 14 All-Star Game selections and a World Series championship across his 22 year career, A-Rods on-field numbers legitimately rank alongside the Halls inner-circle members. position. Trevor Hoffman, 1993-2008 Key fact: He's one of two pitchers in MLB history, with Mariano Rivera, to eclipse the 500- and 600-save plateaus. Research is still ongoing and well continue to publish updates as more information becomes available. Mullane was ahead of his time. He displayed consistent excellence throughout his career. Relief Pitcher: Billy Wagner. This was not a pitcher on his last legs! By 76 he was pitching again and all three of his 20-win seasons came post-surgery. He won 22 games the next year, leading the Reds back to the World Series. For the most part, the best pitchers are in the HOF. I contemplated going 15 names just for pitchers, but thought it would look too out of sync with the rest of the survey. But he was also just as accomplished a two-way catcher as the Yankees captain -- and just as revered a leader for the Tigers, too. He had winning streaks of 14 and 17 games, and at one point held the NL record consecutive scoreless inning streak with 44. He got just 10.5 percent of the Hall of Fame voting in 2016, his first year of eligibility, and was still only at 31.7 percent at last year. Honorable mentions: Lofton, Jones, Jim Edmonds, Dale Murphy, Jim Wynn, RF: Shoeless Joe JacksonOn the day that Ted Williams famously played both legs of a doubleheader against the A's and clinched his .400 season in 1941, opposing manager Connie Mack said, I wish I had a Williams. They all pitched in New York. Follow Cody Swartz on Twitter (@cbswartz5). Subscribe to Stathead Baseball: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Baseball Reference Database. Nothing in his pitching resume says he doesnt belong in the HOF. Holds MLB record with 652 saves. Hes unlike any relief pitcher weve seen to date, allowing fewer hits per nine innings than Aroldis Chapman and striking out more batters per nine innings than Billy Wagner. I looked at some pitchers with shorter careers as well, and included some whose careers I thought made the greatest statements. His devastating curve also made him one of hardest pitchers to hit of his generation. Bridges was gutsy and tough in the postseason. a position average JAWS is computed.For some positions, the He was as automatic as youll ever find for a closer. In 34 he out-dueled Dizzy Dean to win 3-1. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. He was a major factor in Oaklands stretch of three straight pennants, winning the 1988 ALCS MVP award. 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. It took the veterans committee some 90 years to find and induct Vic Willis. The committee missed his team mate, Mordecai Brown, until after his death in 1948. When he finished playing nearly two decades later, Wilhelm held the major league record for games pitched (1,070), relief wins (124), and saves (228). What did it take to be ignored by the HOF voters and veterans committee? Movies. He will be gone soon enough, but for now, it isn't hard to find. Feb 11, 2023. Teams can vary this somewhat . Important note: For this exercise, we only considered players who have been retired for at least five years, the waiting time required before one can appear on a BBWAA ballot. Initials. I dont necessarily fault Chapman for that because its the way the game is played today. In Chicago he helped them to two championships, mostly as a second pitcher. Cincinnati pitchers on this list include Will White, Mullane and Walters. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for RANDY JOHNSON 2009 Topps #185 Arizona Diamondbacks, HALL OF FAME GREAT PITCHER at the best online prices at eBay! Next came Cy Young. RF Andre Ethier He led the league in wins in 36 with 23, but also led the league in strikeouts and games started twice. 3 Curt Schilling 4.9 He struck out a healthy 1,674 batters. He is 5-1 with a 2.47 ERA, 36 Ks against only 8 BB, and a WHIP of 1.077. Dennis Eckersley was a starter-turned-reliever. He had a 0.70 career ERA in the playoffs. Data Provided By Rivera's legacy is as the greatest relief pitcher ever, and now that Chapman is a Yankee for the foreseeable future, that's . . The only pitchers in history with more innings and a higher career ERA+ than Papelbon are Mariano Rivera and Billy Wagner. All-Star Games. After breaking in with the Cleveland Indians, Tommy John spent significant time with the Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, and New York Yankees, as well as a shorter stint with the California Angels. However, Smokey Joe Wood is not among those pitchers given a bye for the length of their careers. 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. But Beltrn gets the slight edge, given his enviable combination of power (435 homers), speed (312 steals), defense (three Gold Gloves) and postseason heroics. Length of career has been a subject of debate among those setting the standards for inclusion. Sabermetrics lover. He didnt throw hard; instead, becoming the bizarre closer to rely on a knuckleball. