Mike Mussina was one of MLB’s top pitchers in the nineties and the early 2000s.
His famous knuckle curve froze more hitters than a winter blizzard in Siberia.
And his pinpoint command let him place the ball wherever he wanted to.
His MLB career was spent entirely in the AL East: ten years with the Baltimore Orioles and eight with the New York Yankees.
One would think that, after 10 years of top-notch performance, the Orioles would have his number retired.
That hasn’t happened, though.
“From the research of @PaulHembo: Mike Mussina is the ONLY Hall of Famer (writers’ ballot) who does not have his number retired by his first organization after spending at least his first 10 seasons with that team,” ESPN’s Buster Olney tweeted.
From the research of @PaulHembo: Mike Mussina is the ONLY Hall of Famer (writers' ballot) who does not have his number retired by his first organization after spending at least his first 10 seasons with that team.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) May 23, 2022
It’s incredible that the Orioles haven’t honored Mussina after all his contributions.
In Baltimore, Mussina won 147 games, lost 81, and compiled a solid 3.53 ERA.
In 2,009.2 innings, he allowed 1,895 hits and struck out 1,535 batters.
One Of The Best Pitchers Baltimore Ever Developed
He completely dominated in one of the toughest divisions in the sport, pitching against the Yankees’ late-1990s teams that won mutliple World Series championships.
Mussina’s number 35 has now been taken by uber-prospect Adley Rutschman.
Mussina wore it from 1992 to 2000, when he left for the Yankees.
For nine seasons, fans identified Mussina and associated him with his number, 35.
It’s somewhat disrespectful that the franchise hasn’t taken the number away from the available pool.
Mussina, a five-time All-Star (1992–1994, 1997, 1999), a seven-time Gold Glove Award winner (1996–1999, 2001, 2003, 2008), and MLB’s wins leader in 1995 certainly deserves better from the franchise with which he spent a full decade, filled with success.
One has to wonder what has to happen for Baltimore to retire number 35.
Rumors say that Peter Angelos punished Mussina for leaving for the Yankees in 2000.
Now, they could be in a pretty awkward situation.
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