The peaks and valleys of Chris Sale’s career have been as extreme as his unorthodox pitching mechanics. The lanky southpaw’s journey took another stunning turn in 2024, when a resurgent Sale – now donning an Atlanta Braves uniform – put together a season for the ages. After years lost to injuries, the 35-year-old flamethrower went 18-3 with a 2.38 ERA and 225 strikeouts, leading the National League in wins, ERA, and K’s to capture the pitching Triple Crown – the first hurler to achieve the feat since 2011.
From Phenom to Forgotten
It wasn’t long ago that Sale was the unquestioned ace of the sport. From 2012 to 2018, first with the White Sox and then the Red Sox, the wiry lefty was a Cy Young contender every year, never finishing lower than sixth in the voting. He helped lead Boston to a World Series title in 2018, cementing his status as an all-time great in the making.
But then the injuries hit. A sore shoulder in late 2018. Tommy John surgery in 2020. Assorted fractures and strains sidelining him for most of 2022 and 2023. In the span of five seasons, Sale made just 31 total starts. His once-blazing fastball dipped into the low 90s. His future appeared murky at best.
New Uniform, Vintage Form
Traded to Atlanta in the offseason, few expected Sale to recapture his old magic in 2024. But the crafty veteran had other ideas. With re-built arm strength and a devastating new changeup, Sale rolled back the clock to his dominant days, baffling hitters and piling up strikeouts at a prodigious pace.
As the summer wore on and Sale kept dominating, whispers of the Hall of Fame began to surface. Could one transcendent season be enough to thrust the battered ace back onto a Cooperstown trajectory?
“If Sale wins the Cy Young and leads the Braves deep into October, you’d have to consider him a serious Hall candidate again. Guys with his peak performance are rare.”
– A major league executive speaking on condition of anonymity
Measuring Up to the Greats
Sale’s career accomplishments already stack up favorably against several Hall of Famers and likely future inductees:
- 8 seasons with 200+ strikeouts (tied for 3rd all-time among lefties)
- 7 top-5 Cy Young finishes
- 2.03 WHIP, 6th lowest ever
- 11.1 K/9, highest in MLB history
And the advanced metrics love him too. Despite the lost seasons, Sale’s 35.2 Wins Above Average ranks 28th among all pitchers since World War II, ahead of slam-dunk Hall of Famers like Jim Palmer and Juan Marichal.
Precedent for a Late Push
History provides hope for Sale’s case. His 2024 renaissance mirrors Justin Verlander, who won his 3rd Cy Young at age 39 after missing nearly two full years due to Tommy John surgery. Mike Mussina and Curt Schilling both got late-career bumps that propelled them to Cooperstown.
At his best, Sale belongs in that company. From 2012-2018, his mix of dominance and consistency was virtually unmatched. If voters focus on peak performance over longevity, Sale’s case looks much stronger.
The Defining Moment
The 2024 Cy Young vote will go a long way in determining Sale’s legacy. A win would make him just the 11th pitcher to capture the award after undergoing Tommy John surgery. It could sway voters to view his career in a different light – not as a what-could-have-been tale, but an against-all-odds triumph.
With a few more vintage Sale seasons, the Hall of Fame may yet beckon for one of this generation’s most fascinating – and resilient – aces. If 2024 proves to be his final peak, Chris Sale will still go down as an all-time great, Cooperstown or not. But after everything he’s overcome, don’t count out a storybook ending just yet.
