The Baseball Scholar

100 Greatest Starting Pitchers of All-Time

Dave Franks
1–2 minutes

Major League Baseball as we know it—two leagues, American and National, playing by the same rules with champions facing off—was born in 1901. These rankings only consider seasons and careers from 1901 onward. Stats reflect post-1901 performance only. Eligibility: 1,500+ plate appearances (batters), 75+ starts (starters), or 350+ innings pitched (relievers).

If you don’t agree, leave a comment and let me know why.

  1. Walter JohnsonHOF

    Walter Johnson Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    152.1 68 802 666 417 279 2.17 5914.2 531 110 34 1902 1424 1363 3509 12.6% 1.061

  2. Roger Clemens

    Roger Clemens Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    138.7 70 709 707 354 184 3.12 4916.2 118 46 0 1885 1707 1580 4672 23.1% 1.172

  3. Lefty GroveHOF

    Lefty Grove Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    113.3 68 616 457 300 141 3.06 3940.2 298 35 55 1594 1339 1187 2266 13.6% 1.278

  4. Pete AlexanderHOF

    Pete Alexander Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    116.0 73 696 599 373 208 2.56 5190 437 90 32 1851 1476 951 2198 8.3% 1.121

  5. Randy JohnsonHOF

    Randy Johnson Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    103.5 75 618 603 303 166 3.29 4135.1 100 37 2 1703 1513 1497 4875 28.6% 1.171

  6. Pedro MartinezHOF

    Pedro Martinez Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    86.1 66 476 409 219 100 2.93 2827.1 46 17 3 1006 919 760 3154 27.7% 1.054

  7. Christy MathewsonHOF

    Christy Mathewson Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    101.0 74 635 551 373 188 2.13 4780.2 434 79 28 1616 1133 844 2502 6.4% 1.058

  8. Greg MadduxHOF

    Greg Maddux Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    104.8 76 744 740 355 227 3.16 5008.1 109 35 0 1981 1756 999 3371 16.5% 1.143

  9. Tom SeaverHOF

    Tom Seaver Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    106.1 79 656 647 311 205 2.86 4782.2 231 61 1 1674 1521 1390 3640 18.8% 1.121

  10. Cy YoungHOF

    Cy Young Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    70.7 74 401 369 225 146 2.12 3312.1 331 44 9 1119 779 413 1563 1.00

  11. Bob GibsonHOF

    Bob Gibson Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    81.7 78 528 482 251 174 2.91 3884.1 255 56 6 1420 1258 1336 3117 19.4% 1.188

  12. Phil NiekroHOF

    Phil Niekro Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    97.0 86 864 716 318 274 3.35 5404.1 245 45 29 2337 2012 1809 3342 14.7% 1.268

  13. Gaylord PerryHOF

    Gaylord Perry Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    93.0 85 777 690 314 265 3.11 5350.1 303 53 11 2128 1846 1379 3534 16.1% 1.180

  14. Ed WalshHOF

    Ed Walsh Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    63.8 69 430 315 195 126 1.82 2964.1 250 57 34 877 598 617 1736 7.1% 0.999

  15. Bert BlylevenHOF

    Bert Blyleven Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    96.1 85 692 685 287 250 3.31 4970 242 60 0 2029 1830 1322 3701 18.1% 1.197

  16. Steve CarltonHOF

    Steve Carlton Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    84.1 87 741 709 329 244 3.22 5217.1 254 55 2 2130 1864 1833 4136 19.1% 1.246

  17. Warren SpahnHOF

    Warren Spahn Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    92.4 84 750 665 363 245 3.09 5243.2 382 63 29 2016 1798 1434 2583 12.0% 1.194

  18. Clayton Kershaw

    Clayton Kershaw Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    78.1 64 455 451 223 96 2.53 2855.1 25 15 0 881 804 713 3052 27.1% 1.02

  19. Robin RobertsHOF

    Robin Roberts Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    83.0 89 676 609 286 245 3.41 4688.2 305 45 25 1962 1774 902 2357 12.3% 1.169

  20. Justin Verlander

    Justin Verlander Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    82.2 79 555 555 266 158 3.32 3567.2 26 9 0 1428 1317 1004 3553 24.3% 1.14

  21. Curt Schilling

    Curt Schilling Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    80.5 80 569 436 216 146 3.46 3261 83 20 22 1318 1253 711 3116 23.5% 1.137

  22. Fergie JenkinsHOF

    Fergie Jenkins Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    82.1 87 664 594 284 226 3.34 4500.2 267 49 7 1853 1669 997 3192 17.4% 1.141

