Most Pitching Wins in MLB History

These pitchers won more games than anybody.

Most Pitching Wins in MLB History

Every major league pitcher is unique, but the great ones all dominate. Some win with blazing fastballs. Others with nasty breaking stuff. A few use pure guile. Warren Spahn may have described it best: "Hitting is timing. Pitching is upsetting timing."

Never underestimate that person standing on the mound, 60 feet and 6 inches from home plate, as Ty Cobb once did when he first faced a young and skinny Walter Johnson. "Something went past me that made me flinch," Cobb wrote. "The thing just hissed with danger. We couldn't touch him. ... Every one of us knew we'd met the most powerful arm ever turned loose in a ballpark."

That's how you become a baseball legend. And collect a lot of wins. These pitchers won more games than anybody in MLB history.

50. Bartolo Colon — 247 Wins

Born: May 24, 1973 (Altamira, Dominican Republic)\

Throws: Right

Career record: 247-188

Win percentage: .568

Career: 22 seasons (1997-2018)

Teams: Cleveland Indians (1997-2002), Montreal Expos (2002), Chicago White Sox (2003, 2009), Anaheim/Los Angeles Angels (2004-07), Boston Red Sox (2008), New York Yankees (2011), Oakland Athletics (2012-13), New York Mets (2014-16), Atlanta Braves (2017), Minnesota Twins (2017), Texas Rangers (2018)

Other stats: 565 CG, 4.12 ERA, 38 CG, 13 SHO, 2,535 K

Career highlights: Four-time All-Star (1998, 2005, 2013, 2016), AL Cy Young Award (2005), Al wins leader (2005)

World Series titles: None

Bottom line: For sheer longevity, Bartolo Colon deserves our respect. Colon pitched 22 seasons in the majors and had his best season with the Angels in 2005, when he won his lone Cy Young Award.

Later in his career, Colon became known for statistical oddities — the last MLB player to play for the Expos and the oldest MLB player to hit his first home run, finally going yard at 42 years old.

49. Vic Willis — 249 Wins

Born: April 12, 1876 (Cecil County, Maryland)

Died: Aug. 3, 1947 (age 71, Elkton, Maryland)

Throws: Right

Career record: 249-205

Win percentage: .545

Career: 13 seasons(1898-1910)

Teams: Boston Beaneaters (1898-1905), Pittsburgh Pirates (1906-09), St. Louis Cardinals (1910)

Other stats: 513 G, 2.63 ERA, 388 CG, 50 SHO, 1,651 K

Career highlights: MLB ERA leader (1899), MLB strikeout leader (1902)

World Series titles: 1 (1909)

Bottom line: Vic Willis, better known as the "Delaware Peach" (even though he was from Maryland), set the MLB post-1900 single-season losses record with 29 in 1905.

That was part of a disastrous stretch from 1902 to 1905 when Willis went 42-72.

Willis, who died in 1947, was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1995.

47. C.C. Sabathia — 251 Wins (Tie)

Born: July 21, 1980 (Vallejo, California)

Throws: Left

Career record: 251-161

Win percentage: .609

Career: 19 seasons (2001-19)

Teams: Cleveland Indians (2001-08), Milwaukee Brewers (2008), New York Yankees (2009-19)

Other stats: 561 G, 3.74 ERA, 38 CG, 12 SHO, 3,093 K

Career highlights: AL Cy Young Award (2007), ALCS MVP (2009), six-time All-Star (2003, 2004, 2007, 2010-12), two-time MLB wins leader (2009, 2010)

World Series titles: 1 (2009)

Bottom line: CC Sabathia spent his first seven seasons with the Cleveland Indians and parlayed his success and talent there into a seven-year, $161 million contract with the New York Yankees in 2009.

It paid off for the club in a big way. Sabathia led the majors in wins in 2009, was named ALCS MVP and the Yankees won the World Series.

The Hall of Fame debate with Sabathia could be fierce.

47. Bob Gibson — 251 Wins (Tie)

Born: Nov. 9. 1935 (Omaha, Nebraska)

Died: Oct. 2, 2020 (age 84, Omaha, Nebraska)

Throws: Right

Career record: 251-174

Win percentage: .591

Career: 17 seasons (1959-75)

Teams: St. Louis Cardinals

Other stats: 528 G, 2.91 ERA, 255 CG, 56 SHO, 3,117 K

Career highlights: NL MVP (1968), two-time NL Cy Young Award (1968, 1970), two-time World Series MVP (1964, 1967), nine-time Gold Glove Award winner (1965-73), MLB All-Century Team

World Series titles: 2 (1964, 1967)

Bottom line: Perhaps the greatest pitcher in major league history, Bob Gibson dominated from the mound like few have in the history of the game.

Gibson did it all for the Cardinals, where he played his entire career, winning two Cy Young Awards and two World Series MVP awards.

Gibson died in October 2020, at 84 years old.

46. Al Spalding — 252 Wins

Born: Sept. 2, 1849 (Byron, Illinois)

Died: Sept. 9, 1915 (age 66, San Diego, California)

Throws: Right

Career record: 252-65

Win percentage: .795

Career: 13 seasons (1866-78)

Teams: Rockford Forest Citys (1866-70), Boston Red Stockings (1871-75), Chicago White Stockings (1876-78)

Other stats: 347 G, 2.13 ERA, 279 CG, 24 SHO, 248 K

Career highlights: Six-time NA/NL wins leader (1871-76), four-time National Association champion (1872-75)), National League champion (1876)

World Series titles: None

Bottom line: Al Spalding's baseball career pales in comparison to what he did off the field. He's the Spalding who invented the athletic brand of balls and equipment for all sports.

He was a trendsetter from the start as one of the first baseball players to take the field wearing a glove, and he didn't just co-found the Spalding Company.

He also co-founded the National League.

45. Carl Hubbell — 253 Wins

Born: June 22, 1903 (Carthage, Missouri)

Died: Nov. 21, 1988 (age 85, Scottsdale, Arizona)

Throws: Left

Career record: 253-154

Win percentage: .622

Career: 16 seasons (1928-43)

Teams: New York Giants

Other stats: 535 G, 2.98 ERA, 260 CG, 36 SHO, 1,677 K

Career highlights: Two-time NL MVP (1933, 1936), nine-time All-Star (1933-38, 1940-42), three-time NL wins leader (1933, 1934, 1936), three-time MLB ERA leader (1933, 1934, 1936)

World Series titles: 1 (1933)

Bottom line: Carl Hubbell had a couple of great nicknames that even hold up today — "King Carl" and "The Meal Ticket."

Hubbell, a two-time NL MVP, also had one of the more amazing stat lines in all of history when he struck out five Hall of Famers in succession at the 1934 All-Star Game — Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, Al Simmons and Joe Cronin.

