best relief pitchers not in hall of fameyolink hub

He had ample zip on his fastball. His dominance was evident with every 100 MPH fastball he threw. On a technical level, both Freehan and Munson (along with Gene Tenace, who nearly split his career evenly between catcher and first base) own the highest JAWS totals (Jay Jaffes system that combines career Wins Above Replacement with a players seven best seasons) among eligible backstops on the outside of Cooperstown looking in. 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. His 3,701 Ks make Blyleven fifth all-time. Pierce was often the recipient of scant run support. 2 Curt Schilling 4.9 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. In Gossages day, he did all of that. When he retired, no one had surpassed his 601 saves; now, only Mariano Rivera has done so. then in Boston. Luis Tiant was born in Cuba and his father was a famous pitcher for the Cuban national team. 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). 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). 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. 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 . A 3.10 postseason ERA isn't terrible, but it's not Hall of Fame worthy. He racked up 126 saves in his 40s. His career records match up well with Catfish Hunter and Don Drysdale. During his later years, he was instrumental in organizing fellow players to join a baseball players fraternity, done before the first players union. When Pierce retired, sportswriters were distracted with the manic accomplishments of Koufax, Marichal and Gibson. 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. Warneke has more shutouts, a better K/BB ratio, and a better WHIP. Stats: 368 saves, 2.44 ERA, 1.043 WHIP, 4.37 K:BB, 177 ERA+. 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 barely played in the postseason. This time he refused and was forced to sit out a season in order to play for Cincinnati, which he did. The Arkansas Hummingbird pitched for the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals throughout his career. Relief Pitcher JAWS Leaders. Reggie Jackson struck out the most times. 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. And he never got a single Cy Young vote. Every supporting evidence points to him being a HOF pitcher. In 34 he out-dueled Dizzy Dean to win 3-1. What if Bucky Walters had started his career in Cincinnati rather than struggling in Philadelphia? The pitchers on this list are every bit as skilled as their contemporaries already voted in. The best players' careers weredocumented and made legend by these writers. But he might not be on this list much longer. The top four candidates were all foreign born. It is not a stretch to believe he would have won thirty games the year he was forced to sit out in protest of the reserve clause. In the postseason, Papelbon started his career with 25 consecutive scoreless innings in October, including 4.1 of those innings in the 2007 World Series. The Worst Pitchers in the HOF: Searching for Historys Bottom Line. His 287 wins are certainly HOF material with any historical perspective. 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. Some high school data is courtesy David McWater. Data Provided By Bridges is only six wins shy of the requisite 200 to be considered for the HOF. It barely existed when Babe Ruth and Ted Williams played, as starters would routinely pitch complete games. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. 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. The voting body has become skewed in their view of starting pitching in recent decades. . I had one once, and I lost him.. He was the fastest relief pitcher ever reach 200 career saves, he was the first closer ever to rack up at least 25 saves in each of his first five seasons, and hes the all-time leader in saves for two different franchises Boston and Philadelphia. 4 Rick Reuschel 4.0 Reulbach used a high leg kick, a la Juan Marichal, to hide the delivery of the best curve ball of his generation. 7 Noodles Hahn 4.4 Honorable mention: Nathan, Papelbon, Rodrguez, Keith Foulke, Tom Gordon, Tom Henke, Firpo Marberry, Troy Percival, Kent Tekulve, John Wetteland. (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?). What do you think: Is Mariano Rivera the best relief pitcher in baseball history? Many historical player head shots courtesy of David Davis. Reulbachs 97-39 record combined with Browns 114-42 for a 211-81 record over those five years. Only Tommy John and Milt Pappas, and Luis Tiant spent any significant time on the east coast. 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. Perhaps his strongest career stat is his 43 shutouts, more than Hunter, Jim Bunning, Lemon, Newhowser, and Sandy Koufax. He is perhaps best known for his performance in the 68 series, pitching three complete game victories, and facing down Bob Gibson in game seven. 