Ten Best Relief Pitchers Not In Cooperstown

Honorable mentions: Dan Quisenberry, Troy Percival, David Robertson 

10. Robb Nen (1993-2002)

In only ten MLB seasons, Robb Nen compiled 314 saves, making him one of 31 pitchers to reach 300 in a career. A three-time all-star, Nen had a career ERA of 2.98 and topped the NL with 45 saves in 2001. 

9. John Wetteland (1989-2000)

Perhaps best known as the predecessor to Mariano Rivera, John Wetteland was a top closer in his own right, collecting 330 saves with a 2.93 ERA from 1989 through 2000. He earned 150 saves for the Rangers and 105 for the Montreal Expos, making him one of a handful of pitchers to save 100 games for multiple teams. 

8. Joe Nathan (1999-2016)

Although not a full-time closer until age 29, Joe Nathan collected 377 career saves, ranking 11th on the all-time list. Originally a starter, his ERA sits at 2.87 for his career, but was 2.50 as a relief pitcher, better than every reliever in the Hall of Fame except Mariano Rivera and Hoyt Wilhelm. Nathan made six all-star teams and twice finished in the top 5 in the Cy Young Award voting. 

7. John Franco (1984-2005)

One of only eight men to save 400 or more games, Franco compiled 424 of them over 21 seasons (the most of any lefthander) and also tallied 90 wins. A three-time leader in saves, he pitched in the Majors until age 44, appearing in a total of 1,119 games. 

6. Francisco Rodriguez (2002-2017)

A September call-up turned instant phenom, Rodriguez struck out 13 of 21 batters in the 2002 regular season and won five games in the playoffs, helping the Angels capture their only World Series Championship. Stuck behind all-star closer Troy Percival, "K-Rod" finally became the stopper in 2005 and led the league in saves three of the next four years, setting the current single-season record with 62 in 2008. Rodriguez finished up in 2017 with six all-star selections, 437 saves, and 1,142 strikeouts. 

5. Jonathan Papelbon (2005-2016)

A six-time all-star, Papelbon had a career ERA of 2.44, lower than any Hall of Fame reliever except Rivera, despite pitching much of his career in Fenway Park. The owner of 368 saves, the highlight of Papelbon's career was the 2007 World Series, when he posted a 0.00 ERA and saved three games, including the clincher. 

4. Tom Henke (1982-1995)

A 6'5" fireballer known as The Terminator, Tom Henke was the most feared reliever of his day, blowing hitters away with his fastball or folding them with his forkball. He had a 2.67 career ERA and 311 saves, topping the AL with 34 in 1987. In 1995, he enjoyed the best season of his career, pitching to a 1.82 ERA and saving 36 games before retiring to spend time with his family. 

3. Craig Kimbrel (2010-present)

A nine-time all-star and 2011 Rookie of the Year, Kimbrel topped the NL in saves every year from 2011 through 2014, and has 440 in his career. Although no longer a dominant closer, he was nearly untouchable in his prime, sporting a 1.91 ERA and 41.6% strikeout rate between 2010 and 2018. 

2. Aroldis Chapman (2010-present)

Much could be said about the amazing career of Aroldis Chapman, from throwing the fastest pitch in MLB history as a rookie, to his incredible performance in the 2016 stretch run with the Cubs, to reestablishing himself as an elite closer in his age-37 and -38 seasons. The all-time leader in strikeouts by a relief pitcher, Chapman could take over the #1 spot on this list if he continues his superb pitching. 

1. Kenley Jansen (2010-present)

Jansen's 489 saves lead active pitchers and are the third most of all time behind Rivera and Trevor Hoffman. The owner of a 2.61 ERA and over 1,300 strikeouts, Jansen is well within reach of 1,000 appearances and 500 saves, making him a slam-dunk Hall of Fame candidate. 

Lucky Hall of Famer Number 67 - Ford Frick

Ford Christopher Frick served as NL president from 1934-1951 and as commissioner from 1951-1965. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1970, but I do not believe he deserves the honor. 

    Frick was fairly unpopular both as league president and as commissioner, playing a central role in several controversies. His most unpopular decision was known as "the Asterisk," when in 1961, he requested record-keepers to list Roger Maris's new single-season home run record alongside Babe Ruth's old 154-game mark, instead of acknowledging Maris as the true record holder. Regardless of Frick's intentions, after all the pressure and abuse Maris withstood in chasing the record, the Asterisk was a slap in the face. Frick, a friend of Ruth's, seemed to let favoritism sway some of his decisions, as he was also continually accused of favoring the National League in his rulings as commissioner. 

