O/T Best Starting pitcher of all time.

[GrayGhost]

Ok, a poll for everyone. who do you think is the best starting pitcher of all time in MLB? I have eight choices, covering mainly the old days, but one notable recent dominant pitcher.

Thanks. should be fun Feel free to discuss, esp if you vote "someone else"

For me, its Matty. I read his stats, and of course what a big game pitcher he was at times, not to mention the "golden boy" of his time.

[joeadcock]

The Train

[sflayank]

depends on whether youre talking long career short time or 1 year
the best longtime would be johnson over 100 shutouts
for 4 years koufax was the best 97-27 era under 2
for 1 season ron guidry 1978 25-3

[sbfinley]

I have to give the vote to the best pitcher I have ever watched in person - Greg Maddux.

You could place him in any era and he would still win 18-20 games. He probably had the best knowledge of the physics game of anyone in the history of the sport.

[sando69]

altho koufax was the best that i ever witnessed...
i think there's a very good reason it's called the "cy young award!"

[rainier2004]

I was always partial to Mr Nolan Ryan. He had a look...

[FrankWakefield]

Mr. Koufax was dominant the last half of his career. Mr. Gibson, not on the list, was truly dominant in 1968.

One of those choices happens to be the one pitcher with the most wins among those who never won the Cy Young award...

The first half of my life I would have thought it would be Christy Mathewson.

Having read the book about Walter Johnson that was well written by his grandson, I'm satisfied that The Big Train would be the man to start that Field of Dreams game for me, if I were allowed to manage.

[jcmtiger]

For one season 1968, has to be Denny Mclain - 31-6, Cy Young and MVP , and Bob Gibson certainly should be on the list. He also won the Cy Young and MVP for the NL in 1968.

Joe

[tbob]

Originally Posted by jcmtiger

For one season 1968, has to be Denny Mclain - 31-6, Cy Young and MVP , and Bob Gibson certainly should be on the list. He also won the Cy Young and MVP for the NL in 1968.

Joe

Close but no cigar. Smokey Joe Wood went 34-5 and won 3 World Series games in 1912 and arguably had the best year of any pitcher ever for one season.

[GrayGhost]

Great so far. I was trying to avoid just "best single season" this time.

[Robextend]

Honorable mention as well to Three Finger Brown in 1906:

26-6 with a 1.04 ERA...wow

I voted for "someone else". That someone else being Rube Waddell (big surprise), although he really goes into the category of "what might have been". Career 2.16 ERA, and his strikeout numbers at that time were unheard of (349 in 1904).

[t206hof]

The Train and Matty. Their really isn't anyone close to those two in my opinion. I believe 3 Finger Brown should be on your list also. Thanks.

[bigtrain]

On this date in 1908, Walter Johnson pitched his third shutout in four days against the New York Highlanders. 110 shutouts - an unbreakable record. He gets my vote.

[BearBailey]

Someone Else: Greg Maddux

[bobbyw8469]

Whitey Ford?

[kkkkandp]

I think this is a very tough call, but I'd pick The Big Train by a nose over Cy Young.

[bbcard1]

You know Rapid Robert Feller may not be the best of all time, but he certainly has a seat at the table. Lost peak seasons to the war and played in an era of monster hitters.

[chris6net]

I would vote for Tom Terrific! He carried the Mets for over a decade. This is a little off topic but my vote for best pitching coach would be Rube Walker. If you look at all the young pitchers he developed and their longetivity it is a testimony to him.
Seaver,Ryan,Koosman,Matlack,McGraw all say that Walker taught them how to pitch while using their legs rather than their arms as the point where they got their pitching velocity and had less stress on their pitching arms giving them the longevity not since much recently by hard throwers. CN

[packs]

Have to throw Randy Johnson into this discussion. Very overlooked and its unfortunate. In his prime, 1995-2002 Johnson went 143-44 with a 2.61 ERA with 2416 K's in 1763 IP. Mind you, this domination occurred in the midst of the steroid era and Johnson won 5 Cy Youngs, including a stretch of 4 in a row.

Unbelievable.

[FrankWakefield]

McClain had a good year in 1968, but the Tigers won many of those 31 games for him. Gibson was dominant, with minimal run support.
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/black...ge=keri/080221
Gibson's 22 wins are obviously fewer than McLain's.. In his 9 losses the Cards scored 12 runs. He only gave up 27 runs in the 9 losses. Twice he lost by 1-0 scores, once by 2-0. He won 4 1-0 games. In 13 of his wins the Cards scored 3 runs or less.