  23. Roy HalladayHOF

    Roy Halladay Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    65.4 76 416 390 203 105 3.38 2749.1 67 20 1 1135 1034 592 2117 18.8% 1.177

  24. Kevin Brown

    Kevin Brown Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    68.2 78 486 476 211 144 3.28 3256 72 17 0 1357 1185 901 2397 17.7% 1.222

  25. Mike MussinaHOF

    Mike Mussina Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    82.8 82 537 536 270 153 3.68 3562.2 57 23 0 1559 1458 785 2813 19.3% 1.191

  26. Stan CoveleskiHOF

    Stan Coveleski Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    66.6 78 450 385 215 142 2.89 3082 224 38 21 1237 990 802 981 7.7% 1.251

  27. Bob FellerHOF

    • Age: 17 – 22, 26 – 37
    • Years: 1936 – 1941, 1945 – 1956
    • Positions: SP
    • Teams: Cleveland Indians
    Bob Feller Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    65.2 82 570 484 266 162 3.25 3827 279 44 21 1557 1384 1764 2581 16.0% 1.315

  28. Rube WaddellHOF

    Rube Waddell Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    55.0 76 366 308 178 127 2.11 2659.2 235 47 4 923 624 728 2137 20.4% 1.10

  29. Juan MarichalHOF

    Juan Marichal Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    61.8 81 471 457 243 142 2.89 3507 244 52 2 1329 1126 709 2303 16.2% 1.10

  30. Max Scherzer

    Max Scherzer Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    74.7 77 483 474 221 117 3.22 2963 12 5 0 1132 1059 779 3489 29.1% 1.08

  31. Hal NewhouserHOF

    Hal Newhouser Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    60.0 76 488 374 207 150 3.06 2993 212 33 26 1197 1016 1249 1796 14.2% 1.310

  32. Sandy KoufauxHOF

    Sandy Koufax Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    53.1 75 397 314 165 87 2.76 2324.1 137 40 9 806 713 817 2396 25.2% 1.11

  33. Nolan RyanHOF

    Nolan Ryan Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    83.6 90 807 773 324 292 3.19 5386 222 61 3 2178 1911 2795 5714 25.3% 1.247

  34. Dazzy VanceHOF

    Dazzy Vance Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    62.9 81 442 347 197 140 3.24 2966.2 216 29 11 1246 1068 840 2045 16.6% 1.230

  35. Jim PalmerHOF3x Cy Young

    • Age: 19 – 21, 23 – 38
    • Years: 1965-1967, 1969-1984
    • Positions: SP
    • Teams:Baltimore Orioles
    Jim Palmer Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    67.6 79 558 521 268 152 2.86 3948 211 53 4 1395 1253 1311 2212 13.7% 1.180

  36. Eddie PlankHOF

    Eddie Plank Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    81.2 81 623 529 326 194 2.35 4495.2 410 69 23 1569 1174 1072 2246 7.8% 1.118

  37. Zack Greinke

    Zack Greinke Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    72.4 83 586 541 225 156 3.49 3389.1 17 5 1 1410 1315 762 2979 21.5% 1.17

  38. Jim BunningHOF

    Jim Bunning Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    60.3 88 591 519 224 184 3.27 3760.1 151 40 16 1527 1366 1000 2855 18.3% 1.178

  39. Joe McGinnityHOF

    Joe McGinnity Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    33.6 85 465 381 246 142 2.66 3441.1 314 32 24 1438 1016 812 1068 .% 1.187

  40. Carl HubbellHOF

    Carl Hubbell Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    68.8 77 535 431 253 154 2.98 3590.1 260 36 33 1380 1188 725 1677 11.3% 1.165

  41. Wilbur Wood

    Wilbur Wood Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    52.1 88 651 297 164 156 3.24 2684.0 114 24 57 1130 965 724 1411 12.7% 1.23

  42. Johan Santana

    Johan Santana Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    51.1 74 360 284 139 78 3.2 2025.2 15 10 1 773 721 567 1988 24.1% 1.132

  43. Eddie Cicotte

    Eddie Cicotte Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    57.9 82 502 361 208 149 2.38 3223.1 249 35 25 1149 853 827 1374 9.9% 1.155

  44. Bret Saberhagen

    Bret Saberhagen Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    58.9 80 399 371 167 117 3.34 2562.2 76 16 1 1036 952 471 1715 16.5% 1.140

  45. Mordecai BrownHOF

    Mordecai Brown Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    57.3 71 481 332 239 130 2.06 3172.1 271 55 49 1044 725 673 1375 10.3% 1.065

  46. Luis Tiant

    Luis Tiant Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    65.7 87 573 484 229 172 3.3 3486.1 187 49 15 1400 1280 1104 2416 16.8% 1.198

