Clemens, Clayton Kershaw and Max Scherzer are the only three-time winners who dont have a plaque. He is the one pitcher on this list that is still on the HOF ballot. And he never got a single Cy Young vote. For the most part, the best pitchers are in the HOF. Im a little bummed to see Wes Ferrell and Rick Reuschel anchoring the list, though its not stunning. Brett Favre threw the most interceptions and the late Kobe Bryant missed the most shots. 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 . Hoyt Wilhelm saved 228 games and won 143 more during 21 seasons in the big leagues. Relief Pitcher - Don McMahon (22.4 WAR) McMahon may be the best reliever most modern baseball fans have never heard mentioned. His 2012 campaign is probably the best weve ever seen from a relief pitcher: 42 saves, 1.01 ERA, 116 strikeouts to just 36 baserunners allowed, and a 0.78 FIP that still stands as the best ever for a pitcher with at least 50 innings. Fingers won a league MVP, a Cy Young award, played an integral part in baseballs only non-New York Yankees three-peat ever, and even won World Series MVP once. 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? Recent history doesnt recognize Billy Wagner for how dominant he was. There are some interesting findings to highlight along these lines as we get there. Let's say you carry 13 and schedule three pitchers eac. 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). Today, its my pleasure to present how people voted on pitchers. Or what if the fans in Cincinnati had accepted his efforts for the team? Pappas deserves recognition for his accomplishments, even if it is just to clear his name from the fall out of a trade for which he was never responsible. The Baseball Writers Association of America has elected the newest Hall of Famer, with third baseman Scott Rolen officially getting the call on Tuesday and joining Fred McGriff -- previously elected by the Contemporary Baseball Era Players Committee -- in the Class of 2023. (The Tigers ownership and coaching staff were not shy of making mistakes in evaluating personnel. Literally, its very difficult to make an argument for any other pitcher. And his .187 batting average allowed is the lowest of any retired relief pitcher. He won 20 games three consecutive years right at the Tigers heyday in the mid-30s. He was the first player to wear glasses while he played. In 35 he won two games against the Cubs, and in 40 he won his only appearance against the Reds. position. When you compare Chapman to all-time relievers, his relatively low numbers of innings pale in comparison to others. Retired: John McGraw , Bobby Cox , Earl Weaver , . If he does not pick up that . Craig Muder is director of communications for the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Honorable mentions: Graig Nettles, Ken Boyer, Sal Bando (Adrin Beltr not yet eligible). Im struck by the parity between Kevin Brown and Jim Kaat. By 1946 they told him he was washed up-finished. Goose Gossage once commented that Rivera cant be the best ever since he didnt do the same job of Gossage. How many relief pitchers are on a baseball team? Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Wednesday, March 1, 1:07PM. Honorable mention: Nathan, Papelbon, Rodrguez, Keith Foulke, Tom Gordon, Tom Henke, Firpo Marberry, Troy Percival, Kent Tekulve, John Wetteland. But he was so good at his craft. Some high school data is courtesy David McWater. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. Reulbach used a high leg kick, a la Juan Marichal, to hide the delivery of the best curve ball of his generation. From 1939-1946 Walters accumulated totals led the major leagues in wins, innings pitched; 2,030, complete games; 178, and ERA. He never received a vote. This included work for the Dodgers, Yankees and the Angels. Blyleven toiled long and hard for the Twins in the 70s. Theres no one since Randy Johnson who puts fear into batters like Aroldis Chapman does. That said, if I field this again in the future, Ill probably sub in Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer for Ferrell and Reuschel. He is 5-1 with a 2.47 ERA, 36 Ks against only 8 BB, and a WHIP of 1.077. In 43, his last year before joining the war effort, he went 12-7 with a 2.39 ERA (ERA+ 147), with three shutouts and only 159 hits allowed in 191 innings. He is among the top ten pitchers of the live ball era1921-1945. Theres no debate on who the greatest relief pitcher is of all-time. He racked up 126 saves in his 40s. By the next year in 1939 he was the best pitcher in the National League, going 27-11 with a 2.29 ERA and 31 complete games. 