Strikeout Kings: The Best Pitchers In MLB History
From Roy “Doc” Halliday to Jay “Dizzy” Dean, some Major League Baseball pitchers surpass all others. With lightening-fast throws and stellar precision, there is a reason these men made it to the big leagues.
Step up to bat and learn more about the best pitchers in baseball history.
Tom Seaver
For 20 seasons, Tom Seaver was dominating the pitcher’s mound. Seaver earned the Cy Young Award three times during his career, was the NL ERA leader three times, and was the NL strikeout leader a solid five times.
He even pitched a no-hitter back in 1978. Seaver is lucky enough to be thrice inducted into the hall of fame: the Baseball Hall of Fame, the New York Mets Hall of Fame, and the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame.
Christy Mathewson
Christy Mathewson is one of the best pitchers in baseball history, holding a top-ten slot in multiple pitching categories, including strikeouts (2,502), wins (373), and ERA (2.13). The two-time World Series champion even pitched two no-hitters during his 17-season career with the New York Giants.
A five-time NL strikeout leader and five-time NL ERA leader, Mathewson retired from baseball with a solid 79 career shutouts.
Rube Waddell
A southpaw pitcher, Rube Waddell, proved to be a force on the mound. He was known for his erratic behavior and tendency to strike out everyone who came up to bat, leaving the game with a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 3-to-1.
Waddell graced the pitchers’ mound for a solid 13-year career from 1897 until 1910. In 1946, he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Smokey Joe Wood
Smokey Joe Wood was in the MLB for 14 years, a majority of which he played for the Boston Red Sox. While pitching for the Sox, he led the team to three World Series victories.
In 1911, Wood pitched a no-hitter, solidifying his place in the Red Sox Hall of Fame.
Cy Young
During his early days, Cy Young had one of the fastest pitches in the MLB, leading him to 2,803 career strikeouts. He was even lucky enough to pitch both a perfect game and a no-hitter during his career.
To honor one of the greatest pitchers in the game, the Cy Young Award is an annual award given to the best pitcher in each league.
Tom Glavine
As one of 24 pitchers to have 300 career wins, Tom Glavine has secured his spot as one of the greatest in history. During his career, Glavine played for both the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets and became a ten-time All-Star and World Series champion.
In the 1990s alone, he earned the second-highest number of wins, at 164, of any pitcher in the MLB.
Ed Walsh
For several seasons, Big Ed Walsh was widely considered the best pitcher in the game. He is the last modern pitcher to have won 40 games or more in a single season and the last of any team to throw more than 400 innings in a season.
As of 2021, Walsh holds the record for lowest ERA, at a staggeringly low 1.82.
Jay “Dizzy” Dean
The last National League pitcher to win 30 games in a season, batters were scared to go up to the plate when Jay “Dizzy” Dean took to the mound. With a solid 134 victories during his career, “Ol’ Diz” left the league with a 2.99 ERA.
In 1953, Dean was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, and in 2014 he was inducted into the St. Louis Cardinals team Hall of Fame.
Mordecai Brown
In his youth, an accident had Mordecai Brown lose parts of two of his fingers on his right hand. He did not let the handicap slow him down, though. Instead, he used it to his advantage, learning how to grip a ball in such a way that batters did not stand a chance.
The quirky throw resulted in such a powerful curveball that Brown became known as one of the best pitchers of his time.
Nolan Ryan
Considering Nolan Ryan holds the MLB for most career strikeouts with a whopping 5,714, it is safe to say he is one of the best pitchers in the game’s history.
Over a 27-year career, Ryan consistently clocked in over-100 miles-per-hour pitches, was a two-time ERA leader, and, not so surprisingly, an 11-time strikeout leader.
Don Drysdale
One of the most dominate pitchers throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Don Drysdale played his entire MLB career with the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers. His unique ability to throw the ball as close to the batter as possible without hitting them made him a force on the mound.
During his time, Drysdale went on to become a three-time World Series champion.
Juan Marichal
In the 1960s, Juan Marichal was the leading pitcher in the league for wins, playing for the San Francisco Giants at the time. Known for his outrageously high leg kick and a wide variety of pitches, Marichal’s pinpoint accuracy was something to behold.
Over his long career, the “The Dominican Dandy” struck out over 2,300 batters.
Carl Hubbell
Playing for the New York Giants during his career, Carl Hubbell became a two-time MVP for a reason. Not only did he win 24 straight games between 1936 and 1937, but he was also a World Series champion, a nine-time All-Star, and a three-time MLB ERA leader.
