Best of Baseball Part 3: The Greatest Pitchers of All-Time
Here is part 3 of a 4-part series highlighting the best baseball players of all-time. This week I will be highlighting my top ranking of the best pitchers of all-time based on my own methodology. Ranking the best starting pitchers in Major League Baseball is no simple matter. Most lists rely heavily on traditional statistics, including wins and ERA, but to fairly assess a starting pitcher’s dominance, a deeper examination is warranted. That’s why I analyzed the best 15 starting pitchers in seven key categories: WHIP, FIP, Strikeouts, WAR, K/9, ERA+, and Innings Pitched.
While most are familiar with these categories, let me explain FIP since it goes unnoticed amongst most baseball fans. Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) is an advanced baseball statistic that measures a pitcher's effectiveness based solely on outcomes they directly control: strikeouts, walks, hit-by-pitches, and home runs allowed. It eliminates the influence of defense, luck, and sequencing, making it a more accurate indicator of a pitcher’s true skill than Earned Run Average (ERA). Thus, defensive bias is eliminated. A great FIP is below 3.00 and a poor FIP is above 5.00.
Every category, with the exception of WHIP and Innings Pitched, was rated out of 15, with 15 points for the best-rated pitcher and 1 point for the 15th-rated pitcher. WHIP received additional weight, with a maximum score of 20, as it best expresses a pitcher’s skill at keeping runners off base. For WHIP, the top ranked pitcher earned 20 points, and the 15th ranked pitcher earned 6 points.
Now, follow closely here. Innings Pitched was weighted differently based on the era: pitchers whose careers started at least half before 1970 were rated out of 10, while those who pitched at least half of their careers post-1970 were rated out of 15. This is because the expectations of starting pitchers before 1970 were different in regard to longevity than starters after 1970. Beginning in 1970, managers began to implement relief pitchers more in their in-game strategy which took the stress off of starting pitchers. In contrast, starting pitchers before 1970 were expected to pitch deep into the game. Thus, if you pitched after 1970 and you still garnered a lot of innings, in my opinion, that shows more ability than being expected to pitch long innings.
As used in Baseball-reference, these rankings only include pitchers with at least 1,000 IP or 100 decisions for their career for advanced stats.
Following this approach, these are the 10 greatest pitchers of all time:
10) Three-Way Tie: Nolan Ryan, Jim Devlin, and Chris Sale (29 points each)
All of these pitchers excelled in different areas of the game. Nolan Ryan, the strikeout king, dominated with an unprecedented ability to overpower hitters. Ryan ranks first in total K’s and 5th all-time (2nd amongst those after 1970) in IP. Chris Sale combined tremendous strikeout talent with an elite WHIP (1.04) and ranks 2nd all-time in K/9 (11.1 K’s per 9 innings). Jim Devlin, a 19th-century throwback, put up dominant numbers in an era when baseball was still evolving. Devlin ranks 13th all-time in WHIP (1.08), 7th in FIP, and 4th in ERA+ (150) but he only played 3 seasons.
9) Christy Mathewson (30 points)
A dominant force in the early 1900s, Mathewson had a stellar WHIP (1.05), FIP (2.26), and WAR, ranking among the greatest pitchers of his time. His exceptional control and ability to command games earned him a place among baseball’s all-time greats.
8) Randy Johnson (31 points)
One of the most intimidating pitchers in baseball history, standing 6 '10, “The Big Unit” was armed with a blazing fastball and a devastating slider. His high K/9 (10.6/9 IP), total K’s (4,875), and impressive WAR secured his place among the game’s legends.
7) Clayton Kershaw (31 points)
A modern-day ace and perhaps the greatest LHP of all-time, Kershaw’s WHIP (1.01) and ERA+ (156) rank 4th and 2nd all-time respectively among starting pitchers. He has maintained excellence over a long career, standing out as a dominant pitcher in an era that favors hitters more than ever before.
