John Candelaria is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who spent 15 seasons in the big leagues. He is a two-time All-Star and was a key member of the Pittsburgh Pirates team that won the 1979 World Series. Candelaria made a total of 346 career starts and was an effective starter for the majority of his career. Despite his impressive stats, he has not been voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. In this article, we will explore why John Candelaria is not in the Hall of Fame.
Candelaria’s Baseball Career
John Candelaria was born in New York City in 1954. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 10th round of the 1972 MLB Amateur Draft. Candelaria made his debut on September 21, 1975 at the age of 21. He finished the season with a 6-4 record and a 3.12 ERA.
The following season, Candelaria went 17-5 with a 2.34 ERA and was selected to his first All-Star Game. He would be selected to the All-Star Game one more time in 1979. Candelaria was a key member of the 1979 Pirates team that won the World Series, making four starts and posting a 3.00 ERA in the postseason.
Candelaria had a successful career with the Pirates, making three straight All-Star teams from 1977-1979. He was traded to the California Angels in 1980 and finished his career with the New York Mets in 1989. He finished his career with a record of 176-134 and a 3.33 ERA.
Candelaria’s Hall of Fame Credentials
John Candelaria’s credentials for the Hall of Fame are impressive. He was a two-time All-Star and was a key member of the 1979 Pirates team that won the World Series. He also finished his career with 176 wins, which is a respectable total for a 15-year career.
Candelaria also had a strong strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.30), which is a good measure of a pitcher’s efficiency and control. He also had a career WHIP (walks and hits per inning pitched) of 1.25, which is slightly above the league average.
Reasons why Candelaria is not in the Hall of Fame
Despite his impressive stats, John Candelaria is not in the Hall of Fame. Here are some of the reasons why:
1. Lack of Major Awards
John Candelaria never won any major awards during his career, including the Cy Young Award or the MVP Award. While he did make two All-Star teams and was a key member of the 1979 Pirates team that won the World Series, these accomplishments alone are not enough to gain induction into the Hall of Fame.
2. Lack of Hall of Fame Voting Support
John Candelaria has been eligible for the Hall of Fame for over 20 years, but he has yet to receive the required 75% of the vote from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA). This lack of support from the writers is a major barrier to his induction into the Hall of Fame.
3. Lack of Notoriety
John Candelaria was never a household name during his career. He was a consistent starter, but he never had any major individual accomplishments or memorable performances. This lack of notoriety likely contributes to the lack of support for his Hall of Fame candidacy.
4. Lack of Longevity
John Candelaria’s career was relatively short considering the standards of the Hall of Fame. He finished his career with 176 wins, which is a respectable total, but it is not enough to gain induction into the Hall of Fame. Many pitchers with similar win totals have been denied entry into the Hall of Fame due to their lack of longevity.
Conclusion
John Candelaria has a strong case for the Hall of Fame. He was a two-time All-Star, was a key member of the 1979 Pirates team that won the World Series, and finished his career with a respectable 176 wins. However, he has not received the necessary support from the BBWAA and has not gained enough notoriety for his career accomplishments. He may eventually gain induction into the Hall of Fame, but for now, John Candelaria remains on the outside looking in.