A Surprising Fact about Tommy John
gemint
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I stumbled across a fact after linking to a Richard Sherman needing Tommy John surgery story today. John's Wiki page states that he ranks 7th all-time in wins by a left handed pitcher. I think he won 20 three times. There are a lot of 'does player x belong in the HOF' threads but I don't recall one on Tommy John. I know he didn't quite get to 300 but I think he has a good case in being the 7th winningest left hander ever. I hope he makes it someday as I always enjoyed watching him soft toss batters into outs. He was also the first player of significant service length where I got every Topps card issued.
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<< <i>He played for 26 years I believe, and accumulated his numbers over a long, long career. He was never viewed as dominant during that time by any means. He did have a couple of 20-win seasons, but was never quite a force on the mound. He did get consideration (mostly in the 20-30% range by HOF voters over his 15 years of eligibility), but not quite enough to make it over the hump. >>
I'm sure that's why he gets penalized. I don't think it should matter though. There are a lot of HOFers that weren't dominant or maybe only dominant for one or two seasons. Guys like Don Sutton, Bert Blyleven, Don Drysdale, Jim Bunning, Whitey Ford (two 20 win seasons, though great win %) and Waite Hoyt. Granted Sutton won 300 games. Maybe John needed more strike outs to make the hall?
Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
<< <i>John was the Jamie Moyer of his day. Hung around long enough to accumulate some pretty impressive counting stats, but outside of maybe a couple of years was never really an elite pitcher. >>
Perfect analogy
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<< <i>If memory serves, I believe he overcame a speech handicap, much like Bill Walton. Maybe someone here can corroborate this. >>
I am a person who stutters (PWS) and both Walton and John are PWS as well, along with millions of others, including the Vice President himself (don't believe me, google it)
Bill Walton's story
<< <i>The amazing thing is that he ended up getting a surgical procedure that had the same name as him... Almost as crazy and Lou Gehrig getting Lou Gehrig's disease. What are the odds?!?!? >>
Interestingly enough, there's research that now suggests that Gehrig didn't actually have ALS but was actually suffering from effects from repeated concussions, which can mimic ALS.
<< <i>
<< <i>If memory serves, I believe he overcame a speech handicap, much like Bill Walton. Maybe someone here can corroborate this. >>
I am a person who stutters (PWS) and both Walton and John are PWS as well, along with millions of others, including the Vice President himself (don't believe me, google it)
Bill Walton's story >>
Thanks for the link on Walton. Very interesting read. True congrats to you and all the people who have overcome this and deal with this on a daily basis.
<< <i>There is a reason why Jack Morris is not in the HOF and that is because he doesn't quite have the body of work. If they ever let a pitcher in the HOF with a career ERA near 4.00, then you might as well let everyone in it. >>
+1
Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
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<< <i>I still would take him over everyone on that list and some. >>
Blyleven was a far better pitcher than Morris.
Morris gets a lot of love due to his two outstanding postseasons in 84 and 91. However, he had two equally poor postseasons in 87 and 92, during which he was 0-4 with an ERA north of 7.. His career postseason ERA is actually just a shade better than his career regular season ERA.
Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.