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Posted By: Steve Mitchell

After reading the first several posts on whether Mike Musina (MM) is a Hall of Fame pitcher, one name came immediately to mind: DON DRYSDALE. I recall a few years ago Drysdale received great praise from one hobby publisher who was impressed with DD's "presence": his baseball gravitas.

Frankly, Mussina is/was a much better pitcher than Drysdale according to the numbers and my own recollection. As of the end of '08, MM stood at 270-153, .638 pct., 3.68 ERA with (11) 200-IP seasons (9 straight), 5 times an All Star (but oddly not in '08 when he won 20), 7 X Gold Glove and 23-21, 3.42 in post-season against the best of the best. Further, he ranked in the league's Top Ten in ERA (11 times), Cy Young Award voting (9), wins (9) and 15 times ranked among the lowest in ratio of BB to Innings Pitched.

DD won 209, lost 166 on a 2.95 ERA exclusively for the Dodgers. He was an 8 time All Star, won no Gold Gloves (.937 FA), and was 3-2 on 2.95 ERA in post-season (World Series exclusively).

Drysdale went into the Hall of Fame 15 years after his retirement as an active pitcher. (I believe that would be in his 9th ballot year.) On the basis of Don Drysdale (and a number of others who could be cited), Mike Musina will one day have a plaque of his own at Cooperstown - but hopefully not before several other high quality hurlers (Bobby Mathews, Tommy John, Bert Blyleven, Jim Kaat and Tony Mullane and others) who have waited considerably longer.