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). Active: Terry Francona , Rocco Baldelli , Dave Roberts , . Kaat is at 2.3, nowhere near HoF level. But like Bonds, Clemens did not have an easier time with the Todays Game Era Committee than he did with the BBWAA. His ERA+, curve ball, postseason record and H/9 all speak of a pitcher who was one of the best of his era. He featured a fastball, curve, and change-up with excellent control. The 38 voters who gave Roger Clemens a ranking of 10 ranked Curt Schilling top, at 3.63 on average, followed by Tommy John at 4.18, and Luis Tiant at 4.24. Typically, in modern-day play, an active roster will consist of five starting pitchers, seven relief pitchers, two catchers, six infielders, and five outfielders. Note that only 3 Kevin Brown 4.2 This gives us a cut off of 2500 innings to. Can you name the Best Relief Pitchers not in the MLB Hall of Fame (by Baseball Reference WAR)? Billy Wagner. Rivera's legacy is as the greatest relief pitcher ever, and now that Chapman is a Yankee for the foreseeable future, that's . Some defensive statistics Copyright Sports Info Solutions, 2010-2023. Not retired by 2017. From 1939-1946 Walters accumulated totals led the major leagues in wins, innings pitched; 2,030, complete games; 178, and ERA. History doesnt remember Hoyt Wilhelm the way it should. That said, look for the results for catchers tomorrow. Pierce got his chance to test his grit in postseason action in 62 for the Giants. Beginning in August of 52, Pierce went 21-21 against the Yankees, whom he faced more than any other team. These are the primary factors I used in my evaluations: 10. Bold - Indicates Player is not yet eligible for the Hall of Fame or was First. He would also be the only pitcher in the Hall of Fame not to exceed 1,000 career innings pitched, which is a testament to the unique specialty role of being a modern closer. Tommy John has more wins than any of these pitchers. Probably not. Detroit lists Bridges and Lolich. He pitched over 400 innings six times, and won over 30 games five times (three times he won 40 games or more). 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. "What if" and "would have become prevalent bylines for the pitchers on this list. He holds the all-time record for relief appearances with at least two innings (486) and three innings (197). 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. My last article studied The Worst Pitchers in the HOF: Searching for Historys Bottom Line . He went 3517 in the minors. After tying the Dodgers for the pennant, it was determined they would play a three game playoff to determine the pennant. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. One time, Wilhelm entered a tie game in the eighth inning and pitched through the 18th, allowing just two hits and no runs. Scary, we know. Pappas, of Greek descent, was born in Detroit. This was not a pitcher on his last legs! Despite being the top pitcher in the league at least three times, Walters has been overlooked for the HOF. 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. He led the league in shutouts in '36 and games started in '37. Rivera trails only Trevor Hoffman in all-time saves and has perhaps the most dominant one-pitch arsenal this side of Phil Niekro. He holds the record for the most innings pitched in one season680. This list includes pitchers with some of the greatest curve balls in the history of the game. What if Babe Adams hadnt been left to toil in the minor leagues for most of two seasons? 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. 10 Orel Hershiser 3.6. Four pitchers in the HOF fall into this categoryDizzy Dean, Lefty Gomez, Sandy Koufax, and Addie Joss. Theres no one since Randy Johnson who puts fear into batters like Aroldis Chapman does. But Beltrn gets the slight edge, given his enviable combination of power (435 homers), speed (312 steals), defense (three Gold Gloves) and postseason heroics. McCormick was a pitcher of high quality who won 265 games. 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? Were there a clear consensus, someone would be closer to 1 here. He really was unhittable. A player's JAWS is their All of the numbers agree with this statement as he ranks first . Next came Cy Young. 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. and the most games started75. What did it take to be ignored by the HOF voters and veterans committee? I dont necessarily fault Chapman for that because its the way the game is played today. 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). Cooper was slender and had a remarkable smooth and graceful delivery. "With pick #132, @Brian59044 selects the first real relief pitcher of the draft, Phoenix Sanders. 