43. Jack Morris — 254 Wins (Tie)

Born: May 16, 1955 (Saint Paul, Minnesota)

Throws: Right

Career record: 254-186

Win percentage: .577

Career: 18 seasons (1977-94)

Teams: Detroit Tigers (1977-90), Minnesota Twins (1991), Toronto Blue Jays (1992-93), Cleveland Indians (1994)

Other stats: 549 G, 3.90 ERA, 175 CG, 28 SHO, 2,478 K

Career highlights: World Series MVP (1991), five-time All-Star (1981, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1991), two-time MLB wins leader (1981, 1992)

World Series titles: 4 (1984, 1991, 1992, 1993)

Bottom line: Jack Morris was a great pitcher with a great mustache. Like, a mustache that holds up in any era.

In the last decade of his career, Morris won the World Series four times, including three in a row from 1991 to 1993 with the Minnesota Twins and back-to-back titles with the Toronto Blue Jays.

43. Red Faber — 254 Wins (Tie)

Born: Sept. 6, 1888 (Cascade, Iowa)

Died: Sept. 25, 1976 (age 88, Chicago, Illinois)

Throws: Right

Career record: 254-213

Win percentage: .544

Career: 19 seasons (1914-17, 1919-33)

Teams: Chicago White Sox

Other stats: 609 G, 3.15 EA, 273 CG, 29 SHO, 1,471 K

Career highlights: Two-time AL ERA leader (1921, 1922)

World Series titles: 1 (1917)

Bottom line: Red Faber is an interesting footnote in the Black Sox scandal.

He left the team for one season in 1918 to fight in World War I and returned after losing a tremendous amount of weight and, likely weakened by the 1918 influenza pandemic, was unable to pitch in the 1919 World Series.

Historians have long thought that if he had been able to pitch, the games would not have been able to be fixed because Faber would've received at least two starts.

42. Andy Pettite — 256 Wins

Born: June 15, 1972 (Baton Rouge, Louisiana)

Throws: Left

Career record: 256-163

Win percentage: .626

Career: 18 seasons (1995-2010, 2012-13)

Teams: New York Yankees (1995-2003, 2007-10, 2012-13), Houston Astros (2004-06)

Other stats: 531 G, 3.85 ERA, 26 CG, 4 SHO, 2,448 K

Career highlights: ALCS MVP (2001), three-time All-Star (1996, 2001, 2010), AL wins leader (1996)

World Series titles: 5 (1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2009)

Bottom line: The only player in the steroid era to come clean about his PED use, Andy Pettite was an all-time great winner among MLB pitchers with five World Series titles, all coming with the Yankees.

Pettite is probably the greatest pickoff pitcher of all time as well, with a record 98 pickoffs in his career.

41. Ted Lyons — 260 Wins

Born: Dec. 28, 1900 (Lake Charles, Louisiana)

Died: July 25, 1986 (age 85, Sulphur, Louisiana)

Throws: Right

Career record: 260-230

Win percentage: .531

Career: 21 seasons (1923-42, 1946)

Teams: Chicago White Sox

Other stats: 594 G, 3.67 ERA, 356 CG, 27 SHO, 1,073 K

Career highlights: Two-time AL wins leader (1925, 1927), AL ERA leader (1942), All-Star (1939)

World Series titles: None

Bottom line: Ted Lyons is a player who probably wouldn't make it into the Hall of Fame if you put his career stats up against today's current talent — mainly looking at the fact he had more career walks than strikeouts.

Lyons also played his entire career with the White Sox and made just one All-Star team.

40. Gus Weyhing — 264 Wins

Born: Sept. 29, 1866 (Louisville, Kentucky)

Died: Sept. 4, 1955 (age 88, Louisville, Kentucky)

Throws: Right

Career record: 264-232

Win percentage: .532

Career: 15 seasons (1887-1901)

Teams: Philadelphia Athletics (1887-89, 1891), Brooklyn Ward's Wonders (1890), Philadelphia Athletics (1891), Philadelphia Phillies (1892-95), Pittsburgh Pirates (1895), Louisville Colonels (1895-96), Washington Senators (1898-99), St. Louis Cardinals (1900), Brooklyn Superbas (1900), Cleveland Blues (1901), Cincinnati Reds (1901)

Other stats: 540 G, 3.88 ERA, 449 CG, 28 SHO, 1,667 K

Career highlights: Seven 20-win seasons, four 200-strikeouts seasons

World Series titles: None

Bottom line: No batter has ever been in more danger of getting hit when they went to the plate than when they stepped into the box against Gus Weyhing, who hit a record 278 batsmen in his 15-year career.

Another thing that wasn't safe around Weyhing? Pigeons. He was accused of a massive, prize pigeon theft at the National Pigeon Show in his hometown of Louisville in 1892.

39. Jim McCormick — 265 Wins

Born: Nov. 3, 1856 (Glasgow, Scotland)

Died: March 10, 1918 (age 61, Paterson, New Jersey)

Throws: Right

Career record: 265-214

Win percentage: .553

Career: 10 seasons (1878-87)

Teams: Indianapolis Blues (1878), Cleveland Blues (1879-84), Cincinnati Outlaw Reds (1884), Providence Grays (1885), Chicago White Stockings (1885-86), Pittsburgh Alleghenys (1887)

Other stats: 492 G, 2.43 ERA, 466 CG, 33 SHO, 1,704 K

Career highlights: Two-time NL wins leader (1880, 1882), NL ERA leader (1883)

World Series titles: None

Bottom line: Jim McCormick was a dominant pitcher in his era and would've been even more so had there been no restrictions on overhand pitching, which he was very good at.

Yes, that's right, sports fans. There was a time when MLB pitchers weren't even allowed to throw the ball overhand.

McCormick was famous for being a baseball player but almost just as famous for a bar he owned in Paterson, New Jersey.

37. Eppa Rixey — 266 Wins (Tie)

Born: May 3, 1891 (Culpeper, Virginia)

Died: Feb. 28, 1963 (age 71, Cincinnati, Ohio)

Throws: Left

Career record: 266-251

Win percentage: .515

Career: 20 seasons (1912-17, 1919-33)

Teams: Philadelphia Phillies (1912-17, 1919-20), Cincinnati Reds (1921-33)

Other stats: 692 G, 3.15 ERA, 290 CG, 37 SHO, 1,350 K

Career highlights: NL wins leader (1922), Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame

World Series titles: None

Bottom line: Eppa Rixey spoke with a long, Southern drawl from his Virginia roots (that was the South back then) and sometimes was thought of as slow because of it.

That couldn't have been further from the truth. Rixey was an intellectual who taught Latin in the offseasons and came from a well-off family and had a college education — an anomaly for players in that day and age.

