Mike Mussina

Michael Cole "Mike" Mussina (born December 8, 1968 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania) is an American baseball pitcher who currently plays for the New York Yankees.

Related Topics:
December 8 - 1968 - Williamsport, Pennsylvania - American - Baseball - Pitcher - New York Yankees

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Mussina, nicknamed "Moose," was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 1st round (20th pick overall) of the 1990 amateur draft. In 1992, his first full season with the Orioles, Mussina went 18-5 with a 2.54 ERA. Mussina continued to post good numbers in Baltimore, featuring two back-to-back 19-win seasons in 1995 and 1996. Mussina helped the Orioles to the playoffs in 1996, where they eventually lost in the ALCS to the Yankees and again in 1997, where they lost in the ALCS to the Cleveland Indians. In Game 3 of that series against Cleveland, Mussina set the ALCS record for strikeouts in a single game when he struck out fifteen Indians. (The record was later tied by New York's Roger Clemens against the Seattle in Game 4 of the 2000 ALCS.)

Related Topics:
Baltimore Orioles - 1990 - 1992 - ERA - 1995 - 1996 - ALCS - 1997 - Cleveland Indians - New York - Roger Clemens - Seattle - 2000

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Following the 2000 season, Mussina opted to become a free agent and on November 30, he signed a contract with the New York Yankees, and the contract netted him over US$10 million in salary each year. With the Yankees, Mussina posted 17-11, 18-10, and 17-8 records in his first three seasons with the Yankees.

Related Topics:
2000 - Free agent - November 30 - US$

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 2004, after high-profile defections by Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte and David Wells, Mussina had become the "ace" of a questionable Yankee pitching rotation. Mussina battled through a series of injuries, and he posted a 12-9 record in the regular season.

Related Topics:
2004 - Andy Pettitte - David Wells

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~