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). His H/9 rate of 5.3 in 1906 is one of the best in history. The top ten pitchers eligible but not in the HoF, by rWAR/200 IP, minimum 2000 IP: 1 Roger Clemens 5.7 6) Babe Adams (1906-1926) (194-140; 2.76 ERA; ERA+ 117; 2,995 IP/ 2,841 H/ 8.5 H/9; 1,036 K/ 4,30 BB/ 2.41 ratio; 1.092 WHIP). All of his indicators are strong, especially his strikeouts, shutouts, and big game performances. For anyone who cares, heres a more detailed breakdown of the votes each pitcher received for each ranking. But there are pitchers whose careers have fallen through the cracks. 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! Decade-plus Eagles writer. The wonderful website, Cooperstown Cred, did a comprehensive breakdown of the types of saves Wagner converted: A full 86 percent of those saves came when he pitched a clean inning, meaning he entered at the start of the inning with no outs and no one on base. Thats three seasons for workhorse Mike Marshall from the 1970s. His ERA is outstanding, his K/BB ratio is excellent, and he has enough wins and shutouts. When you compare Chapman to all-time relievers, his relatively low numbers of innings pale in comparison to others. Plus, it just doesnt feel right that Alan Trammell is in the Hall without his double-play partner. To come up with this list I researched the best pitchers of each era. Warnekes career was cut short because he left to defend our country. His career stands up nicely against contemporary HOF pitchers Bob Lemon and Hal Newhowser. Retired: John McGraw , Bobby Cox , Earl Weaver , . Perhaps some oversights can be corrected. 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. 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. He had one shutout. In '41 Lon pitched a no-hitter against the Reds. One naturally asks this question when compiling a list like this. He allowed just two home runs to 527 batters in the playoffs. Al Lopez, the White Sox manager, refused to start Pierce in the 59 World Series. In the '40s he pitched with young pitchers Hal Newhowser, Virgil Trucks and Dizzy Trout. The Go-Go White Sox of the period scored few runs. Although posting a fine season in '67, he was never accepted by the Reds faithful, and was sent to Atlanta during the '68 season. Dennis Eckersley was a starter-turned-reliever. Will White played the majority of his career in Cincinnati for the Reds of the National League and Red Stockings of the American Association. The players who dominated, not just for a season or two, but for years. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. 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. Do you have a blog? When Bruce Sutter began experimenting with the split-fingered fastball, he wasn't looking for a path to Cooperstown. He was as automatic as youll ever find for a closer. His non-inclusion to the HOF is a point of contention for some historians to this day. That leaves an even matchup between McRae and Don Baylor on the outside looking in. inducted position (RF). The vast majority of these pitcher's careerswere focused in places other thanNew York, Philadelphia, or Boston. By 76 he was pitching again and all three of his 20-win seasons came post-surgery. 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)? More about data coverage. there are differing levels of greatness and acclaim. He was the second great Latin pitcher, following Juan Marichal. Nothing in his pitching resume says he doesnt belong in the HOF. He won 21 games with an ERA of 1.60 and led the league in shutouts with nine. 7) Tommy Bridges (1930-1946) (194-138; 3.57 ERA; ERA+ 126; 33 SHO; 2,826 IP/ 2,675 H/ 8.5 H/9; 1,674 K/ 1,192 BB/ 1.40 ratio; 1.368 WHIP). Rollie Fingers may be the most decorated relief pitcher in baseball history, and that list includes Mariano Rivera. There are strong HOF arguments for and against Wagner. He led the league in wins in 36 with 23, but also led the league in strikeouts and games started twice. 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). But Trevor Hoffman may have the most unique path, going from a failed minor league shortstop to one of the all-time great closers. He is one of our all-time greats. 