  47. Tom GlavineHOF

    Tom Glavine Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    73.9 86 682 682 305 203 3.54 4413.1 56 25 0 1900 1734 1500 2607 14.0% 1.313

  48. David Cone

    David Cone Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    61.6 84 450 419 194 126 3.46 2898.2 56 22 1 1222 1115 1137 2668 21.9% 1.256

  49. Kevin Appier

    Kevin Appier Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    54.9 83 414 402 169 137 3.74 2595.1 34 12 0 1168 1078 933 1994 18.2% 1.293

  50. Chris SaleActive

    Chris Sale Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    57.3 71 393 312 145 88 3.01 2084.0 16 3 12 750 697 487 2579 30.7% 1.05

  51. Dave Stieb

    Dave Stieb Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    56.5 82 443 412 176 137 3.44 2895.1 103 30 3 1225 1106 1034 1669 13.8% 1.245

  52. Rick Reuschel

    Rick Reuschel Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    68.1 88 557 529 214 191 3.37 3548.1 102 26 5 1494 1330 935 2015 13.5% 1.274

  53. Don DrysdaleHOF

    Don Drysdale Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    61.4 83 518 465 209 166 2.95 3432 167 49 6 1292 1124 855 2486 17.6% 1.147

  54. Red FaberHOF

    Red Faber Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    67.7 84 669 483 254 213 3.15 4086.2 273 29 28 1813 1430 1213 1471 7.8% 1.301

  55. Tim Hudson

    Tim Hudson Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    56.5 83 482 479 222 133 3.49 3126.2 26 13 0 1319 1213 917 2080 16.0% 1.239

  56. John SmoltzHOF

    John Smoltz Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    66.4 81 723 481 213 155 3.33 3473 53 16 154 1391 1284 1010 3084 21.6% 1.175

  57. Jacob deGromActive

    Jacob deGrom Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    45.1 66 248 248 96 65 2.57 1539.2 4 2 0 477 440 345 1851 30.6% 0.99

  58. Roy Oswalt

    Roy Oswalt Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    49.9 79 365 341 163 102 3.36 2245.1 20 8 0 897 838 520 1852 19.9% 1.211

  59. Chuck Finley

    Chuck Finley Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    58.3 87 524 467 200 173 3.84 3197.2 63 15 0 1517 1366 1332 2610 19.1% 1.376

  60. Cliff Lee

    Cliff Lee Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    42.5 84 328 324 143 91 3.52 2156.2 29 12 0 923 843 464 1824 20.5% 1.196

  61. C.C. SabathiaHOF

    C.C. Sabathia Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    62.0 87 561 560 251 161 3.74 3577.1 38 12 0 1623 1485 1099 3093 20.6% 1.26

  62. Frank Tanana

    Frank Tanana Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    57.1 94 638 616 240 236 3.66 4188.1 143 34 1 1910 1704 1255 2773 15.7% 1.269

  63. Addie JossHOF

    Addie Joss Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    47.7 70 286 260 160 97 1.89 2327 234 45 5 729 488 364 920 0.967

  64. Wes Ferrell

    Wes Ferrell Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    48.8 87 374 323 193 128 4.04 2623 227 17 13 1382 1177 1040 985 8.5% 1.481

  65. Urban Shocker

    Urban Shocker Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    54.7 81 412 317 187 117 3.17 2681.2 200 28 25 1127 945 657 983 8.8% 1.255

  66. Mark Langston

    Mark Langston Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    50.0 93 457 428 179 158 3.97 2963 81 18 0 1438 1306 1289 2464 19.6% 1.354

  67. Vic WillisHOF

    Vic Willis Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    50.4 87 513 471 249 205 2.63 3996 388 50 11 1628 1167 1212 1651 1.209

  68. Sam McDowell

    Sam McDowell Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    43.1 90 425 346 141 134 3.17 2492.1 103 23 14 999 879 1312 2453 23.2% 1.308

  69. Billy Pierce

    Billy Pierce Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    53.4 84 585 432 211 169 3.27 3306.2 193 38 32 1325 1201 1178 1999 14.4% 1.260

  70. Nap Rucker

    Nap Rucker Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    47.0 86 336 272 134 134 2.42 2375.1 186 38 14 817 639 701 1217 9.4% 1.174

  71. Dizzy DeanHOF

    Dizzy Dean Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    43.9 77 317 230 150 83 3.02 1967.1 154 26 30 774 661 453 1163 14.2% 1.205

  72. Cole Hamels

    Cole Hamels Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    58.3 82 423 422 163 122 3.43 2698.0 17 7 0 1103 1027 767 2560 23.0% 1.18