Hubbell was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1947.
Roger Clemens
When a pitcher’s nickname is “The Rocket,” they are more than likely going to be considered one of the greatest to grace the mound.
At least this is true in the case of Roger Clemens. The former MLB pitcher played for 24 seasons, leaving the league with 4,672 career strikeouts, an ERA of 3.12, and two World Series titles.
Clayton Kershaw
A left-handed pitcher, Clayton Kershaw has made quite a name for himself as a premier pitcher since his MLB debut in 2008.
A World Series champion, a three-time NL Cy Young Award-winner, and lucky enough to pitch a no-hitter, Kershaw is going down in history as one of the best.
Jim Palmer
With three Cy Young Awards, four Gold Glove Awards, and never allowing a grand slam during a major game, Jim Palmer is highly considered one of the best pitchers to play the game.
Palmer was a three-time World Serie champion who had a storied career and ended his time in the MLB with 268 career wins.
Robert “Lefty” Grove
Robert “Lefty” Grove became a star pitcher in the MLB after moving up from the minor leagues in the 1920s. One of the best pitchers in history, Lefty led the American League in strikeouts seven years in a row, held the league’s lowest ERA nine times, and had the most wins in four separate seasons.
He was a six-time All-Star, a two-time Triple Crown winner, and two-time World Series champion.
Leroy “Satchel” Paige
Leroy “Satchel” Paige’s cocky behavior made him a different type of pitcher during his era, but no less fantastic. He would have his infield take a breather and head towards the dugout while he proceeded to strike out each batter who came to the plate!
At the end of his career, Paige was a World Series champion, a two-time MLB All-Star, and the oldest player to ever retire from the game, at 59 years old.
Randy Johnson
Randy Johnson is one of the greatest left-handed pitchers in history, having a total of 4,875 career strikeouts, the second-highest amongst pitchers and the highest amongst lefties.
The ten-time All-Star is also a five-time Cy Young Award-winner and a World Series title-holder. Johnson is also lucky enough to say he pitched both a perfect game and a no-hitter during his career.
Edward “Whitey” Ford
Edward “Whitey” Ford played in the MLB for 16 years, all of which he pitched for the New York Yankees. During his career, Whitey became a six-time World Series champion, a ten-time All-Star, and led the MLB in ERAs twice.
In 1974, Ford was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Justin Verlander
There are zero questions that Justin Verlander is a Hall of Famer. A flamethrower who hasn’t slowed down with age, he has over 200 wins and hit a major milestone when he struck out his 3,000th batter.
Verlander has done it all – he’s won a World Series, two Cy Young Awards, been named the MVP, and has been named an all star eight times.
Steve “Lefty” Carlton
Steve “Lefty” Carlton has a very apt nickname, as he has the second-most lifetime wins of any left-handed pitcher as well as the second-most lifetime strikeouts, a solid 4,136.
The first pitcher to win four Cy Young Awards, Lefty was a ten-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion during his career.
Mariano Rivera
For 19 seasons, Mariano Rivera pitched for the New York Yankees. A five-time World Series champion and a 13-time All-Star, Rivera was a force on the mound.
At the end of his career, he left the league with a whopping 652 saves and 952 finishes, the most in MLB history.
Bob Feller
With nicknames such as “Bullet Bob,” “The Heater from Van Meter,” and “Rapid Robert,” it probably makes sense that Bob Feller is one of the greatest to grace the pitcher’s mound.
After playing 18 seasons in the MLB, Feller left the game with a win-loss record of 266–162, three no-hitters, a Triple Crown, and a World Series title.
Roy “Doc” Halladay
First pitching for the Toronto Blue Jays before pitching for the Philadelphia Phillies, Roy “Doc” Halladay has gone down in history as one of the best ever to grace the mound.
One of the most dominant pitchers of his era, Halladay had one perfect game under his belt and a post-season no-hitter. The eight-time All-Star was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2019.
Grover Cleveland Alexander
Playing in the major league from 1911 through 1930, Grover Cleveland Alexander set some pretty insane records. Alexander managed 90 shutouts during his career, became an NL ERA leader four times, an NL leader in wins six times, won the Triple Crown three times, and won a World Series title.
Alexander is in the Baseball Hall of Fame, the Philadelphia Phillies Hall of Fame, and the Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame.
