Is Steve Stone in the Hall of Fame?
Steve Stone is an American baseball player who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1971 to 1981. He is best known for his time with the Chicago Cubs, where he earned the National League Cy Young Award in 1980. Since his retirement, Stone has been an analyst and broadcaster for the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Cubs. He is often thought of as an overlooked great pitcher, but is he in the Hall of Fame?
Early Career
Steve Stone was born in Chicago on October 17, 1947. He was a student at Thornridge High School in Dolton, Illinois, where he excelled in both baseball and basketball. Following his graduation from high school, Stone attended Northwestern University and played baseball for the college, where he was an All-American in 1968.
Stone was selected by the Detroit Tigers in the first round of the 1968 amateur draft, and he made his major league debut in 1971. He played with the Tigers for two seasons before being traded to the Baltimore Orioles in 1973. Stone spent five seasons with the Orioles, where he was an All-Star in 1977 and 1978. In 1979, Stone was traded to the Chicago Cubs, where he spent the remainder of his career.
Awards and Accomplishments
During his time with the Cubs, Steve Stone had some of his best seasons. In 1980, he posted a 25-7 record with a 3.23 ERA, leading the National League in wins and ERA. For his performance that season, Stone won the National League Cy Young Award, becoming the first pitcher in Cubs’ history to do so. He also finished second in the National League MVP voting that season, behind Mike Schmidt of the Philadelphia Phillies.
Stone was named to the All-Star team for the second time in his career in 1981, but his season was cut short due to arm injuries. He finished his career with a 132-124 record and a 3.98 ERA. Stone was also known for his hitting ability, as he had a career batting average of .203 and he hit a home run in each of his first three major league seasons.
Post-Retirement Career
Following his retirement from playing, Steve Stone became a broadcaster for the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Cubs. He was the color analyst for the White Sox from 1983 to 1985, and he was the lead analyst for the Cubs from 1990 to 2002. He also called games for the Chicago Bulls from 1985 to 1990.
In addition to his broadcasting career, Stone has also written several books about baseball and the Cubs, including “Steve Stone’s Tales from the Cubs Dugout” and “The Cubs Fan’s Little Book of Wisdom”. He has also been involved in charitable work, including the Steve Stone Foundation, which provides scholarships for underprivileged students in the Chicago area.
Is Steve Stone in the Hall of Fame?
Since retiring from baseball in 1981, Steve Stone has often been overlooked in discussions about the Hall of Fame. His career numbers, while impressive, do not stand out when compared to other pitchers of his era. Stone was a two-time All-Star and won the National League Cy Young Award in 1980, but he never won a World Series or a pitching Triple Crown.
Despite his impressive career, Stone has not been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. He has been on the Hall of Fame ballot twice, in 1991 and 1992, but he did not receive enough votes to be elected. Stone has also been eligible for the Veteran’s Committee ballot, but he has yet to be elected by that group either.
Modern Consideration
In recent years, Steve Stone has been considered by many as an overlooked great pitcher. He is often compared to Jim Kaat, another two-time All-Star and Cy Young Award winner who has yet to be elected to the Hall of Fame. Stone has also been championed by modern-day Cubs fans, who remember his time with the team fondly.
Chances of Being Elected
While Steve Stone’s chances of being elected to the Hall of Fame are slim, he still has a chance. The Veteran’s Committee has the ability to elect players who have been overlooked by the regular voting process, and Stone could still be elected by that group. He could also receive consideration from the Modern Baseball Era Committee, which was created in 2019 and is tasked with electing players from the 1970-1987 era.
Conclusion
Steve Stone was an All-Star pitcher who had a solid career in Major League Baseball. He won the National League Cy Young Award in 1980, and he is remembered fondly by fans of the Chicago Cubs. Despite his impressive career, Stone has yet to be elected to the Hall of Fame. While his chances of being elected are slim, Stone still has a chance of being inducted in the future.
Key Takeaways
- Steve Stone was an American baseball player who played in Major League Baseball from 1971 to 1981.
- He is best known for his time with the Chicago Cubs, where he earned the National League Cy Young Award in 1980.
- Since his retirement, Stone has been an analyst and broadcaster for the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Cubs.
- Despite his impressive career, Stone has yet to be elected to the Hall of Fame.
- He has been on the Hall of Fame ballot twice, in 1991 and 1992, but he did not receive enough votes to be elected.
- Stone has also been eligible for the Veteran’s Committee ballot, but he has yet to be elected by that group either.
- In recent years, Stone has been considered by many as an overlooked great pitcher.
- While his chances of being elected are slim, Stone still has a chance of being inducted in the future.
FAQs
- Is Steve Stone in the Hall of Fame?
No, Steve Stone has yet to be elected to the Hall of Fame. He has been on the Hall of Fame ballot twice, in 1991 and 1992, but he did not receive enough votes to be elected. He has also been eligible for the Veteran’s Committee ballot, but he has yet to be elected by that group either. - What awards did Steve Stone win?
Steve Stone won the National League Cy Young Award in 1980, and he was named to the All-Star team twice, in 1977 and 1981. - What is Steve Stone’s career record?
Steve Stone finished his career with a 132-124 record and a 3.98 ERA. - What is Steve Stone’s post-retirement career?
Since his retirement from playing, Steve Stone has become a broadcaster for the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Cubs. He has also written several books about baseball and the Cubs, and he is involved in charitable work.