  73. Andy Pettitte

    Andy Pettitte Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    60.7 86 531 521 256 153 3.85 3316 26 4 0 1572 1418 1031 2448 17.4% 1.350

  74. Frank Viola

    Frank Viola Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    47.1 90 421 420 176 150 3.73 2836.1 74 16 0 1303 1175 864 1844 15.5% 1.301

  75. Jerry Koosman

    Jerry Koosman Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    57.0 91 612 527 222 209 3.36 3839.1 140 33 17 1608 1433 1198 2556 16.0% 1.258

  76. Ron Guidry

    Ron Guidry Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    47.9 83 368 323 170 91 3.29 2392.0 95 26 4 953 874 633 1778 18.2% 1.18

  77. Mark Buehrle

    Mark Buehrle Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    60.0 87 518 493 214 160 3.81 3283.1 33 10 0 1542 1391 734 1870 13.6% 1.281

  78. Bartolo Colon

    Bartolo Colon Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    48.2 95 565 552 247 188 4.12 3461.2 38 13 0 1719 1584 948 2535 17.3% 1.31

  79. Don SuttonHOF

    Don Sutton Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    68.3 92 774 756 324 256 3.26 5282 178 58 5 2104 1914 1343 3574 16.5% 1.142

  80. Hippo Vaughn

    Hippo Vaughn Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    47.1 83 390 331 178 137 2.49 2730 215 41 5 1039 754 817 1416 12.1% 1.200

  81. Vida Blue

    Vida Blue Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    44.9 92 502 473 209 161 3.27 3343.1 143 37 2 1357 1213 1185 2175 15.7% 1.23

  82. Felix Hernandez

    Felix Hernandez Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    50.3 84 419 418 169 136 3.42 2729.2 25 11 0 1157 1037 805 2524 22.4% 1.21

  83. Orel Hershiser

    Orel Hershiser Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    51.3 89 510 466 204 150 3.48 3130.1 68 25 5 1366 1211 1007 2014 15.3% 1.260

  84. Whitey Ford

    • Age: 21, 24 – 38
    • Years: 1950, 1953-1967
    • Positions: SP
    • Teams:New York Yankees
    Whitey Ford Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    53.5 75 498 438 236 106 2.75 3170.1 156 45 10 1107 967 1086 1956 15.0% 1.215

  85. Tommy John

    Tommy John Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    62.1 90 760 700 288 231 3.34 4710.1 162 46 4 2017 1749 1259 2245 11.4% 1.282

  86. Dwight Gooden

    Dwight Gooden Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    48.1 90 430 410 194 112 3.51 2800.2 68 24 3 1198 1091 954 2293 19.6% 1.256

  87. Jimmy Key

    Jimmy Key Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    49.0 82 470 389 186 117 3.51 2591.2 34 13 10 1104 1010 668 1538 14.4% 1.229

  88. Lefty GomezHOF

    Lefty Gomez Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    43.2 79 368 320 189 102 3.34 2503 173 28 9 1091 930 1095 1468 13.7% 1.352

  89. Gerrit ColeActive

    Gerrit Cole Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    42.8 78 317 317 153 80 3.18 1954.0 8 5 0 740 690 500 2251 28.6% 1.09

  90. Jose Rijo

    • Age: 19 – 30, 36 – 37
    • Years: 1984-1995, 2001-2002
    • Positions: SP
    • Teams:Cincinnati Reds
    Jose Rijo Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    35.0 83 376 269 116 91 3.24 1880.0 22 4 3 772 676 663 1606 20.4% 1.26

  91. Ted LyonsHOF

    Ted Lyons Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    66.8 85 594 484 260 230 3.67 4161 356 27 23 2056 1696 1121 1073 6.0% 1.348

  92. Corey Kluber

    Corey Kluber Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    34.0 83 271 260 116 77 3.44 1641.2 18 8 1 684 627 368 1725 25.8% 1.13

  93. Dizzy Trout

    Dizzy Trout Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    45.2 81 521 322 170 161 3.23 2725.2 158 28 35 1166 979 1046 1256 10.8% 1.352

  94. Larry Jackson

    Larry Jackson Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    52.6 90 558 429 194 183 3.4 3262.2 149 37 20 1405 1233 824 1709 12.6% 1.235

  95. Mickey Lolich

    Mickey Lolich Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    47.9 96 586 496 217 191 3.44 3638.1 195 41 10 1537 1390 1099 2832 18.7% 1.23

  96. Steve Rogers

    Steve Rogers Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    45.1 87 399 393 158 152 3.18 2837.2 129 37 2 1122 1001 876 1621 13.9% 1.231

