Determining the greatest pitchers in Major League Baseball (MLB) history is a subjective exercise that can be influenced by a number of factors, such as statistical accomplishments, individual accolades, overall impact on the game, and longevity of a player’s career.
Here are some of the pitchers who are commonly regarded as the greatest in MLB history:
- Cy Young: Young holds the record for most career wins by a pitcher with 511, a record that is considered unbreakable. He also has the most innings pitched and complete games in MLB history. The award for the best pitcher in each league is named after him.
- Walter Johnson: Johnson played for the Washington Senators from 1907 to 1927 and was known for his blazing fastball. He holds the record for the most shutouts in MLB history with 110, and also has the second-most wins with 417.
- Christy Mathewson: Mathewson played for the New York Giants from 1900 to 1916 and won 373 games during his career. He was known for his impeccable control and was considered one of the best pitchers of the “dead-ball era” in the early 20th century.
- Nolan Ryan: Ryan played for four different teams during his career, including the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros. He is the all-time leader in strikeouts with 5,714, and also threw seven no-hitters during his career.
- Sandy Koufax: Koufax played for the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1955 to 1966 and won three Cy Young Awards during his career. He is best known for his dominance in the 1960s, when he won three National League Cy Young Awards and was named the league’s Most Valuable Player in 1963.
- Roger Clemens: Clemens played for five different teams during his career, including the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees. He won seven Cy Young Awards and is third all-time in strikeouts with 4,672.
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- Greg Maddux: Maddux played for four different teams during his career, including the Atlanta Braves and Chicago Cubs. He won four consecutive Cy Young Awards from 1992 to 1995 and is known for his pinpoint control and ability to induce ground balls.
These are just a few of the pitchers who are commonly regarded as the greatest in MLB history, but there are many others who could also be included on such a list. Ultimately, the debate over who is the greatest pitcher of all time will likely continue for years to come.