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. 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. Bold - Indicates Player is not yet eligible for the Hall of Fame or was First. Not every pitcher on this list should necessarily be in the HOF, but all of them could have been selected and voted in with the proper attention and support without any change in the historical standards that have been set. Among these, my favorites are Charles Buffington, a pitcher of significant quality and accomplishment from the 1880s, and Doc White, who pitched alongside Ed Walsh on the White Sox and won 189 games while tossing 45 shutouts. Babe went on to pitch the rest of his career for Pittsburgh. What if Tony Mullane had been allowed to pitch for Cincinnati in 1885? He was scouted by Hal Newhowser, who encouraged him to sign with the Orioles. The oldest and wisest twin. . His career records match up well with Catfish Hunter and Don Drysdale. JAWS (Jaffe WAR Score Billy Pierce was slight of build at 5 10 and a whopping 160 lbs. "With pick #132, @Brian59044 selects the first real relief pitcher of the draft, Phoenix Sanders. Would Santana have gotten enough votes to clear the 75% threshold for election? Many more names came up on my lists than the 15 I will cover here. What if Lon Warnekes and Tommy Bridges careers had not been interrupted by WWII? Despite having made his MLB debut over 100 years ago (1908), "Shoeless" Joe Jackson remains one of the most controversial figures in the game. Most Unique Players by Age by Similarity Scores, Most Games without a World Series Appearance, Most Games without a Postseason Appearance, Highest Career and Single-Season Salaries, Scores from any date in Major League history, Minor, Foreign, College, & Black Baseball, Frequently Asked Questions about MLB and Baseball, Subscribe to Stathead Baseball: Get your first month FREE. His K/BB ratio of 2.01 is historically strong. The committee found Charles Radbourn early on in their process in '39, but where were Tim Keefe ('63) and John Clarkson ('64)? My last article studied The Worst Pitchers in the HOF: Searching for Historys Bottom Line . system) was developed by sabermetrician Jay Jaffe as a means to Recently retired stars sure to get a serious look once theyre eligible -- such as Ichiro Suzuki, Joe Mauer and Adrin Beltr -- are noted in the honorable mentions below. Over a five-year span, he led the league in saves twice, finished in the top six in Cy Young award voting four times, and turned in one of the most dominant seasons in baseball history in 1990: 0.61 ERA, 48 saves, 73 K to 4 BB in 73.1 IP. We present them here for purely educational purposes. Plus, it just doesnt feel right that Alan Trammell is in the Hall without his double-play partner. So it was no real surprise that Rivera earned 100 percent support from the BBWAA in his election to the Hall of Fame in 2019. Cooper teamed up with Babe Adams, another pitcher on this list, to make quite a pitching combination for the Pirates of this era. The top few on the list have a body of work and cases for the HOF so compelling, one wonders how they got missed. By 1946 they told him he was washed up-finished. HOF - Indicates Player is a Hall of Famer. He failed to garner enough votes to make on the 15th try. Clemens, Clayton Kershaw and Max Scherzer are the only three-time winners who dont have a plaque. Cooper struggled as a Cub and finished his career by '26. Curiously enough, Eckersley didnt win the Cy Young award in his best year but then won the award along with the league MVP two seasons later in 1992 when he went 7-1 with a 1.91 ERA and 51 saves, then the second-best single-season total of all-time. Featuring a slider-heavy arsenal, Lyle twice led the AL in saves and games finished, helping the Yankees to two titles. Your email address will not be published. Along with those pitchers, Ill evaluate others with a case to be considered among the 10 best ever, which can be broken into categories of the modern (Craig Kimbrel, Aroldis Chapman, Kenley Jansen, Francisco Rodriguez, Billy Wagner, and Joe Nathan), and the throwbacks (Sparky Lyle and Dan Quisenberry). Full-year historical Major League statistics provided by Pete Palmer and Gary Gillette of Hidden Game Sports. I suspect he will reach the necessary 75 percent sometime in his remaining three years of eligibility. Honorable mention: Pete Rose, Manny Ramirez. The pitchers on this list are every bit as skilled as their contemporaries already voted in. Even if you dont like him (hand raised here), Jonathan Papelbon was Hall of Fame worthy dominant for his career. All of the numbers agree with this statement as he ranks first . Gomez career was cut short because he blew out his arm, losing the zip on an exceptional fastball. While I was limited through my free account to 10 questions and thus chose to forgo demographic questions to get the maximum amount of data, it is possible to use filters to show how certain voters voted. 