37. Bob Feller — 266 Wins (Tie)

Born: Nov. 3. 1918 (Van Meter, Iowa)

Died: Dec. 15, 2010 (age 92, Cleveland, Ohio)

Throws: Right

Career record: 266-162

Win percentage: .621

Career: 20 seasons (1936-41, 1945-56)

Teams: Cleveland Indians

Other stats: 570 G, 3.25 ERA, 279 CG, 44 SHO, 2581 K

Career highlights: Triple Crown (1940), eight-time All-Star (1938-41, 1946-48, 1950), six-time AL wins leader (1939-41, 1946-47, 1951), AL ERA leader (1940)

World Series titles: 1 (1948)

Bottom line: Bob Feller was one of the most dominant pitchers of all time, and please don't undervalue his win total.

Feller missed three whole seasons from 1942 to 1944 serving in World War II — in his prime — so the career numbers would likely be around the 320-330 mark if not for him doing his patriotic duty.

We'll also say he probably would've thrown a no-hitter in that stretch. He had three for his career.

36. Jim Palmer — 268 Wins

Born: Oct. 15, 1945 (New York City, New York)

Throws: Right

Career record: 268-152

Win percentage: .638

Career: 20 seasons (1965-84)

Teams: Baltimore Orioles

Other stats: 558 G, 2.86 ERA, 211 CG, 53 SHO, 2,212 K

Career highlights: Three-time AL Cy Young Award (1973, 1975, 1976), six-time All-Star (1970-72, 1975, 1977, 1978), four-time Gold Glove Award (1976-79), three-time AL wins leader (1975-77), two-time AL ERA leader (1973, 1975)

World Series titles: 3 (1966, 1970, 1983)

Bottom line: Jim Palmer's name should be front and center when we have our debates about the greatest pitchers of all time — just look at the fact he won a World Series in three different decades.

Palmer played his entire career with the Orioles and was a three-time Cy Young Award winner. Your grandma probably knows him from his underwear commercials.

Don't believe us? Ask her.

35. Jamie Moyer — 269 Wins

Born: Nov. 18, 1962 (Sellersville, Pennsylvania)

Throws: Left

Career record: 269-209

Win percentage: .563

Career: 26 seasons (1986-2010, 2012)

Teams: Chicago Cubs (1986-88), Texas Rangers (1989-90), St. Louis Cardinals (1991), Baltimore Orioles (1993-95), Boston Red Sox (1996), Seattle Mariners (1996-2006), Philadelphia Phillies (2006-10), Colorado Rockies (2012)

Other stats: 696 G, 4.25 ERA, 33 CG, 10 SHO, 2,441 K

Career highlights: All-Star (2003), Seattle Mariners Hall of Fame

World Series titles: 1 (2008)

Bottom line: Jamie Moyer deserves a tip of the hat for his long career.

Consider that when he returned from a one-year sabbatical for his final season with the Colorado Rockies in 2012, he twice became the oldest pitcher to win an MLB game — first at 49, then 50 years old. He then became the oldest MLB batter to record an RBI at 50 years old.

He also owns the record for most home runs allowed — 522 over 26 seasons.

33. Mike Mussina — 270 Wins (Tie)

Born: Dec. 8, 1968 (Williamsport, Pennsylvania)

Throws: Right

Career record: 270-153

Win percentage: .638

Career: 18 seasons (1991-2008)

Teams: Baltimore Orioles (1991-2000), New York Yankees (2001-08)

Other stats: 537 G, 3.68 ERA, 57 CG, 23 SHO, 2,813 K

Career highlights: Five-time All-Star (1992-94, 1997, 1999), seven-time Gold Glove Award winner (1996-99, 2001, 2003, 2008), MLB wins leader (1995)

World Series titles: None

Bottom line: Mike Mussina was a quiet, understated pitcher who won a lot of games but never won the big game.

He played his last eight seasons with the New York Yankees and joined the team one year after they won the World Series and retired one year before they won their next title.

Talk about bad timing.

33. Burleigh Grimes — 270 Wins (Tie)

Born: Aug. 18, 1893 (Emerald, Wisconsin)

Died: Dec. 6, 1985 (age 92, Clear Lake, Wisconsin)

Throws: Right

Career record: 270-212

Win percentage: .560

Career: 19 seasons (1916-34)

Teams: Pittsburgh Pirates (1916-17, 1928-29, 1934), Brooklyn Robins (1918-26), New York Giants (1927), Boston Braves (1930), St. Louis Cardinals (1933-34), New York Yankees (1934)

Other stats: 616 G, 3.53 ERA, 314 CG, 35 SHO, 1,512 K

Career highlights: Two-time NL wins leader (1921, 1928), NL strikeout leader (1921)

World Series titles: 1 (1931)

Bottom line: Burleigh Grimes was the last MLB pitcher that was legally permitted to throw a spitball, which he took full advantage of.

He was also unique in an era when players were mostly clean-shaven — "Ol Stubblebeard" liked to rock the five-o'clock shadow, and it was a look that intimidated opponents to the tune of 270 wins and 1,512 career strikeouts.

32. Red Ruffing — 273 Wins

Born: May 3, 1905 (Granville, Illinois)

Died: Feb. 17, 1986 (age 80. Mayfield Heights, Ohio)

Throws: Right

Career record: 273-225

Win percentage: .548

Career: 22 seasons (1924-42, 1945-47)

Teams: Boston Red Sox (1924-30), New York Yankees (1930-42, 1945-46), Chicago White Sox (1947)

Other stats: 624 G, 3.80 ERA, 335 CG, 45 SHO, 1,987 K

Career highlights: Six-time All-Star (1934, 1938-42), AL wins leader (1938), AL strikeout leader (1932)

World Series titles: 6 (1932, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1941)

Bottom line: Red Ruffing was as tough as they come. Working in the same coal mine that took his father's life, Ruffing was a top baseball prospect at 15 years old when an accident in the mine severed four of his toes.

He learned how to be a pitcher and was a key player on some of the greatest teams of all time, winning six World Series titles with the New York Yankees.

31. Jim Kaat — 283 Wins

Born: Nov. 7, 1938 (Zeeland, Michigan)

Throws: Left

Career record: 283-237

Win percentage: .544

Career: 25 seasons (1959-83)

Teams: Washington Senators (1959-73), Chicago White Sox (1973-75), Philadelphia Phillies (1976-79), New York Yankees (1979-80), St. Louis Cardinals (1980-83)

Other stats: 898 G, 3.45 ERA, 180 CG, 31 SHO, 2,461 K

Career highlights: Three-time All-Star (1962, 1966, 1975), 16-time Gold Glove Award winner (1962-77), AL wins leader (1966)

World Series titles: 1 (1982)

Bottom line: Jim Kaat had an expansive career that covered four different decades.

