Mike Mussina | Mike Mussina News

November 1, 2009 Moose has no regrets

Former Yankee Mussina says he's happily retired

PHILADELPHIA — A year ago, Mike Mussina wrapped up a 20-win season and a career in which he played for the Yankees for eight years. He played with most of the Yankees currently playing for a championship. Something that Mussina never won. Still, Mussina said seeing his former teammates in the World Series while he’s in his first year of retirement isn’t tough to watch. “I’m happy for ‘em. I’m glad they got a chance to do this,” Mussina told The Post in a phone interview yesterday. “But I’m not sick about being retired.” Mussina has talked before about how much he relishes retirement, but it’s hard to miss his unfortunate timing. The Yankees and Phillies were set to play Game 3 of the World Series last night. This is the Yankees’ first Fall Classic appearance since 2003 against the Marlins. Who started for the Yankees in Game 3 of that series? Mussina. He went seven innings, allowing one run in the Yankees’ 6-1 victory in Miami.

August 20, 2009 Mussina, NYC mayor to attend Little League WS

NEW YORK (AP) — Former Yankee Mike Mussina and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg are going to cheer on the Staten Island kids competing in the Little League World Series. The mayor's office says Mussina and Bloomberg will attend the South Shore National team's opening game Friday in Williamsport, Pa. The last time a New York City Little League team won the World Series was in 1964.

August 11, 2009 What If Mike Mussina Stuck Around for the New York Yankees in 2009?

September 28, 2008 was the final game for Mike Mussina. Mussina won his 20th game of the season over the Red Sox at Fenway Park on the final day of the 2008 season. In the winter, Mussina announced he was retiring from baseball to spend more time with his family in Pennsylvania. Mussina's retirement led the general manager Brian Cashman heavily exploring the pitching market in free agency, which lead to the signings of CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett, plus re-signing Andy Pettitte. But here's my question: what if Mike Mussina decided not to retire? What if Mussina decided to play one last season?

August 10, 2009 Mike Mussina a Perfect 5th Starter

Yankee fans have a reason to rejoice for now, after sweeping the Red Sox in 4 games from August 6-9th. It's still the regular season, and true blue fans know not to get too excited about any games before October. That's why the Yankees should look to re-sign the retired Mike Mussina.

July 19, 2009 Mussina Starts a Game, but Only for Nostalgia

At the new Yankee Stadium on Sunday, the former pitcher Mike Mussina was the newest Yankee old-timer and probably the most physically fit. He started the nostalgia game, allowing hits to the first four batters. “Just more proof I should be home doing what I’m doing,” said Mussina, who is in Pennsylvania coaching Little League.

March 10, 2009 Former Yankee Mussina says he's happily retired

TAMPA, Fla - Mike Mussina stood in the hallway between the Yankees clubhouse and Joe Girardi's office, greeting one former teammate after another. "Are you here to pitch?" most of them wanted to know. "No, I am not playing," said Mussina, who proclaimed himself very happy in retirement. He and his family are vacationing in the area for the week. But if Mussina, who won 20 games last season at age 39, happens to change his mind, the Yankees would want to know about it. General manager Brian Cashman said, "I told him if he wanted to suit up, he was more than welcome. He said, 'No, I'm retired.' It's a standing offer."

February 5, 2009 Mussina sets record straight

When Mike Mussina needed four more outs for his 20th victory last September at Fenway Park, it was Mariano Rivera -- pitching with a right shoulder that needed surgery -- who locked them down. Mussina was grateful to the longtime Yankees closer that day, and for his contributions over their eight years as teammates. But Mussina comes off as critical of Rivera in Joe Torre's new book, a stance he tried to correct in a radio interview on Wednesday. In one passage of "The Yankee Years," Mussina said that Rivera "accomplished nothing in comparison" to what he did before Mussina joined the Yankees in 2001, pointing out Rivera's blown saves in Game 7 of the '01 World Series and Game 4 of the '04 American League Championship Series.

Read more / Source: mlb.com

February 2, 2009 As Torre backpedals, Moose calls out former boss

In the Bob Klapisch column linked above, Mussina opines on this debacle, and his words ring true: “Joe has started something that a lot of people are going to have to answer to,” Mike Mussina said by telephone on Thursday. “Joe’s going to have to answer to it too, but it won’t be as bad for him because he’s with the Dodgers now. But it’s going to be bad for the guys he left behind.” Mussina said, “it’s not just what goes on in the clubhouse, it’s sitting on the bus, or if you’re out having lunch. As a ballplayer you need to know who you have to watch out for and who you can trust. First and foremost, you should be able to trust your manager. “I mean, people knew that Brown was out there, and that Randy was ornery all the time. And Pavano is whoever he is. But if you’re their manager, you can’t go out and write about them like that.”