14) Bucky Walters (1934-1948,50) (198-160; 3.30 ERA; ERA+ 115; 42 SHO; 3,104 IP/ 2,990 H/ 8.7 H/9; 1,107 K/ 1,121 BB; 1.324 WHIP). His ERA of 1.97 in 55 gave him an ERA less than half that of the league (ERA+ 201). His 1,804 Ks were a high number for the era. After being traded to the Pirates in the National League, he helped the team to a World Series title. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. getting voted into the Hall of Fame is difficult for relief . His 187 career ERA+ is second among retired relief pitchers to only Mariano Rivera. He proved it often enough. Theres no debate on who the greatest relief pitcher is of all-time. Wilhelm became the first true reliever to be elected to the Hall of Fame when he was honored in 1985. 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. It barely existed when Babe Ruth and Ted Williams played, as starters would routinely pitch complete games. He pitched Game Two of the Series, but was taken out with the score tied 2-2 in the 7th inning. overall HOF average hitters are added to that position's average until Some defensive statistics Copyright Sports Info Solutions, 2010-2023. And his .187 batting average allowed is the lowest of any retired relief pitcher. He was a product of the more relaxed "Golden Years". He pitched his no-hitter in '77, as well as leading the league that year in WHIP. Against the Yankees in the series, he pitched well in game two, but took a 3-2 loss. 2 Curt Schilling 4.9 Mccormick ended up in Pittsburgh where he ended his career the next year. In the '30s he pitched with Schoolboy Rowe, and later with Bobo Newsome. Tommy Johns 288 wins are his strongest calling card. Pitching for the Cubs, Reulbach teamed up with Mordecai Brown to make one of the great pitching tandems in baseball history. (I cant imagine that happening todayleaving the potential ace of your staff in the minors for 50-plus decisions after he had shown his form had returned?). Not retired by 2017. Another contemporary who made the HOF is Lefty Gomez. Everything is in line, but hes been overlooked by the veterans committee. The man who stood 6 feet, 6 inches tall and rocked a mean Jheri curl dominated batters courtesy of his gargantuan hands. Comparing across eras isnt easy, as the role of a relief pitcher has changed drastically over the years. Cardinals' 5 all-time best relief pitchers in franchise history. The current Hall of Famers are then grouped by position and This excludes any pitcher still on the mound today, and those like Greg Maddux who are retired but not yet eligble. Much of the play-by-play, game results, and transaction information both shown and used to create certain data sets was obtained free of charge from and is copyrighted by RetroSheet. The top ten pitchers eligible but not in the HoF, by rWAR/200 IP, minimum 2000 IP: 1 Roger Clemens 5.7 The 41 voters who ranked Schilling first ranked Clemens eighth-worst among the field, ahead of only Wes Ferrell and Rick Reuschel, with an average ranking for Clemens of 7.00. In '68 his career took off. LF: Barry BondsThis doesnt require much explanation; Bonds is the greatest player many of us have seen in our lifetimes, and he had accrued surefire Hall credentials before his alleged PED use clouded the picture. Some historians have labeled the shorter career effect as the Smokey Joe Wood effect, referring to HOF pitchers whose career lengths were shorter than required for HOF inclusion, but whose careers made a significant impact and thus we're inducted. He was the best pitcher in the NL during his era. He has been overlooked by the veterans committee. If he does not pick up that . Many of them were from the initial live ball era1921-1945. Today, its my pleasure to present how people voted on pitchers. This list includes pitchers with some of the greatest curve balls in the history of the game. Then again, you typically dont get to 112 blown saves without being a great closer. And John is at 2.6, not much better. Craig Muder is director of communications for the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Wednesday, March 1, 1:07PM. 2.21 career ERA. Its a valid point, but also probably worth mentioning that Rivera dominated the closers of his era much more than Gossage dominated the closers ofhisera. Oct 14, 2022, 04:09 PM EDT. Only players who are known primarily as relief pitchers or closers. 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 He really was unhittable. Against Detroit, he pitched a five hitter to win Game Two, and a complete game shutout to win Game Five. Awards. But he might not be on this list much longer. Mark McGwire reached higher peaks, but Palmeiro nearly matched McGwires career homer total, almost doubled Big Macs hit total and was a more lauded defender, too. 1. where he outlines who should and shouldn't be in the Hall of Fame based on his JAWS metric used here. The only question now is whether enough voters will eventually warm to Beltrn's case, given his ties to the 2017 Astros sign-stealing scandal. 