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Monday, May 20, 2024
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Top 10 Best MLB Pitchers of All Time

Baseball
PUBLISHED:
Brian Heffernan
By Brian Heffernan
Tom Seaver smiles while wearing a New York Mets outfit
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With another baseball season to look forward to, we have time to look at the best MLB pitchers ever. Training to become a professional baseball pitcher is one of the hardest routes into the sport. A simple pitch takes years of development to master, with unique types of grips, stances, and positions to learn before standing on the mound.

Even in the last MLB season, we had a reminder of just how difficult it is in the big leagues. Adam Wainwright’s 7.40 ERA fast-tracked his retirement from professional baseball. But, it’s not all bad news. Gerrit Cole only conceded 20 home runs for the New York Yankees in 2023. Finally, one of the best pitchers currently in the MLB earned his Cy Young Award. This got us thinking about some of the greatest pitchers from over the years. Cole hasn’t made our list of the best MLB pitchers of all time, as we are only ranking retired players – and the Yankees pitcher is anything but finished in New York!

10. Roy “Doc” Halladay

Roy Halladay celebrates in a Blue Jays jersey

Roy Halladay never won a World Series, but during his fifteen-year career on the mound, Doc certainly earned his place among the best MLB pitchers of all time. He won the hearts of both Toronto Blue Jays and Philadelphia Phillies supporters.

Most baseball fans remember Doc because of his outstanding performance in the 2010 MLB Playoffs. Despite pitching in over 300 regular season starts, game one of the NLDS was Halladay’s first appearance in the postseason. The Phillies legend accomplished an extremely rare feat against the Cincinnati Reds when getting a no-hitter on his postseason debut. The no-hitter almost failed at the last hurdle. Thankfully Philadelphia’s catcher, Carlos Joaquín Ruiz, threw a perfect ball while on his knees to first base and sealed the near-perfect game for Halladay. We say “near perfect” as Jay Bruce walked during the game, but nobody got anything else that day.

Halladay, nicknamed “Doc” by the iconic Toronto Blue Jays announcer Tom Cheek. The name derived from Doc Holliday, an 1800s Texas gunslinger and a dentist. It was Halladay’s throwing style that sparked the idea for Cheek, with the name sticking throughout his pitching career.

  • Career Win/Loss: 203-105
  • Innings Pitched (IP): 2749.1
  • Earned Run Average (ERA): 3.38
  • Wins Above Replacement (WAR): 64.2
  • Active Years: 1998-2013

9. Bob “Gibby” Gibson

Bob Gibson wearing a St. Louis Cardinals jersey

Next on our list of the best MLB pitchers of all time is Bob Gibson. One of the most feared pitchers of the ’60s and ‘70s, Gibson gained a reputation for being ruthless. The two-time World Series champion showed little to no regard for the batters he faced and found hitting them was a pretty effective way of slowing down the opposition.

It got to where batters were already afraid before Gibson stepped on the mound. This helped the St. Louis Cardinals icon, with Gibson winning two Cy Young Awards and nine Gold Gloves. He also played in the All-Star game nine times during his career.

Besides his outstanding career stats, what sets Gibson apart from the rest is his loyalty to the St. Louis Cardinals. The pitcher spent his entire career playing in Missouri, pitching in 528 games for the MLB side. His last appearance for the Cardinals came on September 3rd, 1975.

Bob Gibson sadly died from pancreatic cancer in 2020, but his legendary 1.12 ERA season will live on. Gibson’s 1.12 ERA season in 1968 is now known as the Year of the Pitcher and is the lowest recorded ERA in liveball history. Tim Keefe holds the record for the lowest ERA of all time in a single season, with a 0.86 ERA back in 1880.

  • Career Win/Loss: 251-174
  • Innings Pitched (IP): 3884.1
  • Earned Run Average (ERA): 2.91
  • Wins Above Replacement (WAR): 89.1
  • Active Years: 1959-1975

8. Phil “Knucksie” Niekro

Phil Niekro waves to the crowd at an Atlanta Braves game

Professional sports is a young man’s game. However, one of the best MLB pitchers of all time, Phil Niekro, threw that theory out of the window. While his career stats might not be the best amongst the other pitchers on our list, baseball is more than just stats. And for a pitcher, longevity, and consistency are just as important.

Niekro was a workhorse on the mound, pitching in an unbelievable 5,404 innings. Cy Young holds the record for most career innings pitched with 7,356. But Knucksie is in a respectable fourth behind Walter Johnson and Pud Galvin. However, Niekro also holds the record for the most wins by a pitcher after the age of 40. He has 121 career wins in the major leagues.

