Chicago Cubs: Three newcomers, one holdover on 2018 Hall of Fame ballot; none deserve induction

Chicago Cubs: Kid K gets his shot at Cooperstown

Kerry Wood had a long and fairly productive career spanning 14 seasons, with two different stints with the Chicago Cubs. He gave what many consider to be the most dominant performance by a starting pitcher in major league history, recording 20 strikeouts in a one-hit, complete game, shutout effort against the Houston Astros in 1998.

Wood went 86-75 with a 3.67 ERA. He recorded 1,582 strikeouts and had previously set the record for fastest pitcher to reach 1,500 strikeouts.

The right-hander was eventually forced to transition into a relief role. Of the 446 games in which he pitched, only 178 of them were starts. The average number of innings pitched by a Hall of Famer is just over 3,800. Wood threw just 1,380 innings. That’s not necessarily in and of itself disqualifying, but it certainly doesn’t help.

Wood’s career wasn’t what it could have been. Due to mechanical issues and possible overuse, he struggled to remain healthy. Considering those circumstances, it’s fair to say he actually overachieved. He overcame some significant obstacles and put together a nice career. But it doesn’t warrant Hall of Fame consideration. Regardless, he’ll be remembered fondly as a fan-favorite in Chicago.