The Fine HOF line: Bunning & Lolich
Wondo
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in Sports Talk
Growing up in Detroit in the mid-late 1960s, I heard tales of the great Jim Bunning and lived Mickey Lolich (I went, as a seven-year-old, to the 68 series). I moved to the Philly area in 1970 and kept following my Tigers and was reaquainted with Bunning, who was finishing a great run with the Phillies. I thought Lolich, at the time, was robbed for the Cy Young in '71 (he wasn't) and followed him through the rest of his career.
Fast forward a couple of decades and Jim Bunning is elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. After a few years of eligibility, Mickey Lolich, although garnering marginal support, is not. Look at their records. Bunning has a slight edge in almost every lifetime category, and I mean slight. Lolich has the edge in peak performance with his World Series heroics and his 1971 season. Of course, Bunning went on to be a congressman and senator; Lolich ran a doughnut shop.
Personally, I believe neither belongs in the Hall. They typefy that stalwart starter club which includes McNally, Pettite, Burdette, JPerry, Tiant, Hershiser, Guidry, etc. of pitchers you want on your club as your ace , but, don't rate with the greats because of longevity or somthing else. Bunning gets in because of his post-baseball career, IMHO.
Anyway, after re-examining their careers in my Baseball Reference Book, I decided that these two contemporaries, who both pitched for Detroit, were a cool study. Discuss.
Fast forward a couple of decades and Jim Bunning is elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. After a few years of eligibility, Mickey Lolich, although garnering marginal support, is not. Look at their records. Bunning has a slight edge in almost every lifetime category, and I mean slight. Lolich has the edge in peak performance with his World Series heroics and his 1971 season. Of course, Bunning went on to be a congressman and senator; Lolich ran a doughnut shop.
Personally, I believe neither belongs in the Hall. They typefy that stalwart starter club which includes McNally, Pettite, Burdette, JPerry, Tiant, Hershiser, Guidry, etc. of pitchers you want on your club as your ace , but, don't rate with the greats because of longevity or somthing else. Bunning gets in because of his post-baseball career, IMHO.
Anyway, after re-examining their careers in my Baseball Reference Book, I decided that these two contemporaries, who both pitched for Detroit, were a cool study. Discuss.
Wondo
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Comments
MJ
Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
In my eyes, Bunning was clearly better. As awesome as the World Series performance was, three games does not make for a truly great peak
Now that Blyleven is finally going into the Hall-of-Fame, best pitcher not in becomes in interesting question. Definitely not Jack Morris. Tommy John and Bret Saberhagen were my idiosyncratic choices. Might now be Kevin Brown, possibly Schilling next year
Tabe
WTB: 2001 Leaf Rookies & Stars Longevity: Ryan Jensen #/25