  97. Babe Adams

    Babe Adams Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    50.2 86 482 355 194 140 2.76 2995.1 206 44 15 1129 917 430 1036 7.0% 1.092

  98. Jack ChesbroHOF

    Jack Chesbro Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    40.6 88 392 332 198 132 2.68 2896.2 260 35 5 1206 864 690 1265 1.15

  99. Jon Matlack

    Jon Matlack Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    38.9 87 361 318 125 126 3.18 2363 97 30 3 970 835 638 1516 15.5% 1.23

  100. Brandon WebbCy Young

    Brandon Webb Pitching Stats
    WAR ERA- G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO K% WHIP
    33.0 72 199 198 87 62 3.27 1319.2 15 8 0 557 479 435 1065 19.3% 1.239

All underlying data used in this analysis is available in The Baseball Scholar Data Library.

36 responses to “100 Greatest Starting Pitchers of All-Time”

  1. Max Foobar Avatar
    Max Foobar

    Here’s a fun guessing game. Try and find the greatest southpaw pitcher of the modern era. Do you think Sandy Koufax in the top 10? Strike 1! Top 20? Strike 2! Top 30? Swing-and-a-miss, take a seat! So Sandy Koufax ranks BELOW such all-time greats as Mike Messina and Kevin Brown??

    I’m not wasting any more time on this site. Adios!

    Like

    Reply
    1. Avatar
      Anonymous

      You’re better off going somewhere else. You vastly overrate Koufax, especially for career value. This site is for those who understand baseball and how to evaluate performance.

      Like

      Reply
    2. Dan Holmes Avatar
      Dan Holmes

      Who is Mike Messina?

      Like

      Reply
  2. Dan Holmes Avatar
    Dan Holmes

    I admire anyone who has the guts to out together a thoughtful list of the 100 greatest players of all-time. It’s easy to criticize the list, but very hard to create them. I know this from experience.

    I’m curious how you defined your criteria? Did you place an emphasis more on peak performance or career value? For example, you have Ed Walsh, who only made about 300 starts, ahead of Warren Spahn and Robin Roberts, two great pitchers who started more than 600 games. But on the other hand, you have Gaylord Perry ahead of Bob Feller. Clearly, to my most people, Feller had a much higher peak than Perry. He was also robbed of his prime years due to WWII. Did you make adjustments for any of that?

    Thanks for publishing these lists.

    Like

    Reply
    1. Jeff Hiller Avatar
      Jeff Hiller

      There is no way Gaylord Perry should be ranked higher than Juan Marichal.. Marichal was the ace of the Giant’s staff throughout the 60’s. Perry played longer and achieved over
      300 wins by cheating. The three best pitchers of the sixties are Koufax, Marichal, and Gibson. To say Blyleven, Schilling, or Jenkins are better than those three pitchers is ridiculous.
      What’s even more ridiculous is to rank Kershaw over Koufax. Anyone who has actually seen Koufax pitch knows he was the best pitcher in the modern era. I’m a lifelong Giants fan who has never seen any pitcher that was better than Koufax. I also agree that Feller was far better than Gaylord Perry. Statistics alone do not define a player’s career. Koufax could have pitched several more seasons, but he made an intelligent decision to retire due to feeling arthritic agony. The players Koufax pitched against are in the upper echelon of the
      MLB Hall of fame. Mays, Clemente, Aaron, Mathews, Banks, McCovey. In addition, Koufax was magnificent in every World Series he participated in. I never saw Walter Johnson pitch but according to his statistics, he is the greatest pitcher of all time. Nobody from the 1950’s to present is or was better than Koufax. Certainly not Roger Clemens,,or Tom Seaver, The closest pitchers I’ve seen to Koufax were Randy Johnson, and Pedro Martinez. What makes Koufax even more remarkable is he played for an extremely poor hitting team. That’s my opinion. Thanks for allowing me to express it.:) Jeff Hiller

      Like

      Reply
  3. Joe Eshleman Avatar
    Joe Eshleman

    This was a near perfect list. I think the top three are the top three provided only that Clemens was legal. Their consistent dominance thru their careers is unsurpassed.. All three reinvented themselves and were just crazy dominant.after they had short lapses.

    My only criticism is with a sympathy for the guy who was upset with Sandy Koufax’s position. I think he should have been top 15 on the shear dominance of his peak; but don’t try and compare him with Lefty because Lefty wins that across the board and has two peaks of over 40 WAR. Grove even had a higher strikeout to walk ratio controlled for era and a better spg average compared to league (relative spg).

    All the way through the list pitchers were about where they should have been. I think Sudden Sam McDowell was 70th and the biggest disappointment of what could have been in MLB history.

