Will former Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander join Jack Morris in the Hall of Fame? Morris says ...
© Mike Mulholland/mlive.com/TNS
Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander (35) throws a pitch in the fifth inning of their MLB game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Comerica Park in Detroit, Friday, July 14, 2017. (Mike Mulholland | MLive.com) Mike Mulholland | MLive.com
FLINT – There’s been speculation that Justin Verlander could be the last Major League Baseball pitcher ever to record 300 career victories.
Verlander has 244 career victories in 17 years and he recently signed a three-year contract with the New York Mets.
Verlander has averaged 17 wins per season with the Detroit Tigers and Houston Astros and based on last season, there’s no reason to think he can’t continue that pace even though he turns 40 in two weeks.
Verlander had one of his best seasons last year, posting an 18-4 record with a 1.75 ERA – both of which led the American League – and he was rewarded by winning his third Cy Young Award.
He did that despite missing the entire 2021 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery No pitcher has ever had such a stellar season after undergoing that procedure.
Verlander has also pitched three career no-hitters.
So with all that said, what are the odds Verlander gets elected to the Hall of Fame?
“Slam dunk,” said former Tigers pitcher Jack Morris, who was in Flint Saturday to take part in the Greater Flint Area Baseball & Softball Association fund-raiser.
“He’s got the record to show that.”
Morris knows what it takes to reach the Hall of Fame.
He was elected by the Modern Baseball Era Committee in 2018 after winning 254 career games and four World Series championships, including the 1984 title with the Tigers.
OK, since Morris has no doubt Verlander will be enshrined in Cooperstown, what about former teammate Lou Whitaker?
It’s safe to say Whitaker was one of the best second basemen of his generation, appearing in 2,390 games during 19 seasons with the Tigers.
He and Alan Trammell, who was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2018 along with Morris, are the longest-serving double-play combination in MLB history.
“In my mind, he’s a Hall of Famer,” Morris said. “I was personally disappointed that he wasn’t on the ballot this year. I don’t know the reasons for that. He’s just going to have to persevere.
“He’s got to get on the ballot. You can’t get in when you’re not on the ballot.”
Whitaker was the 1978 American League Rookie of the Year, made the All-Star team five times, was a four-time Silver Slugger winner and captured three Gold Gloves.
Whitaker had a career batting average of .276 and he averaged 17 home runs, 73 RBIs and 94 runs scored per season.
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