Early Years and Amatuer Career
Mike Mussina was born on December 8, 1968 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
When Mussina pitched at Montoursville Area High School in Montoursville, Pennsylvania, he pitched to a 24-4 record with a 0.87 ERA. Also, Mussina played football and basketbal when attending Montoursville Area High School. In 1987, Mussina chose to attend Stanford instead of signing with the Baltimore Orioles.
When pitching at Stanford University, Mussina pitched to a 31-16 record with a 3.89 ERA. He made two College World Series appearances and was selected as an All-American. In 1990, Mussina was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles as a first round pick and was picked 20th overall in the draft. Mussina graduated from Stanford in 1990 with a degree in economics. He was a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity.
In the minor leagues, Mussina had a 14-4 record with a 2.38 ERA.
The Baltimore Orioles Years
On August 4, 1991, Mike Mussina made his Major League debut for the Baltimore Orioles against the Chicago Whitesox and lost 1-0 due to a Frank Thomas Homerun. However, he would win his first major league baseball game on August 14th by beating the Texas Rangers. Moreover, he would finish the 1991 season with a 4-5 record and a 2.87 ERA.
In his first full season in 1992, Mussina bursted on to the scene by finished the year with a 18-5 record and a 2.54 ERA to go along with 4 shutouts. In addition, he finished 4th in the American League Cy Young Award voting and was selected to the American League All-Star Team. In 1993, Mussina was selected to the American League All-Star Team. In 1994, Mussina finished the season with a 16-5 record with a 3.06 ERA and later that year finished 4th in the American League Cy Young Award voting. The strike shortened year would cost him a chance at winning 20 games. In addition, he finished 2nd in the American League in wins and 4th in ERA. Also, he was selected to his 3rd consecutive All-Star Game.
In 1995, Mussina finished the season with a 19-9 record with a 3.29 ERA and 4 shutouts. In addition, he ended the season with 26 consecutive scoreless innings. That year he led the American League in wins and shutouts. Also, he started and won in Cal Ripkens record breaking 2,131st consecutive game on September 6, 1995. As with the 1994 strike shortened year, the 1995 year was shortened by a few weeks due to the strike and Mussina did not have his chance to win 20 games. Furthermore, later that year Mussina would finish 5th in the American League Cy Young Award Voting. In 1996, Mussina had a record of 19-11 and struck out 204 batters. Also, he led the league in 36 starts, won his first Gold Glove and finished 5th n the American League Cy Young Award Voting. In his final start of the season against the Toronto Bluejays, the Orioles bullpen blew a late inning lead, and costed Mussina his first 20 win season.
In 1997, Mussina finished the season with a 15-8 record to go along with a 3.20 ERA. In addition, he struck out 218 batters and was voted to the All-Star team. On May 30, 2007, Mussina almost pitched a perfect game when he retired the first 25 Cleveland Indians before giving up a single to Sandy Alomar Jr.with one out in the ninth. Mussina still finished the game by pitching a shutout. During the 1997 American League playoffs, Mussina beat Randy Johnson twice in the first round of the playoffs. In game 3 of the ALCS against the Cleveland Indians, he struck out 15 batters and set the strike out record at the time for most strikeouts in a LCS game. Mussina would get a no decision in that game. In game 6, Mussina pitched 8 innings, struck out 10, and gave up no runs, but finished with a no decision. Furthermore, he would finish 6th in the American League Cy Young Award voting, and won his 2nd consecutive Gold Glove.
Mussina's 1998 season was cut short by two separate stints on the disabled list. The fisrt was from 4/17-5/3 after a wart on his right index finger split open during a game, and again from 5/18-6/6 after being struck in the face by a line drive off of the bat by Sandy Alomar, Jr. Mussina would win his 3rd consecutive Gold Glove that year. In 1999, Mussina would finish 2nd in the American League with 18 wins, and 3rd with a 3.50 ERA. Also, he was selected to the All-Star team and finished second in the American League Cy Young Award voting. In addition, he won his 4th consecutive Gold Glove. In 2000, Mussina struck out 210 batters and would finish 6th in the Cy Young Award voting despite having a 11-15 record. Also, 2000 would be the final season that he would pitch for the Baltimore Orioles. On November 30, 2000, he would sign a 6-year, $88.5 million contract with the New York Yankees.
The New York Yankees Years
In his first season with the Yankees in 2001, Mussina would finish the season with a 17-11 record. Also, he had the second lowest ERA (3.15), strikeouts (214), shutouts (3), and complete games (4). In addition, he would finish 5th in the American League Cy Young Award voting. In his second season with the Yankees in 2002, Mussina would finish the season with a 18-10 record. In 2003, Mussina finished fourth in the league with 195 strikeouts and fifth with 17 wins. During Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS, Mussina authored one of the greatest clutch pitching performances of all time. With the Yankees trailing Boston 4-0 Mussina made the first relief appearance of his career. With runners on the corners and nobody out, Mussina struck out Jason Varitek before inducing Johnny Damon to hit into a double play. Mussina went on to pitch 2 more scoreless innings and kept the Yankees within striking distance in a game they later came back to win and go to the World Series.
During the 2004 and 2005 seasons, Mussina was plagued by injuries and finished with a 12-9 record in 2004 and a 13-8 record in 2005. In 2006, Mussina would make his comeback by ending the season with a 15-7 record while ranking fourth in the American League with a 3.51 ERA. In addition, he would reach the 2,500 strikeout mark on June 25 by striking out Cody Ross. Mussina also became the first pitcher in American League history to win 10 or more games for 15 consecutive seasons. In 2007, Mussina would extend his American League record of 10 or more wins for 16 conecutive seasons and he won his 250 game. In 2008, Mussina finished the season with a 20-9 record and 270 career wins. That would be his first 20 win season of his career and he would be the oldest ptcher to win 20 games for the first time. In addition, Mussina extending his American League record to 17 consecutive seasons with at least 10 wins. On November 20, 2008, Mike Mussina officially announced his official retirement from Major League Baseball.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Mussina is the fifth pitcher since 1900 to win 20 games or more in the final season of his career , and the first since Sandy Koufax back in 1967.