WAR Room: Mike Mussina, sp, Baltimore Orioles
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I have a couple of Mike Mussina autographs in my collection, but they are all on Allen and Ginter cards. I really love the 1992 Fleer set. Plus this card is graded, which is always fun.
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I am old, I guess, bug I like to remember Mussina more for his time in Baltimore than New York, though I am probably in the minority. Mussina was the O’s #1 pick in the 1990 draft and spent his first 10 years in the big leagues with the organization. During this time he was one of the best starters in baseball, averaging 15 wins a season. He won at least 18 games four times–including a league-leading 19 wins in 1995. He was a workhorse too, averaging 201 innings per season. He was great in New York, of course, but I think his time in Baltimore was on another level.
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All told, Mussina would retire with 270 wins, five All-Star selections, and seven Gold Gloves. He never did get a ring, but was very good in the 16 post-season series he pitched in (7-8, 3.42 ERA over 139.2 innings). He would amass of total of 82.8 career WAR, putting him a hair above Nolan Ryan (81.3), and just behind Pedro Martinez (83.9). There is a good chance that we will get passed in the coming years by Justin Verlander (81), and maybe Clayton Kershaw (81). Zack Greinke (77.5) and Max Scherzer (75) are not far behind either.