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71. Orel Hershiser

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71. Orel Hershiser
  1. General
  2. Awards
  3. Career Stats
  • Born: September 16, 1958 in Buffalo, NY USA
  • Weight: 190 lbs.
  • Height: 6'3"
  • Bats: R
  • Throws: R
  • Debut: September 01, 1983
  • Final Game: June 26, 2000
  • Babe Ruth Award - 1988
  • Cy Young Award - 1988
  • Gold Glove - 1988
  • NLCS MVP - 1988
  • TSN All-Star - 1988
  • TSN Major League Player of the Year - 1988
  • TSN Pitcher of the Year - 1988
  • World Series MVP - 1988
  • Silver Slugger - 1993
  • ALCS MVP - 1995
  • Cy Young - 1985
  • Cy Young - 1987
  • Cy Young - 1988
  • Cy Young - 1989
  • MVP - 1985
  • MVP - 1988
  • Rookie of the Year - 1984
 
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What a year 1988 was for Orel Hershiser.  He didn’t just win the Cy Young that year, getting better to the point of being unstoppable as the season wound down.  He broke Don Drysdale’s consecutive scoreless innings record to end the regular season than went on to win three games in the post season (including one save) and propelled the Dodgers to a World Series win and won the World Series MVP in the process.  What a year!

Hershiser did not duplicate that year (who could) but he suffered a severe shoulder injury that threatened his career.  Hershiser did come back and was an effective pitcher but he never again dominated and did not reach All-Star levels again.  Still with a career with 200 wins and 2,000 strikeouts he had a record that was envied by most.

The issue for the Hall is that Hershiser was considered the best Starting Pitcher in baseball for a two and a half year period and a solid number two or three man after his shoulder surgery.  If Hershiser was a dominate ace for a longer period of time his 1988 season would have helped make him a serious contender for the Hall.

Should Orel Hershiser be in the Hall of Fame?

Definitely put him in! - 65.8%
Maybe, but others deserve it first. - 17.6%
Probably not, but it wouldn't be the end of the world. - 12.6%
No opinion. - 0.5%
No way! - 3.6%

The Bullet Points

  • Country of Origin: Buffalo, New York, U.S.A.
  • Eligible In: Sunday, 01 January 2006
  • Position: Pitcher
  • Games Played: 510
  • Notable Statistics: 204 Wins
    150 Losses
    3.48 ERA
    309 Games Started
    65 Complete Games
    24 Shutouts
    19 Games Finished
    5 Saves
    3,130.1 Innings Pitched
    2,014 Strikeouts
    3.69 FIP
    1.261 WHIP
    2.00 SO/BB
    56.0 bWAR

    22 Playoff Games
    8 Wins
    3 Losses
    2.59 ERA
    18 Games Started
    4 Complete Games
    2 Shutouts
    2 Games Finished
    1 Save
    132.0 Innings Pitched
    97 Strikeouts
    3.38 FIP
    1.106 WHIP
    2.26 SO/BB

    65 Runs Scored
    163 Hits
    29 Doubles
    2 Triples
    0 Home Runs
    50 Runs Batted In
    8 Stolen Bases
    .201/.230/.242 Slash Line

    22 Playoff Games
    3 Runs Scored
    5 Hits
    2 Doubles
    0 Triples
    0 Home Runs
    3 Runs Batted In
    0 Stolen Bases
    .208/.240/.292 Slash Line
  • Played For: Cleveland Indians, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, San Francisco Giants
  • Major Accolades and Awards: World Series Ring (1) (Los Angeles Dodgers, 1988)
    Cy Young Award (1) (NL) (1988)
    The Sporting News Player of the Year (1988)
    The Sporting News NL Pitcher of the Year (1988)
    World Series MVP (1988)
    NLCS MVP (1988)
    ALCS MVP (1995)
    All-Star (3) (1987, 1988 & 1989)
    Gold Glove (1) (NL) (1988)
    Silver Slugger (1) (NL) (1993)
    NL Babe Ruth Award (1988)
    Lou Gehrig Memorial Award (1981)
    Highest bWAR for Pitchers (2) (NL) (1988 & 1989)
    Most Wins (1) (NL) (1988)
    Most Innings Pitched (3) (NL) (1987, 1988 & 1989)
    Most Complete Games (1) (NL) (1988)
    Most Shutouts (2) (NL) (1984 & 1988)
    Highest ERA+ (1) (NL) (1989)
    Lowest FIP (1) (NL) (1989)
    Highest Win Probability (1) (NL) (1988)
    Highest Championship Win Probability (1) (NL) (1988)
    Most Putouts by a Pitcher (3) (NL) (1987, 1988 & 1994)
    Most Assists by a Pitcher (3) (NL) (1988 & 1989) (AL) (1996)
    Most Double Plays Turned by a Pitcher (1) (NL) (1988)
    Most Sacrifice Hits (1) (NL) (1988)
  • Other Points of Note: Top Ten MVP Finishes
    (NL: 1988, 6th)
    Other Top Ten Cy Young Finishes: (Won the 1988 NL Cy Young Award)
    (NL: 1985, 3rd), (NL: 1987, 4th) & (NL: 1989, 4th)
    5 Top Ten Finishes (bWAR for Pitchers)
    5 Top Ten Finishes (Earned Run Average)
    6 Top Ten Finishes (Wins)
    5 Top Ten Finishes (WHIP)
    4 Top Ten Finishes (H/9)
    4 Top Ten Finishes (BB/9)
    1 Top Ten Finish (SO/9)
    4 Top Ten Finishes (Innings Pitched)
    5 Top Ten Finishes (Strikeouts)
    6 Top Ten Finishes (Games Started)
    7 Top Ten Finishes (Complete Games)
    5 Top Ten Finishes (Shutouts)
    3 Top Ten Finishes (SO/BB)
    5 Top Ten Finishes (ERA+) 
    4 Top Ten Finishes (FIP)
    2 Top Ten Finishes (Win Probability Added)
    2 Top Ten Finishes (Championship Win Probability Added)
  • Notable All Time Rankings: 9.    Putouts by a Pitcher: 332
    52.  Double Plays Turned by a Pitcher: 44
    75.  Games Started: 466
    86.  Strikeouts: 2,014
    97.  bWAR for Pitchers: 51.54
  • Vote Percentage Received for the Hall of Fame:

    2006: 11.2
    2007: 4.4

    Veterans:
    2017: ()
    2019: ()
  • Should be Inducted As A: Los Angeles Dodger

Should Orel Hershiser be in the Hall of Fame?

Definitely put him in! - 65.8%
Maybe, but others deserve it first. - 17.6%
Probably not, but it wouldn't be the end of the world. - 12.6%
No opinion. - 0.5%
No way! - 3.6%
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