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Gregg Olson pitched in the major leagues from 1988 to 2001, going 40-39 with 217 saves and 447 games finished, while posting a 3.46 ERA and 123 ERA+ in 622 games. In 1989, he won the American League Rookie of the Year and in 1990 he was an All-Star. His 1989 season was impressive enough (1.64 ERA, 27 Sv.) for him to earn votes for the Cy Young Award (6th place) and MVP Award (12th).
In 1989, at the age of 22, the former first-round draft pick began an incredible run of seasons that stretched until 1993--in that five year span, he appeared in 310 games and saved 170 of them (finishing 273), while posting a 2.23 ERA and a 176 ERA+, averaging 32 saves a year. Only two pitchers, Dennis Eckersley and Lee Smith, had more saves in that span and only one, Jeff Montgomery, posted a higher ERA+.
Though negligible, his playoff experience was solid. He posted a 0.00 ERA in two games, in which he tossed a total of 1/3 of an inning. On the all-time lists, he is 39th in saves and 45th in games finished.
Statistically, he is similar to Ugueth Urbina, Keith Foulke, Jeff Brantley, Jeff Shaw, Brad Lidge, Dave Veres, Bobby Thigpen, Todd Worrell, Rod Beck and John Wyatt. He is #738 on the Fan EloRater, ahead of Doug Rau, Jeff Russell and Todd Worrell, but behind Mickey McDermott, Jay Howell and Jack Harshman.
What do you think about Gregg Olson? Should he be in the Hall of Fame? Did he have Hall of Fame potential?
In 1989, at the age of 22, the former first-round draft pick began an incredible run of seasons that stretched until 1993--in that five year span, he appeared in 310 games and saved 170 of them (finishing 273), while posting a 2.23 ERA and a 176 ERA+, averaging 32 saves a year. Only two pitchers, Dennis Eckersley and Lee Smith, had more saves in that span and only one, Jeff Montgomery, posted a higher ERA+.
Though negligible, his playoff experience was solid. He posted a 0.00 ERA in two games, in which he tossed a total of 1/3 of an inning. On the all-time lists, he is 39th in saves and 45th in games finished.
Statistically, he is similar to Ugueth Urbina, Keith Foulke, Jeff Brantley, Jeff Shaw, Brad Lidge, Dave Veres, Bobby Thigpen, Todd Worrell, Rod Beck and John Wyatt. He is #738 on the Fan EloRater, ahead of Doug Rau, Jeff Russell and Todd Worrell, but behind Mickey McDermott, Jay Howell and Jack Harshman.
What do you think about Gregg Olson? Should he be in the Hall of Fame? Did he have Hall of Fame potential?
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