1983 was a banner year for the Orioles currently in the Hall of Fame.
The Birds won the World Series that year with help from future Hall of Famers Cal Ripken Jr, Eddie Murray and Jim Palmer.
And that year Brooks Robinson got elected to Cooperstown on the first ballot just one year after Frank Robinson got in on HIS only try.
Former AL MVP and Oriole legend Boog Powell was also on the ballot and got 5 votes
One time Oriole 20 game winner Pat Dobson was also on the ballot, but he didn’t get any votes.
Another Oriole was on the ballot in 1983: Mike Cuellar, who just passed away this week.
He got no Hall of Fame votes. None.
Now I am not saying he’s a Hall of Famer… but I do find it odd that he got ZERO votes. Every year there is someone who gets a vote or two from a stray writer.
Remember how David Segui got a vote this year? I wrote about Jay Bell getting a vote a couple of years ago.
But nobody gave Cuellar a little nod.
Over a six year span (1969-1974) his average season was as followed:
20.8 wins to 10.5 losses.
A 2.98 ERA over 278 innings pitched.
145 2/3 strikeouts and a 1.87 strikeout to walk ratio.
He won the Cy Young Award during that span and finished in the top 5 for the Cy Young one other time. He was named to three All Star games in that stretch
He threw a complete game to clinch the 1970 World Series.
He was a stud.
I know I am being a bit of a hypocrite for complaining that a guy not getting any Hall of Fame votes when I myself would NOT put him on my ballot.
But for God’s sake, Ray Sadecki got two votes that year. Ray had ONE good season.
Don Larsen got 22 votes that year… based on ONE GAME! Seriously, look at Larsen’s stats. He never had a single season of note and yet enough people checked his name to ensure he’d be on the ballot the next year!
You trying to tell me that Mike Cuellar, who actually dominated for a stretch, wasn’t worth one friendly vote?
Rest in Peace, Mike… for a six year stretch, you pitched like a Hall of Famer!
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