A starting pitcher is obviously vital to a team's success on any given day, at least until the age of bullpen games. Still, on most days, it's the most important job on the field, as a strong starting performance gives a team a significant advantage while a poor starting performance can quickly destroy a team's chances for a victory. The position is so important that as baseball evolved, teams realized the ability of a pitcher to hit well is so insignificant compared to their ability to pitch well, that they need not even practice it – their focus needs to be on pitching and getting hitters out, and so, pitchers became notoriously horrible at hitting until the DH was eventually adopted in the American League, and later across all of MLB, and now pitchers no longer have to hit, unless of course - they're actually good at it.
Throughout the history of baseball, hundreds of starting pitchers have had Hall of Fame careers, making this list extremely difficult. Making it even tougher is comparing pitchers from the early 20th century to more modern arms. I do take inflated dead ball era numbers into consideration and some of those pitchers, while still considered for the list, might not be ranked as high as pitchers who faced more powerful bats. But ultimately, no matter who I put in the Top 25, I will have to leave off some legendary Hall of Famers. So, I’ll start with 15 quick honorable mentions who were considered for the main list but I just couldn’t quite squeeze them in.
Fergie Jenkins – Jenkins was the 1971 Cy Young Award Winner, and the first pitcher to end his career with at least 3,000 strikeouts and fewer than 1,000 walks. He finished his career with 267 complete games, a shocking number for some one who pitched as recently as the 70’s and 80’s.
Roy Halladay – Doc Halladay was a 2-time Cy Young Award Winner and 8-time All Star who threw a perfect game in 2010 and later that year, a no-hitter in the playoffs. He led the league in complete games 7 times and is the last pitcher to pitch 260 innings in a season.
Phil Niekro – Niekro was a legendary knuckler, whose rare pitch allowed him to have an exceptionally long career that included 318 wins and 3,342 strikeouts. He was also a fantastic fielder who won 5 Gold Gloves.
Bret Saberghagen – a three-time All Star and 2-time Cy Young Award Winner, Saberhagen had a blazing fastball with pinpoint control. He was the 1985 Worlds Series MVP, going 2-0 with a .5 ERA, allowing just 1 run in 18 innings. In the 2 complete games, he walked 1 single batter. He is a major Hall of Fame snub.
Gaylord Perry – Perry was a 2-time Cy Young Award Winner notorious for his spitball and mind games with hitters. But he also had a strong fastball, deadly curve, and was extremely durable, coming in 6th all time in innings pitched. He is the last pitcher to retire with over 300 complete games.
Mike Mussina – Mussina may have never been the best, but he was among the best for 18 years, consistently winning between 14 and 20 games per season. He made 5 All Star games, won 7 Gold Gloves, and retired with an impressive 270-153 career record with over 3,500 strikeouts.
Tom Glavine – With his mastery of control, changing speeds and strategic intelligence, Glavine won 305 games throughout his 22 year career. He also won 2 Cy Young Awards and made 10 All Star teams, not to mention a World Series MVP in 1995, when he went 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA in the Fall Classic.
Curt Schilling – My #1 Hall of Fame snub of all time is currently Curt Schilling, who had an incredible 20 year career in which he finished 2nd for the Cy Young Award 3 times, made 6 All Star Teams, led the league in complete games 4 times and struck out over 3,000 batters. But he was even better in the postseason, winning an NLCS MVP and Co-World Series MVP, going 10-2 with a 2.23 ERA in October, helping the Diamondbacks win their first World Series and helping the Red Sox break the Curse of the Bambino in legendary style.
Don Sutton – Sutton had incredible longevity, pitching 23 seasons, accumulating 5,282 innings pitched, 7th all time. He had his best years in the mid-70’s, when he finished in the Top 5 for the Cy Young in 5 straight years, making 4 All Star teams.
John Smoltz – Smoltzy was an elite 8-time All Star who put his name on the map with a legendary performance in the 1991 World Series, then went on to win a Cy Young in 1996 with a 24-8 record. Injuries forced him to miss a season then move to the bullpen, but he became a lockdown closer, leading the league with 55 saves in 2002.
Red Ruffing - Ruffing was a late bloomer who peaked in his 30’s after being traded to the Yankees. He won at least 20 games for 4 straight seasons, going from an innings-eating middle of the rotation starter to an Ace and Hall of Famer.
CC Sabathia – One of the best arms of the late 2000’s and early 2010’s, 6-time All Star CC Sabathia won a Cy Young in 2007 with the Cleveland Indians, then went on to help the Yankees win the World Series in 2009, going 19-8 in the regular season and then dominating in the playoffs, winning an ALCS MVP.
