Five-time All-Star Mike Mussina today announced his retirement from baseball. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Mussina becomes the first pitcher to retire immediately following a 20-win season since Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax exited the game following his 27-9 campaign in 1966.
Mussina, 39, was a member of the Yankees pitching staff from 2001-08, compiling a record of 123-72 with a 3.88 ERA. Since signing with the Yankees as a free agent prior to the 2001 season, no other American League pitcher recorded more wins than Mussina. He struck out 1,278 batters in pinstripes, ranking sixth on the club's all-time list. His 72 wins at Yankee Stadium were the third-most since 1976 when the facility was remodeled, behind Ron Guidry (99) and Andy Pettitte (95).
With a 123-72 record, he finished 51 games over .500 with the Yankees while going 66 games over .500 with Baltimore (147-81). According to Elias, he joins Randy Johnson as the only pitchers since 1900 to own a career record of at least 50 games over .500 with two different teams (Johnson was 130-74 with Seattle, 56 games over, and 118-62 with Arizona, 56 games over).
Mussina reached the 20-win plateau for the first time in his career in 2008, going 20-9 with a 3.37 ERA in 34 starts for the Yankees. At age 39, he became the oldest pitcher in Baseball history to record 20 wins in a season for the first time in his career, passing Jamie Moyer (20 wins in 2001 at age 38). He also became the Yankees' first 20-game winner with an ERA lower than 3.40 since Ron Guidry went 22-6 with a 3.27 ERA in 1985.
In addition, Mussina earned his seventh career Rawlings Gold Glove Award in 2008 (also 1996-99, 2001 and 2003).
Mussina pitched 18 years in the Majors from 1991-2008, making 536 combined starts (537 appearances) with the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles and posting a 270-153 record with a 3.68 ERA and 2,813 strikeouts. Only three pitchers recorded more wins than Mussina during his time in the Major Leagues. He reached 15 wins in a season 11 times, including a career-high 20 victories in 2008, and placed in the top five in Cy Young Award voting six times in his career.
Pitching his entire career in the American League East Division, Mussina finished tied with Hall of Famer Burleigh Grimes for 32nd place on Baseball's all-time wins list after surpassing Jack Morris (254), Jim McCormick (265), Gus Weyhing (265), as well as Hall of Famers Bob Gibson (251), Carl Hubbell (253), Red Faber (254), Ted Lyons (260), Bob Feller (266), Eppa Rixey (266) and Jim Palmer (268) in the 2008 season.
Mussina's .638 career winning percentage is sixth-best all-time among Major Leaguers with at least 500 career starts and ranked second among active pitchers (Randy Johnson-.648), according to the Elias Sports Bureau. His 2,813 strikeouts rank 19th on Baseball's all-time list.
A native of Montoursville, Pa., Mussina retired as one of just 18 pitchers in Major League history to own a career record of at least 115 games over .500 (270-153). According to the Elias Sports Bureau, twelve of those pitchers are currently in the Hall of Fame, five are not eligible yet (Roger Clemens, Randy Johnson, Greg Maddux, Pedro Martinez and Mussina) and one only pitched in nine seasons (Bob Caruthers).
He is the only American League pitcher to record 17 consecutive seasons of 10-or-more wins (1992-2008) and only Walter Johnson (18) has more total seasons of double-digits wins than Mussina all-time among AL hurlers. According to Elias, only five other Major League pitchers have compiled a stretch of 17 straight seasons with at least 10 wins - Greg Maddux (20 yrs., 1988-2007), Cy Young (19, 1891-1909), Steve Carlton (18, 1967-84), Don Sutton (17, 1966-82) and Warren Spahn (17, 1947-63). Also according to Elias, Mussina is the only pitcher in AL history to make at least 24 starts in 17 consecutive seasons (1992-2008).
A master of control, Mussina walked only 785 batters in 3,562.2 career innings, averaging 1.98 walks/9.0IP. According to Elias, he is one of just three pitchers in AL history to toss at least 3,000.0 innings while holding opponents to fewer than 2.0 walks/9.0IP, joining Jack Quinn (1.96) and Cy Young (1.11).
