Ranker

Anime Underground

Button Mash

Graveyard Shift

Total Nerd

Unspeakable Times

Weird History

Weird Nature

Weirdly Interesting

Sports

Music

Entertainment

Living

Culture

Food

Makeup

Halloween

Thanksgiving

Holidays

Watchworthy

HBO Max

Lists about America's pastime, including rankings of MLB players by every position. 

Clayton Kershaw

Who are the greatest pitchers of all time? Trying to decide who is the absolute greatest MLB pitcher ever is challenging&nbsp;to say the least, but it can be done -&nbsp;right here. This list includes some of the <a href="/crowdranked-list/the-greatest-baseball-players-of-all-time" target="_blank">best Major League Baseball players of all time</a>, but it is by no means complete. Add anyone you think is missing, vote for your favorites, and&nbsp;re-rank this list in any order you choose. Featuring starting pitchers, players known for throwing the fastest pitches and cool curveballs, Black pitchers, left handed pitchers, and more, our rankings include&nbsp;old baseball legends and the new players currently pitching today. Who are the most famous pitchers in the world? Are your favorites in the top 25? Get your votes in, and let&#39;s see who&#39;s the best of the best.

Each of the excellent baseball pitchers on this list can&nbsp;arguably&nbsp;be called the &quot;best,&quot; but they&#39;re all names every baseball fan should know. Some were known for their incredible fastballs; others, including Sandy Koufax and Bert Blyleven, are known for being some of the <a href="/crowdranked-list/greatest-curveball-pitchers-of-all-time" target="_blank">greatest curveball pitchers of all time</a>. These are the famous pitchers who managed, with sheer skill, to outwit and beat some of the <a href="/crowdranked-list/best-hitters-in-baseball-history" target="_blank">best hitters in baseball history</a>, too.

If you&#39;re interested in some modern-era baseball phenoms, check out this list of the <a href="/list/best-current-mlb-pitchers/ranker-baseball" target="_blank">best current MLB pitchers</a>, and vote for the current players you think deserve the top spots.

Hank Aaron

This greatest baseball players list represents the combined lists of baseball fans everywhere. Anyone can make their own list of the best ballplayers ever to play the game, making this crowdranking a true consensus on who&#39;s the best baseball player of all time.

So who is the greatest baseball player of all time? There are plenty of amazing <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/top-50-current-best-baseball-players?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">top MLB players</a>&nbsp;to choose from. Are you a New York Yankees fan? Then you&#39;ll really like this list with Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio and more repping your team. The same goes for fans of Ted Williams, Willie Mays, Bob Gibson, Stan Musial, Barry Bonds and everyone else who should be considered among the greatest baseball players of all time.&nbsp;

Best Athletes

Gabby Hartnett

After Johnny Bench and Yogi Berra (obvious greats), it's all opinion as to who the best catchers of all time are! A catcher has to have insane defensive prowess and focus to be considered great. Not surprisingly, several of the famous baseball catchers listed here are also among the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-greatest-baseball-players-of-all-time" target="_blank">greatest baseball players ever</a>&nbsp;in the MLB. The best baseball catchers on this list are from different teams, but all have impressive stats that back up their legacy.&nbsp;Who are the greatest catchers of all time? This list includes some of the most talented, legendary catchers in Major League Baseball history. From Yogi Berra to Thurman Munson, the players listed here were exemplary in their abilities. Vote for the MLB catchers you think are the best, vote down any you don't think deserve a spot and certainly, if any great catchers are missing, add them. You can also rerank this list your way.What makes a great catcher? It's more than just defensive prowess. A catcher's responsibilities are many. They've got to be able to work well with any and all <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/list-of-famous-baseball-starting-pitchers-who-play-professionally/reference" target="_blank">starting pitchers</a>, calling a good game for them so they can concentrate on getting batters out. Offensively, the greatest catchers of all time were able to contribute to their team's wins with the bat: They could hit. Typically, the MLB's best catchers might not have the speed that some of the outfielders do, but they've often got the power.Need proof? Just look at some of the names listed here. Yes, Bench, Fisk and certainly Mike Piazza all qualify, having had hundreds of home runs during their esteemed MLB careers.

poll

Trevor Hoffman

Who are the best closers in baseball history? The players on this list shut down late innings with both class and style. Many of them are/were considered the best in the bullpen -- and among the <a href="/crowdranked-list/the-greatest-baseball-players-of-all-time" target="_blank">greatest baseball players of all time</a>, for that matter. Some are still playing, but others have officially retired from Major League Baseball. Enjoy this list of the top closing pitchers, vote for the closers you think are the greatest to ever hit the mound, and feel free to re-rank this list in any order you see fit.