But Niekro wasn’t just a hard-working pitcher who could get the job done. He had one of the best knuckleballs in baseball history. Niekro and his brother were sons of a coal miner. This led to learning a unique throwing technique. One of his father’s work colleagues taught Knucksie and his brother how to pitch in their backyard, exposing Niekro to a knuckleball for the first time. This technique stayed with the pitcher throughout his entire career, and it sure paid off. Knucksie is ranked 16th for all-time wins and is the only knuckleballer to win over 300 games in the MLB.

The knuckleball specialist spent 19 years playing for the Atlanta Braves and made his final MLB appearance in 1987. Phil Niekro also played for the New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians, and Toronto Blue Jays. He passed away in 2020 and was never awarded the coveted Cy Young award. But Knucksie played on the All-Star team five times and won five Golden Glove awards.

  • Career Win/Loss: 318-274
  • Innings Pitched (IP): 5404
  • Earned Run Average (ERA): 3.35
  • Wins Above Replacement (WAR): 95.9
  • Active Years: 1964-1987

7. Roger “Rocket” Clemens

Roger Clemens poses in a Boston Red Sox hat and jersey

If you’re a Mike Piazza fan, you might want to skip this entry on our list. Roger Clemens’ temper might have needed some work, but you’d be hard-pressed to find somebody better on the mound. Of course, everybody remembers when Clemens launched a bat at Piazza in Game Two of the 2000 World Series. The pitcher claimed he had mistaken the sharp piece of a broken wooden bat for the ball, but the jury is still out on whether this was the case.

But Roger Clemens had much more impressive moments in his career than a bit of controversy in a World Series game and is one of the best MLB pitchers of all time. It’s every young pitcher’s dream to get their hands on just one Cy Young award, but Clemens not only won the award but holds the record for the most Cy Young awards in history with seven to his name – two more than legend Randy Johnson.

The achievements don’t stop there, with Clemens playing in the All-Star game eleven times. He won two World Series and recorded 20 strikeouts in a nine-inning game, not once, but twice! However, just as his appearance in Game Two of the 2000 World Series was controversial, so was the pitcher’s career. His attitude on and off the field often annoyed those around him. Clemens’ anger at having to carry his luggage in an airport gained little sympathy from both the club’s staff and fanbase. He also publically criticized Fenway Park’s facilities and was a “diva” in the baseball world.

Jose Canseco added further damage to the legacy of Roger Clemens in his book, Juiced: Wild Times, Rampant ‘Roids, Smash Hits & How Baseball Got Big. Canseco alluded to possible steroid usage by Clemens. They charged him with perjury and obstruction of Congress after being accused of lying about steroid usage. But they acquitted the pitcher on all six felony counts in 2012.

Despite clearly having a career worthy of a place amongst the greats, it’s these controversies that stopped Clemens from entering the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He only received 65.2% of the votes, with 75% needed.

  • Career Win/Loss: 354-184
  • Innings Pitched (IP): 4916.2
  • Earned Run Average (ERA): 3.12
  • Wins Above Replacement (WAR): 139.2
  • Active Years: 1984-2007

6. Warren Spahn

Warren Spahn stands in front of the crowd at a Braves game

Warren Spahn isn’t just the greatest left-handed pitcher to play in the MLB, but the Atlanta Braves legend was also a decorated solider during World War Two. After earning the Bronze Star for his contribution during the Battle of the Bulge, the former Combat Engineer returned to his baseball career in 1946.

The pitcher spent most of his time playing for the Braves, joining the New York Mets and San Francisco Giants in his final years as a professional. During his 21-season career, Warren Spahn played in the All-Star game 17 times and had a record-breaking amount of wins from a left-handed pitcher. To this day, nobody has toppled Spahn’s 363 Major League career wins from a left-handed pitcher. Which is even more impressive given he didn’t record his first win until the age of 25!

Warren Spahn was a prolific left-handed pitcher. They give the Warren Spahn Award to the best left-handed pitcher every MLB season. It was first introduced to the league in 1999. Randy Johnson won the award four times and currently holds the record for most wins. Blake Snell most recently won the award for the second time in 2023.

Spahn’s stellar pitching career earned him a spot in the National Hall of Fame in 1973. There’s no doubt he is among the best MLB pitchers of all time and thoroughly deserves a place on our list.

