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What if Warren Spahn Hadn't Entered Military Service and Missed Out on Prime MLB Seasons?

By Scott Rogust

Imagine the stats Warren Spahn could have produced had he not served in the military.
Imagine the stats Warren Spahn could have produced had he not served in the military. / Photo File/Getty Images

There are plenty of what if's when it comes to recent baseball history. What if the Houston Astros didn't cheat in the 2017 season? What if the Florida Marlins hadn't blown up the team after winning the 2003 World Series? But MLB's vast history is filled with these questions, including when it comes to Hall of Fame pitcher Warren Spahn, who was born 89 years ago this Thursday.

Spahn solidified his status as one of baseball's greatest left-handed arms, even after missing three full seasons to serve in the United States Army during World War II. That got us thinking: How would Spahn's career have turned out had he not enlisted in the military?

Back in 1942, the lefty pitched just four games for the Boston Braves, where he accumulated a 5.74 ERA. Following his military service, Spahn returned to the mound in 1946 and he was an entirely different pitcher. In 24 games that year, Spahn posted a 8-5 record and a 2.94 ERA. If you thought that was impressive, his stats were even greater with each passing year.

In his 21 years in the big leagues, Spahn notched 364 wins and 2,583 strikeouts in 750 games with the Braves, New York Mets, and San Francisco Giants. Additionally, he earned the NL Cy Young award in 1957 and was nominated to the All-Star Game 17 times.

Imagine what could have been if Spahn hadn't missed out on those three prime seasons. How many more wins would he have added to his resume? Could Spahn have joined the 3,000 strikeout club alongside former Washington Senators great Walter Johnson?

It's fair to assume Spahn could've added 25-40 wins to his career stats, especially had he learned to pitch at a high level earlier in his career arc, rather than after his military service. His strikeout numbers likely still would've fallen short of 3,000, although he would've had an outside shot of surpassing such a number.

We'll never know, but that doesn't take away from Spahn's reputation of being one of the best left-handed pitchers in baseball history. It does keep you thinking, however.