Warren Spahn
Warren Spahn holds countless records with the MLB, including the most career wins by a left-handed pitcher, 363. Playing for 21 seasons, Spahn became known as the “thinking man’s” pitcher who liked to play with the batter’s mind.
He became a 17-time All-Star and a World Series champion with 2,583 strikeouts under his belt by the time he retired.
Pedro Martinez
Even though he retired in 2009, Pedro Martinez remains the only pitcher to have over 3,000 career strikeouts with less than 3,000 innings pitched. An electric player throughout his career, Martinez left the game with an ERA of 2.93, the sixth-lowest in MLB history.
In 2015, he was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame, and the Boston Red Sox retired his number, 45, two days after his induction.
Greg Maddux
During his time pitching in the MLB, Greg Maddux set numerous records, including becoming the first player to receive the coveted Cy Young Award multiple years in a row and the only person in history to win at least 15 games for 17 straight seasons.
At the end of his career, the World Series champ had 3,371 career strikeouts.
Bob Gibson
During his 17 seasons playing in the MLB, Bob Gibson was one of the most unhittable pitchers in the league. His performance is often cited as one of the reasons why the league changed the regulation mound height from 15 inches to ten inches!
Gibson retired as a two-time World Series champion with a no-hitter, two NL Cy Young Awards, nine Gold Glove Awards, 3,117 career strikeouts, and MLB ERA leader.
Walter Johnson
Pitching 21 years for the Washington Senators, Walter Johnson set a few league records, including most shutouts in a career at a whopping 110. As of 2021, the record still holds!
When he retired in 1927, Johnson had 417 wins under his belt, 3,508 strikeouts, and an ERA of 2.17. In 1936, Johnson was one of the “First Five” inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Robin Roberts
Robin Roberts spent 18 dominant seasons in MLB and today still holds the record for opening days started with the same team. He also completed an astonishing 305 games before returning.
Roberts didn’t try and strike out every batter. Instead, he dared the best in the business to make contact with his precisely placed pitches.
Trevor Hoffman
One of the most dominant relief pitchers of all time, Trevor Hoffman has more than earned his place here. He was the first pitcher to ever save 500 games, then topped himself when he reached 600!
Surprisingly, Hoffman began his career as a shortstop but was offensively a liability so he transitioned to the bullpen.
Dennis Eckersley
A true magician on the mound who could do it all, Dennis Eckersley was both a starting pitcher and a closer, By the time he retired, he had 197 wins and 390 saves.
Eckersley is one of two pitchers to win 20 games in a season and save 50. In the ’90s, there were few pitchers, if any, who could do what Eckersley did.
Gaylord Perry
Gaylord Perry was the first pitcher to win the Cy Young Award in both the American League and National League. He retired with a career ERA of 3.11 and over 300 wins.
Perry was as consistent as pitchers come and won 15 or more games in 13 straight seasons from 1966 through 1978.
Max Scherzer
Max Scherzer might seem unpredictable on the mound with his volatile personality, but you can almost always expect him to shut down opposing offenses.
For over a decade Scherzer has been one of the most dominant pitchers in MLB and has posted a career ERA of just over 3.00. His best season came in 2013 when he won 21 games and struck out 240 hitters.
Sandy Koufax
Sandy Koufax didn’t have as long as a career as others on this list, but for the 11 years he pitched, there was no one better. Many baseball historians believe that Koufax is the greatest pitcher of all time despite his less than impressive career numbers.
Koufax was the first pitcher to throw three no hitters and was the youngest player ever inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Phil Niekro
An underappreciated talent during his time, Phil Niekro had a long career that deserves more recognition. A knuckleball specialist, he played for 25 seasons and won 318 game, retiring with a 3.35 ERA.
Niekro’s best season came at 39-years-old with the Atlanta Braves in 1978. He won 19 games and struck out 248 batters.
Mike Mussina
With an almost 20 year career under his belt, there’s no denying just how consistent Mike Mussina was. His career 3.68 ERA and 270 wins only act as further proof.
Even with his long career, Mussina may have peaked early, arguably having his best season at just 23-years-old. That year he won 18 games and pitched 241 innings.
C.C. Sabathia
With 251 career wins to his name and over 3,000 strikeouts, it’s only a matter of time before C.C. Sabathia is enshrined in the Hall of Fame. His production tailed off near the end of his career, but at his peak, he was must watch television.
Sabathia had his best year in 2008. He started 35 games, won 17, and pitched 253 inning.