The best relief pitchers ever in baseball have one thing in common: They get the job done. When a closer takes the mound, it's crunch time. Often, the closer has the awesome responsibility of helping his team hold a narrow lead. One run could change the outcome, and the relief pitcher has to make sure no one hits him. There is a reason why closers are the highest paid relief players on the team, after all.

Looking for more great baseball-related lists? Cast your votes for the <a href="/crowdranked-list/top-50-current-best-baseball-players" target="_blank">top current baseball players</a>, the <a href="/crowdranked-list/greatest-designated-hitters-of-all-time" target="_blank">greatest designated hitters of all time</a> and the <a href="/crowdranked-list/best-hitters-in-baseball-history" target="_blank">best hitters in baseball history</a>.

Baseball

Jack Morris

The best baseball players not in the hall of fame are here on this list, though the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/2020-baseball-hall-of-fame-ballot/ranker-baseball" target="_blank">2020 Baseball Hall of Fame ballot</a> has&nbsp;room for some of these stars.&nbsp;In order to be considered as slighted by the baseball hall of fame, a player must be non-active and have had the ability to appear on the hall of fame ballot at least once. Some of these men are considered to be among the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-greatest-baseball-players-of-all-time">greatest baseball players of all time</a>, yet remain off of the &quot;official&quot; list of the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/top-50-current-best-baseball-players?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best MLB players</a> ever at the baseball hall of fame in Cooperstown.

What keeps a player out of the baseball hall of fame? Some of these players- like Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire- have been involved in PED (performance enhancing drug) scandals, others broke the cardinal rule of not betting on the sport (Pete Rose), and still others were involved in a baseball player scandal, like Shoeless Joe Jackson who is said to have contributed to his team throwing the World Series. Some of the best baseball players are simply not on the list because they haven&#39;t yet acquired the 75% vote necessary for induction.

Who should be in the baseball hall of fame? What top baseball players are not in the hall of fame? Who are the best players not in the baseball hall of fame? These are the questions addressed here in the list of the greatest baseball players not in the hall of fame. If your favorite player isn&#39;t on the list, make sure to add them so others can agree or disagree.

If you&#39;re keeping track of the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/top-50-current-best-baseball-players">best current baseball players</a> make sure to check on that list and vote for your favorite baseball all-star.

Mike Schmidt

The best hitters in baseball history are those who hold the all-time hitting records in Major League Baseball, change the game as we know it, and are amongst the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-greatest-baseball-players-of-all-time" target="_blank">greatest baseball players of all time</a>. These sluggers dominated during their respective eras and captivated audiences at the same time. If you were to pick a top hitter for your all-time top baseball fantasy team, you'd be silly not to select these best baseball hitters as soon as possible.Pete Rose, Ty Cobb, Hank Aaron and Stan Musial all hold the top spots among the MLB all time hits, with Rose leading the pack at 4,256 over his career. Rose finished his career in 1986 and his record has withstood&nbsp;the time since.But the best hitters cannot be defined by the number of career hits alone. On that stat,&nbsp;Babe Ruth, arguably the best baseball hitter of all time, would rank in the 40s. Ruth&nbsp;holds top numbers for his home runs, slugging percentage, runs batted in and on-base&nbsp;percentage&nbsp;stats. Lou Gehrig is another who'd fall into that category with his major league records for the most grand slams -&nbsp;a figure since topped by a great modern slugger, Alex Rodriguez.So we're left with a conundrum. Do we deem those great players from yesteryear, like Willie Mays, Ted Williams and Shoeless Joe Jackson&nbsp;the best baseball hitters of all time? Do we give some love to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/best-current-baseball-players/alecdom" target="_blank">current top baseball players</a>&nbsp;like Barry Bonds, Albert Pujols and Derek Jeter? Tell us how you feel by voting for the best hitters in baseball history below!

Jeff Bagwell

Who are the greatest first basemen of all time? From the incomparable talents of Lou Gehrig to the stunning abilities of modern-era players like Albert Pujols, this list includes some of the best Major League Baseball first basemen, and really, some of the <a href="/crowdranked-list/the-greatest-baseball-players-of-all-time" target="_blank">greatest baseball players</a> to ever play the game. Who is your top choice? Be sure to vote, and you can also rerank this list in any order you want. 

