Top 15 MLB Pitchers of All Time — Ranked
These 15 pitchers dominated Major League Baseball with skill, control, and historic performances.
- Sophia Zapanta
- 4 min read
Pitching has always been one of the most crucial parts of baseball. The best pitchers in history combined power, precision, and consistency over long careers. This list honors the players with the greatest arms ever to step on the mound, based on achievements, stats, and overall impact.
15. Clayton Kershaw
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Kershaw has won three Cy Young Awards and an MVP. He has led the league in ERA five times and was dominant for over a decade. In 2020, he helped the Dodgers win their first World Series in 32 years. His command and curveball have defined a generation.
14. Steve Carlton
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Carlton won four Cy Young Awards and struck out over 4,000 batters. He carried struggling teams and was known for his slider and durability. He pitched for 24 seasons and had 10 200-strikeout seasons. Carlton’s peak seasons with the Phillies were historic.
13. Pedro Martínez
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Pedro was one of the most dominant pitchers during the hitter-friendly era of the late 1990s. He won three Cy Young Awards and led the league in ERA five times. His control and movement made him nearly unhittable at his peak. Pedro’s performances in 1999 and 2000 are still considered among the best ever.
12. Juan Marichal
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Marichal won over 240 games and had ten seasons with at least 18 wins. He was known for his high leg kick and pinpoint control. He starred for the Giants during the 1960s, a decade marked by great hitters. Marichal was a nine-time All-Star and a consistent workhorse.
11. Nolan Ryan
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Ryan threw seven no-hitters and struck out more batters than anyone in history. He pitched for 27 seasons and had unmatched fastball velocity. Ryan had over 5,700 strikeouts but also walked many batters. His power and durability made him a legend.
10. Tom Seaver
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Seaver led the Mets to their first World Series win in 1969. He won three Cy Young Awards and struck out over 3,600 batters. Seaver was known for his mechanics, command, and consistency. He is the face of the Mets and one of the most respected pitchers ever.
9. Bob Gibson
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Gibson’s 1968 season, with a 1.12 ERA, forced MLB to lower the mound. He was fierce, competitive, and dominant in big games. Gibson won two Cy Young Awards and two World Series MVPs. His intensity and results earned him fear and respect from hitters.
8. Lefty Grove
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Grove won 300 games and had a winning percentage of .680. He led the league in ERA nine times and strikeouts seven times. He pitched during the 1920s and 1930s, facing deep lineups in hitter-friendly parks. Grove was both dominant and reliable.
7. Greg Maddux
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Maddux won four straight Cy Young Awards in the 1990s. He was known for control, movement, and intelligence rather than speed. He walked very few batters and consistently won 15 or more games. Maddux changed how people viewed finesse pitching.
6. Randy Johnson
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Johnson was tall, intimidating, and threw one of the fastest fastballs ever. He won five Cy Young Awards and struck out over 4,800 batters. His slider was one of the most effective pitches in baseball history. Johnson helped lead the Diamondbacks to a World Series title in 2001.
5. Christy Mathewson
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Mathewson was one of the first great pitchers in the early 1900s. He won 373 games and posted a 2.13 career ERA. He was also a gentleman of the game, helping shape the early image of baseball. His performance in the 1905 World Series remains legendary.
4. Cy Young
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Young won more games than any pitcher in history with 511. He pitched over 7,000 innings and had 749 complete games. He played in the early years of baseball and set records that may never be broken. The Cy Young Award is named in his honor.
3. Sandy Koufax
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Koufax had a short career but an unmatched five-year peak. He won three Cy Young Awards and a league MVP. Koufax threw four no-hitters and one perfect game. His dominance in the early 1960s helped define the era.
2. Roger Clemens
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Clemens won seven Cy Young Awards, the most in history. He struck out over 4,600 batters and won two pitching Triple Crowns. He played for top teams and performed well into his 40s. His career was long, powerful, and full of records.
1. Walter Johnson
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Johnson had 417 wins, a 2.17 ERA, and over 3,500 strikeouts in an era with fewer games. He played for the Washington Senators and dominated with his fastball. He pitched 110 shutouts, still the most ever. Johnson is often seen as the most complete pitcher in baseball history.