He pitched his first MLB game in 1959 for the Washington Senators and his final game in 1983 for the St. Louis Cardinals, who also brought him the lone World Series title of his career in 1982.

Kaat, who had a long career as a sportscaster after his pitching days were over, was a hard-luck Hall of Fame candidate in both attempts after his career and with the Veterans Committee.

29. Fergie Jenkins — 284 Wins (Tie)

Born: Dec. 13, 1942 (Chatham, Ontario, Canada)

Throws: Right

Career record: 284-226

Win percentage: .557

Career: 19 seasons (1965-83)

Teams: Philadelphia Phillies (1965-66), Chicago Cubs (1966-73, 1982-83), Texas Rangers (1974-75, 1978-81), Boston Red Sox (1976-77)

Other stats: 664 G, 3.34 ERA, 267 CG, 49 SHO, 3,192 K

Career highlights: NL Cy Young Award (1971), three-time All-Star (1967, 1971, 1972), MLB wins leader (1971, 1974), NL strikeout leader (1969)

World Series titles: None

Bottom line: Fergie Jenkins is best known for his time playing for the Chicago Cubs, where he became the first Canadian and the first Cub to win a Cy Young Award in 1971.

Jenkins was also the first Canadian elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame when he was inducted in 1991. Larry Walker became the second when he elected in 2020.

29. Tony Mullane — 284 Wins (Tie)

Born: Jan. 30, 1859 (County Cork, Ireland)

Died: April 25, 1944 (age 85, Chicago, Illinois)

Throws: Right (also threw left-handed a few times)

Career record: 284-220

Winning percentage: .563

Career: 13 seasons (1881-94)

Teams: Detroit Wolverines (1881), Louisville Eclipse (1882), St. Louis Browns (1883), Toledo Blue Stockings (1884), Cincinnati Red Stockings/Reds (1886-93), Baltimore Orioles (1893-94), Cleveland Spiders (1894)

Other stats: 555 G, 3.05 ERA, 468 CG, 30 SHO, 1,803 K

Career highlights: AA strikeouts leader (1882), two-time AA shutouts leader (1884, 1887)

World Series titles: None

Bottom line: Tony Mullane had one of the more unique careers in baseball history — mainly because he pitched with both hands and never wore a glove.

Mullane's numbers aren't indicative of how good a pitcher he was compared to others on this list. Once the mound was moved back five feet in 1893, he wasn't effective anymore. So there's a good reason he's not in the Hall of Fame.

And here's a Mullane fun fact: He is the all-time leader in wild pitches with 343.

28. Robin Roberts — 286 Wins

Born: Sept. 30, 1926 (Springfield, Illinois)

Died: May 6, 2010 (age 83, Temple Terrace, Florida)

Throws: Right

Career record: 286-245

Winning percentage: .539

Career: 19 seasons (1958-66)

Teams: Philadelphia Phillies (1948-61), Baltimore Orioles (1962-65), Houston Astros (1965-66), Chicago Cubs (1966)

Other stats: 676 G, 3.41 ERA, 305 CG, 45 SHO, 2,357 K

Career highlights: Seven-time All-Star (1950-56), four-time MLB wins leader (1952-55), two-time MLB strikeouts leader (1953, 1954)

World Series titles: None

Bottom line: Robin Roberts was a basketball star at Michigan State before giving baseball a try, which ended up being a pretty good fit.

Roberts became a star in his time with the Phillies, leading the team to its first National League pennant in 35 years in 1950.

Roberts, who died of natural causes in 2010, was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1976.

27. Bert Blyleven — 287 Wins

Born: April 6, 1951 (Zeist, Netherlands)

Throws: Right

Career record: 287-250

Winning percentage: .534

Career: 22 seasons (1970-90, 1992)

Teams: Minnesota Twins (1970-76, 1985-88), Texas Rangers (1976-77), Pittsburgh Pirates (1978-80), Cleveland Indians (1981-85), California Angels (1989-90, 1992)

Other stats: 692 G, 3.31 ERA, 242 CG, 60 SHO, 3,701 K

Career highlights: Two-time All-Star (1973, 1985), AL strikeouts leader (1985)

World Series titles: 2 (1979, 1987)

Bottom line: Bert Blyleven was born in the Netherlands, but his family moved to Canada, then to California when he was just a small child.

He made two All-Star teams in his career and won two World Series titles, with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Minnesota Twins, respectively.

He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2011, on his 14th try.

26. Tommy John — 288 Wins

Born: May 22, 1943 (Terre Haute, Indiana)

Throws: Left

Career record: 288-231

Winning percentage: .555

Career: 27 seasons (1963-75, 1976-89)

Teams: Cleveland Indians (1963-64), Chicago White Sox (1965-71), Los Angeles Dodgers (1972-74, 1976-78), New York Yankees (1979-82, 1986-89), California Angels (1982-85), Oakland Athletics (1985)

Other stats: 760 G, 3.34 ERA, 162 CG, 46 SHO, 2,248 K

Career highlights: Four-time All-Star (1968, 1978-80)

World Series titles: None

Bottom line: "Tommy John surgery" has become synonymous with elbow problems for MLB pitchers for the last three decades, and it overshadows the career of the actual man.

Tommy John pitched for an amazing 27 seasons and made All-Star teams in three different decades.

John, somehow, never was elected to the Hall of Fame even though his 164 wins post-surgery were just one less than Sandy Koufax's career total.

25. Bobby Mathews — 297 Wins

Born: Nov. 21, 1851 (Baltimore, Maryland)

Died: April 17, 1898 (age 46, Baltimore, Maryland)

Throws: Right

Career record: 297-248

Winning percentage: .545

Career: 17 seasons (1869-77, 1879, 1881-87)

Teams: Baltimore Marylands (1869-70), Fort Wayne Kekiongas (1871), Baltimore Canaries (1872), New York Mutuals (1873-76), Cincinnati Reds (1877), Providence Grays (1879, 1881), Boston Red Caps (1881-82), Philadelphia Athletics (1883-87)

Other stats: 578 G, 2.86 ERA, 525 CG, 20 SHO, 1,528 K

Career highlights: NL champion (1879), AA champion (1883)

World Series titles: None

Bottom line: Bobby Mathews was a little guy — only 5-foot-5 and 140 pounds, which was small for a pro athlete even in the late 1800s, when the average American male was 5-foot-7.

But Mathews stood tall on the mound. He has the second-highest win total for a pitcher not in the Hall of Fame and won 20 games in his career eight times, including 42 wins in 1874.