    Frick's greatest contribution to baseball was his role in founding the Hall of Fame. However, Frick was not the only one who founded the museum, and he wasn't even the one who had the idea (that would be Stephen C. Clark). Considering the many controversies he brought upon the game as an executive, I do not believe it is enough to merit his induction. 

My opinion: Ford Frick is not a Hall of Famer. 

Ten Best Starting Pitchers Not In Cooperstown

Honorable mentions: Dolf Luque, Tommy John, Roy Oswalt 

10. Tim Hudson (1999-2015) 

Hudson was about as steady as they came, winning 222 games and losing only 133 for a remarkable .625 winning percentage, yet never won a Cy Young Award. The owner of a 3.49 career ERA, Hudson became the oldest man to start Game 7 of the World Series in 2014 at age 39. 

9. Luis Tiant (1964-1982) 

The son of a former negro league hurler, Tiant was a top pitcher in his day, winning 229 games and leading the AL in shutouts three times. A two-time ERA champ, Tiant is perhaps best known for his performance in the 1975 postseason, going 3-0 with a 2.50 ERA in four starts, including a 163-pitch victory in Game 4 of the World Series. 

8. Bret Saberhagen (1984-2001) 

Saberhagen was one of the most exciting young players in the game during the 1980's, winning two Cy Young Awards before he turned 26. The MVP of the 1985 World Series with a 0.50 ERA, Saberhagen won 167 games and lost 117 for a .588 winning percentage across sixteen seasons. 

7. Mickey Lolich (1963-1979) 

One of the most colorful characters in the game, Lolich won 217 games over 16 seasons and tallied 2,832 strikeouts, at the time a record for southpaws. He won three games in the 1968 World Series (homering in Game 2) and tossed an incredible 376 innings in 1971, the most since 1917, allowing him to win 25 games and rack up 308 K's. 

6. Jack Quinn (1909-1933) 

Jack Quinn had a late start in baseball (debuting at 25), but more than made up for it with his longevity, pitching his last game at 50. He won 247 games in his career, including 26 in 1914 and 18 in 1928 as a 44-year-old. Quinn earned MVP votes in 1931 at age 47 and led the NL in saves in both 1931 and 1932. 

5. Orel Hershiser (1983-2000) 

Nicknamed the Bulldog, Hershiser captured the nation's attention in 1988 when he threw a record 59 consecutive scoreless innings, leading to 23 wins and a Cy Young Award. He had a 2.26 ERA that season and had other seasonal marks of 2.03 (1985) and 2.31 (1989). Hershiser won 204 games in his career and additionally went 8-3 with a 2.59 ERA in the playoffs. 

4. Ron Guidry (1975-1988) 

Guidry enjoyed one of the greatest seasons any pitcher ever had in 1978, going 25-3 with a 1.74 ERA and 248 strikeouts as the runaway Cy Young Award winner. He followed up in 1979 with a second ERA Title and led the AL in wins again in 1985. Guidry won 170 games in his career and lost only 91, giving him an astronomical winning percentage of .651, one of the highest marks of all time. 

3. Billy Pierce (1945-1964) 

Pierce was one of the finest pitchers of his day, winning 211 games and making seven all-star teams. He led the Majors with a 1.97 ERA in 1955, a stunning 66 points lower than runner-up Whitey Ford (against whom Pierce had an 8-6 lifetime record). Pierce won 20 games in two different seasons and led the AL in complete games in 1956, 1957, and 1958. 

2. Johan Santana (2000-2012) 

Perhaps baseball's best pitcher in the 2000's, Santana won two Cy Young Awards and three ERA Titles during the decade, leading the AL in a litany of pitching categories. Injuries cost him his entire 2011 season and eventually ended his career, but he returned for a final season in 2012, tossing a no-hitter on June 1. He finished with 139 wins and a .641 winning percentage. 

1. Curt Schilling (1988-2007) 

I haven't written a unique article about Schilling, so I'll spend more time on him here. 