Dad went to game 1 of the WS that year, you guys post much more about McLain and I'll dig out his game 1 ticket stub... even today, watching the old video of that game 1, Gibson looked like a man pitching to little leaguers. I recall who won the Series overall, I got to go to game 6 and had tears in my eyes as a kid during that long 2nd inning. '06 was vindication.

In reading Mr. Thomas' book about Walter Johnson, and as much of a Gibson fan as I am, I'm satisfied that Johnson's 1.14 ERA season would have been even better had Johnson not allowed some runs in a regular season game that was jokingly played at the end of the season.

Truth is that Johnson, Mathewson, Waddell, Young, Brown, and others were powerfull. Can't imagine standing in against Wood or Grove would have been much fun, either.

[brickyardkennedy]

Walter Johnson

[TexasLeaguer]

I voted for Cy Young... but I am tempted to say Babe Ruth, who is easily the best player ever.

[slidekellyslide]

It makes me sad that Grover Cleveland Alexander didn't even make the list.

373 wins
2.56 ERA
90 Career Shutouts
Three 30 win seasons in a row (1915-17)

[rdixon1208]

Greg Maddux.

[old13man]

Walter Johnson. He accomplished quite a bit without a decent lineup behind him for most of his career.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by slidekellyslide

It makes me sad that Grover Cleveland Alexander didn't even make the list.

373 wins
2.56 ERA
90 Career Shutouts
Three 30 win seasons in a row (1915-17)

+1
His baseball reference numbers


Black Ink Pitching - 126 (2), Average HOFer ≈ 40

Gray Ink Pitching - 339 (5), Average HOFer ≈ 185

Hall of Fame Monitor Pitching - 257 (9), Likely HOFer ≈ 100

Hall of Fame Standards Pitching - 77 (4), Average HOFer ≈ 50

[Peter_Spaeth]

Single seasons you have to mention Steve Carlton 1972 (27 wins for a last place team) and Pedro Martinez 2000 (1.74 ERA in an age where that is essentially impossible).

[pitchernut]

In their prime, I'd pick Randy the "Big Unit" Johnson.

[GrayGhost]

I figured by limiting it, ID leave off someone. Ol Pete could have been there for sure. Well, right now, The Train is in the lead. not too surprised.

[71buc]

I am old school about many things but this discussion isn't one of them. I would have to go with Ryan or Maddux as well. I discount the statistics of the first four on your list due to the fact they played under Jim Crow. I feel that way about all statistics pre 1947. How can you accurately measure greatness when access to the stage is limited? Can you imagine the dominance of Ryan, Randy Johnson, Maddux, Carlton, Seaver in a world where their didn't have to compete against the likes of Mays, Aaron, Robinson, Clemente, and others who would not have been permitted to take the field during Mathewson's and Johnson's time?

I am pleasantly surprised that Clemens appears nowhere on this list. I would hope that Barry Bonds would also be dismissed from any discussion regarding the greatest hitters.

[prewarsports]

Walter Johnson hands down. The only pre-war pitcher even close would have been Lefty Grove had Baltimore not refused to sell him for about 5 years of his prime. If he averages 25 wins a year (which would have been easy for him) we would be talking about Grove with 400+ wins.

Modern era, Randy Johnson was absolutely dominant. I have never seen anything like the Big Unit personally. Completely underappreciated considering he was pitching against all the juicers!

[Bambino]

In my lifetime, Pedro Martinez. All time, I'd choose Sandy Koufax.

[71buc]

Originally Posted by prewarsports

Walter Johnson hands down. The only pre-war pitcher even close would have been Lefty Grove had Baltimore not refused to sell him for about 5 years of his prime. If he averages 25 wins a year (which would have been easy for him) we would be talking about Grove with 400+ wins.

Modern era, Randy Johnson was absolutely dominant. I have never seen anything like the Big Unit personally. Completely underappreciated considering he was pitching against all the juicers!

I live in the Northwest and sat near the Mariner bullpen during game 5 of the 1995 League Division Series. I'll never forget the electricity generated by Randy warming up and entering the game as Welcome to the Jungle blared. Wow it still gives me chills. Priceless....

