Six former Phillies eligible for 2021 Hall of Fame honors
By Matt Rappa
5. A.J. Burnett, 1st year eligible
Right-handed starting pitcher A.J. Burnett was hardly a Phillie throughout his 17-season career; if it were up to him, he probably would wish to erase his statistics from the one year spent in red pinstripes during the 2014 season to improve his Hall of Fame chances.
Signing with the Phillies on a one-year deal through free agency, Burnett yielded the most losses in the majors that season (18), the most earned runs allowed (109), and the most walks allowed (96). Through 34 starts, albeit also a majors-best mark, he went 8-18 with a 4.59 ERA.
Erase Burnett’s year with the Phillies who seemingly had no direction or chances of a postseason appearance, and his career record and ERA would be 156-139 and 3.94, respectively — rather than 164-157 and 3.99.
Burnett began his career with the Florida Marlins (1999-2005), and later the Toronto Blue Jays (2006-08) alongside future Hall of Fame pitcher and Phillie, Roy Halladay. Then began a three-year stint with the New York Yankees, the first of which resulted in his only career World Series championship — coincidentally coming opposite the Phillies in 2009, under manager Joe Girardi. In two starts during the Fall Classic, Burnett went 1-1 with a 7.00 ERA.
Before and after his 2014 showing with the Phils, Burnett pitched a combined three seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates. His last season in the majors, 2015 with the Pirates, yielded him his first and only All-Star nod; that year, he went 9-7 with a 3.18 ERA through 26 starts.