PED users aside, Curt Schilling is undoubtedly the best starting pitcher outside the Hall of Fame. Despite pitching in an artificially offense-heavy period, he had a 3.46 career ERA (127 ERA+), 216 wins, and 3,116 strikeouts, 17th on the all-time list. Although he never won a Cy Young Award, he finished second three times, twice losing to teammate Randy Johnson. A rare power pitcher who seldom issued walks, his 4.38 career K/BB rate ranked second in baseball history when he retired, trailing only Tommy Bond, who pitched before the standard four-ball walk. In addition, Schilling was one of the greatest playoff pitchers of all time, going 11-2 with a 2.23 ERA in postseason play, winning three World Series rings and two series MVP Awards (1993 NLCS, 2001 World Series). His 56 strikeouts in the 2001 postseason set a record which still stands. 

Say what you want about his conduct - during his career he won no fewer than four character-based awards (Lou Gehrig, Roberto Clemente, Branch Rickey, Hutch). By all reasonable measures, Schilling is a Hall of Famer. The only reason for his exclusion is political, and politics should have no place in the Hall of Fame debate. 

Top Ten Hall of Famers Inducted by the Veterans Committee

The Veterans Committee was founded in 1953 to honor Hall of Fame candidates overlooked by the Old Timers Committee and the BBWAA. The idea was that players of the past would be more likely to remember, and better able to assess, their contemporaries who played decades before. However, players sometimes have their biases, being more likely to remember players with whom they had closer encounters, and made a series of bad selections in the 1970's, which led to revisions to the Committee and eventually its termination in 2013 in favor of Eras Committees. 

    Despite their mistakes, the Veterans Committee did a positive service to baseball by recognizing dozens of all-time greats who would otherwise be forgotten. Here is a list of the ten best Hall of Famers inducted by the VC. 

Honorable mentions: Billy Hamilton, Chief Bender, Frank "Home Run" Baker, Sam Rice, Joe Sewell, Joe Gordon 

10. Goose Goslin (1968) 

Leon Allen "Goose" Goslin played leftfield from 1921 through 1938 for the Senators, Browns, and Tigers. He batted .316 in his career, winning the AL Batting Title in 1924, and had eleven seasons with 100 RBI's. Goslin's candidacy gained a boost after he was interviewed for Lawrence Ritter's 1966 bestseller The Glory of Their Times, and he was inducted by the Veterans Committee two years later. 

9. John Clarkson (1963) 

John Clarkson was a dominant pitcher in the 1880's, leading the league three times in wins, three times in strikeouts, and four times in innings, topping out at 623 in 1884. He finished playing in 1894 with 328 career wins, third on the all-time list at the time. 

8. Richie Ashurn (1995) 

Although he was overshadowed by Willie, Mickey, and the Duke in centerfield, Richie Ashburn was a top player in the 1950's, capturing two Batting Titles during the decade. In addition to his hitting, Ashburn was a marvelous defensive outfielder, leading in putouts a stunning eight times. 

7. Arky Vaughan (1985) 

Floyd Ellis "Arky" Vaughan was an all-star for nine consecutive seasons between 1934 and 1942, establishing himself as a premier shortstop in the NL. A .318 career hitter, he led the league three times each in runs scored, walks, OBP, and triples, and captured a Batting Title in 1935 with a .385 mark. 

6. Ron Santo (2012) 

The last player ever elected by the traditional Veterans Committee, Santo was a nine-time all-star, five-time Gold Glove winner at third, and four-time leader in walks. Santo hit 342 home runs from 1960 through 1974, including four straight seasons with 30 or more. 

5. Tim Keefe (1964) 

Tim Keefe was probably the best pitcher of the 19th century, winning 342 games and three ERA Titles between 1880 and 1893. He also achieved fame as an umpire. 

4. Johnny Mize (1981) 

Johnny Mize led the NL once in batting, four times in homers, and three times in RBI's, yet never won a Triple Crown. The owner of a .312 / .397 / .562 career slash line, Mize hit 51 homers in 1947 at age 34, making him one of the oldest men ever to hit 50 home runs. He had 359 longballs in his career and could have had 100 more if not for three seasons lost to military service. 

3. Jake Beckley (1971) 

First baseman Jake Beckley was one of the top sluggers of the 19th century, banging out 244 triples and 87 home runs between 1888 and 1907. A .308 career hitter, Beckley compiled nearly 3,000 hits in his twenty seasons (2,938), but was largely forgotten until the Veterans Committee rediscovered him in the early 1970's. 

