Ron Guidry vs. Sandy Koufax

[RickD]

I agree Guidry deserves HoF membership.

[Mudge]

Koufax was a very good pitcher (131 ERA+ in a short career consisting of 397 games), who had 4 outstanding years. Guidry was a good pitcher (119 ERA+ for his shorter career -- 368 games), but he had only one outstanding year -- 1978.

Bottom line: Guidry is no Hall of Famer, even though he was a Yankee (which as we all know matters to the voters, but not to the knowledgeable fan).

[winningbaseball]

No question Guidry should be a HOFer. The W-L % of well over .600 with over 250+ decisions is quality.

[Mudge]

No question Guidry should be a HOFer. The W-L % of well over .600 with over 250+ decisions is quality.

Winning percentage is about as useful as RBI for determining a player's overall worth. Koufax 54.5 WAR. Guidry 44.4. (Kevin Brown at 64.8 takes them both down. Now he should be in the Hall of Fame.)

[Old Sweater]

http://www.baseball-reference.com/fr...&compage=&age=

Ron Guidry actually led by a nose in IP & GS over Koufax.

Hall of Fame
1994 BBWAA ( 5.3%)
1995 BBWAA ( 5.4%)
1996 BBWAA ( 7.9%)
1997 BBWAA ( 6.6%)
1998 BBWAA ( 7.8%)
1999 BBWAA ( 6.2%)
2000 BBWAA ( 8.8%)
2001 BBWAA ( 5.2%)
2002 BBWAA ( 4.9%)

I do think that it is a joke that Guidry's top HOF voting % was 8.8% in 2000

Lots can be said for the nickname given by peers. Guidry's was 'Louisiana Lighting' which ain't that bad but Koufax's nickname 'left arm of God' sorta says it all.

Koufax did have the advantage of pitching in the 60's off the 15 inch mound compared to Guidry but as Mudge pointed out, Koufax beats Guidry by 12 points in ERA+ that accounts for league average of the different eras.

Johan Santana has the best ERA+ of all the similars.

[runningshoes]

Ron Guidry was a very good pitcher, but very good doesn't get you in the hall.

[winningbaseball]

How many starting pitchers in MLB with over 250 decisions had a W/L% over .650?? Earning a win is the single most important thin a pitcher can achieve, nothing else matters.

[Mudge]

How many starting pitchers in MLB with over 250 decisions had a W/L% over .650?? Earning a win is the single most important thin a pitcher can achieve, nothing else matters.

Where have I had this discussion before?

In my book, earning a win is the single most important thing a TEAM can achieve.

[winningbaseball]

In the modern era of baseball. From 1900 till present day, only 10, yes only ten pitchers have had a career W/L% of over .650 with at least 250 decisions. These are the ten greatest pitchers in baseball history and everyone of them deserves the HOF.
Listed fin order:
1 Whitey Ford .690
2 Pedro Martinez .687
3 Lefty Grove .680
4 Roy Halladay .671
5 Christy Mathewson .665
6 Sam Leever .660
7 Roger Clemens .658 (May be disqualified for steroid use)
8 Sandy Koufax .655
9 Ron Guidry .651
10 Tim Hudson .651

Any of those five starters in your rotation and you win the pennant and WS every year.

[Old Sweater]

In the modern era of baseball. From 1900 till present day, only 10, yes only ten pitchers have had a career W/L% of over .650 with at least 250 decisions. These are the ten greatest pitchers in baseball history and everyone of them deserves the HOF.
Listed fin order:
1 Whitey Ford .690
2 Pedro Martinez .687
3 Lefty Grove .680
4 Roy Halladay .671
5 Christy Mathewson .665
6 Sam Leever .660
7 Roger Clemens .658 (May be disqualified for steroid use)
8 Sandy Koufax .655
9 Ron Guidry .651
10 Tim Hudson .651

Any of those five starters in your rotation and you win the pennant and WS every year.

Looks odd seeing a top ten list without Walter Johnson being at the top and really odd that he ain't there at all.