The outstanding first basemen listed here all have similar abilties: They are versatile, incredibly quick and, quite often these days, the first baseman is also a wicked power hitter. Not surprisingly, several of the players on this list could easily be considered among the <a href="/crowdranked-list/best-hitters-in-baseball-history" target="_blank">best hitters in baseball history</a>, too. This list is full of excellent, talented first bag guys with great power numbers.

If you're a huge baseball fanatic, you might enjoy these lists of the <a href="/crowdranked-list/greatest-third-basemen-of-all-time" target="_blank">greatest third basemen of all time</a>, the <a href="/crowdranked-list/all-time-best-shortstops" target="_blank">all-time best shortstops</a> and the <a href="/crowdranked-list/greatest-pitchers-of-all-time" target="_blank">greatest pitchers of all time</a>, too.

Bobby Grich

The greatest 2nd basemen of all time include some of the most iconic names in MLB history. Many of the names on this list are famous players who dominated during the pre-1950s era of Major League Baseball, like Rogers Hornsby and Jackie Robinson, but a few modern-era players like Joe Morgan and Ryne Sandberg are also considered among the best. These guys are the best second basemen in the league and make some of the toughest plays look so incredibly easy, with excellent fielding skills. Who do you think deserves the honor of the best 2nd baseman of all time? Vote for your favorite second baseman and rerank this list any way you like. The greatest second basemen of all time were slap hitters that got on base and set the table for their team. In recent years, the trend has shifted towards power, and that's changing the face of the 2-bagger dramatically. Like some of the <a href="/crowdranked-list/greatest-first-basemen-of-all-time" target="_blank">greatest first basemen ever</a>, these 2nd base players were true leaders on their respective teams. From Joe Morgan and Jackie Robinson (arguably two of the <a href="/crowdranked-list/the-greatest-baseball-players-of-all-time" target="_blank">greatest baseball players</a> ever) to modern players like Cano and Pedroia, every player listed here played (or plays) a key role for their team and many are <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-hitters-in-baseball-history" target="_blank">power hitters</a>.

John Franco

The greatest relief pitchers of all time include some of the <a href="/list/best-current-mlb-pitchers/ranker-baseball" target="_blank">best current MLB players</a>, as well as some legends who are already in the baseball hall of fame. What do you think: Is Mariano Rivera the best relief pitcher in baseball history? Vote for the players you think deserve the top honor, and vote down any that you don't think are worthy. Also, rerank this list in any order you want.

Here's the thing about a really great relief pitcher: They are golden. They really are, because if you find a great team that's performing extremely well, during the regular or the post-season, the chances are very good that they've got an ace relief pitcher at the end of the rotation. All that work, all those runs accrued, mean absolutely nothing if things fall apart in the ninth inning. A great closer seals the deal, period.

If you want to vote some more, why not head over and decide who you think is the <a href="/crowdranked-list/greatest-curveball-pitchers-of-all-time" target="_blank">greatest curveball pitcher</a> or the <a href="/crowdranked-list/best-hitters-in-baseball-history" target="_blank">best hittters in baseball history</a>, too?

Ted Williams

Who is the best left handed baseball player ever? This list includes players in the Hall of Fame as well as those who have not yet been inducted but are truly great. It also includes players from all eras of baseball. They are great hitters and great position players in all facets of the game. This list has been ranked by baseball fans with the best major league <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/left-handed-baseball-players/left-handed?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">left handed baseball players</a> of all time.Major League Baseball is America’s pastime and from its pastoral beginnings, through to its professional urban setting today, it has always captured our imagination and our hearts. Baseball is a game many Americans played as kids, and for that reason it always holds a special place in the American zeitgeist. Opening day each spring is something many baseball fans count down to all year long. The best left handed baseball players of all time on this list include players such as Ichiro, Ken Griffey Junior, Babe Ruth, and Ted Williams. The best left handers ever in Major League Baseball are all supremely talented at hitting to get on base, hitting for home runs, and at their positions as well. Through their careers, these best left handed players helped their teams jockey for post-season position and win games. Vote up the best left handed players of all time or add a south paw you thought was the greatest if he isn't already on the list.

Pee Wee Reese

This list of the greatest shortstops of all time includes some of the most iconic, <a href="/crowdranked-list/the-greatest-baseball-players-of-all-time" target="_blank">best baseball players</a> in Major League Baseball history. These MLB shortstops gave everything they had on the field and with their bats, to help their respective teams win games. Who do you believe is the greatest shortstop to ever play the game? Vote for the players you like the most, vote down any you don't think deserve the honor. Also, feel free to rerank this list - your order can affect the overall player order.Any list of the greatest shortstops to ever play the game should include the late, great Honus Wagner. The Flying Dutchman is one of the best to ever take the field, and his speed and hitting abilities are legendary. With a record eight batting titles, Wagner is not only one of the best shortstops, he's also one of the <a href="/crowdranked-list/best-hitters-in-baseball-history" target="_blank">greatest hitters</a> in baseball history. In terms of modern-era shortstops, names like Derek Jeter and Cal Ripken, Jr. come to mind almost instantly. Who gets a top 10 spot? That's for you to decide with your votes. And while you're at it, you might want to cast your vote for the <a href="/crowdranked-list/greatest-throwing-arms-of-all-time" target="_blank">greatest throwing arms of all time</a>!

