Bunning got started in 1955 with Detroit and struggled as a rookie, turning in an ERA of 6.35 in 51 innings. He went 5-1 in 1956, however, and had a career year in 1957 with a 20-8 mark and a 2.69 ERA. Bunning slumped in his next two seasons, but came back in 1960 with a 2.79 ERA. He then had two good (but not great) seasons and one in which he was below average, which "earned" him a trade to the Phillies. At 32, he was thought to be through, but he had the best four seasons of his career in Philly, posting a 2.48 ERA and a .617 winning percentage. He even pitched a perfect game in 1964. After this, he had a sharp decline. He followed four fantastic seasons with four in which he went 32-51 with an ERA of 4.14. He was gone by 1972. After his baseball career, he became a politician. In 1986, he was elected to the United States House of Representatives from the 4th congressional district of Kentucky. From 1987 through 1999 he served in the House, and later served two terms as the Republican junior United States Senator. In 1996, with ten years of political experience under his belt, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame by the Veterans' Committee. His career as a politician almost assuredly helped boost him into Cooperstown.
Jim Bunning had a nice baseball career and a great comeback story. However, he had only two Hall of Fame worthy seasons (1957 and 1960) before his four year run from 1964 through 1967 in which he pitched at a Hall of Fame level. Six great seasons and 11 average seasons do not add up to a Hall of Fame career. Bunning was also a very unpopular player. After his perfect game, he complained about the seats that the Mets gave his family. This shouldn't exclude him from Cooperstown, but it makes him a much less attractive candidate.
My opinion: Jim Bunning is not a Hall of Famer.
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