23. Early Wynn — 300 Wins (Tie)

Born: Jan. 6, 1920 (Hartford, Alabama)

Died: April 4, 1999 (age 79, Venice, Florida)

Throws: Right

Career record: 300-224

Winning percentage: .551

Career: 26 seasons (1939, 1941-44, 1946-48, 1949-63)

Teams: Washington Senators (1939, 1941-44, 1946-48), Cleveland Indians (1949-57, 1963), Chicago White Sox (1958-62)

Other stats: 691 G, 3.54 ERA, 289 CG, 49 SHO, 2,334 K

Career highlights: Cy Young Award (1959), nine-time All-Star (1947, 1955-60), two-time MLB wins leader (1954, 1959), AL ERA leader (1950), two-time AL strikeouts leader (1957, 1958)

World Series titles: None

Bottom line: Early Wynn left high school in rural Alabama before graduating to sign with the Washington Senators for $100 a month and made his MLB debut in 1939 at just 19 years old.

One of the toughest, meanest pitchers to ever step on the mound, Wynn served two years fighting in World War II and won his only Cy Young in 1959, his 21st season.

23. Lefty Grove — 300 Wins (Tie)

Born: March 6, 1900 (Loncanoning, Maryland)

Died: May 22, 1975 (age 75, Norwalk, Ohio)

Throws: Left

Career record: 300-141

Winning percentage: .680

Career: 17 seasons (1925-41)

Teams: Philadelphia Athletics (1925-33), Boston Red Sox (1934-41)

Other stats: 616 G, 3.06 ERA, 298 CG, 35 SHO, 2,266 K

Career highlights: AL MVP (1931), two-time Triple Crown (1930, 1931), six-time All-Star (1933, 1935-39), four-time AL wins leader (1928, 1930, 1931, 1933), nine-time AL ERA leader (1926, 1929-32, 1935, 1936, 1938, 1939), seven-time AL strikeouts leader (1925-31), MLB All-Century Team

World Series titles: 2 (1929, 1930)

Bottom line: Lefty Grove was one of the most dominant pitchers in MLB history.

He won the Triple Crown in back-to-back seasons in 1930 and 1931 and led the AL in ERA nine times and strikeouts seven times.

Elected to the Hall of Fame in 1947, Grove's legacy got a big boost when sabermetrics guru Bill James rated him as the No. 19 greatest player of all time.

22. Randy Johnson — 303 Wins

Born: Sept. 10, 1963 (Walnut Creek, California)

Throws: Left

Career record: 303-166

Winning percentage: 3.29

Career: 22 seasons (1988-2009)

Teams: Montreal Expos (1988-89), Seattle Mariners (1989-98), Houston Astros (1998), Arizona Diamondbacks (1999-2004, 2007-08), New York Yankees (2005-06), San Francisco Giants (2009)

Other stats: 618 G, 3.29 ERA, 100 CG, 37 SHO, 4,875 K

Career highlights: Five-time Cy Young Award (1995, 1999-2002), World Series MVP (2001), 10-time All-Star (1990, 1993-95, 1997, 1999-2002, 2004), Triple Crown (2002), MLB wins leader (2002), four-time ERA leader (1995. 1999, 2001, 2002), nine-time MLB strikeouts leader (1992-95, 1999-2002, 2004)

World Series titles: 1 (2001)

Bottom line: Imagine stepping to the plate and facing Randy Johnson. The 6-foot-10 left-hander always seemed angry and ready to start throwing a variety of pitches toward you at around 100 miles per hour with varying amounts of control.

The five-time Cy Young Award winner may have been the most intimidating pitcher of all time. Batters who faced Johnson in his prime routinely talked about their fear for their own physical safety at the plate.

This fear was best (and most comically) evidenced by John Kruk's reaction when Johnson threw a fastball over his head during the 1993 All-Star Game.

21. Tom Glavine — 305 Wins

Born: March 25, 1966 (Concord, Massachusetts)

Throws: Left

Career record: 305-203

Winning percentage: 3.29

Career: 22 seasons (1987-2008)

Teams: Atlanta Braves (1987-2002, 2008), New York Mets (2003-07)

Other stats: 682 G, 3.54 ERA, 56 CG, 25 SHO, 2,607 K

Career highlights: Two-time Cy Young Award (1991-98), World Series MVP (1995), 10-time All-Star (1991-93, 1996-98, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006), five-time NL wins leader (1991-93, 1998, 2000), four-time Silver Slugger Award (1991, 1995, 1996, 1998)

World Series titles: 1 (1995)

Bottom line: Tom Glavine could have been a Hall of Famer in another sport. He was drafted in the fourth round of the 1984 NHL draft but instead chose to go with baseball.

Glavine, who also was one of the best hitting pitchers of all time, played 22 seasons and was elected to the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 2014.

20. Mickey Welch — 307 Wins

Born: July 4, 1859 (Brooklyn, New York)

Died: July 30, 1941 (age 82, Concord, New Hampshire)

Throws: Right

Career record: 307-210

Winning percentage: 2.71

Career: 13 seasons (1880-92)

Teams: Troy Trojans (1880-82), New York Giants (1883-92)

Other stats: 565 G, 2.71 ERA, 525 CG, 41 SHO, 1,850 K

Career highlights: Most consecutive strikeouts to begin a game — 9 (1884)

World Series titles: None

Bottom line: Mickey Welch teamed with a fellow 300-game winner, Tim Keefe, on both the Troy Trojans and New York Giants — both clubs used them in a two-man rotation.

Welch formed the first players union in 1885 and pitched a complete game in 525 out of 565 career starts.

Welch died in 1941 and was elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee in 1973.

19. Old Hoss Radbourn — 310 Wins

Born: Dec. 11, 1854 (Rochester, New York)

Died: Feb. 5, 1897 (age 42, Bloomington, Illinois)

Throws: Right

Career record: 310-194

Winning percentage: 2.68

Career: 12 seasons (1880-91)

Teams: Buffalo Bisons (1880), Providence Grays (1881-85), Boston Beaneaters (1886-89), Boston Reds (1890), Cincinnati Reds (1891)

Other stats: 527 G, 2.68 ERA, 488 CG, 35 SO, 1,830 K

Career highlights: Triple Crown (1884), two-time NL wins leader (1883, 1884), NL ERA leader (1884), two-time NL strikeouts leader (1882, 1884)

World Series titles: 1 (1884)

Bottom line: In 1884, Charles "Old Hoss" Radbourn won an MLB-record 60 games, a mark that was never seriously threatened in his era or any era since.

Radbourn became known to a new generation of fans thanks to the Old Hoss Radbourn parody Twitter account, which had over 75,000 followers in the fall of 2020.

