Top 20 Starting Pitchers of All Time (1 Viewer)

[Tau837]

The Nolan Ryan thread made me curious what everyone's take is on which starting pitchers are the top 20 all time.

I'd say these guys are in the top 20 (in no particular order):

Walter Johnson

Cy Young

Lefty Grove

Pete Alexander

Warren Spahn

Tom Seaver

Christy Matthewson

Bob Gibson

Satchel Paige

Steve Carlton

Sandy Koufax

Greg Maddux

Randy Johnson

Pedro Martinez

Bob Feller

But I'm not sure who I'm leaving out or who should be in the next tier. Clemens would be in that group if not for the PEDs... but maybe he still should be, not sure. I like Ryan and would likely put him in as well, but I know from the other thread that many would not.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

ESPN would add Stephen Strasburg.

 

[Darth Cheney]

ESPN would add Stephen Strasburg.

Or Lebron James...

 

[Smack Tripper]

More or less in order

Walter Johnson

Bob Feller

Christy Mathewson

Sandy Koufax

Tom Seaver

Greg Maddux

Steve Carlton

Warren Spahn

Pedro Martinez

Randy Johnson

Lefty Grove

Pete Alexander

Jim Palmer

Three Finger Brown

Whitey Ford

Bob Gibson

Ed Walsh

Juan Marichal

Roger Clemens

Nolan Ryan

Honorable Mentions(based on lack of MLB modern era stats):

Cy Young

Kid Nichols

Satchel Paige

Smoky Joe Williams

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Honorable Mentions(based on lack of MLB modern era stats):Cy Young

I'd have a hard time including someone who never won a Cy Young award.

 

[Darth Cheney]

No order:

Steve Carlton

Sandy Koufax

Tom Seaver

Greg Maddux

Randy Johnson

Pedro Martinez

Jim Palmer

Carl Hubbell

Bob Feller

Bob Gibson

Walter Johnson

Warren Spahn

Christy Mathewson

Cy Young

Grover Cleveland Alexander

Roger Clemens

Lefty Grove

Robin Roberts

Three Finger Brown

Nolan Ryan

 

[Trump]

Ummm....Don Drysdale.

Should be a lock on ALL of these lists. You can knock off Whitey Ford and Juan Marichal if you need to make room - both pitching in the same era didn't measure up to Drysdale's numbers - especially if you add in his abilities at the plate.

In 1962, Drysdale won 25 games and the Cy Young Award.

Career ERA - 2.95 (14 seasons)

Hit a record 150 some batters (his version of the intentional walk)

Threw a complete game every third start over 14 seasons.

Threw 49 career shutouts (one every 10th start)

9 time All Star

3 time World Series Champion

2486 career K's