January 28, 2009 Mussina: Book won't affect clubhouse

Count Mike Mussina among those unworried about the consequences of what's reputedly written in Joe Torre's new book. Mussina told the New York Post on Tuesday that even if Alex Rodriguez was referred to as "A-Fraud" in the Yankees' clubhouse, he didn't believe it would become a problem so many years after the fact. "He's the best player that I've had a chance to play with," Mussina told the paper. "And he works hard at it, and if he sat around and worried about everything that happened, he wouldn't be able to be the player that he is. I was in that clubhouse for eight years. I've seen a lot of stuff go on. A lot of stories go out. I've seen Alex deal with a lot of things, this past year and in other years. I don't foresee this as being a major issue."

Read more / Source: mlb.com

January 26, 2009 Does Mike Mussina Belong in the Hall of Fame?

Mike Mussina retired two months ago, fresh off his first 20 win season. He turned 40 a month later. His career record stands at 270-153, 30 wins shy of the instant ticket stamped for Cooperstown. The debate begins: is he a Hall of Famer anyway? Mussina could have pitched until he had 300 victories, and he was well aware of what successes that would have brought him. But he couldn’t bring himself to pitch for three more seasons to achieve such personal success. That is not Mike Mussina. He is a quiet intellectual who never embraced stardom, but never ran from it either. He came across as moody and standoffish to some in the media because, well, because he was.

January 26, 2009 Maddux, Mussina honored by NY baseball writers

Turns out, Greg Maddux and Mike Mussina have a little something left. At the microphone, that is — not on the mound. Maddux and Mussina were honored at the 86th annual New York baseball writers' dinner Sunday night, months after both star pitchers announced their retirements. Mussina received his 2008 Gold Glove, and the Casey Stengel You Could Look It Up Award after becoming the oldest pitcher to win 20 games for the first time. At 39, he went 20-9 with a 3.37 ERA for the New York Yankees last season, then announced his retirement in November. "Thanks for having me back in New York. I didn't think I'd be back this fast, but I'm back," he said. "It was a great run. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Best move I ever made, coming to New York."

January 18, 2009 Mike Mussina's Yankees Legacy

'Mussina effect' already may skew Hall of Fame chances for Blyleven and Morris

I'll start by saying I would likely support Mike Mussina for the Hall of Fame (if I had a vote). A 123 ERA+ in 3500+ innings during an era of big offense should make the cut. But what is Mike Mussina's Yankees legacy? Michael Kay has mentioned a number of times during games that Mussina was a rare pitcher that lived up to his huge contract. Mussina left on a very high note, but I believe it only sugarcoats what was on the whole, a disappointing tenure with the team. Mussina was the first of the expensive free agent signings that would define the Yankees for this decade. His signing marked a change in the team's management philosophy from one that mixed signing steady veterans, shrewd trades, and players from the farm, to a more lazy philosophy premised on building an expensive All Star team. During the 2000/2001 offseason, there were two big free agents - Mike Mussina and Manny Ramirez.

January 14, 2009 MLB Crystal Ball: Mussina Could Face Blyleven-like Wait

Looking at the numbers, Mussina and Blyleven had very similar careers. Blyleven finished his 22-year career with a record of 287-250, well over 3,000 strikeouts, a 3.31 ERA, and a 1.198 WHIP. Mussina capped an 18-year career with a record of 270-153, nearly 3,000 strikeouts, a 3.68 ERA, and a 1.192 WHIP. Blyleven had one 20-win season, one 19-win season, and five 17-win seasons. Mussina had one 20-win season, two 19-win seasons, two 18-win seasons, and two 17-win seasons. Blyleven had two Top-3 Cy Young finishes, Mussina had one. Blyleven finished his career with an ERA+ of 118, while Mussina finished at 123.

January 12, 2009 Suns Announce Inaugural Hall of Fame Class, Mike Mussina being inducted

Mike Mussina started his professional career in Hagerstown, going 3-0 with a 1.49 ERA in 1990 while in the Baltimore Orioles' farm system. Mussina moved through the minor leagues very quickly, earning a promotion to the Majors in 1991 and never looking back. With a career record of 270-153 and ERA of 3.68, many consider Mussina to be a future Major League Hall of Fame inductee. Mussina retired from baseball after recording his first-ever 20-win season in 2008.

Read more / Source: oursportscentral.com

December 29, 2008 Ten reasons why Mussina should get into Cooperstown

A favorite pastime of many, including myself, is making fun of Yankees fans. Now that they’re fans of a harmless little non-playoff team, like the Orioles and Royals, I’m taking up for them. Screw the Red Sox and their pink-hatted bandwagon fans.

