1983 was a banner year for the Orioles currently in the Hall of Fame.
The Birds won the World Series that year with help from future Hall of Famers Cal Ripken Jr, Eddie Murray and Jim Palmer.
And that year Brooks Robinson got elected to Cooperstown on the first ballot just one year after Frank Robinson got in on HIS only try.
Former AL MVP and Oriole legend Boog Powell was also on the ballot and got 5 votes
One time Oriole 20 game winner Pat Dobson was also on the ballot, but he didn’t get any votes.
Another Oriole was on the ballot in 1983: Mike Cuellar, who just passed away this week.
He got no Hall of Fame votes. None.
Now I am not saying he’s a Hall of Famer… but I do find it odd that he got ZERO votes. Every year there is someone who gets a vote or two from a stray writer.
Remember how David Segui got a vote this year? I wrote about Jay Bell getting a vote a couple of years ago.
But nobody gave Cuellar a little nod.
Over a six year span (1969-1974) his average season was as followed:
20.8 wins to 10.5 losses.
A 2.98 ERA over 278 innings pitched.
145 2/3 strikeouts and a 1.87 strikeout to walk ratio.
He won the Cy Young Award during that span and finished in the top 5 for the Cy Young one other time. He was named to three All Star games in that stretch
He threw a complete game to clinch the 1970 World Series.
He was a stud.
I know I am being a bit of a hypocrite for complaining that a guy not getting any Hall of Fame votes when I myself would NOT put him on my ballot.
But for God’s sake, Ray Sadecki got two votes that year. Ray had ONE good season.
Don Larsen got 22 votes that year… based on ONE GAME! Seriously, look at Larsen’s stats. He never had a single season of note and yet enough people checked his name to ensure he’d be on the ballot the next year!
You trying to tell me that Mike Cuellar, who actually dominated for a stretch, wasn’t worth one friendly vote?
Rest in Peace, Mike… for a six year stretch, you pitched like a Hall of Famer!
I got to meet Cuellar at a small Baseball Card Show in 1992 in Orlando, He was the special guest and I was the only one to get a picture signed from him and sit down and talk baseball with him. He really seemed to be happy I knew about the O's of that era and the qestions I asked him about facing players like Yaz, Bobby Murcer, Fisk, and also playing with Frank Robinson and Brooks Robinson., to me it was a thrill to talk baseball with him.
ReplyDeleteAnd how can David Segui and Jay Bell get a vote and Players like Cuellar get none and Boog powell only get 5? I just do not understand,
BTW Why isn't Dwight Evans in the HOF? Maybe the greatest Defensive Right Fielder in AL History.
Mike Cuellar should have received the same respect that Sandy Koufax received for his dominance. Mike didn't overpower opponents like Koufax but he was an ace. Over a 6 year span with the Orioles he had 114 complete games! With the lowly Astros he didn't get the run support but still remained dominant. It's a shame that players like him, Steve Garvey and Dave Parker get lost in the shuffle,
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