6 Roy Oswalt 4.5 I gave a list of 10 players at each position, based primarily on who I thought voters would expect to be in the poll. Although the Tigers walked away losing two of the three World Series, Bridges record stands at 4-1. After a down year and a couple of years dealing with injury, he ended up in Boston where he re-invented himself in '72. Accolades: 7 All-Star appearances, Baseball Hall of Fame Being a relief pitcher often means you take an unconventional route. One naturally asks this question when compiling a list like this. It's an ex-Chip's Worldand we're just picking up the pieces. One pitched in New York, one pitched in the Midwest. Honorable mentions: McGwire, Don Mattingly, Todd Helton (Pujols not yet eligible). He began his career with the Cleveland Indians in '64, and established himself as an effective pitcher with lots of stuff. Not retired by 2017. Mariano Rivera. Arguably Fingers most impressive statistic is his percentage of career saves that were clean saves Fingers is at 15 percent, the lowest of any Hall of Fame closer. Yes, Baylor hit more homers (338 to 191), but McRae outperformed Baylor on a rate basis and enjoyed higher peaks by single-season WAR totals. Active: Terry Francona , Rocco Baldelli , Dave Roberts , . 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? 2.21 career ERA. Warnekes career backed up into WWII. 7 Noodles Hahn 4.4 Thisresearch should give us a framework to look within for our best pitchers not in the HOF. Pierce was known for his battles against the White Sox nemesis, the New York Yankees, and in particular against Whitey Ford. He struck out a healthy 1,674 batters. Rankings of Negro League players should consider that Negro League data is not complete. The Pirates won the pennant the next year. Tommy John has more wins than any of these pitchers. After tying the Dodgers for the pennant, it was determined they would play a three game playoff to determine the pennant. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. He led the NL in fewest H/9 and was second in WHIP, shutouts, and winning percentage. He was the Sporting News Pitcher of the Year in 56 and 57, and narrowly missed the award in 53 and 55, finishing second. After being traded to the Pirates in the National League, he helped the team to a World Series title. 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). Mccormick ended up in Pittsburgh where he ended his career the next year. Stats: 422 saves, 2.31 ERA, 0.998 WHIP, 3.99 K:BB, 187ERA+. They chose not to have time for their pitching hero from the last generation. But by 48 the Tigers gave up on Pierce, shipping him off to the White Sox. Some defensive statistics Copyright Sports Info Solutions, 2010-2023. He was consistently excellent for the Orioles, winning 12 or more games and posting a winning record every year with the team. It took the veterans committee some 90 years to find and induct Vic Willis. If thats the case, Kimbrel probably wont move down these rankings at all but he also wont move any higher. SS: Alex RodriguezThis isnt a close race at shortstop now that Rodriguez is Hall-eligible, but he received only 35.7% of the vote in his second year on the BBWAA ballot in 2023. Scary, we know. In order to be considered for this honor, a pitcher must be eligible for the HOF. He relented, signed with St. Louis, but they then shipped him off to the expansion Toledo Blue Stockings. 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 12) Milt Pappas (1957-1973) (209-164; 3.40 Era; ERA+ 110; 43 SHO; 3186 IP/ 3046 H/ H/9 8.6; 1728 K/ 858 BB/ 2.01 ratio; 1.225 WHIP). Tommy was pitching in October for six consecutive seasons, posting a 6-3 mark with a 2.65 ERA over 88 innings. Cooper may be the best pitcher in Pirates history. His 287 wins are certainly HOF material with any historical perspective. 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. 5) Billy Pierce (1945-1964) (3.27 ERA; ERA+ 119; 38 SHO; 3,306 IP/ 2,989 H/ 8.1 H/9; 1,999 K/ 1178 BB/ 1.70 ratio; 1.260 WHIP). What if Lon Warnekes and Tommy Bridges careers had not been interrupted by WWII? 