HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE
HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE
Rick Reuschel Elected 1991
Starting Pitcher
Boston Federals (CLE, DEN, LA, WAS)
1972-1990
Rickey Eugene Reuschel was not nicknamed “Big Daddy” because of his big brain. But so much of the Massachusetts native’s career is a “no brainer,” starting with his being drafted in 1972, a no-brainer first overall choice by the Cleveland Barons. Without question, Reuschel was the class of the entire draft (if you don’t count an otherworldly outburst by a third round afterthought named Craig Something) that included names like Mike Schmidt and Carlton Fisk. His portly stature and overbearing talent led to the love handle. Fortunately, his big belly never got in the way of his hunger for glory.
We lead off with the final no-brainer: You are going to elect Rick Reuschel to the Hall of Fame. His accolades and accomplishments are merely listed as a courtesy and reminder.
In the Beginning…
After a near perfect three-start stint in AAA, the rebuilding Barons skipped Reuschel right to the head of the rotation. His rookie season was solid despite a 9-16 record (his last losing record until 1988). He posted a year wide 3.67 ERA—he would never post a higher one until 1988 (3.79, Denver). By his sophomore campaign, he seemed to have worked out any rough spots, posting a 17-7 record and a 2.66 ERA, cannonballing the leaderboards and earning his first All-Star nod. After a sparkling 7-1, 1.50 start to the 1974 season, injury kept him from his second All-Star appearance. No biggie, since Big Daddy was served up on the All Star roster for twelve straight seasons after that, which led to the inevitable inclusion to the All Decade Team. Big Daddy led the Barons to two straight playoff appearances, but injury kept him from post season contribution. 1976 found him finally landing his first Cy Young Award (17-9, 2.29, 247 K).
The Daddy of Big Deals
The unquestioned ace of the Barons was shipped to Boston In 1977, the centerpiece of one of the biggest trades in UL history, a monster 28-player swap between the Barons and the Boston Federals. His split season with the two clubs led to his second Cy Young Award (19-7, 2.48, 227 K). He continued his dominance in his new home, racking up an 88-47 record in five seasons and landing his first World Series ring in 1980, though his missed the playoffs to surgery to remove bone chips.
After a year-long pitstop in Denver in ‘83, he found a bit of career resurgence in Los Angeles, at least in regards to playing for a perennial contender. Although rolling into his mid 30’s, he never stopped being the powerhouse he was brought in to be. In four seasons with the Black-and-Red, he averaged 14 wins and 170 Ks and added another championship ring to his trophy case in 1985. This time, his postseason performances matched his regular season awesomeness. Shipped back to Denver in ’88, he still looked good, though he was finally showing signs of slowing. Feasting on batters until he was 40, he finished his career in Denver and Washington before hanging up his fork. Just four months after thowing his last pitch, he was named to his SECOND All-Decade Team, putting in a club of three: himself, Joe Torre, and Larry Dierker.
What’s For Dessert?
