After 240 career wins and 16 years in the Major Leagues, free agent left-hander Andy Pettitte is calling quits, capping off a solid career.
Pettitte, 38, will formally announce his retirement tomorrow, Friday February 4, 2011. The primary reason for his retirement is to spend more time with his wife and kids.
The battle between career and family is always a tough fought one for athletes, and Andy Pettitte was no exception. In the 2003-4 offseason, after 9 seasons with the New York Yankees to start his career, he left for his hometown Houston Astros, inking a 3-year deal to be closer to his family. Pettitte did return to the Yankees, however, signing a 2-year deal in the 2006-7 offseason. Pettitte's battle intensified after the deal expired in the fall of 2008. In the 2008-9 and 2009-10 offeasons, Pettitte returned to his home in Deer Park, TX to ponder is future, eventually choosing baseball. Always a class-act and a true family-man, Pettitte's commitment to his family took precedent this time.
With Pettitte's career in the books, the debate over his Hall of Fame candidacy is full on.
What has Pettitte accomplished?
240-138
3.88 ERA
2251 Ks
.635 WP%
3 All-Star Games
2 20+ win seasons
19 Postseason wins (the most in Major League History)
5 World Series Championships
8 Pennants
That is just a sample of Pettitte's miraculous resume. But will he get in? Yes.
Pettitte, while never dominating, has been a mark of consistency throughout his career and arguably the most clutch pitcher in Major League history. His postseason record is fantastic, having won 5 World Series, all with the Yankees.
To look at similar players, he measures up well. Pettitte won 203 of his 240 games for the Yankees while the all-time Yankees leader in wins and Hall of Famer Whitey Ford won all of his 236 games with the Yankees.
The primary argument against Pettitte is his HGH use in the early 2000s. However, his honesty and acknowledgment of his wrong-doing may earn him a free pass.
Regardless if he makes the Hall of Fame, he will be remembered as one of the greatest southpaws to ever pitch in the Major Leagues, and a beloved Yankee whose #46 will almost surely be retired.
Regarding Pettitte's Hall of Fame status, I wouldn't be so sure to say he is going to be inducted. In a recent poll given to the Baseball Writers of America, close to 50% said they would not give any leeway to any player who had ever used a banned substance. Even though Pettitte quickly owned up to using HGH, which will certainly help his case, in my opinion, I wouldn't be so sure to say he will be voted in.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Pettitte's stats compare pretty well to those of the mainly Tigers pitcher Jack Morris, who was clean. Morris has hovered around 50% in terms of being voted in in the past few years, though Pettitte's postseason credentials are far superior.
I couldn't agree more with you calling Pettitte a "class act" and "family man." I'm sure Roger Clemens would no longer agree with that.