During the 1990s, Mike Mussina was one of the best pitchers in the American League, winning often for the Orioles with his excellent command and wicked slider. His winning percentage is one of the best in baseball history, and the righty excelled in the post-season, setting an ALCS record with 15 strikeouts in one game. In 2001, he joined the Yankees as a free agent, winning at least 17 games his first three years in the Bronx, to go along with four such seasons with Baltimore.
Teams Mike Mussina Played For
Baltimore Orioles (1991-2000) New York Yankees (2001-2005)
Best Season: 1994 In the season of "The Strike," Mussina threw lots of them. He walked just 42 batters in 176 innings, striking out 99. He posted a 3.06 ERA, and allowed opposing hitters to bat just .248 against him. His record was 16-5 in 24 starts. Had the season finished he likely would have had his first 20-win season.
Factoids The only relief appearance in Mike Mussina's career came in Game Seven of the 2003 ALCS against the Boston Red Sox.
Born Michael Cole Mussina was born on December 8, 1968, in Williamsport, PA.
Batted: Left Threw: Right
Primary Position: P
Primary Team: BAL
College: Stanford
Major League Debut August 4, 1991 ... Mussina pitched 7 2/3 innings of four-hit ball, but lost to Charlie Hough of the White Sox, 1-0. He allowed his first hit, a double to Frank Thomas, in the third inning.
Related Players The first batter Mike Mussina faced in the major leagues was Tim Raines.
Post-Season Appearances
2001 World Series
2003 World Series
Post-Season Notes Mussina has been an excellent post-season performer. Through 2004, in 119 2/3 innings he had struck out 130 batters and walked only 28. He has a 3.16 ERA in 19 post-season games, winning six and losing six... Mussina pitched in relief of Roger Clemens in Game Seven of the 2003 ALCS against the Red Sox in Yankee Stadium. He pitched shutout relief, allowing the Bombers to inch back and win the game in 11 innings.
Awards and Honors
1996 AL Gold Glove
1997 AL Gold Glove
1998 AL Gold Glove
1999 AL Gold Glove
2001 AL Gold Glove
2003 AL Gold Glove
Milestones Mussina earned his 200th career victory on April 11, 2004, against the White Sox at Yankee Stadium. Three days later, teammate Kevin Brown won his 200th game.
Notes On August 27, 2007, after his third straight dreadful start, Mussina was taken out of the rotation by Yankees manager Joe Torre. "I've been pitching a long time," Mussina said. "My job has been an important one for a long time. To deal with the last two weeks of my pitching and then this change, it's new. It's something I've never had to deal with. Hopefully it'll make me a better player."
Transactions June 4, 1990: Drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 1st round (20th pick) of the 1990 amateur draft.
October 27, 2000: Granted Free Agency.
November 30, 2000: Signed as a Free Agent with the New York Yankees.
All-Star Selections
1992 AL
1993 AL
1994 AL
1997 AL
1999 AL
Replaced As a rookie, Mussina was in the Orioles starting rotation for the last two months of the 1991 season. He took the place of Jeff Robinson, who had been battered to the tune of a 5.18 ERA in 19 starts.
Replaced By TBD
Best Strength as a Player His control and his calmness under pressure.
Largest Weakness as a Player If it can be called a weakness, Mussina has never risen to have a great season. The right-hander has never won 20 games, and he's never led the league in strikeouts or ERA.