    This was a scholarly list with most of the over-rated pitchers where they should have been.

    Like

    Reply
  4. Art Barton Avatar
    Art Barton

    Tom Seaver was equal or more dominant up to age 34 than Clemens, the age when steroids started giving Clemens the relative advantage in maintaining his peak. And Seaver was more durable and just as dominant as the great Pedro Martinez. Seaver finished far more games, pitching more frequently, which contributes heavily to his higher WAR than Martinez. No qualms with Randy Johnson ranking, but Seaver is about equal to him.

    And Warren Spahn , who pitched well into the 1960’s, so I remember him vividly, as I’m almost 70 and was glued to baseball starting in 1960, was right there with Seaver and Johnson. He was called the “the great” for good reason. 363 wins in an era when baseball attracted the best athletes in the country, was very similar later eras in style of play. So either Seaver orJohnson ranking 2 and 3, Clemens deserves top 10 for his early to mid career dominance, probably unjuiced, but hard to separate when the extra edge kicked in, and Spahn is ahead of Martinez in the top 6. And a shout out to Greg Maddox for making it look so easy for so long to frustrate most hitters most of the time.

    As for Koufax, best peak years of all time, then chose to retire young. The Jimi Hendrix of pitchers, except Sandy went on to enjoy 53 years
    of actual life after retirement, and counting..His starts were an event during those years. It could be a no hitter, a one hitter, or…something else spectacular.

    I cannot comment on Lefty Grove or Pete Alexander, even before my time:), but the stats do tell you they were dominant for a very long time. And Walter Johnson was like Babe Ruth in his era, no arguments there. Oh ya, Babe could pitch too.

    Like

    Reply
    1. Joseph Eshleman Avatar
      Joseph Eshleman

      Art, remember that in 1969, they voted an all-time All Star team. And the right-handed pitcher was Walter Johnson, and the lefty was Lefty Grove. Hey, my Baseball Reference page defaults to Sandy Koufax, and I know your feeling because I started obsessing over baseball in 1959, the last time for more than 30 years that my Cleveland Indians were a good team. I am 71, and the last 25 year have been good to the Indians even though they have not won the ring.

      But in 69 Spahn and Koufax were pretty fresh in everybody’s memories. And I asked my dad, who was 55 at the time, why Koufax was not the starter on the all time team, and he said that Sandy Koufax was a great pitcher but that he could not wear Grove’s jock. My dad watched Lefty open old Cleveland Municipal Stadium before a sell out crowd against the Indians ace Mel Harder and beat Harder 1-0 in 1932. Recently I examined that assertion because Koufax (the guy my Baseball Reference page defaults to) was awfully good.

      I found out this basic stuff:in five years from 1928 to 1932, Grove was 128-33; he pitched 1408.1 innings. He struck out 925 batters for a spg average of 5.91. Meanwhile, Sandy between 1962-66 had a record was 111-34 in 1377 innings. He struck out 1444 batters for a 9.44 average. But from 1928-32 the mean AL strikeout average was 3.15; in the NL from 1962-66 it was 5.77. In Groves era, it was considered a mortal sin to strikeout. In the late forties and fifties guys like Ralph Kiner, Eddie Mathews and Ted Kluzewski discovered if you hit home runs, it did not matter if you struck out, so they hit home runs and struck out more. Grove actually had a better relative spg than Koufax, 5.91/3.15=1.88. Koufax had 9.44/5.77=1.64

      I did a break down of lots of things, and Grove consistently comes in second to Johnson, just ahead of Roger Clemens. I use rWAR which is runs per game allowed not fWAR which is what Fanagraph’s uses that is dependent on DIP (Defense Independent Pitching). So doing that, the only area where Koufax has a chance, is peak pitching because of his
      relatively short career. I used Grove from 1929-33 where he had a WAR of 46 and a 128-33 record. I used Koufax from 1962-66 where he had a 40.7 WAR and a 111-34 record. Grove tied Pedro Martinez for the second best peak with a value of 185; Walter Johnson demolished everybody with a 195 from 1910-14. Sandy finished 14th with a 158 score.

      Sandy was a great pitcher, but he had two maybe three advantages. He was the best pitcher in one of the best pitching periods in baseball history. He also pitched in the most pitcher friendly park in the MLB (park factor .91). Lefty Grove pitched in two hitter friendly parks: Shibe Park and Fenway Park (park factor 1.02.2). Consider this: Lefty Grove won four ERA titles in five years pitching in Fenway Park as a left-handed pitcher with the Green Monster looming behind him. Another great lefty, Lefty Gomez,said that when he pitched in Fenway, he prepared for the game by standing in a phone booth for a couple of hours.