2. Roger Connor (1976) 

Roger Connor was best known as baseball's all-time home run king prior to Babe Ruth, slugging 138 longballs between 1880 and 1897. As of this writing, he currently ranks in a tie for 681st in career homers. Connor batted .316 and collected 2,467 hits in his career. 

1. Sam Crawford (1957) 

"Wahoo Sam" Crawford was one of the greatest hitters of the deadball era. The first man ever to lead both the AL and NL in home runs, Crawford also led his league in triples six times, contributing to his record total of 309 career three-baggers. Crawford batted .309 over 19 seasons and finished his career just 39 hits shy of 3,000. 

Bill White Receives 2026 Buck O'Neil Award

Today, Bill White, 92, received the 2026 Buck O'Neil Lifetime Achievement Award. The Award is given to honor an individual "for extraordinary efforts to enhance baseball's positive impact on society." 

White's career as a player spanned from 1956 through 1969, although he missed all of 1957 and most of 1958 in military service. A first baseman for the Giants, Cardinals, and Phillies, White had seven 20-homer seasons, won seven Gold Gloves, and played in eight all-star games. He finished his career with a .286 batting average and 202 homers. 

In 1971, White became a broadcaster for the Yankees, a position he would hold for 18 years. In 1989, he left the broadcast booth to become NL President, which he was voted for unanimously. He served as president for five years, presiding over expansion in 1993. He later became a member of the Veterans Committee. 

Bill White served baseball for over 40 years in various capacities. His impact on the game was monumental and brought genuine improvements to our National Pastime. Congratulations to White for a well-deserved award. 

Evaluating Minor League Feats

While the minor leagues today exist solely to feed the Majors, that was not always the case. From the dawn of the 20th century until the 1950's, the quality of play in the high minor leagues, particularly the Pacific Coast League, was comparable with the Major Leagues. Many high-profile MLB players, including Ed Konetchy and Del Pratt, chose to play in these leagues for a number of reasons, including better location, competitive pay, or a longer season, when they were still quite productive in the Majors. Despite continuing their highly successful careers against quality competition, these years in the minors are often forgotten by history and the common fan. 

    This all begs the question: how important are minor league achievements in the Hall of Fame discussion? As I recently wrote in my piece on Konetchy, I don't believe these feats should count for nothing. For one thing, they provide evidence that these players could still play at a high level, and for another, the players were still helping their teams win, even if they were not Major League teams. Local leagues had pride, and players genuinely cared about representing their local clubs and helping them win (unlike today, when any players of meaningful talent use collegiate and minor league teams merely as a path to the high-paying Majors). After all, the shrine at Cooperstown is the National Baseball Hall of Fame, not the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame, and leagues like the Pacific Coast League and the Texas League used to be a major part of baseball in America (especially considering that there were no MLB clubs West of St. Louis until 1957). If baseball back then were what it is today, then very few, if any, Major League stars would jump to rival leagues, but would instead compile their career statistics in the Majors, where the Hall of Fame would pay attention to them. 

    When evaluating Hall of Fame candidates who continued playing well in the high minors, I tend to use their Major League records as the baseline for their cases and look to their minor league numbers to fill in the cracks. For example, I would not advocate for Johnny Bassler due to a short MLB career, but Konetchy and Pratt could be considered borderline candidates for their Major League achievements alone, and their minor league feats can provide an extra boost to their cases. Although I give precedence to MLB statistics, being more mainstream and of somewhat higher quality, the records of the minor league stars are truly significant, both historically and statistically, and they should be recognized as such by the Hall of Fame. 

Want To See Your Favorite Player On The Cooperstown Advocate?

Every baseball fan has a favorite player, but not everyone has the chance to write about them. Indeed, many outstanding players have largely been forgotten, which is a main theme of this blog. 

For those who Buy Me A Coffee worth $3 or more, I will write an article about a player of their choice and publish it on this blog. The article will be posted within one week of the donation, if made during the summer, and within two weeks if made during the school year. Each article will include a brief shout-out to the person who donated as a token of my gratitude. 

As a college student, I have relied on other work to make the bulk of my money, and have so far kept this blog ad-free, meaning that I rely entirely on viewer support. If everyone who reads this blog donated even $1, my education would be paid for in less than a year. Be sure to tell your friends and consider supporting my blog today!