Who is the greatest pithcher in major league history ?

Answer 1

Don't know exactly what you are looking for when you say greatest. Anyone can respond using stats alone. Good numbers over a long period of time, no hitters, most strikeouts, most wins, or a number of other issues you might be looking for. Many pitchers could be at the top of someones list. However, if you are asking who is the greatest ever during the period of time they were at their very best, it would have to be Sandy Koufax during a four year period in the early1960's. I saw him pitch in person many times and no one could do the things he could do. Not Nolan Ryan, Bob Gibson or any of the others. He had a perfect game and three other no hit games over a four year period and on those very special days when he had everything going just right, which was most of the time, there was never a question if he would win the game. The only question would be if the other team would get a hit. He had a 100mph fastball and the best curveball the game has ever seen. The greatest hitters of that time, Aaron, Mays, Bench, etc could not touch Koufax on his best days. I would venture to guess that most of these players that had to face Koufax would agree that he had to be the greatest pitcher they ever saw.

Answer 2

You've got some interesting answers ,so far.

First someone says Nolan Ryan since he's got 3000 strikeouts that no one has matched. Hmmm.....check your stats before writing, dude. Try 5000 plus.

I only rank Nolan Ryan as maybe 3rd or 4th best all-time. As for Cy Young, he pitched in a different time and you pitched an astronomical amount of innings a season. The guy has 511 wins.

I would say this order.
1. Cy Young
2. Roger Clemens
3. Greg Maddux
4. Nolan Ryan
I noticed not too many people mentioned Maddux. Here's my take. He's the first person to ever win 4 consecutive Cy Young awards. He's had 16 consecutive innings of at least 15 wins or more. He beat out the great Cy Young to get that record. He holds the National League record for most innings pitched without giving up a walk. He has currently 336 wins and counting. His E.R.A. is still better than Roger Clemens or Nolan Ryan. In the history of major league baseball there has never been a more consistent pitcher. I defy anyone to argue that point. It took Ryan 27 years to get 327 wins. It took Maddux 21. Hmmm? Who's better

Forget about the no-hitters. Those were just good days. Okay......great days. If that is all he had going for him, would he have made the Hall Of Fame on that alone. Funny that no one ever mentions Ryan losing 292 games or that he also holds the record for giving up the most walks.

Answer 3

1.Walter"The Big Train" Johnson2.Bob Gibson3.Sandy Koufax. Thats my opinion.Stats don't always tell the whole story.These guys dominated whole seasons at a time.These guys are the rest in my top 10- Cy Young,Nolan Ryan,Roger Clemens ,Warren Spahn,Christy Mathewson,,Grover Alexander,Tom Seaver

Answer 4

Roger Clemens

Answer 5

Nolan Ryan by far carrying thos strong untouchable statistics not to mention 7 no hitters!

Answer 6

I would say Cy Young since everyone is trying to win his award!

Answer 7

my choice would have to be Nolan Ryan,for obvious reasons,325 wins,5711 strikeouts,and 6 no-hitters,nobody will match the 2nd 2 categories,and Randy Johnson has a slim chance of catching Ryan in K's

Answer 8

Wow, great question...even better debate. Imo I would say Koufax strictly on talent alone...no telling what he would have accomplished if he could have just stayed healthy.

Answer 9

Got to be Cy Young with his 511 wins and that precious award for pitchers that are great is named for him.

Answer 10

It's Noylan Ryan, he retired first on the strikeout list with over 3,000 (witch is still not beaten today)