18. Tom Seaver — 311 Wins

Born: Nov. 17, 1944 (Fresno, California)

Died: Aug. 31, 2020 (age 75, Calistoga, California)

Throws: Right

Career record: 311-205

Winning percentage: .603

Career: 20 seasons (1967-86)

Teams: New York Mets (1967-77, 1983), Cincinnati Reds (1977-82), Chicago White Sox (1984-86), Boston Red Sox (1986)

Other stats: 656 G, 2.86 ERA, 231 CG, 61 SHO, 3,640 K

Career highlights: Three-time NL Cy Young Award (1969, 1973, 1975), 12-time All-Star (1967-73, 1975-78, 1981), NL Rookie of the Year (1967), three-time NL wins leader (1969, 1975, 1981), three-time NL wins leader (1969, 1975, 1981), three-time NL ERA leader (1970, 1971, 1973), five-time NL strikeout leader (1970, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1976)

World Series titles: 1 (1969)

Bottom line: Tom Seaver was elected to the Hall of Fame with a then-record 98.4 percent of the vote in 1992, and the New York Mets renamed the address of Citi Field to 41 Seaver Way in 2019.

Seaver was the star pitcher on the Mets World Series championship team in 1969 and a three-time Cy Young Award winner.

He died in August 2020 after suffering from Lewy body dementia.

17. Gaylord Perry — 314 Wins

Born: Sept. 15, 1938 (Williamston, North Carolina)

Throws: Right

Career record: 314-265

Winning percentage: .542

Career: 22 seasons (1962-83)

Teams: San Francisco Giants (1962-71), Cleveland Indians (1972-75), Texas Rangers (1975-77, 1980), San Diego Padres (1978-79), New York Yankees (1980), Atlanta Braves (1981), Seattle Mariners (1982-83), Kansas City Royals (1983)

Other stats: 777 G, 3.11 ERA, 303 CG, 53 SHO, 3,534 K

Career highlights: Two-time Cy Young Award (1972, 1978), five-time All-Star (1966, 1970, 1972, 1974, 1979), three-time MLB wins leader (1970, 1972, 1978)

World Series titles: None

Bottom Line: Gaylord Perry was the first pitcher to win the Cy Young Award in both leagues, with the Cleveland Indians in 1972 and the San Diego Padres in 1978.

Perry, who was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1991, was notorious for doctoring pitches with anything he could, from Vaseline to hair grease to his own spit to powder from the rosin bag.

16. Phil Niekro — 318 Wins

Born: April 1, 1939 (Blaine, Ohio)

Throws: Right

Career record: 318-274

Winning percentage: .537

Career: 24 seasons (1964-87)

Teams: Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves (1964-83, 1987), New York Yankees (1984-85), Cleveland Indians (1986-87), Toronto Blue Jays (1987)

Other stats: 864 G, 3.34 ERA, 215 CG, 45 SHO, 3,542 K

Career highlights: Five-time All-Star (1969, 1975, 1978, 1982, 1983), five-time Gold Glove Award (1978-80, 1982, 1983), two-time NL wins leader (1974, 1979), MLB ERA leader (1967), NL strikeout leader (1977)

World Series titles: None

Bottom line: Phil Niekro's 318 wins are the most for any primary knuckleball pitcher in MLB history, and the 539 combined wins between Phil Niekro and younger brother Joe Niekro are the most of any siblings in MLB history.

Niekro grew up in Bridgeport, Ohio, playing childhood sports alongside another Hall of Famer in a different sport — Boston Celtics legend John Havlicek.

14. Don Sutton — 324 Wins (Tie)

Born: April 2, 1945 (Clio, Alabama)

Throws: Right

Career record: 324-256

Winning percentage: .559

Career: 22 seasons (1966-87)

Teams: Los Angeles Dodgers (1966-80, 1988), Houston Astros (1981-82), Milwaukee Brewers (1982-84), Oakland Athletics (1985), California Angels (1985-87)

Other stats: 774 G, 3.26 ERA, 178 CG, 58 SHO, 3,574 K

Career highlights: Four-time All-Star (1972, 1973, 1975, 1977), MLB ERA leader (1980)

World Series titles: None

Bottom line: Don Sutton spent just one season in the minor leagues before joining a Los Angeles Dodgers pitching rotation that included two other Hall of Famers, Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale.

Sutton was snakebit in the postseason. Not only was he winless in four trips to the World Series, but the Dodgers won the World Series twice right after he left the team, in 1981 and 1988.

14. Nolan Ryan — 324 Wins (Tie)

Born: Jan. 31, 1947 (Refugio, Texas)

Throws: Right

Career record: 324-292

Winning percentage: .536

Career: 27 seasons (1966, 1968-93)

Teams: New York Mets (1966, 1968-71), California Angels (1972-79), Houston Astros (1980-88), Texas Rangers (1989-93)

Other stats: 807 G, 3.19 ERA, 222 CG, 61 SHO, 5,714 K

Career highlights: Eight-time All-Star (1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1985, 1989), 11-time MLB strikeout leader (1972-74, 1976-79, 1987-90), two-time NL leader (1981, 1987), MLB All-Century Team

World Series titles: 1 (1969)

Bottom line: Nolan Ryan had so much power on the mound that when he was growing up in Texas, scouts noted that some high school coaches refused to send batters to the plate out of fear for their physical safety.

Ryan became one of MLB's greatest pitchers over a 27-year career that included MLB career records with seven no-hitters and 5,714 strikeouts.

He is one of just a handful of players to play in four different decades. Even more amazing, he pitched no-hitters in three different decades over the span of 18 years.

13. Eddie Plank — 326 Wins

Born: Aug. 31, 1875 (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)

Died: Feb. 24, 1926 (age 50, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)

Throws: Left

Career record: 326-194

Winning percentage: .637

Career: 17 seasons (1901-17)

Teams: Philadelphia Athletics (1901-14), St. Louis Terriers (1915), St. Louis Browns (1916-17)

Other stats: 623 G, 2.35 ERA, 410 CG, 69 SHO, 2,246 K

Career highlights: Philadelphia Baseball Wall of Fame

World Series titles: 3 (1910, 1911, 1913)

Bottom line: "Gettsyburg" Eddie Plank got his nickname because he was born on a farm in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, just 12 years after the actual Battle of Gettysburg.

Plank's 56 career shutouts are an MLB career record for left-handed pitchers.

He died in 1926 of a heart attack, at just 50 years old on a farm in Gettysburg, and was elected to the Hall of Fame via the Veterans Committee in 1946.