Smokey Joe Williams – a legend of the Negro Leagues for over 20 years, Williams was a strikeout machine who once struck out 27 batters over 12 innings while allowing a single hit. He threw several no-hitters, including one in an exhibition game against the New York Giants.
Satchell Paige – Paige was an extremely skilled pitcher known for his blazing fastball, pinpoint control, and diverse arsenal of trick pitches. His showmanship and longevity also defined his career, as he pitched professionally for over 40 years across the Negro Leagues and Major Leagues.
Since we’re only focusing on the modern era, I’m not talking about pitchers who primarily had their best years before 1903, but there is one more pitcher who also has to get a mention, and I’ve already said his name several times and will be repeating his name throughout the rest of the video – the legendary Cy Young.
Cy Young
“Cyclone Cy” would easily come in at #1 if we went back to the 19th Century. His career lasted from 1890 to 1911, 22 seasons, but his best years were before 1903. He put up numbers that will never be seen again, due to the way the game has evolved. But there is no doubt that among his peers, nobody was better. Cy Young dominated with a powerful fastball early in his career then incredible control later on. He had remarkable durability and was the ultimate "workhorse". Young won over 30 games 5 times and at least 20 games 16 times, retiring with a still MLB record 511 wins. He set a since broken MLB record with 3 career no-hitters and still holds the record for starts, complete games, and innings pitched. He completed 749 games in his career. Only 2 other pitchers even started that many games – Nolan Ryan and Don Sutton. Cy Young’s legendary status led to the naming of the Cy Young Award, given to the best pitcher in each league every season.
And now let's jump into the Top 25…
25. Bert Blyleven
Although he shockingly made just 2 All Star Teams, Blyleven was a workhorse and dominant starter for 22 years in the big leagues, with double-digit wins in 17 separate seasons. He retired with 287 wins and is in the top 15 all time in innings pitched and career WAR for starting pitchers. When he retired, he was 3rd all time in strikeouts and remains in the top 5 even today.
24. Eddie Plank
One of the best pitchers of the dead ball era, Plank won at least 20 games 8 times and finished his career with an insanely impressive 326-194 record with a 2.35 ERA. He also had a career 1.32 ERA in 7 World Series appearances, helping his A’s win 3 Championships. Plank was the first left-handed pitcher to reach 200 and 300 wins and still holds the record for most career shutouts and most complete games by a lefty.
23. Don Drysdale
An intimidating, hard throwing righty, Don Drysdale was a 9-time All Star and 1962 Cy Young Award winner who was one of the best pitchers in baseball during the 1960’s. That year, he went 25-9 with a 2.83 ERA. He helped his Dodgers win 3 World Series but unfortunately, injuries cut his career short.
22. Mordecai Brown
3-Finger Mordecai Brown had an insane 2.06 career ERA and 6 consecutive seasons with 20+ wins. In 1909, he went 27-9 with a 1.31 ERA and 32 complete games. His unique skillset was primarily defined by his exceptional curveball and sinker, which he developed as an advantage from a mangled pitching hand. His rare grip imparted an unusual spin on the ball, making his pitches highly deceptive during the dead-ball era. He also possessed excellent control and fielding skills. For his career, he went 239-130 with 271 complete games.
21. Juan Marichal
Next up is the Dominican Dandy, who made 10 All Star teams and won 243 games during his 16 year career. Known for his distinctive high leg kick, wide variety of pitches, and incredible stamina, Marichal holds the record for most wins in San Francisco Giants history. He won over 20 games in 6 of 7 seasons, an ERA title in 1969 and retired with 244 complete games, 52 shutouts and over 2,300 strikeouts.
20. Whitey Ford
Yankee Legend Whitey Ford is a 10-time All Star who won the Cy Young in 1961 when he went 25-4. That year, he also won a World Series MVP with 2 shutdown performances – he didn’t allow a single run in 14 innings of work. Ford led the league in wins 3 times and ERA twice. He retired with 236 wins, 2 ERA titles and 6 World Series rings.
19. Ed Walsh – The early 20th Century Hall of Famer Ed Walsh was known for a dominant spitball. He had an insane 6 year peak in which he won over 20 games 4 times including 40 in 1908. But what’s most impressive about Walsh – he has an MLB record for starting pitchers with a minimum of 1,000 innings pitched – a 1.82 career ERA and although he only started 315 games, he completed 250 of them and still compiled nearly 3,000 innings.