  • Career Win/Loss: 363-245
  • Innings Pitched (IP): 5243.2
  • Earned Run Average (ERA): 3.09
  • Wins Above Replacement (WAR): 100.0
  • Active Years: 1942-1965

5. Randy “The Big Unit” Johnson

Randy Johnson throwing a pitch for the San Francisco Giants

It’s easy to work out why former teammate Tim Raines gave Randy Johnson his formidable nickname. The Big Unit stands at 6ft 10in tall and has a striking mustache. There is no doubt that Johnson instilled fear into most batters. But gimmicks aside, The Big Unit overcame a tough start to life in professional baseball to become one of the best MLB pitchers of all time.

Randy Johnson didn’t have a positive season win/loss record until 1990 while playing for the Seattle Mariners. This became the pitcher’s breakout season with his first appearance in the All-Star game coming in the same year. Johnson finished his career with the fifth-most victories by a left-handed pitcher, with Warren Spahn leading the way.

The four seasons between 1999 and 2002 are the peak years of Randy Johnson’s career. He made four straight appearances in the All-Star game, won four Cy Young Awards, and was included in the MVP vote in every season. Johnson also pitched a perfect game against the Atlanta Braves in 2004, but this year would mark his last appearance in an All-Star game.

Since his retirement in 2010, The Big Unit has amassed various roles. He joined the Arizona Diamondbacks as a Special Assistant to the team president and fulfilled a lifelong passion for photography. Randy Johnson worked for the NFL as a photographer. Johnson also became a member of both the Seattle Mariners and the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

  • Career Win/Loss: 303-166
  • Innings Pitched (IP): 4135.1
  • Earned Run Average (ERA): 3.29
  • Wins Above Replacement (WAR): 101.1
  • Active Years: 1988-2009

4. Greg “The Professor” Maddux

Greg Maddux throwing a pitch for the Atlanta Braves

As mentioned at the beginning of this list, consistency as a pitcher is one of the most important tools in the major leagues. Nobody proves this point more than Greg Maddux. The Professor didn’t look like a future Hall of Fame pitcher during his first two seasons for the Chicago Cubs. But the 1988 season started a 17-year streak of 15 or more wins per season in the MLB. He became the only pitcher in MLB history to do so. This might not seem like the biggest achievement in baseball, but it’s this consistency that laid the foundation for Maddux’s success.

It wasn’t the speed or curve of Greg Maddux’s pitches that gained the attention of baseball fans. Instead, Maddux’s preparation before games would earn him the title “The Professor” during his career. Maddux studied the opposition batters in great detail before facing them and could adapt his style mid-game depending on who he faced. His homework paid off, with Maddux winning more games than any other pitcher during the 1990s. He showed that being a student of the game was just as important as skill.

One of Greg Maddux’s most memorable moments came against the Chicago Cubs in 1997. It was during his peak years while playing for the Atlanta Braves. The Professor put on one of his best performances when playing a complete game against the Cubs. He allowed only five hits in just 78 pitches and recorded 36 strikes during the game.

But Greg Maddux didn’t just throw the ball well. He was also a useful fielding pitcher. The Professor is the best fielding pitcher in MLB history and won a staggering 18 Golden Glove Awards to prove it. Not only did Maddux win plenty of accolades for his fielding, but the pitcher also won four consecutive Cy Young Awards between 1992 and 1995. There is no doubt why he ranks just outside the top three best MLB pitchers of all time on our list.

  • Career Win/Loss: 355-227
  • Innings Pitched (IP): 5008.1
  • Earned Run Average (ERA): 3.16
  • Wins Above Replacement (WAR): 106.6
  • Active Years: 1986-2008

3. Lefty Grove

Lefty Grove warms-up ahead of a Red Sox game

Despite having a shorter career than most on this list, Robert Moses “Lefty” Grove is one of the best MLB pitchers of all time. Lefty did not start playing competitive baseball until the age of 19, but his professional career speaks for itself. We had no choice but to include Grove in our top three pitchers.

During his 17-year spell as a major league pitcher, Lefty rarely had a poor season for either the Philadelphia Athletics or Boston Red Sox. Lefty’s worst season was also his major league debut year upon joining the Philadelphia Athletics in 1925. The pitcher finished this season with an ERA of 4.75 and a negative win/loss ratio, winning 10 games and losing 12. However, this was partly because of injuries and was the only time Grove posted a negative win/loss record in his entire career.

Grove’s peak came while playing for the Boston Red Sox between 1935 and 1939. He recorded 83 wins and an average ERA of 2.83 in 149 games for Boston during these seasons. Grove also achieved a dream landmark for every pitcher, when winning his 300th game. Sadly this match against the Cleveland Indians was the pitcher’s last win before retirement.

