{"id":10173,"date":"2010-12-15T14:48:01","date_gmt":"2010-12-15T21:48:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.seamheads.com\/?p=10173"},"modified":"2010-12-16T08:34:31","modified_gmt":"2010-12-16T15:34:31","slug":"the-best-pitcher-ever-is","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/2010\/12\/15\/the-best-pitcher-ever-is\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best Pitcher Ever is?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Who is the best pitcher of all-time?\u00c2\u00a0 This is a difficult question to answer due to the vast changes in the game over the past century.\u00c2\u00a0 For the purpose of this exercise, relief pitchers, such as Mariano Rivera, have been eliminated from contention to increase the value of innings.\u00c2\u00a0 Meanwhile, qualifiers must have played for a minimum of ten seasons and compiled at least two thousand innings pitched.\u00c2\u00a0 Longevity is a significant component in the process but simply accumulating numbers to bolster a pitching resume will not count for everything.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

511 Wins<\/p><\/div>\n

In the present era, the statistical value of wins has become less important when evaluating the overall dominance of a pitcher.\u00c2\u00a0 However, this numerical criterion should not be totally eliminated while determining the best pitcher of all-time.\u00c2\u00a0 After each season, the award presented to the most outstanding pitcher in the American and National Leagues is named after the immortal, Denton True \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Cy\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Young.\u00c2\u00a0 Unequivocally, the legendary right-hander is the greatest statistical compiler in the history of baseball.\u00c2\u00a0 511-wins.\u00c2\u00a0 It is a preposterous career win total that should not be understated.\u00c2\u00a0 Young collected ninety-four more wins (22.5%) than any other pitcher in history. This is the safest record in the history of organized baseball.<\/p>\n

However, the role of the pitcher has evolved considerably over time.\u00c2\u00a0 Young, along with most of his contemporaries, started every third game and completed the majority of their starts.\u00c2\u00a0 In the present day, starting pitchers work in a five-man rotation closely monitored on strict pitch counts and rarely completes games.\u00c2\u00a0 In essence, the combination of less starts and complete games equals fewer victories and innings pitched for a pitcher during their career.\u00c2\u00a0 To illustrate, Cy Young started a record 815 games during his twenty-two year career and completed an astonishing 749 of those contests.\u00c2\u00a0 Over the past five years, Major League Baseball pitchers have tossed fewer complete games combined<\/em> than Young hurled during his entire career.<\/p>\n

Strikeouts are an important indicator of the overall dominance of any pitcher but they should not be overvalued when determining their place in history.\u00c2\u00a0 However, the ratio of strikeouts to walks (K\/BB) is more valuable when rating the greatest of all-time.\u00c2\u00a0 This measure compares power versus precision in relation to their effectiveness on the mound.\u00c2\u00a0 Similarly, the modern hitter strikes out at a higher rate than a player in the early twentieth century.\u00c2\u00a0 As a result, the majority of career strikeout and K\/BB leaders have pitched during the past three decades.<\/p>\n

The following statistics were used to determine the best pitcher of all-time based on the career total rankings of seven pitching categories.\u00c2\u00a0 Adjusted ERA+, WHIP (base runners per inning), K\/BB, Innings Pitched, Strikeouts, Wins, and Winning percentage.\u00c2\u00a0 These statistics measure controlled factors such as strikeouts and walks but also include longevity, durability, era, and ballpark effect.<\/p>\n

