Narrowing down the best pitchers of all time necessitates going through an accumulation of statistics. These are pitchers who dominated their careers and were rewarded wins and shutouts. Over 75 famous pitchers have been initiated into the MLB Hall of Fame. Hence, picking the top tier can be unnerving.
But we have ranked the best pitchers of all time. These are players who throw balls towards the catcher in an attempt to strike the batter. Pitchers play a vital role in determining the team’s win or loss. Let us get started.
Who Is the Greatest Hitting Pitcher in Baseball History?
There are new and old top-hitting pitches, and being the greatest is a difficult feat. These pitchers rake and step up to the plate, scoring runs and getting on base. But Babe Ruth is among the top-notch pitchers in the history of baseball. His unrivaled skills made him establish himself as an outstanding pitcher.
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Players Who Deserve Honorable Mentions
Nolan Ryan
Ryan was born on January 31, 1947, and is a professional baseball pitcher. He is considered one of the best MLB pitchers of all time. He consistently threw pitches that clocked over 100 miles per hour. He maintained this velocity throughout his career and had a lifetime win-loss record of 324-292.
Bert Blyleven
Blyleven is a Dutch-American former professional pitcher who played 22 seasons in MLB. Through his exceptional skills, he won 287 games and pitched 4,970 innings, which is the 14th-most all-time. The iconic pitcher debuted at 19 for the Twins and was traded to the Taxes Rangers in the middle of the 1976 season.
Tom Seaver
Tom Seaver was a talented American baseball pitcher who played 20 seasons in MLB. From 1967 to 1986, Seaver played for the Boston Red Sox, Cincinnati Reds, New York Mets, and Chicago White Sox. He won the Rookie of the Year award while playing for the Mets and three Cy Young Awards as the league’s greatest pitcher. During his MLB career, he complied 3,540 strikeouts, 311 wins, and 61 shutouts.
Lefty Grove
Grove was the best pitcher ever who lived from March 6, 1900, to May 22, 1975. In the 1920s, he had a successful minor league and became a star in MLB with Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Athletics. He was one of the greatest pitchers in history and led the American League in victories in four separate seasons. Grove retired from baseball in 1941 with a .680 winning percentage and a career record of 300-141.
Grover” Pete” Alexander
Alexander was born Grover Cleveland Alexander on February 26, 1887, and passed on November 4, 1950. He was an American baseball pitcher who played from 1911 to 1930 for St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies, and Chicago Cubs. In 1938, the legend was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
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Top 10 Best Pitchers of All Time
1. Christy Mathewson
Mathewson is among the greatest pitchers of all time, nicknamed Big Six. The American MLB right-handed pitcher played 17 seasons with the New York Giants. He was also among the dominant pitchers, standing at 6 ft 1 in and weighing 195 lbs.
Mathewson played minor leagues and recorded 21 victories and only two losses. He was highly regarded in the world of baseball during his lifetime. His rise to fame resulted from being a clean-cut, intelligent collegiate.
2. Walter Johnson
Walter Perry Johnson is the best pitcher of all time. He was an American baseball manager and player who dedicated his 21-year career in MLB as a right-handed pitcher. He established several records, some of which are not yet broken after nine decades of his retirement.
Johnsons remains the all-time career player with 110 shutouts and second in victories with 417. He also holds the career with 1919 strikeouts. His gentle personality was legendary, and he is a great example of excellent sportsmanship.
3. Randy Johnson
Randall David Johnson is a former American professional baseball pitcher. Standing at 6 ft 10 in, Johnson was the tallest player in MLB history, contributing to his intimidating persona. He is predominantly known for his devastating slider and overpowering fastball.
Johnson established himself as one of the dominant pitchers, leading his teams in strikeouts nine times. Being the greatest pitcher of all time, he recorded 303 career wins with 4,875 strikeouts. He won several awards, including World Series MVP and nine Strikeout Leader awards, and was inducted into the Seattle Mariners Hall of Fame.