More obligatory career numbers you say? OK, how about 109.3 WAR (9th all-time), 2.98 career ERA (11th), 263 wins (9th-T0, 155 complete games (9th), 31 shutouts (10th), 3222 strikeouts (10th). Perhaps more of a journeyman than expected, but the guy was a useful stud from day one. Vote him in already. (Charlie Qualls)
AWARDS & ACCOLADES
All-Decade Team (1971-80, 1981-90)
Cy Young Award (1977, 1982)
All-UL Team (1975, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1982)
Gold Glove Award (1989)
Win Champion (1982)
Strikeout Champion (1981, 1982)
WHIP Champion (1977, 1986)
4-time Pitcher of the Month
CAREER RANKINGS (as of 1991)
#4 in WHIP
#6 in Walks Per Nine
#8-T in Shutouts
#9 in WAR
#9-T in Wins
#9 in Complete Games
#10 in Strikeouts
#11 in Earned Run Average
#11 in Games Started
#12 in Innings Pitched
#17 in Win Percentage
#36 in Strikeouts Per Nine
#39 in Hits Per Nine
REGULAR SEASON
Year Team Age G GS W L SV ERA IP HA R ER HR BB K CG SHO WHIP WAR
1972 Cleveland 22 30 30 9 16 0 3.67 230.1 225 107 94 28 54 12 10 0 1.21 2.6
1973 Cleveland 23 31 30 17 7 0 2.66 240.1 202 87 71 15 58 169 13 1 1.08 5.2
1974 Cleveland 24 9 9 7 1 0 1.50 72.0 45 12 12 2 13 60 4 1 0.81 2.9
1975 Cleveland 25 32 32 15 9 0 2.26 259.0 213 74 65 16 36 237 16 4 0.96 9.9
1976 Cleveland 26 32 32 17 9 0 2.29 263.1 205 70 67 20 45 247 18 2 0.95 8.9
1977 CLE/BOS 27 33 33 19 7 0 2.48 257.2 227 75 71 22 24 227 13 2 0.97 8.5
1978 Boston 28 31 31 15 9 0 3.34 232.0 232 88 86 19 31 191 10 3 1.13 6.9
1979 Boston 29 32 32 16 12 0 3.10 249.1 238 101 86 30 23 202 15 2 1.05 6.1
1980 Boston 30 14 14 8 0 0 1.88 115.0 108 27 24 9 14 83 4 1 1.06 3.2
1981 Boston 31 31 31 16 11 0 2.78 252.2 267 88 78 15 25 229 13 7 1.16 9.8
1982 Boston 32 32 32 21 9 0 2.84 266.1 262 92 84 22 25 223 14 4 1.08 7.7
1983 Denver 33 29 27 13 8 0 3.06 179.1 189 64 61 13 18 131 4 0 1.15 5.1
1984 Los Angeles 34 31 31 14 4 0 2.95 198.1 177 69 65 17 22 170 1 1 1.00 5.6
1985 Los Angeles 35 33 33 14 7 0 2.74 223.1 198 72 68 16 19 172 3 0 0.97 6.5
1986 Los Angeles 36 33 33 15 10 0 2.66 240.2 204 81 71 16 22 200 3 1 0.94 7.7
1987 Los Angeles 37 23 23 11 8 0 3.27 154.1 144 59 56 16 13 139 1 0 1.02 4.1
1988 Denver 38 30 30 11 14 0 3.79 204.0 186 99 86 26 63 154 4 1 1.22 2.6
1989 Denver 39 33 33 16 12 0 3.87 248.2 237 113 107 27 63 193 9 1 1.21 4.5
1990 WAS/DEN 40 25 20 9 6 0 5.20 138.1 180 81 80 14 33 74 0 0 1.54 1.4
Total UL 19 yrs 544 536 263 159 0 2.98 4025.0 3739 1459 1332 343 601 3222 155 31 1.08 109.3
WORLD SERIES
Year Team Age G GS W L SV ERA IP HA R ER HR BB K CG SHO WHIP PR
1973 Cleveland 23 1 1 0 0 0 0.00 1.3 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1.50 0.5
1978 Boston 28 2 2 0 0 0 2.25 16.0 19 5 4 3 1 17 0 0 1.25 3.0
1979 Boston 29 2 2 0 1 0 3.86 16.3 14 8 7 4 3 19 1 0 1.04 0.1
1980 Boston♦ 30 injured
1985 Los Angeles♦ 35 2 2 1 0 0 1.80 15.0 13 3 3 1 3 11 1 0 1.07 3.1
1986 Los Angeles 36 2 2 0 1 0 4.20 15.0 15 9 7 2 4 10 0 0 1.27 -0.7
Total UL 6 yrs 9 9 1 2 0 2.97 63.7 62 25 21 10 12 58 2 0 1.16 6.1