6) Ed Walsh (33 points)
The all-time leader in career ERA (1.82), Walsh was a workhorse in the dead-ball era. Walsh ranks 3rd all-time for starting pitchers in WHIP (1.00) and 1st all-time in FIP. His combination of control and durability made him a legend of early baseball.
5) Addie Joss (34 points)
With an astonishingly low career WHIP (0.97. 1st all-time), FIP (2.24), and a dominant ERA+ (143), Joss was nearly unhittable in his prime. Though his career was tragically cut short, his numbers remain among the best in history.
4) Pedro Martinez (34 points)
Pedro’s dominance during the steroid era is one of the most remarkable feats in baseball history. With an incredible mix of strikeouts (14 all-time), WHIP (1.05), K/9 (10 / 9IP), and ERA+ (154), he was nearly untouchable at his peak. Even the heavy juicers couldn’t hit Pedro.
3) Roger Clemens (37 points)
A seven-time Cy Young winner, Clemens combined power and control like few others. His longevity and ability to dominate across multiple decades make him one of the greatest pitchers ever. Clemens ranks high in 4 of the 7 categories. Clemens is 3rd all time in total strikeouts and WAR. Moreover, Clemens ranks 13th all-time among starters in ERA+ and 8th all-time in IP post-1970.
2) Jacob deGrom (48 points)
Although he lacks the career length of some others on this list, deGrom’s peak performance is nearly unparalleled. So, why does he rank 2nd all-time? Well, he has enough IPs to qualify and when he was on the mound his “stuff” was perhaps the most unhittable of all-time. DeGrom ranks 2nd all-time in WHIP (0.99), 14th among starters in FIP (2.5), 4th all-time among starters in K/9 (11.0 / 9IP), and 1st all-time in ERA+ (156), making him one of the most dominant pitchers in history—arguably the most talented pitcher in MLB history despite his injuries.
1) Walter Johnson (59 Points)
When Ty Cobb first encountered Walter Johson, he said the following:
“On August 2, 1907, I encountered the most threatening sight I ever saw in the ball field. He was a rookie, and we licked our lips as we warmed up for the first game of a doubleheader in Washington. Evidently, manager Pongo Joe Cantillon of the Nats had picked a rube out of the cornfields of the deepest bushes to pitch against us. He was a tall, shambling galoot of about twenty, with arms so long they hung far out of his sleeves, and with a sidearm delivery that looked unimpressive at first glance. One of the Tigers imitated a cow mooing, and we hollered at Cantillon: ‘Get the pitchfork ready, Joe—your hayseed’s on his way back to the barn…The first time I faced him, I watched him take that easy windup. And then something went past me that made me flinch. The thing just hissed with danger.”
The ultimate ace, Johnson epitomized pitching greatness. His dominance across multiple categories, including WAR, ERA+, and Innings Pitched, cements his status as the greatest pitcher of all time. Johnson was the only pitcher to rank in the top 15 in 6 of the 7 categories that I used. Among starters, Johnson ranks 9th all-time in WHIP (1.06), 9th all-time in FIP, 9th all-time in total strikeouts (3509), 2nd only to Babe Ruth all-time in total WAR (pitchers and hitters), 6th all-time in ERA+ (147) and 2nd all-time in IP for starters who pitched before 1970. Based on my methodology, Johnson is by far the best pitcher of all-time and the most complete pitcher of all-time. This “rube” was the Babe Ruth of pitching.
This list includes a mix of old-school workhorses and modern-day strikeout artists, reflecting how pitching has evolved over time. By using a balanced and comprehensive approach, we can truly appreciate the greatness of these pitchers beyond traditional statistics. While debates will always continue, one thing is certain: these ten pitchers sit at the very top of MLB history. What are your thoughts? Should Dead-ball Era pitchers be separated from pitchers of the modern era? What are your rankings?
(All data sourced from Baseball-Reference.com and StatMuse.com.)