18. Carl Hubbell
Hubbell pitched for the New York Giants his entire 16 year career. He was great from the beginning, averaging 17 wins per year his first full four seasons, but in 1933, Hubbell won 23 games with a 1.66 ERA, winning the MVP Award. From that point on, he was absolutely elite, making 9 All Star teams, and winning over 20 games per season for 5 straight years. He won a second MVP in 1936 when he went 26-6. Hubbell retired with 253 wins, a 2.98 ERA, 260 complete games, and 36 shutouts.
17. Grover Cleveland Alexander
Pete Alexander, AKA Grover Cleveland, AKA Alexander the Great was a legendary early 20th century pitcher who had masterful control, a wide variety of breaking pitches and an easy, graceful delivery. He dominated hitters for two decades, and threw over 300 innings in 9 separate seasons. For a 6 year stretch from 1915 to 1920, he had a sub 2 ERA every season. His best numbers were during the dead ball era and he wasn’t quite as dominant in the 1920’s, but Alexander still retired with incredible career numbers – 373 wins, 436 complete games, 30 shutouts and 2,189 strikeouts.
16. Robin Roberts
Just missing out on the top 15 is 7-time All Star Robin Roberts, the best starting pitcher in baseball during the first half of the 1950’s. He threw over 300 innings for 6 straight seasons. Note that no pitcher today even comes close to 300 innings and no one has done it for 45 years. During that 6 year stretch, he never won less than 20 games, threw 24 shutouts, and led the league in strikeouts twice. The Cy Young Award was introduced in 1956, just after his insane peak. He would’ve easily won the award at least twice, maybe three times. Outside of that peak, he still had lots of success, including 10 seasons with double digit wins. He put forth an amazing performance in the 1950 World Series, throwing 10 innings, allowing 2 runs, but his offense only scored 1 and the Phillies lost the game and eventually, the series.
15. Sandy Koufax
Legendary Dodger Sandy Koufax is only this low on the list, because of his relatively short 12-year career cut short by chronic pain in his pitching elbow at the age of 30. He was also an average at best pitcher for his 1st 6 seasons. But over his final five seasons, Koufax went 111-34 with a 1.95 ERA, possibly the greatest 5-year peak for a starting pitcher in MLB history. For those 5 seasons, he led the league in ERA every year, averaging over 22 wins per season, 3 times with at least 25 wins. He was a strikeout machine, setting a modern MLB record with 382 strikeouts in a single season. He won 3 Cy Young Awards, an MVP, and had a postseason .95 ERA, winning 2 World Series MVP Awards, while helping the Dodgers win 3 titles. Koufax is also second all-time with 4 career no-hitters.
14. Jim Palmer
Jim Palmer was known for his exceptional command, ability to induce weak contact, and a smooth delivery featuring a high leg kick. During the mid-70’s, no one was better. Palmer won the Cy Young Award in 3 out of 4 seasons, and in 1975, his best year, he went 23-11 with a 2.09 ERA. He led the league in wins for 3 straight seasons, ERA twice, and innings pitched four times. In 1975, he led the league with 10 shutouts, an incredible number as even by that time, shutouts were becoming somewhat rare, although obviously not as rare as today. The 6-time All Star and 4-time Gold Glover helped the Orioles win 3 World Series Championships and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1990.
13. Clayton Kershaw
The now retired Kershaw pitched for 18 seasons, won a Cy Young in 3 out of 4 seasons, led the league in ERA for 4 consecutive seasons, and even won an MVP Award in 2014, going 21-3 with a 1.77 ERA. He is one of just 5 pitchers in the 21st Century with 300 strikeouts in a season and has the lowest ERA in the live-ball era for a pitcher with more than 1,000 innings pitched. Kershaw had some troubles in the playoffs, but still 2nd all time with 213 career postseason strikeouts and he helped the Dodgers win 3 World Series titles. His .699 winning percentage is a modern MLB record for a pitcher with at least 1,500 innings pitched.
12. Steve Carlton
Lefty Steve Carlton was an intimidating starting pitcher whose repertoire included a dominant fastball and slider that helped him strike out 4,136 batters, 4th all time. His rigorous training helped him pitch for 24 seasons, in which he won four Cy Young Awards. He won at least 20 games 6 times and led the league in strikeouts 5 times. He also pitched well in the postseason, helping both the Cardinals and Phillies win World Series championships. Carlton won 329 games and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1994.