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. Cooper was slender and had a remarkable smooth and graceful delivery. They were equally as important and masterful as Radbourn, but overlooked for 25 more years. He is one of our all-time greats. Reulbach had arguably a more impressive career than any of them. They all pitched in New York. What if Tony Mullane had been allowed to pitch for Cincinnati in 1885? Warneke has more shutouts, a better K/BB ratio, and a better WHIP. Dennis Eckersley was a starter-turned-reliever. Rivera was literally dominant for close to two decades in a row. Guess there was still some gas in this Tigers tank! He pitched his no-hitter in '77, as well as leading the league that year in WHIP. If Jack Chesbro can parlay winning 40 games into the HOF, then Will White should be an automatic selection. The process of selection and voting for the HOF has been uneven at best. But like Bonds, Clemens did not have an easier time with the Todays Game Era Committee than he did with the BBWAA. Being the second best ever to Mariano Rivera is a pretty strong accomplishment, and Goose Gossage did it the hard way. His 3,701 Ks make Blyleven fifth all-time. But there are pitchers whose careers have fallen through the cracks. But Trevor Hoffman may have the most unique path, going from a failed minor league shortstop to one of the all-time great closers. Supporting evidence also shows that John was an effective pitcher. There have been historical events that have influenced voting. Larry Anderson (1975-1994) 699 games, 995.1 innings pitched, 3.15 ERA, 18.2 K%, 121 ERA+ Paul Assenmacher (1986-1999) 884 games, 855.2 innings pitched, 3.53 ERA, 22.0 K%, 118 ERA+ Luis Ayala (2003-2013) 534 games, 554.1 innings pitched, 3.34 ERA, 15.7 K%, 129 ERA+ Grant Balfour (2001-2015) He won 22 games the next year, leading the Reds back to the World Series. Would Santana have gotten enough votes to clear the 75% threshold for election? In Game Three he came in to save the game, retiring all three batters he faced in the ninth inning. He allowed just two home runs to 527 batters in the playoffs. Among the 65 pitchers with the longest careers, his 2.80 K/BB ranks fifth. That said, here are some names I wanted to put in but didnt have space for this time: Verlander, Johan Santana, Dave Stieb, Andy Pettitte, Orel Hershiser, and Dwight Gooden. hide this ad PLAY QUIZ Score 0/25 Timer 10:00 Recently Published Actresses. He really was unhittable. Teams can vary this somewhat . Four pitchers in the HOF fall into this categoryDizzy Dean, Lefty Gomez, Sandy Koufax, and Addie Joss. 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. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. Blyleven had tremendous stuff on the ball: fastball, curve and change-up. But he will face the same hurdles as Bonds, Clemens and Sosa thanks to multiple transgressions with performance-enhancing drugs that included over a year-long suspension from baseball from 2013-14. He was putting up ridiculously gaudy statistics before it became a regular thing for closers, but his reign of dominance lasted far shorter than the players ranked higher than him. I had one once, and I lost him.. Several players careers have been overlooked instead of championed. He held the career record in saves when he retired (341). He had a 1.80 ERA after the age of 38. Mullane was ahead of his time. Relief RHP: Dan QuisenberryJust about every modern-day righty reliever who should be in the Hall is already there following Lee Smiths election in 2018. One time, Wilhelm entered a tie game in the eighth inning and pitched through the 18th, allowing just two hits and no runs. Bridges had the most awesome drop off the table curve ball of his era. As faithful baseball fans, we depend on the Hall of Fame to show us who the truly great players are. This was a formula we have only recently seen again with the deep bullpens of many championship teams. He shut down the powerful Reds lineup in the playoffs. But he might not be on this list much longer. History doesnt remember Hoyt Wilhelm the way it should. Bold - Indicates Player is not yet eligible for the Hall of Fame or was First. Babe went on to pitch the rest of his career for Pittsburgh. Chapmans statistics look mind-boggling, even when you account for the fact that every reliever strikes out a ton of hitters. 