Jouett Meekin

[Cowtipper]

Jouett Meekin pitched in the big leagues from 1891 to 1900, going 152-133 with a 4.07 ERA. He won over 15 games five times, over 20 games three times and over 30 games once, while completing at least 20 games in nine of his 10 seasons.

In 1891, he led the league in strikeouts per nine innings and pitcher fielding percentage and in 1894, he paced the loop in winning percentage. From 1894 to 1897, he averaged 24 wins and 11 losses a season, while completing 32 games a year and posting a 4.03 ERA.

He was even very solid at the dish, hitting .243 with 15 home runs and 131 RBI in 1,099 at-bats. Due to his hitting ability, he was used as a pinch hitter from time to time and even in the field, playing a handful of games in the outfield and at first base.

When neutralized, his stats look like this: 221-125 W-L and a 3.01 ERA, 3,151 innings pitched.

Statistically, Meekin is similar to Ice Box Chamberlain, Kid Gleason, Rube Walberg, Jim Slaton, Bert Cunningham, Frank Killen, Sadie McMahon, Howard Ehmke, Jim Lonborg and Rick Sutcliffe.

The Fan EloRater ranks him at #529, ahead of Chris Bosio, Dave Smith and Bronson Arroyo, but behind George Suggs, Johnny Morrison and Mike Krukow.

What do you think about Jouett Meekin? Should he be in the Hall of Fame? Did he have Hall of Fame potential?

[PVNICK]

The neutralized stats don't suck. But who knows what the neutralized stats of the HOFers look like? He does have a memorable name, I'll give you that.

[PVNICK]

again with the duplicate posts. I think the system must have bugs for double posting me when I hit reply but one and waited out the eternity.

[Dude Paskert]

Wow, I can't believe I've never heard of this guy.
You'd think his name would have at least showed up in the Historical Abstract's list of unusual names for 1890-1900!
For some reason, he adjusted really well to the pitching distance change in '94 and won 33 games...by far his best season.

[Cougar]

I meant to click "No" but messed up.

Good pitcher for a few years; I hadn't heard of him before.

[Cowtipper]

I meant to click "No" but messed up.

Good pitcher for a few years; I hadn't heard of him before.

I find it kind of surprising that so few people have heard of him. He was a major 1-2 punch with Amos Rusie from 1894 to 1898, save for 1896 when Rusie didn't pitch. In that time, Rusie went 107-57 with a 3.03 ERA, while Meekin went 85-49 with a 4.02 ERA.

[Cowtipper]

Just as Bob Turley in the other thread was once among the best but is now forgotten, the same can be said for Jouett Meekin. From 1894 to 1898 -- a five year span -- he won 111 games, fifth-most in the NL during that span. Who are three of the other names on that list? Cy Young, Kid Nichols and Clark Griffith. Pink Hawley is also up there.