So, you’re asking the big question: is Dave Stewart in the Hall of Fame? Let’s pause and clarify which Dave Stewart we’re talking about, because there are actually a few, and that’s where the chaos begins.
The Quick, Unfun Answer
The most famous Dave Stewart—the one with the mean right arm for the Oakland A’s—is not in the Baseball Hall of Fame. I know. It feels like a cosmic joke, right?
He’s the guy who won the World Series MVP in 1989, threw a no-hitter, and had four consecutive 20-win seasons. In fact, he was the first pitcher since the 1920s to do that without throwing a single spitball (probably).
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But Cooperstown’s doors remain locked for “Stew.” Why? Because the voting committee apparently takes coffee breaks during his name.
Wait, Which Dave Stewart Are We Ignoring?
Hilariously, there’s a second Dave Stewart—this one a rock star from the 80s band Eurythmics. And he is in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (inducted in 2022). So, you can say a Dave Stewart is Hall of Fame-worthy, just not the one who threw gas.
Imagine the confusion at a bar: “Dave Stewart? Oh yeah, he played guitar on ‘Sweet Dreams.’” Meanwhile, some baseball fan is screaming, “NO, HE CAUGHT A LINE DRIVE IN THE FACE AND STAYED IN THE GAME!”
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It’s the multiverse of Dave Stewarts, and the wrong one got the plaque.
The Case for “Stew”
Let’s break down why this is borderline criminal. Dave Stewart had a 3.36 career ERA over 16 seasons—not Hall of Fame elite, but context matters. He pitched in the steroid era, in a hitters’ park, and still won 168 games.
But here’s the spicy stat: He was the winningest pitcher in the entire decade of the 1980s. That’s right—more wins than Roger Clemens, Nolan Ryan, or Dwight Gooden. And he did it looking like a stern uncle who’d take your lunch money.
His postseason numbers? A 3.32 ERA in 14 starts, plus that 1989 World Series where he tossed a complete game shutout. That is the stuff of legends, but the Hall’s committee apparently wanted more fun facts about his walk-up music.
Faye Fantarrow: Eurythmics' Dave Stewart helping singer with brain
The Elephant in the Room: The Vote
When Stewart first appeared on the Hall of Fame ballot in 2001, he received a whopping 2.4% of the vote. That’s not a typo. He got less than three percent, and fell off the ballot forever.
To put that in perspective, that’s the same percentage as the number of people who think pineapple belongs on pizza—i.e., a very loud minority. (I love pineapple on pizza, but I’m not building a Hall of Fame case for it.)
The Hall of Fame’s statistical nanny, WAR (Wins Above Replacement), puts Stewart at 39.1, which is comparable to guys like David Cone (who is also not in) or Orel Hershiser (also not in, but give it time). So the baseball stats and the eye test say he’s close, but not a lock.
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The Real Reason He’s Not In (Conspiracy Edition)
Some say it’s because he didn’t reach 200 wins. Others whisper that his career was too short—he only had five truly dominant seasons. But I have my own theory: the Hall’s committee is scared of his stare.
Stewart had a glare that could curdle milk from 60 feet away. Imagine a statue of that in Cooperstown. It would make kids cry, and the museum would need a therapy wing.
Also, he was famously unafraid to pitch inside. In 1993, he hit a batter, and the guy charged the mound. Stewart didn’t flinch. He basically said, “You run into my fist, pal.” That kind of energy is hard to memorialize in bronze.
But There’s Hope (Maybe?)
Today, the Hall has a Veterans Committee that can retroactively induct players. And Stewart is 67 now—old enough to be a veteran. If the committee ever wakes up from nap time, they might sneak him in.
Dave Stewart and Annie Leof Eurythmics perform onstage during the
Until then, we have to live in a world where Dave Stewart (the baseball player) is not in the Hall, but Dave Stewart (the guitar player) is. It’s like finding out your favorite t-shirt has a weird stain—it still works, but you’re annoyed.
The Verdict
So, is Dave Stewart in the Hall of Fame? No. Should he be? Probably not, if you’re a hardcore stat nerd. But if you go by “I saw him pitch and I’m still scared of him,” then absolutely yes.
In the end, he’s a Hall of Fame personality with Hall of Fame moments, stuck in the Hall of Fame waiting room. And next time someone asks, just say, “Which one? The guy who threw a no-hitter or the guy who sang about sweet dreams?”
Then watch them realize the universe has a sense of humor, and it’s cruel.