Yankees pitcher Mike Mussina, damn it, should be in inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame someday. His career numbers: 18 seasons, 270-153, 57 CGs, 23 shutouts, 2,813 strikeouts and 3.68 ERA.

December 22, 2008 'Mussina effect' already may skew Hall of Fame chances for Blyleven and Morris

As if Bert Blyleven and Jack Morris didn't face enough challenges already to consideration for baseball's Hall of Fame, now they've got Mike Mussina to muck things up. Well, not now, precisely. Mussina, who announced his retirement last month after 18 years as an American League starting pitcher, will have to wait the mandatory five years before being eligible for the 2014 election. Blyleven, currently in Year 12 of his 15-year window of eligibility for Cooperstown enshrinement by the Baseball Writers Association of America, either will be in by then or he'll be sitting in another green room, waiting another five years before gaining review by the Hall's Veterans Committee. Morris, barring election (getting named on at least 75 percent of the ballots cast in a given year) or a drop off the ballot entirely (if chosen on fewer than 5 percent of the ballots), will overlap with Mussina just once, his 15th year of consideration coming in Mussina's first.

December 10, 2008 Mussina Deserves Hall Nod

Late in 2007, Mike Mussina was struggling. He was fighting through various injuries most of the season, and in August he lost his rotation spot for a start. He returned to the Yankees' rotation and won three more games in September to finish 11-10 with a very uncharacteristic ERA of 5.15. Mussina said on the final weekend of the '07 season that he thought 2008 might be his final season. Then last season, the Yankees came to Baltimore in late May, and I asked him if he was still having the same thought as the year before. He said, "Yea, pretty much. Good or bad, no matter how it turns out." At the time he was 6-3 -- and the season turned out well for the veteran as he got his first 20-win season and became the oldest pitcher to win 20 games for the first time in his career. Turns out he knew all along.

December 8, 2008 Mike Mussina turns 40 today

I want to wish Moose a Happy Birthday! Today Moose turns 40. This newly updated Mike Mussina website is my birthday present to the Moose. Happy Birthday Moose!

November 19, 2008 Yanks' Mussina to retire after first 20-win season

Yankees right-hander Mike Mussina is retiring. Mussina will make his decision official later this week, major-league sources say. The Yankees, who are aggressively pursuing free-agent starting pitchers, were not expecting Mussina to return. Mussina, who turns 40 on Dec. 8, is coming off the first 20-win season of his 18-year career. He is selling his home in Bedford, N.Y., according to one source, and planning to spend more time with his family in Montoursville, Pa.

November 6, 2008 Mussina earns seventh Gold Glove

NEW YORK -- His future with the Yankees may remain uncertain, but his status within the baseball world is as clear as ever. Mike Mussina confirmed that much on Thursday, winning his seventh career Rawlings Gold Glove Award. Mussina bested every other American League pitcher to nab his first Gold Glove since 2003, his third with the Yankees, and his seventh overall since 1996. Now with more AL Gold Gloves than any pitcher other than Jim Kaat, who won 14 straight from 1962-75 and an additional two in the National League, Mussina has entered rarefied air among the top defensive pitchers in history.

Read more / Source: mlb.com

November 3, 2008 If he decides to return in '09, Cashman says Mussina could start

DANA POINT, Calif. -- If Mike Mussina decides to pitch next year, the New York Yankees could make room for him in their uncertain starting rotation. Mussina turns 40 next month and is coming off the first 20-win season of his career. While he needs just 30 wins to reach 300, at the end of the year he sounded as if he was leaning toward retirement. "We just obviously have needs in the starting rotation. He certainly could be one of those guys that fills a need, without a doubt," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Monday as the GM meetings began. "I just know that we need starting pitching, and it's not just one. We're not going to be one and done. We need multiple."

October 29, 2008 Mike Mussina's Decision to Come Next Week

New York Yankees pitcher Mike Mussina will likely make his decision on the future of his pitching career next week, as reported by ESPN. Mussina, 39, began his pitching career for the Baltimore Orioles in 1991. He didn't complete a full season until 1992, when he put up an impressive 18-5 record with a 2.54 ERA. Mussina excelled in Baltimore, earning himself five All-Star game elections and being in the top 10 for the Cy Young award five times. While wearing Oriole orange, Mussina went 147-81. Mussina arrived in the Bronx in 2001. He won 17 games and dropped 11 with a 3.15 ERA during his first season as a Yankee. He also nearly pitched himself to perfection on Sept. 2, 2001 against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.