[Touch'EmAll]

Sneaky underrated, not flashy, but boy, could sure get the job done - will eventually get his name on the "best of all time" list .... Greg Maddux.

Also underrated (if that is possible) - lost HUGE prime years to war ... Bob Feller.

Walter Johnson & Matty are epic great I know, but they did not have to "bring it" and bust a gut on every pitch like they have to do nowadays. The stats they compiled would still be awesome, just not to the stature you see on the stats page. Could you imagine a pitcher today laying off on a few pitches to save themselves for when they really neded it - they wouyld get busted up.

Babe Ruth beat Walter Johnson in 1915/16 on 5 consecutive decisions - yes you read that right - 5 consecutive decisions.

When "on' the best stuff was probably Ryan or Koufax.

[nsaddict]

Great variety of opinions, but so many variables come into play here. One poster mentioned not to include the first 4 as they played long ago. But notice no pitcher is dominating in the polls post 40s, "someone else" has the most votes divided between several. No doubt Koufax was totally dominant for 5 years and that was good enough to get him into the Hall but only dazzled for a short period. Cy Young's record of wins will never be closely challenged and the award is named after him. In my opinion he was a very good pitcher but not great. His career stats are more based on him being an incredible workhorse. My vote went to Johnson as I believe he is a cut above all others. Second in career wins for a team that struggled for many seasons,very low ERA and leader in career shutouts. Verlander should get the Walter Johnson award this year

[Touch'EmAll]

If I were starting a team and could choose any starting pitcher in their rookie year thru end of career....

Satchell Paige

[ephus]

Originally Posted by tbob

Close but no cigar. Smokey Joe Wood went 34-5 and won 3 World Series games in 1912 and arguably had the best year of any pitcher ever for one season.

I agree 100%.
Smokey Joe best pitching year ever.

[Shoeless Moe]

J.R Richard - cut down at age 30, but possibly a 220/250 game winner if he stayed healthy, and.......................................left as a FA to NY Yankees(that would have helped his win total moreso then the 70's Astros).


Also he played 1/2 a season with Nolan Ryan b4 his issue, imagine seeing those 2 back to back as a hitter.

[peterb69]

Johnson gets my vote

And yes drugs may have entered in his later years, but Roger Clemens was one hell of a pitcher.

[Big Ben]

I'm a contrarian, so I voted for Lefty Grove. 9 ERA titles and a .680 winning percentage in an era that was dominated by outstanding hitting.

[btcarfagno]

If we are talking about the best ever regardless of how long their prime lasted, I would have to go with Pedro Martinez. His prime only lasted about 13 years, but over that span I think that statistically he was the best of all time. Now...if we are adding longevity as a major factor I would personally go with the Big Train.

Tom C

[SteveMitchell]

Great pitcher - better than Matty - with so-so support. Lots of personal difficulties and missed time to WWI.

[Leon]

'Twas my vote and the Poll doesn't lie- The Big Train.

110 shutouts while playing for a fairly crappy team

Baseball-reference.com rates him as the #1 pitcher (black ink) of all time. Stats don't lie either.....

[bobbyw8469]

Casey Stengel held Whitey back and only let him pitch against the cream of the crop. He never pitched against cream puffs. If he had, his win/loss record would have been through the roof.....

[scmavl]

To paraphrase Smoky Joe Wood:

"Walter was the best of all time. He would've won a lot more games if he'd had a good club behind him."

[jcmtiger]

I already posted my 1 year pitchers, McLain and Gibson, Overall Walter Johnson. And to the other posts Maddux no way.

Joe

[oldjudge]

Also need to include Roger Clemens in the conversation. He has as many Cy Youngs as Cy has letters in his name.

[forazzurri2axz]

when many of us are pushin up daisies, and someone poses the same question, a lot more people will say Greg Maddux--they'll remember him from THEIR youth and that he will have been a first round HOF ---and when they name the greatest pitching staff of all time, Maddux, Glavine , Smoltz and Avery!!!!

[Shoeless Moe]

should get some love for his stats.

Averaged 30 wins a season for 11 years!!!! also averaging 44 complete games a year during that time frame!!! Average per year not total over 11 years, but 44 per year....insane!

[Brendan]

For me, it's Cy Young hands down. I want the guy who is going to win games, not the guy with the flashy strikeout, shutout and ERA. Young has many more wins than Johnson and a better winning percentage. A great pitcher needs to win games even on a bad team.