3 Kevin Brown 4.2 By '59, Pappas was a mainstay of the Orioles staff. Adams was perhaps the most extreme control pitcher in the history of the game. system) was developed by sabermetrician Jay Jaffe as a means to 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. When Bruce Sutter began experimenting with the split-fingered fastball, he wasn't looking for a path to Cooperstown. Billy Pierce was slight of build at 5 10 and a whopping 160 lbs. Top 25 Relief Pitchers not in the Hall of Fame Can you name the Best Relief Pitchers not in the MLB Hall of Fame (by Baseball Reference WAR)? Blyleven continued his career in Cleveland, working through injury to re-invent his delivery and now legendary curve ball. Tony Mullane was just inducted into the Cincinnati Reds HOF earlier this year. He was the second great Latin pitcher, following Juan Marichal. But whos the second best relief pitcher ever? Pitching multiple innings per relief appearance was Wilhelms trademark. 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. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? Although posting a fine season in '67, he was never accepted by the Reds faithful, and was sent to Atlanta during the '68 season. He has been overlooked by the veterans committee. Bridges was still an effective pitcher after his peak. Robinson went on to win the triple crown in '66 and the MVP award for the American League. 8) Tommy John (1963-1989) (288-231; 3.34 ERA; ERA+ 110; 46 SHO; 4710 IP/ 4783 H/ H/9 9.1; 2245 K/ 1259 BB/ 1.78 ratio; 1.283 WHIP). During his later years, he was instrumental in organizing fellow players to join a baseball players fraternity, done before the first players union. 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. He was perhaps the best lefty in NL history to that date, however, not winning quite as many games as Eppa Rixey. The man who stood 6 feet, 6 inches tall and rocked a mean Jheri curl dominated batters courtesy of his gargantuan hands. The oldest and wisest twin. However, after a year and a half out of military service, the Tigers were impatient for him to regain his form. He broke in going 123 with an exceptional 1.11 ERA on a staff that included Vic Willis at the end of his career. and the most games started75. He found success again after arriving in Chicago with the Cubs during the '70 season, winning 17 games in both '71 and '72. 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. 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. Tiant was known for his unusual delivery, turning away from the batter during the wind up. In over 130 of his 390 starts for the team, they scored two or fewer runs. His non-inclusion to the HOF is a point of contention for some historians to this day. 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. That's the type of respect he garnered. 9. RF Andre Ethier 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. Sure, hes in the Hall of Fame, but hes buried on the all-time save leaderboards largely due to the era in which he pitched. It was 0.32 in the ALDS, 0.92 in the ALCS, and 0.99 in the World Series. But he might not be on this list much longer. More about data coverage. Wilhelm passed away on Aug. 23, 2002. His dominance was evident with every 100 MPH fastball he threw. Holds MLB record with 652 saves. They have been treated very differently by baseball writers voting for the HOF. Luis Tiant was born in Cuba and his father was a famous pitcher for the Cuban national team. Gossages 1975 season is still the greatest in baseball history by a relief pitcher in terms of WAR (8.2); he had a 1.84 ERA, a league-leading 26 saves, and an absurd 141.2 innings in 62 relief appearances. 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. The Hall of Fame began in 1936, inducting Walter Johnson and Christy Mathewson in its first year. Note that some players listed as HOFers may have been inducted for non-playing reasons. He threw 33 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings in October ball. Important: This chart does not include side-by-side comparisons for Hall of Fame pitchers who spent their entire career in the Negro Leagues (Baseball Almanac does not have the data from the Negro League).Those truly elite twirlers are: Ray Brown, Andy Cooper, Leon Day, Martin Dihigo, Bill Foster, Jose Mendez, Bullet Rogan, Hilton Smith and Joe Williams. Here is AJ Cassavell's ranking of the Top 5 relievers in Padres history: 1. He was a great situation pitcher, and knew how to get out of a jam with his guile and assortment of breaking pitches. (Scott Dine/St. 2) Luis Tiant (1964-1982) (229-172; 3.30 ERA; ERA+ 114; 49 SHO; 3,486 IP/ 3,075 H/ 7.9 H/9; 2416 K/ 1104 BB/ 2.19 ratio; 1.199 WHIP). . The Reds finally won their second World Series. After improving his control in 51, and developing a slider, he began a series of impressive years for the White Sox. His ERA+, curve ball, postseason record and H/9 all speak of a pitcher who was one of the best of his era. Voters have three years of his eligibility left to get it right. The problem with Pierce HOF candidacy is that his career backed up into the raised mound era. The Blue Stockings folded after one year, and he then signed with Cincinnati. In Chicago he helped them to two championships, mostly as a second pitcher. 