September 29, 2008 Mussina Wins #20

Moose won his 20th game yesterday by beating the Boston Red Sox 6-2. Im glad that Moose finally won 20 games because that shuts up the people that say "He never won 20 games". There were other factors in the past that prevented Moose from winning 20. Those factors were not Moose's fault. Moose's pitching stats were 6IP, 3H, 0ER, 0R, 3K, 2BB, PC-73. Also, Moose ties Hall Of Famer Burleigh Grimes for 33rd on baseball's all-time career wins list with 270. In addition, Moose finished second in the American League with 20 wins and he finished 5th in the American League with a 3.37 ERA. Did Moose pitch his last game as a Yankee or was it the last game of his career? That question remains to be answered. I would like to see him pitch at least one more year. The Orioles and Yankees need some starting pitching. Also, the Red Sox are a team that has a chance to win the World Series. I could see him filling out the number four spot in the Red Sox rotation. If Moose retires, I think it's awesome that he went out with a 20 win season.

September 28, 2008 Mussina Hints At Retirement After Getting 20th Win

BOSTON - There are teammates and Yankee staff members who strongly believe Mike MussinaMike Mussina will take his initial 20-win season and vanish. And after the YankeesNew York Yankees ' 6-2 win over the Red Sox today in front of 37,091 at a soggy Fenway Park in the first game of a doubleheader, the antique right-hander called it his 18th season the final one. "Having waited until my last year, with all these years (eight) in New York and 39 years-old and I have been close other times,'' said Mussina, who came within three outs in 1996 with Baltimore of a 20-win season and 19 and 18 twice. "It's worth being close all those times to do it this late in your career.'' Asked if his borderline Hall of Fame career was over since he said this was his final season, Mussina backtracked. "As of right now, it's my last game in my last year,'' Mussina said. "I don't know what the future holds. It could be my last year; it could not be my last year.''

September 28, 2008 Mussina Wins His 20th Game

BOSTON — Mike Mussina is not a dreamer. He knows he has just spun a season unlikely to repeat itself. He is too much of a realist to believe that finally winning 20 games — as he did Sunday on the last day of his 18th season in the majors — means he can keep defying age until he reaches 300 wins. There is a very real chance that Mussina pitched the last game of his career when he beat the Boston Red Sox, 6-2, with six shutout innings at Fenway Park. His contract has expired, his 40th birthday awaits in December, and his family wants him to come home to Montoursville, Pa., for good.

September 28, 2008 Yanks upend BoSox as Mussina wins 20 games for first time in 18-year career

BOSTON -- Mike Mussina wrapped up a postgame television interview on the field then returned to the New York Yankees clubhouse. In a season with little to celebrate, his teammates gave him a rousing welcome -- one he had waited his entire 18-year career to receive. Mussina had just become the oldest pitcher to win 20 games in a season for the first time as the Yankees beat the Boston Red Sox 6-2 Sunday in the opener of a rain-delayed day-night doubleheader.t day of the season of a split doubleheader in Boston in the rain ... It's just kind of perfect. The story just fit together nicely."

September 28, 2008 Mussina gets milestone 20th victory

Mike Mussina gets milestone 20th victory

BOSTON -- Mike Mussina started the day with a crossword puzzle and finished it munching on McDonald's french fries. Between these two staples of his life, the notorious creature of habit found the time to try something new: becoming a 20-game winner. In what he admits might have been the final start of his Major League career, the right-hander added an important line to his vaunted resume on Sunday, reaching an elusive career milestone by defeating the Red Sox, 6-2, on the last day of the regular season. "This is one of those things that's going to take a little while to sink in," Mussina said. "I've been playing baseball a long time, and I've accomplished some things. I've been on championship teams, had some really good years, and this is the last day of the season of a split doubleheader in Boston in the rain ... It's just kind of perfect. The story just fit together nicely."

Read more / Source: mlb.com

September 27, 2008 Mussina proceeds with future uncertain

BOSTON -- Even Mike Mussina was unsure of what to expect from his 2008 season upon reporting to Spring Training, speaking a few times optimistically about just hoping to keep his spot in the Yankees' starting rotation. If he had six months of foresight, Mussina would have had no reason for doubts. The 39-year-old right-hander will start the first game of a day-night doubleheader on Sunday at Fenway Park, vying to become a 20-game winner for the first time in his successful 18-year Major League career. "Win, lose or draw, it's been a fun year," Mussina said. "Compared to last year, it's been so much more fun playing baseball this year than it was last year." A free agent after this season, Mussina faces some uncertainty about exactly where he will go or what he will do after the final outs are recorded on Sunday.

Read more / Source: mlb.com