12. John Clarkson — 328 Wins

Born: July 1, 1861 (Cambridge, Massachusetts)

Died: Feb. 4, 1909 (age 47, Belmont, Massachusetts)

Throws: Right

Career record: 328-178

Winning percentage: .648

Career: 12 seasons (1882, 1884-94)

Teams: Worcester Ruby Legs (1882), Chicago White Stockings (1884-87), Boston Beaneaters (1888-1892), Cleveland Spiders (1892-94)

Other stats: 531 G, 2.81 ERA, 485 CG, 37 SHO, 1,978 K

Career highlights: Triple Crown (1889), three-time NL wins leader (1885, 1887, 1889), NL ERA leader (1889), three-time NL strikeouts leader (1885, 1887, 1889)

World Series titles: None

Bottom line: John Clarkson and two of his brothers, Dad Clarkson and Walter Clarkson, all pitched in the majors.

John was an incredibly cerebral — and sensitive — pitcher who didn't respond well to criticism, with one-time manager Cap Anson lamenting the amount of work to keep his ego soothed.

But there wasn't much criticism when John won a stunning 53 games in 1885.

11. Steve Carlton — 329 Wins

Born: Dec. 22, 1944 (Miami, Florida)

Throws: Left

Career record: 329-244

Winning percentage: .574

Career: 24 seasons (1965-88)

Teams: St. Louis Cardinals (1965-71), Philadelphia Phillies (1972-86), San Francisco Giants (1986), Chicago White Sox (1986), Cleveland Indians (1987), Minnesota Twins (1987-88)

Other stats: 741 G, 3.22 ERA, 254 CG, 55 SHO, 4,136 K

Career highlights: Four-time Cy Young Award (1972, 1977, 1980, 1982), 10-time All-Star (1968, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1977, 1979-82), Triple Crown (1972), Gold Glove Award (1981), four-time NL wins leader (1972, 1977, 1980, 1982), NL ERA leader (1972), five-time NL strikeouts leader (1972, 1974, 1980, 1982, 1983)

World Series titles: 2 (1967, 1980)

Bottom line: Steve Carlton was a true throwback. He's still the last pitcher to win 25 or more games in the National League and the last pitcher in all of MLB to throw 300 innings in a single season.

Carlton, who was also the first four-time Cy Young Award winner, refused to speak to the media starting in 1974 through the end of his career in 1988.

10. Tim Keefe — 342 Wins

Born: Jan. 1, 1857 (Cambridge, Massachusetts)

Died: April 23, 1933 (age 76, Cambridge, Massachusetts)

Throws: Right

Career record: 342-225

Winning percentage: .603

Career: 14 seasons (1880-93)

Teams: Troy Trojans (1880-82), New York Metropolitans (1883-84), New York Giants (1885-91), Philadelphia Phillies (1891-93)

Other stats: 600 G, 2.63 ERA, 554 CG, 39 SHO, 2,564 K

Career highlights: Triple Crown (1888), two-time NL wins leader (1886, 1888), three-time NL ERA leader (1880, 1885, 1888), NL strikeouts leader (1888)

World Series titles: None

Bottom line: Tim Keefe, who pitched in the same rotation as fellow 300-game winner Mickey Welch, set the MLB single-season record with a 0.86 ERA in 1880.

Keefe's father, Patrick, was the only one of his five brothers to survive the Civil War. Patrick was captured by the Confederate Army when Ted was a small child and held as a prisoner of war for several years.

9. Roger Clemens — 354 Wins

Born: Aug. 4, 1962 (Dayton, Ohio)

Throws: Right

Career record: 354-184

Winning percentage: .658

Career: 23 seasons (1984-2006)

Teams: Boston Red Sox (1984-96), Toronto Blue Jays (1997-98), New York Yankees (1999-2003, 2007), Houston Astros (2004-06)

Other stats: 709 G, 3.12 ERA, 118 CG, 46 SHO, 4,672 K

Career highlights: Seven-time Cy Young Award (1986, 1987, 1991, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2004), AL MVP (1986), two-time Triple Crown (1997, 1998), four-time MLB wins leader (1986, 1987, 1997, 1998), seven-time MLB ERA leader (1986, 1990-92, 1997, 1998, 2005), five-time AL strikeout leader (1988, 1991, 1996-98), MLB All-Century Team

World Series titles: 2 (1999, 2000)

Bottom line: Roger Clemens is the only member of the 300-win club not yet inducted into the Hall of Fame despite having been eligible for induction since 2013.

It's worth noting that the ultimate outcome of the thing keeping Clemens out of Cooperstown — accusations of steroid use — was one mistrial and one acquittal on all six counts of lying to Congress during its hearings on steroids in baseball.

8. Greg Maddux — 355 Wins

Born: April 14, 1966 (San Angelo, Texas)

Throws: Right

Career record: 355-227

Winning percentage: .610

Career: 23 seasons (1986-2008)

Teams: Chicago Cubs (1986-92), Atlanta Braves (1993-2003), Chicago Cubs (2004-06), Los Angeles Dodgers (2006, 2008), San Diego Padres (2007-08)

Other stats: 744 G, 3.16 ERA, 109 CG, 35 SHO, 3,371 K

Career highlights: Four-time NL Cy Young Award (1992-95), eight-time All-Star (1988, 1992 ,1994-98), 18-time Gold Glove Award (1990-2002, 2004-08), three-time MLB wins leader (1992, 1994, 1995), four-time MLB ERA leader (1993-95, 1998)

World Series titles: 1 (1995)

Bottom line: Only Greg Maddux and fellow Hall of Famer Randy Johnson have won Cy Young Awards in four consecutive seasons, with Maddux achieving the feat first from 1992 to 1995.

Two of Maddux's most telling career statistics are his MLB records of 18 Gold Glove Awards and 17 consecutive seasons with at least 15 wins.

7. Kid Nichols — 362 Wins

Born: Sept. 14, 1869 (Madison, Wisconsin)

Died: April 11, 1953 (age 83, Kansas City, Missouri)

Throws: Right

Career record: 362-208

Winning percentage: .635

Career: 16 seasons (1890-1901, 1904-1906)

Teams: Boston Beaneaters (1890-1901), St. Louis Cardinals (1904-05), Philadelphia Phillies (1905-06)

Other stats: 621 G, 2.96 ERA, 532 CG, 48 SHO, 1,881 K

Career highlights: Three-time NL wins leader (1896-98)

World Series titles: None

Bottom line: Kid Nichols was pitching in the minors by the time he was 17 years old and the majors by the time he was 19.

Nichols' early start helped him become the youngest pitcher to ever reach 300 wins, at 30.

Nichols took a two-year break late in his career to pitch for a minor league club he owned, then returned to win 20 games for St. Louis in 1904.