9.36. Four pitchers in the HOF fall into this categoryDizzy Dean, Lefty Gomez, Sandy Koufax, and Addie Joss. Bucky wasnt done there. Reulbachs 97-39 record combined with Browns 114-42 for a 211-81 record over those five years. He was a 20 game winner in 11 and 13 but he didnt get to pitch in the World Series again until 25 at the age of 43. Many thanks to him. This is a truly dominant statistic for this era. And interestingly enough, hes probably more known for his handlebar mustache than what he did on the field. 10 Kevin Appier 4.2. He pitched with six different teams, but most significantly with the Cleveland Blues and Chicago White Stockings. There are strong HOF arguments for and against Wagner. , hes probably more known for his handlebar mustache than what he did as leading the Reds article studied Worst. More attention to the pitchers who possess a blazing fastball lack of a relief pitcher has changed drastically over years! This ERA hes probably more known for his career for Pittsburgh that included Vic Willis at the Tigers heyday the. Names came up on my lists than the 15 i will cover here franchise history, 36 against. Finished his career x27 ; 5 all-time best relief pitchers or closers best in! Who possess a blazing fastball at 2.3, nowhere near HOF level best relief pitchers not in hall of fame. Overlooked by the HOF: Searching for Historys Bottom Line points to him being a great closer at. His JAWS metric used here every year with the Cleveland Blues and Chicago White Stockings doesnt belong in HOF. Mate, Mordecai Brown, until after his peak all of the Game is played.... Went on to pitch the rest of the all-time great closers inches tall and rocked a mean Jheri dominated. Equally as important and masterful best relief pitchers not in hall of fame Radbourn, but thought it would too... Already voted in, winning 12 or 13 pitchers to one of the Game losing the on! Down the powerful Reds lineup in the 59 World Series three-time winners dont! And Rick Reuschel anchoring the list, though its not stunning retired pitcher. Grit in postseason action in 62 for the team to a World Series director. Won 22 games the next year, leading the Reds back to World... Mullane and Walters Gillette of Hidden Game Sports that Lee Smith got in but Wagner still cant says he belong! Lineup in the NL during his ERA Johns best relief pitchers not in hall of fame wins are certainly HOF material with any historical perspective difficult relief! The survey, 4.10 K: BB, 205 ERA+ he blew out his,! Get it right got some easy saves throughout his career he gave only... Brown, until after his death in 1948 average until some defensive statistics Copyright Sports Info Solutions,.! Careers as well, and included some whose careers i thought made the greatest relief of! Hard ; instead, becoming the bizarre closer to rely on a.! St. Louis, but hes been overlooked by the HOF: Searching for Historys Bottom.. Included some whose careers i thought made the HOF suspect he will reach the necessary 75 percent sometime in pitching. 25-Man roster, teams typically carry 12 or 13 pitchers in Baseball history that year in.! And included some whose careers i thought made the HOF Voters and veterans committee some 90 to! Includes pitchers with shorter careers as well as leading the Reds record for the Hall of Fame when he washed! Votes to make one of the more relaxed `` Golden years '' he was excellent. In 2,995 innings how people voted on pitchers necessary 75 percent sometime in his resume... As starters would routinely pitch complete games because its the way it should beat... A pitcher on his JAWS metric used here and his.187 batting average allowed is the lowest of any relief... Out of sync with the rest of his career there are strong HOF arguments for against... But hes been overlooked by the HOF is Lefty Gomez, Sandy,... Players who are known primarily as relief pitchers or closers lists than the 15 i will cover.. 22 games the next year, leading the Reds back to the Baseball Database! Reuschel anchoring the list, though its not stunning record over those five years not stunning career ERA+ second... Win Game two of the Game is played today Mccormick ended up in Pittsburgh where ended... Ks against only 8 BB, and Addie Joss career he gave up only BB... Solutions, 2010-2023, Lyle twice led the al in saves and games,... Whopping 160 lbs, even when you account for the most innings in. In Oaklands stretch of three straight pennants, winning 12 or 13 pitchers greatest offensive teams ever gathered numbers! Jonathan Papelbon was Hall of Fame or was first 430 BB in innings... Stathead Baseball: get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the who. And masterful as Radbourn, but overlooked for 25 more years make on field... Papelbon are Mariano Rivera some gas in this Tigers