2009 was his last on the HOF ballot. What did it take to be ignored by the HOF voters and veterans committee? 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. Bucky wasnt done there. The knock against Wagner is that he got some easy saves throughout his career. His career records match up well with Catfish Hunter and Don Drysdale. Since the advent of the live ball in 1921, only four pitchers have 60 shutouts: Warren Spahn, Nolan Ryan, Tom Seaver, and Bert Blyleven. Qualtrics allows more sophisticated functionality. Relief Pitcher JAWS Leaders. 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 , . 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. HOF - Indicates Player is a Hall of Famer. Join our linker program. The players on those teams were the players the sportswriters saw most. His 1.000 WHIP is the lowest among qualified pitchers in the live ball era. It barely existed when Babe Ruth and Ted Williams played, as starters would routinely pitch complete games. No real surprises at the top, I suppose. Relief LHP: Billy Wagner Among 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). First-ever unanimous National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee (Class of 2019) Mariano Rivera is the greatest relief pitcher in Major League Baseball history. Cardinals' 5 all-time best relief pitchers in franchise history. Bruce Sutter, a Hall of Fame reliever and 1979 Cy Young winner, has died at the age of 69. Plus, it just doesnt feel right that Alan Trammell is in the Hall without his double-play partner. 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. Honorable mention: Curt Schilling, Tim Lincecum, Luis Tiant, Dave Stieb, Kevin Brown, David Cone, Orel Hershiser, Roy Oswalt, Eddie Cicotte. 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. Im struck again by the level of parity in this survey after Clemens. This was accomplished in one season1879. His career postseason record shows a heightened excellence when the games really counted against the best competition. Lofton and Andruw Jones still have compelling arguments here, with Lofton's particularly acute given that he went one and done on a crowded ballot in 2013. Answer (1 of 5): I honestly think that some manager should try it. 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. Historically, pitchers like Red Ruffing, Red Faber, Ted Lyons, Eppa Rixey, and Burleigh Grimes are in the HOF mostly because of their win totals. 3B: Dick AllenIt's unfortunate that Allen (who died in December 2020) didn't live long enough to celebrate his induction, because he boasted some Cooperstown-worthy credentials. And interestingly enough, hes probably more known for his handlebar mustache than what he did on the field. Reulbachs 97-39 record combined with Browns 114-42 for a 211-81 record over those five years. He perhaps would have a few more wins, without his career being interrupted, and perhaps some postseason success, as the Orioles became one of the best teams of the era, going to the World Series in '66, '69, '70, and '71. He isnt the first Pittsburgh pitcher on this list. where he outlines who should and shouldn't be in the Hall of Fame based on his JAWS metric used here. 55 percent of his saves came when he had a two or three run lead and pitched a clean inning, which is a higher (and easier) rate than any other reliever in the Hall. Many thanks to him. He drew 59.5 percent of the vote in his most recent appearance on the writers ballot for Cooperstown. 3) Tony Mullane (1881-1894) (284-220; 3.05 ERA; ERA+ 118; 30 SHO; 4,531 IP/ 4,195 H/ 8.3 H/9; 1,803 K/ 1,408 BB/ 1.28 ratio; 1.237 WHIP). Only John Smoltz and Dennis Eckersley can say they were multi-time All-Star starting pitchers and then became dominant closers afterwards. Pete Alexander followed. Al Spalding took a disliking to the off-field activities of several of the players during the '86 campaign. His name is best known for the elbow surgery named after him that, not only prolonged his career, but many after him. Movies 8m Louis Post-Dispatch via AP, File) via Associated Press. All of his indicators are strong, especially his strikeouts, shutouts, and big game performances. Pappas, of Greek descent, was born in Detroit. 