11. Pedro Martinez
Pedro Martínez was one of baseball's most dominant pitchers in the late 90’s and early 2000’s due to an elite blend of an electric arsenal, pinpoint command, and exceptional intelligence. He led the league in ERA in 5 out of 7 seasons and won the Cy Young Award in 3 out of 4. In 1999, he won the Pitcher’s Triple Crown with 23 wins, 313 strikeouts and a 1.07 ERA. He was also a key member of the 2004 Boston Red Sox, helping them break the Curse of the Bambino with 7 scoreless innings in Game 3 of the Fall Classic. He retired with 3,154 strikeouts, 15th all time and made it into the Hall of Fame his first year on the ballot in 2015.
10. Nolan Ryan
Next up is the legend himself, the Ryan Express. Nolan Ryan made his MLB debut in 1966 and pitched until 1993 – a nearly 30 year span. His primary skill was unparalleled power centered around an explosive and almost untouchable fastball. He was probably the first pitcher to consistently hit triple digits on the radar gun. The Mets used him as a reliever and starter, but after a move to Angels in 1972, he entered the rotation full time and showed his true potential, striking out 329 batters and setting a still-standing MLB record by allowing just 5.26 hits per 9 innings. He went on to lead the league in strikeouts a record 11 times, maxing out at 383 K’s in 1973, a modern MLB record. The 8-time All Star became the first pitcher to strike out 5,000 batters and remains the lone member of the club. He retired with 5,714 strikeouts, a record that feels completely safe for eternity. Another one of his untouchable records – an absolutely insane seven no-hitters.
9. Bob Gibson
Bob Gibson's legendary career was built on a fierce, intimidating presence, a blistering fastball, pinpoint control, and exceptional overall athleticism. His dominance was so pronounced during the 1968 season that MLB lowered the pitcher's mound the following year. He won the Cy Young Award and MVP that year with a 22-9 record and insane 1.12 ERA. Despite the change, he kept dominating and won another Cy Young in 1970 with a 23-7 record. Gibson made 9 All Star Games, won 9 Gold Gloves, an ERA title and two World Series Championships. What’s even more impressive is he won the World Series MVP both times. Gibson always showed up when it counted and he had a career 1.89 World Series ERA. For his career, Gibson struck out 3,117 batters and compiled 251 wins.
8. Greg Maddux
Hall of Famer Greg Maddux had an elite ability that was defined by exceptional control, superior pitching mechanics, and high baseball intelligence rather than overwhelming velocity. Nicknamed "The Professor," his ability to out-think hitters and consistently hit his spots made him one of the most dominant and efficient pitchers of his era. He was also one of the best fielders to ever pitch and won a record 18 Gold Gloves. Maddux was incredibly reliable and during his 23-year career, he landed on the disabled list just one time. As far his credentials, he made made 8 All Star teams, won four ERA titles and also won four Cy Young Awards – consecutively. He won at least 19 games 7 times, and retired with 355 wins, over 5,000 innings pitched, 109 complete games and even 3,371 strikeouts. He had a 2.25 ERA in the 1995 World Series, when he helped the Braves win it all.
7. Warren Spahn
Another legendary Brave, Warren Spahn was known for his durability, intelligence on the mound, and masterful control, which included a deceptive high leg kick. The 17-time All-Star tied an MLB record by winning at least 20 games in thirteen separate seasons. Eight times he led the league in wins, and he also led the league in strikeouts for 4 straight seasons. He completed games at a pace that was insane even in his time. Spahn led the league in complete games 9 times, 7 consecutively, and retired with 382 complete games, more than any pitcher who appeared in the 2nd half of the 20th century. He won the Cy Young Award in 1957, and finished in the Top 3 5 times. He also threw 3 complete games in the World Series and won a ring with the Braves in 1957. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1973.
6. Roger Clemens
One of the most dominant pitchers to ever live, Roger Clemens was known for his durability, fierce competitiveness, and intimidating power pitching that relied on both an overpowering fastball and a devastating splitter. He became the best pitcher in the game early in his career with the Red Sox, winning the Cy Young and MVP in 1986 when he went 24-4 with a 2.48 ERA. He won a second MVP in 1987, then a third in 1991. By 1996, he had won four ERA titles, made 5 All Star teams and looked on track to be a first ballot Hall of Famer. After that, he went on to Toronto, where he is alleged to have started using PEDs. Clemens became better than ever, winning back to back Cy Young Awards again, then another with the Yankees, and a record 7th with the Astros. He led the league in strikeouts 5 times and shutouts 5 times, retiring with 352 wins and 4,672 strikeouts. He gets docked a little on this list for the PED usage, since there is a chance that without it, he was on the backend of his career by the late 90’s. The roids gave him a chance to dominate for an additional decade, but they’ve also kept him out of Cooperstown for the time being.