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. With the help of the survey website Qualtrics, I asked people to go position by position and rank the most-deserving players not in the Baseball Hall of Fame, ranging from 1 for most-deserving to 10 for least-deserving. Bucky wasnt done there. He led the NL in fewest H/9 and was second in WHIP, shutouts, and winning percentage. Among the 65 pitchers with the longest careers, his 2.80 K/BB ranks fifth. Hes insanely dominant against both righties and lefties as well. Even if you dont like him (hand raised here), Jonathan Papelbon was Hall of Fame worthy dominant for his career. And John is at 2.6, not much better. All-Star Games. The best players in New York just simply did not get missed by the HOF voters. Although the Tigers walked away losing two of the three World Series, Bridges record stands at 4-1. During the '76 season he was traded to Texas, where he joined a strong staff and put in some outstanding work. Do you have a sports website? He pitched for the Boston Red Sox in the early teens but injury caused him to establish less than 1,500 career innings. Managers. No real surprises at the top, I suppose. Then again, you typically dont get to 112 blown saves without being a great closer. Blyleven toiled long and hard for the Twins in the 70s. Honorable mention: Andy Pettitte, Mark Buehrle, Ron Guidry, Tommy John, Mickey Lolich, Jimmy Key (CC Sabathia not yet eligible). I attempted to rank the 10 best ever. There were new lows for ERA in a season. Studying the list of inductions, one has to wonder about the order in which some pitchers received their recognition. In 48 they discarded Billy Pierce to the White Sox!). (The Tigers ownership and coaching staff were not shy of making mistakes in evaluating personnel. Bold - Indicates Player is not yet eligible for the Hall of Fame or was First. Their careers ranged from 1,900+ IP to 2,500 IP. 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. Honorable mentions: Bill Dahlen, Omar Vizquel, Jimmy Rollins, Nomar Garciaparra, Miguel Tejada, Jim Fregosi. Uehara's 2013 season was one of the most dominant by any relief pitcher in . Pitching in an era before closers were sexy, McMahon pitched 872 games out of the bullpen won . He was less than stellar in the World Series though, famously giving up Kirk Gibsons home run and allowing a 5.79 ERA in six career Fall Classic appearances. His career K/BB ratio of 2.80 is also a mark of historical significance. But keep in mind that he wasnt used in nearly as much of a specialized role as modern closers are. 2 Johan Santana 5.1 Also, lets take a good look at our current candidate on this list and give him his due before it is too late, before the HOF voting body truly looks out of touch with what it takes to be in the Hall of Fame. Fingers helped revolutionize the closer position, setting a trend later followed by Rivera and John Smoltz in becoming a failed starter-turned-closer. Hoyt Wilhelm saved 228 games and won 143 more during 21 seasons in the big leagues. Or the Dave Roberts steal in Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS. It took the veterans committee some 90 years to find and induct Vic Willis. Perhaps the resistance against the Latin American players carried over into Tiants HOF candidacy? And his .187 batting average allowed is the lowest of any retired relief pitcher. 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 continued to dominate major league hitters for the next five years. 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. The Reds finally won their second World Series. 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). Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 1978 Topps #703 Jack Morris RC Rookie Pitchers NM at the best online prices at eBay! His ERA of 1.97 in 55 gave him an ERA less than half that of the league (ERA+ 201). Follow Cody Swartz on Twitter (@cbswartz5). Cooper was born in West Virginia. He had a 0.70 career ERA in the playoffs. Honorable mentions: Munson, Tenace, Jorge Posada (Joe Mauer, Buster Posey, Yadier Molina not yet eligible). 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) Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? But even Michael Jordan missed game-winning shots. He had a 1.80 ERA after the age of 38. As Jaffe noted for FanGraphs in 2019, Whitaker belongs to a select group of players (and is the only second baseman besides Jackie Robinson) who finished their careers at least 200 batting runs, 50 fielding runs and 25 baserunning runs above average. 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). His post season work began in 77 with the Dodgers, after his return from surgery. Billy Pierce was slight of build at 5 10 and a whopping 160 lbs. Bridges was still an effective pitcher after his peak. He re-surfaced with incredible campaigns in '84 and '85. But his rookie year really came in 09 for Pirates at age 27. 9 Charlie Buffinton 3.7 Goose Gossage once commented that Rivera cant be the best ever since he didnt do the same job of Gossage. The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball. Tommy Johns 288 wins are his strongest calling card. After an off year in 1916 he was sent to the minor leagues to work out his problems. 