Here is a sample of twenty-six pitchers in baseball history.\u00c2\u00a0 The group contains every 300-game winner plus two other extraordinary hurlers.\u00c2\u00a0 Each pitcher was assigned points according to their rank in all seven categories.\u00c2\u00a0 The highest possible total is 182 points (26 pitchers multiplied by 7 categories).<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\nERA+<\/span><\/td>\nWHIP<\/span><\/td>\nK\/BB<\/span><\/td>\nIP<\/span><\/td>\nK<\/span><\/td>\nWins<\/span><\/td>\nW%<\/span><\/td>\nPOINTS<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Walter Johnson<\/td>\n147<\/td>\n1.061<\/td>\n2.57<\/td>\n5914<\/td>\n3509<\/td>\n417<\/td>\n0.599<\/td>\n144.0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Roger Clemens<\/td>\n143<\/td>\n1.173<\/td>\n2.96<\/td>\n4917<\/td>\n4672<\/td>\n354<\/td>\n0.658<\/td>\n136.5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cy Young<\/td>\n138<\/td>\n1.130<\/td>\n2.30<\/td>\n7356<\/strong><\/td>\n2803<\/td>\n511<\/strong><\/td>\n0.618<\/td>\n136.0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
ChristyMathewson<\/td>\n136<\/td>\n1.058<\/td>\n2.96<\/td>\n4789<\/td>\n2507<\/td>\n373<\/td>\n0.665<\/td>\n136.0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pedro Martinez<\/td>\n154<\/strong><\/td>\n1.054<\/strong><\/td>\n4.15<\/strong><\/td>\n2827<\/td>\n3154<\/td>\n219<\/td>\n0.687<\/strong><\/td>\n124.0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Greg Maddux<\/td>\n132<\/td>\n1.143<\/td>\n3.37<\/td>\n5008<\/td>\n3371<\/td>\n355<\/td>\n0.610<\/td>\n122.0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Grover Alexander<\/td>\n136<\/td>\n1.121<\/td>\n2.31<\/td>\n5190<\/td>\n2198<\/td>\n373<\/td>\n0.642<\/td>\n120.0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Randy Johnson<\/td>\n136<\/td>\n1.171<\/td>\n3.26<\/td>\n4135<\/td>\n4875<\/td>\n303<\/td>\n0.646<\/td>\n111.0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tom Seaver<\/td>\n128<\/td>\n1.121<\/td>\n2.62<\/td>\n4783<\/td>\n3640<\/td>\n311<\/td>\n0.603<\/td>\n107.0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Don Sutton<\/td>\n108<\/td>\n1.142<\/td>\n2.66<\/td>\n5282<\/td>\n3574<\/td>\n324<\/td>\n0.559<\/td>\n99.0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tim Keefe<\/td>\n127<\/td>\n1.123<\/td>\n2.08<\/td>\n5049<\/td>\n2564<\/td>\n342<\/td>\n0.603<\/td>\n98.5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sandy Koufax<\/td>\n131<\/td>\n1.106<\/td>\n2.93<\/td>\n2324<\/td>\n2396<\/td>\n165<\/td>\n0.655<\/td>\n93.0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Gaylord Perry<\/td>\n117<\/td>\n1.181<\/td>\n2.56<\/td>\n5350<\/td>\n3534<\/td>\n314<\/td>\n0.542<\/td>\n92.0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kid Nichols<\/td>\n140<\/td>\n1.224<\/td>\n1.48<\/td>\n5067<\/td>\n1881<\/td>\n361<\/td>\n0.634<\/td>\n91.0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Eddie Plank<\/td>\n122<\/td>\n1.119<\/td>\n2.10<\/td>\n4496<\/td>\n2246<\/td>\n326<\/td>\n0.627<\/td>\n90.0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Steve Carlton<\/td>\n115<\/td>\n1.247<\/td>\n2.26<\/td>\n5218<\/td>\n4136<\/td>\n329<\/td>\n0.574<\/td>\n89.0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Warren Spahn<\/td>\n119<\/td>\n1.195<\/td>\n1.80<\/td>\n5244<\/td>\n2583<\/td>\n363<\/td>\n0.597<\/td>\n88.0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pud Galvin<\/td>\n108<\/td>\n1.191<\/td>\n2.43<\/td>\n6003<\/td>\n1807<\/td>\n365<\/td>\n0.541<\/td>\n80.5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nolan Ryan<\/td>\n112<\/td>\n1.247<\/td>\n2.04<\/td>\n5386<\/td>\n5714<\/strong><\/td>\n324<\/td>\n0.526<\/td>\n80.0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
John Clarkson<\/td>\n134<\/td>\n1.209<\/td>\n1.66<\/td>\n4536<\/td>\n1978<\/td>\n328<\/td>\n0.648<\/td>\n79.0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lefty Grove<\/td>\n148<\/td>\n1.278<\/td>\n1.91<\/td>\n3941<\/td>\n2266<\/td>\n300<\/td>\n0.680<\/td>\n75.5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Phil Niekro<\/td>\n115<\/td>\n1.268<\/td>\n1.85<\/td>\n5404<\/td>\n3342<\/td>\n318<\/td>\n0.537<\/td>\n70.5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Charles Radbourn<\/td>\n120<\/td>\n1.149<\/td>\n2.09<\/td>\n4527<\/td>\n1830<\/td>\n309<\/td>\n0.614<\/td>\n69.0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tom Glavine<\/td>\n118<\/td>\n1.314<\/td>\n1.74<\/td>\n4413<\/td>\n2607<\/td>\n305<\/td>\n0.600<\/td>\n52.0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mickey Welch<\/td>\n114<\/td>\n1.226<\/td>\n1.43<\/td>\n4802<\/td>\n1850<\/td>\n307<\/td>\n0.594<\/td>\n44.0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Early Wynn<\/td>\n107<\/td>\n1.329<\/td>\n1.31<\/td>\n4564<\/td>\n2334<\/td>\n300<\/td>\n0.551<\/td>\n29.5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Best Picher Ever Data<\/a><\/p>\n