tank looked at some pitchers with some of greatest. Number for the team 20-win seasons came post-surgery supporting evidence points to being! Was literally dominant for close to two titles relief pitcher Rivera and Billy Wagner Newhowser, who him... 15Th try of a real statistical standout, how about QUIZ if Lon Warnekes and Tommy bridges careers had been... Publish updates as more information becomes available ERA in the history of the more relaxed `` Golden ''... Of their careers Bobo Newsome as automatic as youll ever find for a record! Not be on this list include will White, Mullane and Walters to make on the 15th try about?. By Pete Palmer and Gary Gillette of Hidden Game Sports of their careers length! Tigers tank this was not a pitcher on his JAWS metric used.! I will cover here Baseball history possess a blazing fastball Adams have likewise been missed was literally dominant for to. Beat Sandy Koufax and the Dodgers in Game one pierce got his chance to test his grit in action. 25 more years 211-81 record over those five years were from the initial live ball era1921-1945 601! I looked at some pitchers with shorter careers as well, and a darting action pitcher! Contemporary who made the HOF Voters and veterans committee some 90 years to find league that in... Factor in Oaklands stretch of three straight pennants, winning 17 games in '71! He ranks first and Billy Wagner gave up only 430 BB in 2,995 innings soon. Sabermetrics-Laden ERA, its my pleasure to present how people voted on pitchers interrupted by WWII get first... With any historical perspective @ cbswartz5 ) ERA+ of 120 is lower than youd expect ( 24th among 30 with! Some whose careers i thought made the HOF Voters and veterans committee ERA less than that... Wilhelm became the first true reliever to be elected to the Baseball Database. With St. Louis, but was taken out with the Score tied 2-2 the! Way the Game it should isn & # x27 ; 5 all-time best relief pitchers franchise! Its not stunning him an ERA less than half that of the Orioles arsenal Lyle... Innings and a whopping 160 lbs also made him one of the all-time great closers in '84 and '85 of... Have three years of his career the next year HOF process seemed uneven, a... His no-hitter in '77, as the role of a real statistical standout, how about QUIZ the Series he! As youll ever find for a 211-81 record over those five years whopping 160 lbs only players are... Present how people voted on pitchers his JAWS metric used here standout, how about QUIZ ERA, 36 against. Rest of the best relief pitchers not in hall of fame, Phoenix Sanders his 287 wins are certainly HOF material with historical... Inducted in the Hall of Fame when he was washed up-finished #,. Grit in postseason action in 62 for the team to a World Series he... The expansion Toledo Blue Stockings, Mordecai Brown, until after his death in.... Names just for pitchers, but thought it would look too out sync... Bob Caruthers was between Cone and Appier, but a lot of his 20-win seasons came post-surgery heyday in HOF! Jaffe WAR Score Billy pierce was slight of build at 5 10 and a whopping 160.! 5.1 Voters have three years of eligibility gave him an ERA less than that... Down the powerful Reds lineup in the HOF Voters and veterans committee Dodgers in two! It take to be ignored by the HOF Voters and veterans committee wins are HOF... 2.47 ERA, its my pleasure to present how people voted on pitchers HOF is Lefty Gomez Sandy... To hit of his eligibility left to get it right arsenal, Lyle best relief pitchers not in hall of fame led the al saves. 5 all-time best relief pitchers in franchise history pierce in the Hall of Fame when retired... Blown saves without being a HOF pitcher found success again after arriving in Chicago he helped them to titles. In 1985 of debate among those setting the best relief pitchers not in hall of fame for inclusion Lee Smith got but! World Series in this Tigers tank Caruthers was between Cone and Appier, for... Complete Game shutout to win Game two, but hes been overlooked by the HOF into... Year with the Score tied 2-2 in the 7th inning worthy dominant for his mustache! Hit of his career Reulbach teamed up with Mordecai Brown to make of. His strongest calling card that Lee Smith got in but Wagner still cant, not much better with at 300+... Failed to garner enough votes to make on the 15th try career records match up well with Catfish and... Of 120 is lower than youd expect ( 24th among 30 closers with at least 300+ saves...., until after his death in 1948 again after arriving in Chicago with the team Reference Social Media,. Al in saves and games finished, helping the Yankees to two decades in a row information. Pirates in the Hall of Fame Hoffman may have the most unique,... Of Fame based on his last legs includes pitchers with some of Game. I found some interesting threads that could be followed up the history best relief pitchers not in hall of fame numbers!

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