Seven Active Hall of Fame Pitchers
Current Hurlers Who Are Locks for Enshrinement in Cooperstown
Roger Clemens, Greg Maddux, Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez, Tom Glavine, John Smoltz and Mariano Rivera will make Baseball's Hall of Fame in their first eligible year.
Although most would argue that baseball is in the midst of hitting's golden era, there are a number of pitchers currently playing in the MLB who are among the best to ever set foot on a baseball mound. The following pitchers are all virtually guaranteed to earn a plaque in Baseball's Hall of Fame.
Roger Clemens Could Be The First Unanimous Inductee to the Hall of Fame
With 351 victories, Clemens has the second most wins of any pitcher who played exclusively in the live ball era. Only Warren Spahn, with 363 wins, has more than Clemens, and that may well change this season (or next, if Clemens still can't seem to retire). Add to that 7 Cy Young Awards, an MVP, more than 4,600 strikeouts, 2 World Series rings, and 2 games with 20 strikeouts, and you have a first ballot Hall of Famer. The only question is whether Clemens will be the first player elected unanimously.
Greg Maddux is Bound for Cooperstown
Maddux has 340 wins, four Cy Young Awards, 15 straight seasons with 15 or more wins, and a career ERA of 3.08. The Mad Dog, as he is nicknamed, is still going strong at 41, and could reach more than 350 wins by the time he hangs 'em up. The guy is a lock.
Randy Johnson's Hall of Fame Pitching Career
The Big Unit has 284 wins as of August 6, 2007. The big lefty turns 44 in September, and given his injury history the past few years, Johnson may still have trouble getting to 300 wins. For Hall of Fame purposes, it doesn't matter. The Unit has 5 Cy Young Awards, more than 4,600 strikeouts, a World Series MVP, and six seasons with more than 300 Ks. That includes five straight seasons of 329, 364, 347, 372 and 334 strikeouts. All of that adds up to one certainty: five years after he retires, Johnson will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Pedro Martinez is a Lock for Cooperstown
Despite not having as many wins as his contemporaries on this list, Pedro Martinez surely has the credentials for first ballot election to Baseball’s Hall of Fame.
Pedro’s 206-92 record gives him the highest career winning percentage among pitchers with 200 wins (.691; Whitey Ford is second at .690). Pedro also has the lowest WHIP (1.03) of any starter in the Live Ball Era. Add to that (a) three Cy Young awards, (b) a career ERA of 2.81, (c) a strikeout-to-walk ratio that is the third best in history, and (d) more than 10.2 strikeouts per nine innings, and you have a first ballot Hall of Fame pitcher.
Tom Glavine
The New York Mets’ left-hander has 300 wins. Every pitcher in that club who is eligible for the Hall of Fame has been inducted. In addition to 300 wins, Tommy has two Cy Young Awards, five 20-win seasons, and 13 post-season victories. Although he may not get the ridiculously high vote totals that the rest of the pitchers on this list will receive, there is really no doubt that Glavine will be enshrined in Cooperstown.
Mariano Rivera is a Closer Who Will Make it to Cooperstown
As a rule, relief pitchers are shunned by Baseball Hall of Fame voters. Only three pure relievers (Wilhelm, Fingers, Sutter) have been inducted in the 70 year history of Cooperstown. Studs such as Goose Gossage, Lee Smith and Dan Quisenberry have all been passed over repeatedly. Rivera, however, will not have to wait. His career has been that good.
In his 13 year career, Mariano Rivera has picked up 433 saves, which is fourth best in baseball history. He has a 2.36 ERA, a 1.03 WHIP, four Rolaids Reliever of the Year Awards, an ALCS MVP and a World Series MVP.
While Rivera’s regular season numbers are Hall of Fame-worthy, his post-season numbers are otherworldly. In 73 post-season appearances over 25 series, Mo is 17-7 with 34 saves and an ERA, get this, an ERA of 0.80. Nobody has ever dominated great hitters in pressure-packed playoff and World Series situations better than Mo. Nobody has ever come close.
John Smoltz, a Mixed Bag Worthy of Cooperstown
Smoltz is the only pitcher in baseball history to win 200 games and collect over 150 saves, He is the only pitcher to win the Cy Young Award as a starter (1996), and also take home a Rolaids Relief Man Award as the game's best closer (in 2002). Smoltz's ability to go back and forth between Ace starter and lights-out closer is unprecedented in baseball history. Factor in his career 3.27 ERA and the fact that he is one of the best postseason pitchers of all time, and you have a Hall of Famer.
Those are your definite Hall of Famers who are currently pitching in the Major Leagues.