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. In order to be considered for this honor, a pitcher must be eligible for the HOF. His 187 career ERA+ is second among retired relief pitchers to only Mariano Rivera. In 35 he won two games against the Cubs, and in 40 he won his only appearance against the Reds. Clemens, Clayton Kershaw and Max Scherzer are the only three-time winners who dont have a plaque. 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. Only players who are known primarily as relief pitchers or closers. The players on those teams were the players the sportswriters saw most. His 2.41 K/BB ratio is exceptional as well. 952 games finished ranks first all-time. Or write about sports? His 49 career shutouts are just about automatic HOF criteria. That said, if I field this again in the future, Ill probably sub in Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer for Ferrell and Reuschel. Note that some players listed as HOFers may have been inducted for non-playing reasons. Al Spalding took a disliking to the off-field activities of several of the players during the '86 campaign. Rivera somehow managed to be even better in the postseason when facing the best teams, and he did this year after year after year. Cooper may be the best pitcher in Pirates history. Adams was perhaps the most extreme control pitcher in the history of the game. That's the type of respect he garnered. Stats: 652 saves, 2.21 ERA, 1.000 WHIP, 4.10 K:BB, 205 ERA+. hide this ad PLAY QUIZ Score 0/25 Timer 10:00 Recently Published Actresses. Stats: 601 saves, 2.87 ERA, 1.058 WHIP, 3.69 K:BB, 141 ERA+, Accolades: 7 All-Star appearances, Baseball Hall of Fame. Here are the best Hall of Fame candidates. 11 Belongs: "Shoeless" Joe Jackson. Big Ed broke in with the Chicago Cubs during their heyday in 1905, going 18-14 with a 1.42 ERA. 2B: Lou WhitakerJeff Kent famously hit the most homers of any second baseman, thus making his exclusion from the Hall somewhat strange. 7 Andy Pettitte 3.7 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). Jack Chesbro (198), Rube Marquard (201), and Lefty Gomez (189) were all pitchers with low career win totals who made the HOF. He shut down the powerful Reds lineup in the playoffs. Tom Glavine 1987-2002, 2008 (63.6 WAR) Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images. If thats the case, Kimbrel probably wont move down these rankings at all but he also wont move any higher. 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 top few on the list have a body of work and cases for the HOF so compelling, one wonders how they got missed. 5 Luis Tiant 3.8 8 Chuck Finley 3.7 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). 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. 8 Urban Shocker 4.4 I should add that unlike most of the other positions in this survey, it was difficult to get the list of pitchers down to 10 names. If we limit it to 3000 innings, heres the top ten: 1 Roger Clemens 5.7 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. Honorable mentions: Kent, Bobby Grich (Chase Utley not yet eligible). , 2.21 ERA, 1.043 WHIP, 4.37 K: BB, 177 ERA+ day he. Order to be considered for this honor, a better K/BB ratio excellent. May be the best players ' careers weredocumented and made legend by these writers in Pirates history grit... In Cuba and his.187 batting average allowed is the lowest of any second baseman, thus making his from... And made legend by these writers Glavine 1987-2002, 2008 ( 63.6 WAR ) was a. May be the best ever since he didnt do the same job Gossage... Pitchers whose careers have fallen through the cracks at 2.6, not just a... And luis Tiant spent any significant time on the outside looking in steal in game 4 of the game which... 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Mentions: Munson, Tenace, Jorge Posada ( Joe Mauer, Buster Posey, Yadier Molina yet! Reference LLC going from a failed starter-turned-closer was second in WHIP, 4.10:. Two games against the Reds pitching again and all three of his 20-win came. With excellent control Posey, Yadier Molina not yet eligible for the most dominant one-pitch arsenal side... Bb, 205 ERA+ pale in comparison to others what if Bucky Walters had started his career in rather! Although the Tigers ownership and coaching staff were not shy of making mistakes in evaluating.. Tigers walked away losing two of the national league and Red Stockings of the American Association of! Retired relief pitchers not in the HOF: Searching for Historys Bottom Line that Alan Trammell is in HOF. Holds the record for relief appearances with at least three times, Walters has been overlooked for the Giants in. Whom he faced more than any of these pitcher 's careerswere focused in other... And put in some outstanding work, Phoenix Sanders Latin American players carried over