Hall candidate: Factions sharply divided over Jack Morris
- Right-hander Jack Morris won three World Series rings with three different teams
- Morris won more games than any other pitcher in the 1980s and had a 254-186 career record
- Morris never won a Cy Young Award and his 3.90 ERA is higher than any Hall of Famer's
(Editor's note: USA TODAY Sports is publishing thumbnail sketches of the top 22 Hall of Fame candidates on this year's ballot. It is a most intriguing lot, ranging from seeming first-ballot names marred by the cloud of performance-enhancing drugs to unsullied players nearing the end of their 15-year eligibility. The Baseball Writers Association of America will announce who, if anyone, is voted in Jan. 9.)
Name: Jack Morris
Position: Starting pitcher
Career: 1977 to 1994; Tigers, Twins, Blue Jays, Indians
Year on ballot: Fourteenth
Why he should be inducted: Because he had more wins than any other pitcher in the 1980s, winning the first of his three World Series rings with the 1984 Detroit Tigers. He continued to be effective into his mid- to late-30s and finished his career with a 254-186 record (.577). He was also known during his career as a fierce competitor who rarely missed a start, pitching more than 230 innings in 11 of his 18 major league seasons.
The classic example of that persona was his performance in Game 7 of the 1991 World Series when he shut out the Atlanta Braves for nine innings – then went back out to pitch a scoreless 10th as his Minnesota Twins rallied in the bottom of the inning to win the game and the Series. The following season, at age 37, Morris led the American League with 21 wins and won his third World Series with a third team, the Toronto Blue Jays.
Why he shouldn't be inducted: Because the strongest points in Morris' favor are anecdotal, his career accomplishments don't rise to Hall of Fame level when subjected to statistical scrutiny. His career win total got a sizable boost because he played on a number of very good teams with excellent defenses. Claims that he "pitched to the score" have been proven incorrect by analysts who have looked at his game-by-game pitching record.
He was never considered the best pitcher in the league, never finishing higher than third in the Cy Young Award voting. His career Wins Above Replacement of 39.3 puts him behind the likes of Brad Radke, Kevin Brown and Kevin Appier -- first-time eligible pitchers from each of the last three ballots who failed to get the minimum 5% support to stay on the ballot.
Numbers don't lie: Morris' 3.90 career ERA is higher than any pitcher in Hall of Fame.
Verdict: Among Hall of Fame candidates, Morris is seen as a test case in the scouting vs. stats debate, with both sides firmly entrenched in their positions. However, his percentage of votes has increased each of the past five years – and after reaching 66.7% in 2012, he could finally get the magic 75% before his eligibility expires.