If Curt Schilling quit pitching today, would he have Hall of Fame numbers?

Question

I'm not asking what you think of him as a person or what you think of his past or present teams and opponents. I want to know if other pitchers with comparable career achievements and statistics are regularly voted in or out, or would he be in a gray area where subjective factors determine the outcome?

Answer 1

Baseball-Reference.com has a statistic that looks at a player's stats and compares them to the average Hall of Fame player's stats. According to these stats, he scores as follows:

42 (Average HOFer ≈ 40)
205 (Average HOFer ≈ 185)
46.0 (Average HOFer ≈ 50)
167.0 (Likely HOFer > 100)

So, according to those statistics, he has a good chance at reaching the hall. When you also consider his reputation as a clutch playoff performer, a team leader, and when you consider the "Bloody Sock" game, you have to think that he has a very good chance of reaching the Hall.

Answer 2

Schilling is borderline to make the Hall. If he retired today, I don't think he has the credentials to get in. His 215 career wins (tied for 81st all time with non-Hall of Famer Jim Perry) are not nearly enough to merit an entry into Cooperstown. On the plus side, Schilling's strikeout numbers help him out quite a bit as he is only one of 14 pitchers who have 3,000+ career strikeouts. Add in 2 World Series Rings and the fact that he has been a big game pitcher and a strong argument can be made for him being an HOFer. However without a single Cy Young award in 20 seasons, I think he remains on the outside looking in.

Answer 3

I don't know if numbers alone will carry him to the HOF. But being one of the aces on two different World Series winning teams will help his cause. Remember, the sports writers do the voting, so a lot of the voting comes from what the writers think of the player, not just the numbers they put up in their career. No matter the player, there will always be subjective factors.

Answer 4

On his performances alone, No.

But Schilling carries indeterminately large narrative value from his 2001 and 2004 championship contributions. The writers love drama -- it makes their jobs easier -- so there might be enough poorly-cast votes to begin swaying others. It would take time to build such a groundswell of support, but it could happen. If Schilling does get in, it will happen sometime after his fifth ballot.

And he's not done yet, so could finish up looking somewhat better than today.

Answer 5

I don't think he would get in immediately, but I'm sure he would get in at some point. Schilling doesn't have an incredible amount of wins (215), but it will be enough considering pitchers not getting as many wins as they used to. He does have over 3,000 strikeouts which is a pretty big deal, and some people may give him the sentimental vote with the whole bloodied sock ordeal. I say yes, but not immediately.

Answer 6

Not a first ballot, but he should be elected into the hall by year 2 or 3.

Answer 7

I don't think so. I mean, 215 wins is good, but David Wells has 235. Is that diabetic Wells a HoF? No. Schilling has 3000 strikeouts. So does Bert Blyleven. Don't think I'm gonna trash him, but he is not HoF good. Hall of Very good good, but not HoF good

Answer 8

I don't think so. Really if you look at his career stats, they're good but not phenomonal. He's very inconsistent. One year he'll do great and the next he'll be okay. If i was voting for the HOF, I would not put him in.

Answer 9

it's the hall of fame, not the hall of really good. no. he won't get it. his former teammate randy johnson will be a first ballot guy though.

Answer 10

yes, because the red sox are the best team in the whole world.