5. Tom Seaver
Moving into the top 5 we have Tom Seaver, whose pitching mechanics and delivery generated immense power from his legs and reduced stress on his arm. This technique was central to his success and longevity throughout his 20-year career. Seaver won a Rookie of the Year in 1967, and then in 1969, he won his first of 3 Cy Young Awards, going 25-7 with a 2.21 ERA. He went on to make 12 All Star Teams and win 3 ERA titles. Seaver was a key member of the 1969 Miracle Mets team and he threw a 10 inning complete game victory in Game 3 of the World Series. He retired with 311 wins, 231 complete games, 61 shutouts, and 3,640 strikeouts.
4. Lefty Grove
Next up, we have Lefty Grove, who was a dominant left-handed pitcher in the first half of the 20th century, known for his elite fastball and intimidating presence on the mound. While his peak with the Philadelphia Athletics was defined by overpowering speed, he evolved into a finesse and control pitcher later in his career with the Boston Red Sox. To kick off his career, he led the league in strikeouts for 7 straight seasons from 1925 to 1931. Grove won nine ERA titles, and won at least 20 games 8 times. In 1931, he had a season for the ages, going 31-4 with a 2.06 ERA. He completed 27 of his 30 starts that year and won the MVP Award. Grove retired with exactly 300 wins and still has the highest win-loss percentage of any 300-game winner at .680.
3. Randy Johnson
It was only a matter of time before I got the Big Unit, Randy Johnson, without a doubt the most intimidating and best pitcher of my lifetime. His pitching skillset was defined by his towering 6’10” frame, a high-velocity four seam fastball and a sharp, late-breaking slider. This electric stuff led to a Hall of Fame 22 year career in which he led the league in strikeouts 9 times, won 4 ERA titles, made 10 All Star teams and took home an incredible five Cy Young Awards. He dominated the late 90’s and early 2000’s, and in 2002, he went 24-5 with a 2.32 ERA, earning his 4th consecutive Cy Young. He, along with Curt Schilling, won the 2001 World Series MVP Award, going 3-0 with a 1.04 ERA, helping the D-Backs win it all. Randy Johnson's notable MLB records include ranking first all-time among left-handed pitchers in career strikeouts, and being tied for the most seasons with 300 or more strikeouts. He also holds the record for most consecutive seasons with 300 or more strikeouts.
2. Christy Mathewson
Next up, a legend of the early modern era, Christy Mathewson kicked off the 20th century with a bang, winning 20 games in 1901 with a 2.41 ERA. It was just the beginning for the legend. For fourteen seasons, Mathewson averaged an unthinkable 26 wins per season, including an astounding 37 wins in 1908. He had exceptional control, and threw an untouchable screwball that helped him put up strikeout numbers never before seen. He led the league in the category in 5 of 6 seasons, maxing out at 267 strikeouts in 1903, a single-season National League record at the time, and a single-season Giants franchise record that stands to this day. Not even Tim Lincecum was able to break it. Mathewson also won 5 ERA titles and retired with a 2.13 ERA, better than any pitcher with at least 4,000 innings pitched. In the World Series, he had a .97 ERA, and in 1905, had a performance for the ages, unfortunately forgotten now since no one who witnessed it is around anymore. Mathewson threw 3 shutouts, and helped his Giants win the championship. Had the award existed, he would’ve been the obvious choice for World Series MVP.
1. Walter Johnson
But coming in at #1, even though he pitched mostly in the dead ball era, has to be the Big Train, Walter Johnson. Johnson was the original flamethrower, and was known for having one of the fastest pitches of his era. It was likely no faster than the average fastball we see out of a typical MLB bullpen in 2025, and probably significantly slower, but in the early 20th Century, it was untouchable. Johnson led the league in strikeouts in 12 separate seasons, maxing out at 313 K’s in 1910. His win totals were off the charts and Johnson averaged 27 wins per season for 10 seasons. His best year was 1913 when he went 36-7 with a 1.14 ERA. He had a sub-2 ERA in 11 seasons and even won two MVP Awards, one in 1913 and one in 1924. He set an unbreakable MLB record with 110 career shutouts, and also won a World Series ring in 1924, helping the Senators beat the Giants with 20 strikeouts and 2 complete games. Johnson retired with 417 wins, 531 complete games, 3,509 strikeouts and a 2.17 career ERA and he comes in at #1 as the greatest pitcher in modern MLB history.
And that does it for today’s ranking; I hope you all enjoyed it – we’re almost done with the positional rankings, just one more to go – the greatest designated hitters of all time; look forward to that one next week. I hope every one has a great day and we’ll talk to ya’ll in the next video.