Miller Huggins

List of the best MLB Managers of all time, ranked by baseball fans according to number of career regular-season wins, leadership, charisma and that intangible x factor. Professional baseball managers&nbsp;have a lot of responsibility in the game of pro-baseball. Managers choose the batting order and starting pitcher before each game and make substitutions throughout the game. Most significantly, great MLB managers know just the right time to bring in a relief pitcher.How much strategic control do managers have in baseball? It differs from manager to manager and game to game. Some managers control pitch selection, defensive positioning, decisions to bunt, steal, pitch out, etc., while others designate an assistant coach or a player (often the catcher) to make some or all of these decisions. Some notable Major League Baseball managers choose to act as their team's first base or third base coach while their team is batting in order to more closely communicate with baserunners, but most managers delegate this responsibility to an assistant. Managers are typically assisted by two or more coaches. In many cases, top professional baseball managers are former professional, semi-professional or college players.

Ron Cey

The greatest third basemen of all time include some veteran MLB players, many of whom are considered among the <a href="/crowdranked-list/the-greatest-baseball-players-of-all-time" target="_blank">greatest baseball players ever</a>. These are the guys who played the hot corner like a boss. They demonstrated excellent fielding abilities and contributed to the betterment of their teams with ease. Who do you believe is the best third baseman ever? Vote for your choices, vote down any players you don't think deserve the honor and of course, re-rank this list in any order you want.A great 3rd baseman will, of course, have an excellent fielding percentage, and the true greats also manage to be excellent at both defense and offense. Need examples? How about George Brett, arguably one of the third base greats - but he's also one of the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-hitters-in-baseball-history" target="_blank">best hitters in baseball history</a>, too (the same can be said for Mike Schmidt, among others). And can anyone dare argue that the brilliant &quot;Human Vacuum Cleaner,&quot; Brooks Robinson, isn't one of the greatest third basemen of all time? Enjoy voting for the players you believe are the best third baggers ever to play the game.

John Smoltz

The best starting pitchers in baseball history have one vital quality in common: their ability to win. There are so many different ways to define a great pitcher: pitch velocity, outstanding command of their pitch locations and can have ridiculous movement on their breaking stuff. The best starting pitchers have a special quality that makes them more dominant than their contemporaries. They have the rare ability to reach back and get a key out when it's absolutely necessary. Many baseball fans love a starting pitcher who can throw in the high-90s and even low-100s. Throughout his 27-year career, Nolan Ryan hit those high-water marks. The pitcher nicknamed the Ryan Express is widely considered one of the best power pitchers of all time alongside Bob Gibson, Pedro Martinez and a few others. On the opposite side sits pitchers like Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine from the successful Atlanta Braves teams from the '90s. These pitchers were able to make up for their lack of pitch power by having arguably the best pitch placement in baseball history.Here is your opportunity to vote on which starting pitcher can be considered the best in baseball history.This Ultimate List will determine by your vote who can be considered the best starting pitcher of all time.

Ken Griffey, Jr.

Who are the greatest centerfielders of all time? Looking at this list, which includes some of the <a href="/crowdranked-list/the-greatest-baseball-players-of-all-time" target="_blank">greatest baseball players</a> ever to play the game, it's hard not to be awe struck by the incredible defensive talent. On top of that, nearly all of the outstanding centerfielders here are also among the <a href="/crowdranked-list/best-hitters-in-baseball-history" target="_blank">best hitters in MLB history</a>. Vote for the players that you believe were the best center fielders ever, and add any that might be missing. Also, you can re-rank this list to your liking.

A great center fielder is without a doubt one of the premiere defensive players on any baseball team. They must be incredibly alert and athletic, because they've got a lot of territory to protect. In short, the centerfielder gets a lot of action. It's not just speed, though: The best center fielders also possess great arm strength and accuracy. 