      Anyway, I was gratified to find your response up there and I thought that I would write something. Have a good day.

      Like

      Reply
  5. Avatar
    Anonymous

    the hole thing was worng

    Like

    Reply
    1. Avatar
      Anonymous

      What was wrong with it?

      Like

      Reply
    2. Avatar
      Anonymous

      The “hole” thing? Really? And “worng”? Are you sure?

      Actually, it’s a very good list. Always some room for debate.

      Like

      Reply
  6. Brian Joe Short Avatar
    Brian Joe Short

    You don’t think Phil Niekro is in your top 100?

    Like

    Reply
    1. Joe Eshleman Avatar
      Joe Eshleman

      I looked at the list, and you are right. Phil should probably have been in the top 25. From 1974-78 he had a WAR of 40.2, and only about 20 pitchers since 1901 have achieved that number. And he was 11th in career WAR. Yeah, they really missed with him, and I did not see it. I was so impressed that they got the top three right and put Sandy Koufax and Nolan Ryan in reasonable historical perspective. Missed that though. Thanks

      Like

      Reply
    2. Avatar
      Anonymous

      I see Niekro at #11, don’t you?

      Like

      Reply
    3. Brian Short Avatar
      Brian Short

      Niekro wasn’t there when I posted in Nov. 2020. Steve also posted in Feb. 2021, “Niekro is the big miss…” I’m glad to see you added him. Overall, your list is as solid as any baseball writer or big website out there. You’ve done your research and no doubt you’ve spent HOURS and HOURS on your thought process…Well done. I have my own formula and own views on why I would have Koufax, and Carlton a little higher, others a little lower, etc. Why? Because even with all the numbers, it’s still somewhat subjective on what you emphasize. That’s the fun thing about these lists. I love baseball scholar and I commend you for all your great work!

      Like

      Reply
      1. Dave Franks Avatar
        Dave Franks

        Thanks Brian. Doing legitimate lists is incredibly difficult. In fact, Niekro was left off by mistake. I’m a one man show working on this at nights and on weekends – I was bound to miss someone.

        Like

  7. Steve Avatar
    Steve

    Niekro is the big miss; should be somewhere around #50. A shame Kid Nichols can’t be included. I think your dividing line should be 1893, when the mound was moved to its current distance, rather than 1901. Nichols would be top 20, for sure, and Young would move into the top 10. The other miss, in my opinion, is less obvious. Look at the career of Noodles Hahn. Easily the best pitcher in the Reds’ long history. If you started in 1893, he would get his first to years included and move into the top 50, in my estimation. Amos Rusie and Clark Griffith are the only other two 19th Century pitchers who would probably make the list, both in the bottom 50. Also, you have way underrated Kershaw. To date, he is top 5 all-time.

    Like

    Reply
    1. Avatar
      Anonymous

      Niekro is #11.

      Like

      Reply
  8. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    Really Glavine at 45?

    Like

    Reply
  9. Nicholas Trudeau Avatar
    Nicholas Trudeau

    How is the all-time strikeout leader in all-time no hitter leader number 34 all time? Is it his fault that he played on bad teams?

    Like

    Reply
    1. Avatar
      Anonymous

      No, it’s because he wasn’t nearly as good as you think he was.

      Like

      Reply
  10. Dan Holmes Avatar
    Dan Holmes

    Nolan Ryan being the 34th greatest pitcher OF ALL-TIME is pretty damn good. Nothing to sneeze it. Much of his value is in longevity. No-hitters are great, but it doesn’t indicate greatness. Bill Stoneman threw two no-hitters, so did Steve Busby. So what? Great accomplishments, yes. But even 7 no-hitters is not something that makes you automatically one of the 10 or 20 greatest pitchers.

    Ryan walked a lot of batters and he allowed more runs relative to his league than many other great pitchers. His adjusted ERA ( compared to his league and accounting for the teams he played for and parks he pitched in) doesn’t rank in the top 200 all-time. It’s 112, meaning he was 12 percent better at allowing earned runs than an average pitcher. Very good, but not all-time great. That matters quite a bit, and so do the high number of baserunners he allowed via walks. He just doesn’t have the high peak that matches someone like Steve Carlton, and he doesn’t have the career record of a Greg Maddux, Christy Mathewson, or his teammate Tom Seaver, who was a much better pitcher.

    There’s no shame in being the 34th ranked pitcher in history.

