All of the positions in baseball are difficult, but pitchers are the hardest to measure. This takes in starters, relievers, long men, right handers, lefties and anything else.
Evaluating the best starting pitchers of all time means balancing different eras, rule changes, pitching roles, and even the mound height. Some pitchers dominated in the dead-ball era, while others thrived in the age of home run hitters. Each generation brought unique challenges, yet the truly great ones always found a way to stand out.
We also have to consider the different metrics that define greatness: strikeouts, ERA, complete games, postseason dominance, and consistency over time. It’s not just about who had the flashiest season — longevity and resilience matter just as much.
Keep in mind, in this article we are simply looking at the top starting pitchers. We have also explored the best pitchers in baseball (all time and this year) earlier.
From flamethrowers to finesse pitchers, from stoic workhorses to fierce competitors, this list celebrates ten of the greatest to ever take the mound.
Walter Johnson
Johnson established several records, some of which remain unbroken nine decades after he retired from baseball. He remains by far the all-time career leader in shutouts with 110, second in wins with 417, and fourth in complete games with 531.
He held the career record in strikeouts from 1919, when he passed Christy Mathewson’s mark of 2,507, until 1983. That season, Steve Carlton, Nolan Ryan, and Gaylord Perry finally surpassed his career total of 3,508.
Johnson became the only pitcher to record 3,000 strikeouts on July 22, 1923, and remained the only one until Bob Gibson matched the feat in 1974. He pitched over 6000 innings and led the league in strikeouts a record 12 times.
Christy Mathewson
Mathewson recorded 2,507 career strikeouts against only 848 walks. He’s well known for his legendary 25 pitching duels with Mordecai “Three Finger” Brown.
Mathewson won 11 of those matchups, Brown 13, with one no-decision. He was also a solid hitter for a pitcher, batting .215 with 7 home runs and 167 RBIs in his career.
In 11 World Series games, he batted .281 and was consistently productive at the plate as well as the mound. He had double-digit RBIs in 10 of his 17 seasons.
Lefty Grove
Lefty Grove was a six-time All-Star and a two-time World Series Champion. He was also the American League MVP in 1931 and won the Triple Crown for pitchers twice.
He led the league in wins in nine different seasons and was the strikeout leader seven times. His dominance during the 1930s was nearly unmatched.
He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1947 and left behind a legacy as one of the most complete pitchers the game has ever seen.
Randy Johnson
A 10-time All-Star, Randy Johnson helped his team win a World Series and earned MVP honors in that series. He won the Cy Young Award five times and claimed the Triple Crown for pitchers.
Johnson led the majors in ERA four times and was the strikeout leader for nine seasons. He’s one of only a few pitchers to throw both a no-hitter and a perfect game.
Standing 6’10”, Johnson was the tallest pitcher in MLB history and used that size to intimidate hitters and generate incredible velocity.
Bob Gibson
Gibson was known for his intense competitiveness and fierce demeanor on the mound. He won 251 games, struck out 3,117 batters, and posted a 2.91 ERA.
He was a nine-time All-Star, two-time World Series Champion, and earned two Cy Young Awards. In 1968, he won the NL MVP with a staggering 1.12 ERA.
His performances in October were legendary, making him one of the most clutch postseason pitchers ever.
Tom Seaver
Tom Seaver was the complete package: 300 wins, 3,000 strikeouts, and a career ERA under 3.00. He made 16 Opening-Day starts, an MLB record.
At retirement, Seaver ranked third all-time in strikeouts and is still sixth today. He recorded 61 shutouts, tied with Nolan Ryan for seventh all-time.
A 12-time All-Star and three-time Cy Young winner, Seaver also threw a no-hitter in 1978 and won Rookie of the Year in 1967.
Greg Maddux
Greg Maddux is arguably the most cerebral pitcher in MLB history. He won 18 Gold Gloves — the most by any player at any position.
A reliable postseason pitcher, Maddux had a 2.09 ERA in World Series games and a career postseason ERA of 3.27 across nearly 200 innings.
He won four ERA titles and led the league in shutouts five times. Though not overpowering, his control and strategy made him elite.
Pedro Martinez
Pedro Martinez held a seven-year-long pea from 1997 to 2003 where he threw some amazing games for the Montreal expose before switching to the Boston Red Sox to start his rain getting 305 strikeouts in 1997 to win the NL Cy Young award and then he wanted two more times in 1999 and the year 2000 even with a rotator cuff injury in 2001 limiting him to 18 starts he still struck out 163 batters.
1999 and stretching through the end of 2000 Pedro Martinez embarked on a two-season stretch of monumental proportions at the peak of the steroid era in a high-scoring AL East pitching in a hit or friendly ballpark he completely shut down opposition despite playing in one of the highest-scoring run environments ever. He made his case for the greatest pitching season of all time twice in a row.
Pete Alexander
Grover Cleveland “Pete” Alexander had a historic rookie season, winning 31 games — still a record. He was a three-time pitching Triple Crown winner.
He led the National League in wins six times and in ERA four times. He also topped the league in strikeouts six times.
Alexander was a World Series Champion in 1926 and remains one of the most decorated pitchers from the early 20th century.
Bob Feller
Bob Feller pitched 18 seasons with the Cleveland Indians, racking up 266 wins, 279 complete games, and 44 shutouts.
He struck out 2,581 batters, ranking third all-time upon retirement. Feller led the American League in strikeouts seven times.
A three-time no-hitter thrower and eight-time All-Star, Feller was a dominant force before and after his military service in World War II.
Warren Spahn
Warren Spahn was an All-Star 17 times during his remarkable career. In 1957, he won the Cy Young Award and helped his team win the World Series.
Spahn led the league in wins eight times, ERA three times, and strikeouts in four different seasons. He pitched two no-hitters.
He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1973 and is still the winningest left-handed pitcher in MLB history.
Conclusion
Ranking the best starting pitchers in MLB history is never an exact science, but the names listed above left an undeniable impact on the game. From dominating stuff to mental mastery, each of them redefined what it meant to be a great pitcher.
Whether it’s the overwhelming power of a Randy Johnson fastball, the pinpoint control of Greg Maddux, or the sheer dominance of Walter Johnson’s complete game resume, these legends continue to inspire future generations of pitchers.
As the game evolves with analytics, pitch counts, and specialized roles, these all-time greats remind us of a time when the mound was ruled by true warriors. And while others like Roger Clemens, and Cy Young just missed this top list, their careers also speak to the incredible depth of pitching greatness throughout baseball history.
- PS — we have ranked the Top New York Yankees Pitchers of All-Time here.