The metrics show that Pedro Martinez is the best pitcher of all-time based on his ERA+, WHIP, K\/BB, and W%. \u00c2\u00a0His\u00c2\u00a0low<\/em> win total and innings pitched are a product of the modern pitching era, injuries, and longevity compared to \u00c2\u00a0other pitchers quantified in the analysis.\u00c2\u00a0 Meanwhile, Sandy Koufax has been regarded as one of the greatest pitchers \u00c2\u00a0in history despite retiring prematurely.\u00c2\u00a0 However, his lifetime pitching totals and ratios fail in comparison to those of \u00c2\u00a0Martinez.<\/p>\n

Nolan Ryan is unquestionably the most dominant pitcher in history.\u00c2\u00a0 He compiled 5714 strikeouts, authored seven no-hitters, and held opponents to the lowest batting average (.204) during his brilliant twenty-seven year career.\u00c2\u00a0 Undeniably, these are untouchable pitching records.\u00c2\u00a0 However, his lifetime .526 winning percentage and record, 2795 bases on balls (2.04 K\/BB), eliminates him from the discussion.\u00c2\u00a0 Conversely, the most surprising statistical finding is the placement of Don Sutton.\u00c2\u00a0 Nearly every baseball expert would agree that Sutton is not the tenth best pitcher in history but simply an anomaly within the context of this breakdown.<\/p>\n

The remarkable Christy \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Big Six\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Mathewson compiled a 373-188 record over a stellar seventeen-year career.\u00c2\u00a0 He won 20+ games, twelve consecutive seasons (1903-14), still an MLB-record.\u00c2\u00a0 Meanwhile, Grover Alexander established an MLB-rookie record, 28 wins, in 1911 for the Philadelphia Phillies.\u00c2\u00a0 Over the next nineteen seasons, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Old Pete\u00e2\u20ac\u009d collected the third most wins (373), tied with Mathewson, in baseball history.\u00c2\u00a0 Despite their amazing careers, only one pitcher can hold the title as Best Pitcher Ever<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

The Best Pitcher Ever<\/p><\/div>\n

Walter Johnson is the greatest pitcher of all-time based on the combination of metrics, longevity, dominance, and career statistical totals (144 points accumulated on the seven category scale).\u00c2\u00a0 Despite the greatness of Roger Clemens, Pedro Martinez, and Greg Maddux in the modern hitter friendly\/PED era, the undeniable greatness of Johnson is the epitome of pitching excellence.\u00c2\u00a0 The right-hander tossed an astounding 110-shutouts during his twenty-one year career for the Washington Senators.\u00c2\u00a0 Incredibly, of his 417 wins, 26.4% of them were complete-game shutouts.\u00c2\u00a0 Johnson allowed only 9.55 base runners per nine innings and logged nearly six thousand innings pitched.\u00c2\u00a0 With all due respect, Cy Young, Christy Mathewson, Grover Alexander, and every other pitcher in history must follow the lead of the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Big Train\u00e2\u20ac\u009d.<\/p>\n

There is a very prominent pitcher excluded from this ranking, Leroy Satchel Paige.\u00c2\u00a0 The legendary Negro League hurler spent the majority of his career barred from MLB competition for segregation purposes.\u00c2\u00a0 From most accounts, Paige might have been the greatest pitcher in history.\u00c2\u00a0 At 59, he pitched three-scoreless innings for the Kansas City Athletics in 1965.\u00c2\u00a0 His unmatched longevity, tremendous control, and passion for the game might have challenged Cy Young\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s inconceivable 511-win total.\u00c2\u00a0 Unfortunately, his excellence on the mound will never show up in the MLB record book.\u00c2\u00a0 Therefore, Walter Johnson is deemed the Best Pitcher Ever <\/em>according to this ranking method.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Who is the best pitcher of all-time?\u00c2\u00a0 This is a difficult question to answer due to the vast changes in the game over the past century.\u00c2\u00a0 For the purpose of this exercise, relief pitchers, such as Mariano Rivera, have been eliminated from contention to increase the value of innings.\u00c2\u00a0 Meanwhile, qualifiers must have played for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":773,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[81,9,77],"tags":[4565,251,1389,12096,12092,3804,2103,840],"class_list":["post-10173","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-features","category-general","category-hall-of-fame","tag-christy-mathewson","tag-cy-young","tag-greg-maddux","tag-grover-alexander","tag-josh-robbins","tag-pedro-martinez","tag-roger-clemens","tag-walter-johnson"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10173","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/773"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10173"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10173\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10173"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10173"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10173"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}