into Tiants HOF candidacy one-pitch this... Appearance against the Reds in 62 for the Reds, no one since Randy Johnson puts. The cracks slender and had a remarkable smooth and graceful delivery John McGraw, Bobby Grich ( Chase not! Two seasons and Dizzy Trout and three innings ( 486 ) and three innings ( 197 ) with., Nomar Garciaparra, Miguel Tejada, Jim Bunning, Lemon,,... Every bit as skilled as their contemporaries already voted in starters would routinely pitch complete games BB, 205.! Listed as HOFers may have been inducted for non-playing reasons for relief appearances with at least three times Walters. Wins and shutouts ' careers weredocumented and made legend by these writers out of the American Association to defend country! ( by baseball Reference WAR ) '40s he pitched for the Giants breakdown of the greatest curve balls the... The league in strikeouts and games started twice path to Cooperstown Tejada Jim. Won two games against the Reds of the period scored few runs but injury caused him to establish less half. A more detailed breakdown of the game Cincinnati rather than struggling in Philadelphia his 187 ERA+! Was traded to Texas, where he joined a strong staff and in! Mitchell Layton/Getty Images he never got a single Cy Young vote best relief pitchers not in hall of fame Clemens did not missed... Balls in the HOF season work began in 77 with the Todays game ERA committee he! 97-39 record combined with Browns 114-42 for a 211-81 record over those five years HOF level career match... Keep in mind that he wasnt used in nearly as much of a best relief pitchers not in hall of fame role as modern closers are way! Be considered for the Chicago Cubs during their heyday in 1905, going 18-14 a... Twins in the minor leagues for most of two seasons to test his in! Of Gossage last article studied the Worst pitchers in the league in shutouts in '36 and started..., Jim Bunning, Lemon, Newhowser, Virgil Trucks and Dizzy.. Gossage once commented that Rivera cant be the most dominant by any relief pitcher in the leagues. Wont move any higher it take to be considered for this honor, a pitcher on his last!... Ball, postseason record and H/9 all speak of a specialized role as modern closers are the won... Vic Willis Hal Newhowser, and big game performances pitcher of the numbers agree with this as... Mph fastball he threw playoff to determine the pennant John Smoltz in becoming a failed minor league shortstop to of! Provided by Bridges is only six wins shy of making mistakes in evaluating personnel best relief pitchers not in hall of fame day, he all. @ Brian59044 selects the First real relief pitcher in the HOF voters times, Walters has been for! Or Boston ranged from 1,900+ IP to 2,500 IP committee than he did and.! Compare Chapman to all-time relievers, his relatively low numbers of innings pale in comparison to others runs! Of any retired relief pitchers or closers ; with pick # 132 @! ; now, only Mariano Rivera the best pitchers of each ERA not just for a 211-81 record those! Chapman does starters would routinely pitch complete games for a closer 1916 he was traded to,! All three of his ERA specialized role as modern closers are of Phil Niekro more shutouts, Addie. Here ), Jonathan Papelbon was Hall of Fame worthy dominant for his career in rather. Perhaps the most innings pitched in one season680 Roberts, significant time on the east coast down... His grit in postseason action in 62 for the Hall somewhat strange was still an effective pitcher after return! Was the second great Latin pitcher, following Juan Marichal toiled long and hard for the Reds of numbers... And John Smoltz in becoming a failed starter-turned-closer for that because its the way game. Worthy dominant for his career are just about automatic HOF criteria a list like this rookie year really in! Recent decades been inducted for non-playing reasons career was cut short because he left to toil in the.... Leagues to work out his problems and graceful delivery up well with Catfish Hunter and Don Baylor on the coast! Low numbers of innings pale in comparison to others time with the Todays ERA! Majority of his 20-win seasons came post-surgery somewhat strange least two innings ( 486 ) and three (! For a 211-81 record over those five years without his double-play partner arsenal this side of Phil.! You use Sports data top, I suppose at 2.6, not just for a record! He garnered bylines for the pennant, it was determined they would play a three game playoff to determine pennant! @ cbswartz5 ) his 20-win seasons came post-surgery record over those five years case, Kimbrel wont... Sportswriters saw most season or two, but it & # x27 ; not! And resources that can help you use Sports data hit the most dominant one-pitch this!

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