    Like

    Reply
  11. Wayne Hallett Avatar
    Wayne Hallett

    I was telling my wife about the 100 best starting pitchers list and she asked me where Babe Ruth was placed.
    I thought that was a very good question and don’t recall his inclusion on any such lists although I feel he certainly should be!
    A number of years ago I had the privilege of meeting and speaking with Warren Spahn, the winningest southpaw in mlb history, who didn’t win his first mlb game until he was about 26 years old!
    I asked him a question I’m certain he’d been asked many times, and that was who he considered the greatest pitcher of all time and immediately replied, Sandy Koufax!
    He would have been justified, in my opinion, saying Warren Spahn, especially when you consider his age when he got his first win, the fact that he’s won more games than any other left hander in mlb history and accomplished this with some less than great teams.
    I guess we should always look at WAR, ERA vs the league average and the pitchers winning percentage vs that of the team, when he doesn’t pitch.
    Robin Roberts and Fergie Jenkins were two greats that always excelled for less than great teams!

    Like

    Reply
  12. Wayne Hallett Avatar
    Wayne Hallett

    Sad to see a few names omitted!
    Perhaps an honorable mention tho for
    Mel Parmell
    Bartolo Colon
    Denny McLain
    Smokey Joe Wood
    Vic Raschi
    Eddie Lopat
    Curt Simmons

    Like

    Reply
    1. Avatar
      Anonymous

      Denny McLain?

      Like

      Reply
  13. Wayne Hallett Avatar
    Wayne Hallett

    Perhaps an honorable mention tho for
    Mel Parmell
    Bartolo Colon
    Denny McLain
    Smokey Joe Wood
    Vic Raschi
    Eddie Lopat
    Curt Simmons

    Like

    Reply
  14. Wayne Hallett Avatar
    Wayne Hallett

    Did I miss Early Wynn and Bob Lemon??

    Like

    Reply
  15. Wayne Hallett Avatar
    Wayne Hallett

    How could I forget?
    Sal Maglie should be listed!!
    Possibly Virgil Trucks!
    The List needs to be expanded!!
    We could discuss/ argue about the rankings forever but the membership in the elite club is the main thing or at least a step in the right direction!
    Expand the list!
    No great pitcher left behind.
    I trust we’re also considering AL vs NL pitching stats in the era of the DH!

    Like

    Reply
  16. Wayne Hallett Avatar
    Wayne Hallett

    This is it for now, I think!
    Would love to have seen a couple of more names, Satchel Leroy Paige and other great Negro League pitchers, including Don Newcombe and Latin pitchers who never had the opportunity to play in mlb, on an expanded list.
    All the more interesting.

    Like

    Reply
  17. Avatar
    Anonymous

    Allie Reynolds, Harry Brecheen and Bobby Shantz!

    Like

    Reply
  18. Avatar
    Anonymous

    Seriously, why not add Johnny Sain, Preacher Roe, and Max Lanier?
    It’s apparent to me that any comparisons of individual performance must be confined to the specific eras in which the individuals performed so as to keep the playing field as equitable and accurate as possible.
    For example, an obvious change I’ve witnessed in recent years is the shrinking strike zone, with the advantage going to the hitter!
    Most fans like scoring but to me there’s nothing better than an extra inning 1-0 game!
    Arm pits to knees, where have you gone? Lol

    Like

    Reply
  19. Avatar
    Anonymous

    Fernando Valenzuela and Camelio Pascual?

    Like

    Reply
  20. Avatar
    Anonymous

    Where is the Babe?

    Like

    Reply
  21. Avatar
    Anonymous

    This is perhaps the best list I have found online. The most-heralded pitchers are ranked appropriately, more or less. It’s nice to see an analyst’s rankings for a change.

    Casual fans always have Sandy Koufax and Nolan Ryan in their top 5, often at numbers one and/or two, which is absurd.

    Thanks for the effort. Very nice work.

    Like

    Reply
  22. Avatar
    Anonymous

    If one accepts the terms of the list – starting pitchers only, and what happened pre-1901 or in the Negro Leagues doesn’t count – this is a good list. I would have the same 9 pitchers in the top 9 that you have. I might have Ryan and Koufax a little higher than you do, but I’m glad that they aren’t in the top 15. I have 2 suggestions: I think Ford is too low at #80, and Early Wynn should be on the list somewhere. I’m sure you know about these 2 pitchers and that I couldn’t tell you anything about them that you don’t already know.

    Like

    Reply
  23. Avatar
    Anonymous

    Could you reveal what methodology you’re using here? Is it all math or are you adding a dash of subjectiveness? Thanks.

    Like

    Reply

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

100 Greatest Players of all time