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85%, 1st Ballot, Class of 1995
Jefferson City(1978~1979), Oshkosh(1980~1993)
Above all Pat Best was a winner. He finished the 1978 season, the Heartland Baseball League's first, with a 9-10 record as a 24 year old reliever for teh Jefferson City Jackalopes. He would never finish a seaosn below .500 again. After two good seasons in the Jackalopes' bullpen he signed a two year deal with the Oshkosh Outlaws where in 1980 where he moved to the rotation on May 30 and ended up leading the North League in ERA and starting three Heartland Series games suffering a seven game loss to Canton. He would post his best season in 1981 winning 14 games and striking out a career high 214 while taking home the second of his four North League ERA titles and finishing second in the North Pitcher of the Year voting. He would go on to lead the Outlaws to Heartland Series vitories in 1981, 1983, 1987, and 1988 while putting up double digit wins in eleven consecutive seasons. In 1991 he returned to the bullpen as a dominant reliever winning 10 games and posting a 2.66 ERA before decline set in and he suffered through two subpar seasons. His career included seven Heartland Series appearances, four single season ERA titles, and five single season Pitcher WAR titles. At the time of his retirement in 1993 he was top six all time in ERA(#5, 3.32), strikeouts(#5, 2083), (wins, 164), and OOPS(#6, .669). He finished top 17 in several other pitching categories including winning percentage, games pitched, games started, innings pitched, and WHiP. He was a seven time HBL All-Star and won the North League Pitcher of the Year Award in 1987.
Career Highlight
Best enjoyed his best season in 1981, his first as a full time starter, when he went 14-6 with a 2.81 ERA and 214 strikeouts.
Fun Fact
Best is the only starter in the Heartland Baseball League to win a Pitcher of the Year award with fewer than 14 wins in a season. He did it in 1987 with 11 victories.
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