2023 MLB Hall of Fame: R.A. Dickey’s Case

In the last eight seasons of Dickey"s career, only four players threw more innings than Dickey"s 1,631. Since 1900, Dickey is 23rd in innings pitched in a player"s age-35 season and beyond. Dickey led the league in starts made in 2012, 2013, and 2014, and he made at least 32 starts in five straight seasons. After never making more than 15 starts in a season, Dickey made at least 26 in each of his last eight seasons.

R.A. Dickey"s Peak

Dickey"s peak coincided with his Mets tenure. In three seasons with the Mets, Dickey went 39-28 with a 2.95 ERA. He had a 129 ERA+ including a pair of seasons bordering on an ERA+ of 140. Dickey"s best-ever season came in 2012 when he became the first knuckleballer to win the Cy Young. Dickey won 20 games for the only time in his career, and he led the NL in starts, complete games, shutouts, innings pitched, and strikeouts. Dickey finished 14th in NL MVP voting, and he was an All-Star. Dickey received 27 of 32 first-place votes, earning 93% of the voting share.

After the 2012 season, the Mets dealt Dickey to the Blue Jays for a package that included future Major Leaguers Travis d"Arnaud and Noah Syndergaard.

R.A. Dickey"s MLB Hall of Fame Worthy Prime

As mentioned, the best stretch of Dickey"s career came from 2010 to 2012. After nearly a decade as a journeyman, Dickey settled in with the Mets and Blue Jays as a front-of-the-rotation arm. He pitched 169 or more innings in all seven seasons he spent with the Mets and Blue Jays. With the Blue Jays, he had an average 100 ERA+, but his value was as an innings muncher for a team that eventually made the playoffs in 2015. Dickey made two playoff starts including allowing one run over 4.2 innings against the Rangers in the ALDS. Dickey also won a Gold Glove with the Blue Jays.

In the final eight seasons of his career, Dickey racked up 22.2 WAR. He had a trio of seasons above 3.5 WAR with the Mets. With the Blue Jays, he had accumulated at least 1.9 WAR in three of four seasons. In his final season, Dickey posted 2.2 WAR for the Braves.

R.A. Dickey"s Legacy

Dickey"s legacy is less as a baseball player and more as a role model. Originally drafted in 1993 and again (as a first-round pick) in 1996, Dickey did not debut until his age-26 season in 2001. He threw 100 innings for the first time in 2003, and he qualified for the ERA for the first time in 2010. Dickey played for three teams by 2010, and he had yet to establish himself. However, he energized his career as a powerful knuckleballer with the Mets.

Dickey was a well-rounded pitcher who struck out more batters as his career went on. He is likely one of the last knuckleballers, and he had both strikeout potential and better control than most. He was also a capable fielder, leading the league in assists, double plays turned, and range factor at various points in his career. In 2012, he won the Branch Rickey Award for his community service. He also won a bronze medal as a member of Team USA at the 1996 Olympics.

MLB Hall of Fame Chances

Dickey falls well below average in the traditional Hall of Fame metrics. His JAWS is a little better than one-third that of the average starter in the Hall of Fame. While he had an excellent 2012 season, he only had two strong seasons and a slew of average ones. On the ballot, Dickey will likely not receive many votes, and he is unlikely to be on the ballot beyond 2023. However, his career should be celebrated as one of triumph and climbing the metaphorical mountain.

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