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4. Cy Young
You cannot mention the greatest pitcher of all time without mentioning Cy Young. He was an American MLB pitcher who entered the major leagues in 1890 and pitched for the Cleveland Spiders until 1898. In 1901, he joined Boston Red Sox and helped them recor victory in the World Series in 1903.
Young was the best and hardest-throwing pitcher, a velocity that helped his team record wins frequently. By the time he was retiring, he had established several pitching records. He holds the most career wins with 511.
5. Pedro Martinez
Pedro Martinez is one of the best pitchers ever in MLB history. The Dominican-American professional pitcher played for MLB from 1992 to 2009. As of 2023, Martinez had recorded 219 wins, placing him tenth-highest in winning percentage. He compiled over 3,000 strikeouts and 2,500 innings.
6. Sandy Koufax
Koufax is widely regarded as the best baseball pitcher of all time. He was a basketball player in his youth and pitched a few games before signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers. In 1995, he set a record by striking out 18 batters and pitched excellently in the 1959 World Series.
Koufax’s pitching was brilliant, which led him to win the Triple Crown three times. He was also the first pitcher in the Major League to throw four no-hitters. As a result of his skills, he was (twice) named the World Series MVP.
7. Clayton Kershaw
Kershaw is one of the great pitchers of all time. The American professional baseball pitcher was born on March 19, 1988, making him among the youngest exceptional pitchers. He is a ten-time All-Star, 2014 NL MVP, and three-time NL Cy Young Award winner.
The Dodgers signed Kershaw during the 2013 offseason for a $215 million contract deal of seven years. In February 2024, he signed a one-year contract with Dodgers for a $10 million deal. He participates in volunteer work off the field and has been honored with the Branch Rickey and Roberto Clemente awards for humanitarian work.
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8. Roger Clemens
Roger Clemens was born in 1962, and is regarded to be among the best pitchers all time. The American former baseball pitcher played for 24 seasons in MLB. He is also considered the most dominant pitcher in the history of the major league.
Clemens had 4,672 strikeouts, a 3.12 earned run average, and 354 wins. He is an 11-time MLB All-Star, seven Cy Young Award winner, and two-time World Series champion. He had an aggressive edge with a 98-mph fastball and hard-breaking all.
9. Greg Maddux
Maddux is the MLB best pitcher all time player to win 15 games in 17 seasons. He played 23 seasons with the Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves. He also holds the record for most Gold Gloves with 18 and 546 putouts.
Maddux was a superb control pitcher who won more tournaments in the 1990s than any other pitcher. Since his retirement, he has been a special assistant for the Texas Rangers and Cubs. The legend was also inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in January 2014.
10. Bob Gibson
Bob Gibson is closing the list of the best pitchers ever in MLB history. Gibson was born on November 9, 1935, and lived through October 2, 2020. The all-time legend was an American baseball pitcher who tallied 3,117 strikeouts and 251 wins. Gibson is a two-time World Series Champion, nine-time All-Star, and two-time Cy Young Award winner.
Gibson overcame childhood ailment to thrive in baseball and basketball. His career peak was in 1968 when he recorded 17 strikeouts in the 1968 World Series and a 1.12 ERA for that season. For his entire career, Gibson posted a record of 156-81 with a .658 winning percentage.
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Fast Facts About Best Pitchers of All Time
Who is the best pitcher in baseball history?
Denton True Cy Young stands out as the best pitcher in baseball history. He holds MLB records for most career wins, earned runs, and innings pitched.
Who is the most unhittable starting pitcher in MLB history?
Nolan Ryan is considered the most unhittable starting pitcher, with a record of 5,714 strikeouts.
Who is the most decorated pitcher in baseball history?
Walter Perry Johnson is the most decorated pitcher in baseball history, with 110 shutouts.
Who is the most dominant pitcher in MLB history?
Sandy Koufax had a short but dominant career spanning from 1962 to 1966.
Conclusion
Pitching is paramount to baseball success because pitchers control the game’s tempo. The best pitcher of all time listed had the confidence and focus to lead their teams to victories. These pitchers had rubber arms that never fell off, and their focus was unparalleled.