Though he never won a World Series title, Mussina pitched in 23 playoff games (21 starts), going 7-8 with a 3.42 ERA. He twice appeared in the Fall Classic-both with the Yankees-in 2001 vs. Arizona and 2003 vs. Florida.
Originally drafted by Baltimore in the first round (20th overall) of the 1990 First-Year Player Draft, Mussina ranks second all-time among Orioles' pitchers in strikeouts (1,535) and winning percentage (.645, 147-81), third in wins (147), fifth in games started (288) and sixth in innings pitched (2,009.2). His 218 strikeouts in 1997 established a new club record that was later broken by Erik Bedard in 2007 (221).
“It was a great pleasure playing against – and even more so with – Mike Mussina since I entered the league in 1995. He was a true professional both on and off the field. Moose’s accomplishments in the game over the last 18 years represent a Hall of Fame player.”
MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSE!!!
11 Comments:
I'm glad to see Moose go out on a high but also slightly disappointed because he was lights out at the end of last season, winning his last two games in Boston and Toronto. I would rather have seen him come back than Andy Pettitte. Now we know why it's imperative that the Yanks sign not one but two front-line starting pitchers this winter. Even then, we will probably have to take a chance on Phil Hughes as one of the five.
Peace Out Saurkraut!!!!!!
I would rather have seen Moose come back over Pettitte too Eric. But apparently Mussina had known this was going to be his last year since January - that's what he said in his conference call with the media today. I just wish he would have been honest about that from the start.
It's not that he wasn't honest Greg, it's that he probably didn't want a media firestorm. He didn't want the farewell tour, and all the "this is his last start, last inning, last pitch, talk." I respect him for keeping it private, and also for deliberating before making it final. Mussina was a class act all-around, but got a rep as being gruff because he wasn't king of the soundbyte. Perfect exit, for a great player.
Anon,
Even Mussina himself said he wished he didn't lie all season when he acted like he wasn't going to retire. I'm sure he did so because of the reasons you mentioned, though.
And yes, Moose is a class act and a great pitcher.
Man, it's sad to see Moose go, but there's something worse than that.
Now that Mike's called it quits, we now HAVE to sign 2 or 3 starters, or else our rotation's screwed.
This is what it would look like on Opening Day if nothing else happens:
CC
Wang
Pettitte
Chamberlain (Maybe)
Hughes Or Kennedy
We can't have Hughes or Kenndy in yet. They're still not ready. And Chamberlain's probably going to start the year in the 'pen, so we still would have like 2 spots left.
now, isn't that pretty fucked up?
Yankeeboy98 - I know it's not the most encouraging scenario, but to tell you the truth, I'd rather have a competition for #5 between Hughes, Aceves, Coke, Giese, etc than have to lock up Lowe or Burnett for a 5 year deal or for too much money. To be honest, I think any of those four names are just as likely to pitch a full season with decent numbers as either Lowe or Burnett.
When Joba doesn't start (innings limits), you pick two of those three I mentioned, or even see what Giese can do.
Oh, I wanted to mention that another reason not to toss too much money at either Lowe or Burnett is that the potential free agent pitchers after 2009 include some names I'd rather go after. Even if it means squeaking through this year with a patchwork 5th starter (which could end up being Hughes who everything finally comes together for), I'd rather wait for 2010 and try for one of these guys:
Erik Bedard
Justin Duchscherer
Rich Harden
John Lackey
Any of whom would be a better option than Lowe or Burnett.
Yeah, your right pinstripes. But I think Coke and Aceves should get the spots. Hughes and Kennedy aren't ready.
I wonder what it would take for the Mariners to trade Bedard. He apparently hates it there, and they're not too fond with him either.
I know we all wanted Mussina back for one more year, but in reality we know one year would have really meant three as he would have been obligated to chase three hundred. Also it's rare for an athlete to have the foresight to go out on top, remember David Cone's struggles because he stayed in the game two years too long. You really can't get on him Greg for keeping this to himself, it takes a real class act not to make himself the spectacle and not put himself before the team.
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