6. Warren Spahn — 363 Wins

Born: April 23, 1921 (Buffalo, New York)

Died: Nov. 24, 2003 (age 82, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma)

Throws: Left

Career record: 363-245

Winning percentage: .597

Career: 21 seasons (1942, 1946-65)

Teams: Boston/Milwaukee Braves (1942, 1946-64), New York Mets (1965), San Francisco Giants (1965)

Other stats: 750 G, 3.09 ERA, 382 CG, 63 SHO, 2,583 K

Career highlights: Cy Young Award (1957), 17-time All-Star (1947, 1949-54, 1956-59, 1961-63), eight-time NL wins leader (1949, 1950, 1953, 1957-61), three-time NL ERA leader (1947, 1953, 1961), four-time NL strikeouts leader (1949-52)

World Series titles: 1 (1957)

Bottom Line: Warren Spahn was one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball history and always needs to be in the conversation when it comes to the greatest pitchers of all time.

He pitched his entire career in the live ball era and missed three seasons in his prime for military service in World War II.

Spahn won 20 or more games 13 times in his career, including a 23-7 record when he was 42 years old.

5. Pud Galvin — 365 Wins

Born: Dec. 25, 1856 (St. Louis, MIssouri)

Died: March 7, 1902 (age 45, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)

Throws: Right

Career record: 365-310

Winning percentage: .541

Career: 15 seasons (1875, 1879-92)

Teams: St. Louis Brown Stockings (1875), Buffalo Bisons (1879-85), Pittsburgh Alleghenys (1885-89), Pittsburgh Burghers (1890), Pittsburgh Pirates (1891-92), St. Louis Browns (1892)

Other stats: 705 G, 2.85 ERA, 646 CG, 57 SHO, 1,807 K

Career highlights: First 300-game winner in MLB history (1888)

World Series titles: None

Bottom line: Pud Galvin trails only Cy Young in MLB career innings pitched and complete games.

Galvin, also nicknamed "The Little Steam Engine" for his stature and durability, earned a reputation for being one of the kinder, more likable players of his era.

The big thing missing from Galvin's career was postseason success. He won 20 or more games 10 times without winning a pennant.

3. Christy Mathewson — 373 Wins (Tie)

Born: Aug. 12, 1880 (Factoryville, Pennsylvania)

Died: Oct. 7, 1925 (age 45, Saranac Lake, New York)

Throws: Right

Career record: 373-188

Winning percentage: .665

Career: 17 seasons (1900-16)

Teams: New York Giants (1900-16), Cincinnati Reds (1916)

Other stats: 636 G, 2.13 ERA, 435 CG, 79 SHO, 2,507 K

Career highlights: Two-time Triple Crown (1905, 1908), four-time NL wins leader (1905, 1907, 1908, 1910), five-time NL ERA leader (1905, 1908, 1909, 1911, 1913), five-time NL strikeout leader (1903-05, 1907, 1908), MLB All-Century Team

World Series titles: 2 (1905, 1921)

Bottom line: Christy Mathewson was one of the most dominant pitchers of all time and would've been so in any era.

He pitched two no-hitters, won two Triple Crowns and pitched three shutouts for the New York Giants in the 1905 World Series.

His classy demeanor and clean-cut lifestyle made him a hero to fans across the country, and after his career was over, he became a best-selling novelist, playwright and journalist.

3. Grover Alexander — 373 Wins (Tie)

Born: Feb. 26, 1887 (Elba, Nebraska)

Died: Nov. 4, 1950 (age 63, St. Paul, Nebraska)

Throws: Right

Career record: 373-208

Winning percentage: .642

Career: 20 seasons (1911-30)

Teams: Philadelphia Phillies (1911-17, 1930), Chicago Cubs (1918-26), St. Louis Cardinals (1926-29)

Other stats: 696 G, 2.56 ERA, 436 CG, 90 SHO, 2,198 K

Career highlights: Three-time Triple Crown (1915, 1916, 1920), six-time NL wins leader (1911, 1914-17, 1920), four-time NL ERA leader (1915, 1916, 1919, 1920), six-time NL strikeout leader (1912, 1914-17, 1920)

World Series titles: 1 (1926)

Bottom line: Grover Alexander's life away from baseball was just as fascinating as his years spent dominating the game as one of the greatest pitchers of all time.

Alexander returned to the majors after fighting in World War I with a severe case of shell shock that exacerbated his drinking problem.

He was also named after one president, Grover Cleveland, and portrayed by another, Ronald Reagan, in a movie about his life.

2. Walter Johnson — 417 Wins

Born: Nov. 6, 1887 (Humboldt, Kansas)

Died: Dec. 10, 1946 (age 59, Washington, D.C.)

Throws: Right

Career record: 417-279

Winning percentage: .599

Career: 21 seasons (1907-27

Teams: Washington Senators (1907-27)

Other stats: 802 G, 2.17 ERA, 531 CG, 110 SHO, 3,509 K

Career highlights: Two-time AL MVP (1913, 1924), three-time Triple Crown (1913, 1918, 1924), six-time AL wins leader (1913-16, 1918, 1924), five-time AL ERA leader (1912, 1913, 1918, 1919, 1924), 12-time AL strikeout leader (1910, 1912-1919, 1921, 1923, 1924), MLB All-Century Team

World Series titles: 1 (1924)

Bottom line: Walter Johnson still holds the major league career record with 110 shutouts and led the AL in strikeouts 12 times.

He's also the only player with over 300 wins to play his entire career with the same team, the Washington Senators, although they struggled mightily throughout his career.

Johnson finally won a World Series in 1924, his 18th season, and captured the AL MVP and Triple Crown.

1. Cy Young — 511

Born: March 29. 1867 (Gilmore, Ohio)

Died: Nov. 4, 1955 (age 88, Newcomerstown, Ohio)

Throws: Right

Career record: 511-315

Winning percentage: .619

Career: 22 seasons (1890-1911)

Teams: Cleveland Spiders (1890-98), St. Louis Perfectos/Cardinals (1899-1900), Boston Americans/Red Sox (1901-08), Cleveland Naps (1909-11), Boston Rustlers (1911)

Other stats: 906 G, 2.63 ERA, 749 CG, 76 SHO, 2,803 K

Career highlights: Triple Crown (1901), five-time MLB wins leader (1892, 1895, 1901-03), two-time ERA leader (1892, 1901), two-time MLB strikeouts leader (1896, 1901)

World Series titles: 1 (1903)

Bottom line: MLB's career wins leader also threw three no-hitters and one perfect game. He also owns the career records for innings pitched, starts and complete games.

One year after Young's death, in 1956, the Cy Young Award was named for him to be given to baseball's best pitcher annually. It was expanded to an award for both the NL and AL in 1967.

Young, who didn't even wear a glove until his sixth season, moved onto a friend's farm after his wife's death in 1933 and lived there until his death in 1955 at 88 years old.