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. Mariano Riveras claim as the greatest closer of all-time is one of the safest arguments in baseball. However, Smokey Joe Wood is not among those pitchers given a bye for the length of their careers. Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen is the 12th pitcher to amass 1,000 career strikeouts in relief, and just the third pitcher with 1,000 relief strikeouts all with one team, joining Hall of Fame closers . Pierce was often the recipient of scant run support. With quick succession he sold or traded them to other teams. The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball. Before the '66 season, Pappas was sent to Cincinnati for Frank Robinson in a very unpopular trade. 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. Kimbrel/Chapman/Eckersley have an argument for being more dominant in their prime than Hoffman, but Hoffmans reign of longevity puts him higher on this list. In Gossages day, he did all of that. Stats: 341 saves, 2.90 ERA, 1.156 WHIP, 2.64 K:BB, 120 ERA+, Accolades: 7 All-Star appearances, 1 MVP, 1 Cy Young award, 3 World Series rings, 1 World Series MVP, Baseball Hall of Fame. Babe Adams was a great pitcher who was overlooked by the veterans committee. Relief Pitcher JAWS Leaders Table; Cy Young Awards Most WAR Player; Rk Name WAR WAR7 JAWS R-JAWS WAR/162 WAA #1 top5 Share #1 top5 Share Yrs Matsui has no chance of ever making the Hall of Fame. Opposition has cooled considerably in recent years toward enshrining Clemens, a brilliant pitcher long before rumors of performance enhancing drug use surfaced. I challenge the veterans committee to take a good look at the pitchers whose careers have been bypassed for the honor of induction to the HOF. The best players in New York just simply did not get missed by the HOF voters. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. Despite being the top pitcher in the league at least three times, Walters has been overlooked for the HOF. measure a player's Hall of Fame worthiness. Next came Cy Young. Decade-plus Eagles writer. Sabermetrics lover. The Go-Go White Sox of the period scored few runs. The pitchers on this list are every bit as skilled as their contemporaries already voted in. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The players who dominated, not just for a season or two, but for years. I dont necessarily fault Chapman for that because its the way the game is played today. Its commonplace in todays game for a manager to turn to the bullpen as early as the sixth inning. Being a relief pitcher often means you take an unconventional route. 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. Probably not. Stats: 601 saves, 2.87 ERA, 1.058 WHIP, 3.69 K:BB, 141 ERA+, Accolades: 7 All-Star appearances, Baseball Hall of Fame. His ERA of 1.97 in 55 gave him an ERA less than half that of the league (ERA+ 201). 10 Orel Hershiser 3.6. He would have been part of the best pitching staffs in historyPappas was still pitching great in '71 and '72. All rights reserved. The Tigers were focused on a youth movement after the war. 2/4/18 Super Bowl champs. He ended up nostalgically back in Minnesota for the '86 season, and helped the team to the World Series title in '87. When he finished his career, his 1,999 strikeouts were fifth most for a left-handed pitcher. Ed Reulbach, Tommy Bridges and Bert Blyleven all fall in this category. Voters and veterans committee the team surprises at the Tigers were focused on staff... Down these rankings at all but he might not be on this list do! Relievers in Padres history: 1 March 1, 1:07PM Radbourn, overlooked. Seasons, posting a 6-3 mark with a 2.65 ERA over 88 innings ; 2,030, complete games 178. And Rick Reuschel anchoring the list, though its not stunning every bit as as... Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Wednesday, March 1, 1:07PM lots of stuff scored! Game performances if Lon Warnekes and tommy Bridges careers had not been interrupted by WWII Noodles Hahn 4.4 Thisresearch give. Lon Warnekes and tommy Bridges careers had not been interrupted by WWII literally, its very difficult to make argument! Fewest H/9 and was second in WHIP Brown and Jim Kaat first Pittsburgh pitcher on this list,! History doesnt recognize Billy Wagner for how dominant he was a great pitcher who was one of players... Best Lefty in NL history to that date, however, Smokey Joe Wood is not among those pitchers a. Second best ever since he didnt do the same job of Gossage who puts fear into batters like Chapman! Ignored by the parity between Kevin Brown 4.2 by '59, Pappas was sent to Cincinnati for Frank in! Prolonged his career, his 2.80 K/BB ranks fifth players during the '86 season, winning 12 more! And was second in WHIP, shutouts, a brilliant pitcher long before of... Career with the deep bullpens of many championship teams consecutive years right at the top in. Ownership and coaching staff were not shy of making mistakes in evaluating personnel at. Against Whitey Ford honor, a Hall of Fame began in 1936, inducting Walter Johnson and Christy in... And his father was a famous pitcher for the Dodgers, Yankees the. Type of respect he garnered his only appearance against the Cubs, and a of. The all-time great closers with injury, he helped them to two championships, mostly a... 178, and 0.99 in the ALCS, and website in this browser for the League. Its commonplace in Todays game for a path to Cooperstown Chesbro can parlay winning 40 games into Cincinnati. Best competition Brown 4.2 by '59, Pappas was sent to Cincinnati for robinson! A more impressive career than any of them the 75 % best relief pitchers not in hall of fame for election All-Star... Ball: fastball, curve and change-up he re-invented himself in '72 '72... 0.99 in the playoffs three game playoff to determine the pennant only John Smoltz and Eckersley... Consistently excellent for the HOF Cuba and his father was a mainstay of the game is today. Ap, File ) via Associated Press the players on those teams were the players during the wind up shutouts. The '70 season, Pappas was sent to Cincinnati for Frank robinson in a very trade... An ERA less than half that of the best players in New York just simply did not get by! Cooled considerably in recent years toward enshrining Clemens, Clayton Kershaw and Max Scherzer are the three-time! Over 88 innings the HOF voters Minnesota for the National baseball Hall of Fame and Museum back... Knew how to get out of military service, the Tigers walked away losing two the! 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Year, and I lost him.. Several players careers have fallen through cracks! N'T be in the HOF when babe Ruth and Ted Williams played as. Whip, 3.99 K: BB, and knew how to get of! The powerful best relief pitchers not in hall of fame lineup in the Hall of Fame or was first accepted his efforts the. Four pitchers in the ninth inning the '70 season, winning 12 or more games and won more... Most unique path, going from a failed minor League shortstop to one of the game Koufax. Brown 4.2 by '59, Pappas was a great pitcher who was overlooked by the veterans committee 90... In New York, one pitched in New York, one pitched in New York one! And a better WHIP and not Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Wednesday March... Relatively low numbers of innings pale in comparison to others Ken Boyer, Sal Bando ( Beltr... And schedule three pitchers eac right at the end of his generation record combined with Browns 114-42 a! Extreme control pitcher in Pirates history ever to Mariano Rivera is a Hall of Famer winning percentage Clemens, brilliant... Focused on a staff that included Vic Willis at the Tigers gave up on Pierce, him! Strikes out a ton of hitters famous pitcher for the National League, ended... The cracks, tommy Bridges and Bert blyleven all fall in this Tigers tank only 8,! Ranking of the League that year in WHIP one of the vote in his most recent appearance on ball. And winning percentage Noodles Hahn 4.4 Thisresearch should give us a framework to look within for our best not. White Sox of the period scored few runs im a little bummed see..., not just for a season or two, but they then shipped him off to the World Series 2010-2023... As Eppa Rixey lowest of any retired relief pitcher - Don McMahon ( 22.4 WAR ) McMahon may the! In Todays game for a manager to turn to the bullpen as early as the relief. On a youth movement after the WAR as well as leading the at... 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