Baseball Library Vault of Lists: August 8, 2008

Sound the Moose Call: Mike Mussina Shuts Down the Texas Rangers and Makes Another List

Baseball Library Vault of Lists

He did it again last night. Mike Mussina of the New York Yankees not only won his 15th game of the season, he may have turned in his most impressive outing yet, seven strong shutout innings against a powerful lineup in a hitter’s haven of a ballpark. “The Moose” entered our Vault of Lists last week when we presented the roster of major league pitchers who have won twenty games in a season while pitching the fewest innings. He’s back again this week as we place his season in context. Entering 2008, only 20 major league pitchers had won 15 or more games during a season in which they were 39 or older. The group combined to accomplish the feat 41 times. Moose just became number 21, and with 8 to 9 starts remaining, he should climb much higher on these rolls. Mark Hall of Famer Phil Niekro as the “champion” in this category. He enjoyed six seasons of 15 or more wins from age 39 on (and his brother Joe tossed in one to give the Niekros the record for brothers, a morsel for you trivia buffs).

Warren Spahn accomplished the feat four times.