However, Grove’s best ERA performance was back in 1931 while still playing for the Philadelphia Athletics. Lefty finished the year with an impressive 2.06 ERA, leading the major leagues. He also recorded a staggering 31 wins this season, losing just four games for the Athletics, his career-best win/loss ratio. Grove became the MVP this season.

After retiring from baseball in 1941, they awarded Lefty Grove a spot in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1947. The legendary pitcher sadly died of a heart attack in 1975 while watching a baseball game on television with his family.

  • Career Win/Loss: 300-141
  • Innings Pitched (IP): 3940.2
  • Earned Run Average (ERA): 3.06
  • Wins Above Replacement (WAR): 106.8
  • Active Years: 1925-1941

2. Tom “The Franchise” Seaver

Tom Seaver poses in a New York Mets outfit

The New York Mets will never have another pitcher like Tom “The Franchise” Seaver. His unbelievable and emotional career in New York is the stuff of legends. The pitcher’s larger-than-life personality and love for the Mets made him an instant star. Few know that his arrival at the club was purely based on luck. They voided his first-ever professional contract with the Atlanta Braves because the NCAA ruled him ineligible. However, the other major league teams had the chance to match the offer. Any club doing so was placed in a lottery draw. It was just by chance that the Mets were the club pulled out of the hat and were gifted one of the best MLB pitchers of all time.

Seaver officially joined the Mets in 1967 and spent 10 years in New York. During that time, The Franchise established himself as one of the most important players in the MLB, winning just about everything on offer. Seaver won his first Cy Young Award in 1969 and four more in consecutive seasons. The pitcher played in the All-Star game in all but two seasons during his first stint at the Mets. This includes his rookie season.

However, on June 15th, 1977, New York Mets fans woke up to the worst news possible. The Mets shockingly traded Tom Seaver to the Cincinnati Reds. During his post-trade interview, Seaver almost broke down at the thought of leaving the Mets and had a lot of love for the fanbase that adored him. While pitching for the Reds in 1978, Seaver finally got his illusive no-hitter against the St. Louis Cardinals, with Cincinnati winning the game 4-0.

The Franchise eventually returned to the Mets at the tail end of his career, but this stint only lasted for one season. Tom Seaver also ticked off another huge milestone late in his career, getting his 300th win while playing for the Chicago White Sox in 1985. Fittingly, Seaver beat the New York Yankees in The Bronx, New York. He won eleven more games in the major leagues and retired in 1987 at 42. They added the pitcher to the New York Mets, Cincinnati Reds, and National Baseball Hall of Fame.

  • Career Win/Loss: 311-205
  • Innings Pitched (IP): 4783.0
  • Earned Run Average (ERA): 2.86
  • Wins Above Replacement (WAR): 109.9
  • Active Years: 1967-1986

1. Walter “The Big Train” Johnson

Walter Johnson stares into the distance while standing in the dugout

Completing our list of the best MLB pitchers of all time is the iconic Walter Johnson. Spending his entire career at the Washington Senators, now known as the Minnesota Twins, Johnson had the greatest pitching career in major league history. He was the standout choice for our number-one spot.

Johnson’s fastball was unmatched during his era and was the trademark for the Senators’ pitcher. His 91mph speed wouldn’t impress many fans in today’s game, with Aroldis Chapman holding the MLB record for the fastest fastball thrown at 105.8 mph. But during the early 1900s, Johnson’s pitching speed earned him the nickname The Big Train, with many batters having the feeling of a train coming towards them.

Many awards given to other pitchers on this list didn’t exist during Walter Johnson’s era, but his statistical achievements with the Washington Senators are unmatched. To this day, nobody has beaten his career shutout record of 110, with the pitcher also getting a mind-blowing 417 major league wins between 1907 and 1927 for the Senators. His career wins tally is second only to Cy Young with 511 wins, who played over 100 more games than Johnson.

Like many of the greatest MLB pitchers, The Big Train had to wait until the latter stages of his career to taste success. In 1924, after 18 years of playing in the major leagues, Walter Johnson finally won the World Series with the Washington Senators, and this was the only time he won it during his career.

Three years later, Johnson last appeared for the Senators and left professional baseball pitching for good. However, he would return to baseball, but this time as a manager. He coached the Washington Senators and Cleveland Indians from 1929 to 1935.

Once Walter Johnson had officially retired from all professional baseball activities, they inducted the greatest MLB pitcher of all time into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936. He became part of the First Five to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

  • Career Win/Loss: 417-279
  • Innings Pitched (IP): 5914.1
  • Earned Run Average (ERA): 2.17
  • Wins Above Replacement (WAR): 165.1
  • Active Years: 1907-1927
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