Many of the best centerfielders in Major League Baseball history (past and present) have some of the <a href="/crowdranked-list/greatest-throwing-arms-of-all-time" target="_blank">strongest throwing arms in baseball</a>, ever. Sure, they make the routine plays that get outs for their teams, but they also astound occasionally with incredible, spectacular catches.

George Foster

Who are the greatest left-fielders of all time? Baseball's best left field players include some amazing legends of the game, with names like Ted Williams, Stan Musial and Carl Yastrzemski. They are without question among the <a href="/crowdranked-list/the-greatest-baseball-players-of-all-time" target="_blank">greatest baseball players of all time</a>, contributing to their respective teams while carving out their own Major League Baseball legacy. The mixture of power and average sets the left fielder apart from the other positions.

Which left-field players do you think deserve the top spots on this list? Vote them up, and be sure to re-rank this list as well (your rankings to affect the overall order of the CrowdRanked list).

Many of the left field players listed here have some of the <a href="/crowdranked-list/greatest-throwing-arms-of-all-time" target="_blank">greatest throwing arms of all time</a> (they have to, given the position), and without a doubt most are also included on any distinguished list of the <a href="/crowdranked-list/best-hitters-in-baseball-history" target="_blank">best hitters in baseball history</a>, too (Ted Williams? Stan Musial? Enough said).

Playing left field can be tricky. First of all, you absolutely must assume that ever single ball hit to the third baseman and the shortstop is going to be missed. You have got to be ready at all times to back up your teammates in the event they make an error. All of these players did (or do) that and more.

Who do you think should make the list of the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/top-current-nba-players?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best current players</a> in baseball? Ranked by fans, critics, and <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/list-of-famous-sports-analysts/reference?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">sports analysts</a>, this list includes the best current MLB players in all positions, from rookies to veteran&nbsp;pros. Vote for those you believe to be the best current baseball players in order to move them up the list, or click &quot;rerank&quot; to customize an order of your own.The best MLB players are those who have consistently proven their talent on the field. From expert pitchers to top <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/greatest-shortstops-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">short stops</a>, these great athletes have made a name for themselves by being better than the rest. Who is the best player in baseball? There's sure to be plenty of debate. But the only way to get your voice heard (and make sure your choice for the best player in MLB makes it to the top of the list) is to vote! Remember, the guys on this list have be current players&nbsp;who play in the league today. Though they may soon be considered some of the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-greatest-baseball-players-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best baseball players</a> of all time, for now, we're ranking who is best on the field right now!

Frank Robinson

What names come to mind when you think of the greatest right-fielders of all time? This list includes some of the best to ever play the game, including such Major League Baseball legends as Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron and Frank Robinson. This is, quite simply, an amazing list of power, defensive prowess, great arms, speed and high averages. Right field really does have it all. Vote for your top choices, vote down any right-fielders you don't believe deserve a spot on this list and re-rank these players in any order you like.

Some of the <a href="/crowdranked-list/best-hitters-in-baseball-history" target="_blank">best hitters in baseball history</a> are, not surprisingly, also excellent right-fielders. These players managed to combine excellent hitting abilities with <a href="/crowdranked-list/greatest-throwing-arms-of-all-time" target="_blank">stellar throwing arms</a> - basically a dream combination for any MLB player (or coach, for that matter).

What does it take to play right field? The best right-fielders listed here were outstanding defensive players. Some might believe that right field is an "easy" position, but it really isn't - you've got to be really fast and you've got to have a rocket of an arm. 

For more great baseball voting, check out these lists of the greatest <a href="/crowdranked-list/greatest-left-fielders-of-all-time" target="_blank">left-fielders ever, as well as the <a href="/crowdranked-list/greatest-first-basemen-of-all-time" target="_blank">first</a>, <a href="/crowdranked-list/greatest-2nd-basemen-of-all-time" target="_blank">second</a> and <a href="/crowdranked-list/greatest-third-basemen-of-all-time" target="_blank">third basemen of all time</a>.

Mordecai Brown

Who are the greatest curveball pitchers of all time? The best MLB curveball pitchers are often, not surprisingly, also some of the <a href="/crowdranked-list/the-greatest-baseball-players-of-all-time" target="_blank">greatest baseball players of all time</a>, too. The curveball pitchers listed here were incredible talents on the mound, pitching curve balls that were nearly impossible to hit. Who do you believe is the best ever? Vote for your favorites, vote down any pitchers that you don't think had a &quot;nasty&quot; curveball and certainly re-rank this list in any order you like.Any list of the greatest curveball pitchers should include legendary pitchers like Sandy Koufax and certainly Bert Blyleven. With thousands of strikeouts between them, these two had some seriously devastating curveballs. Their breaking pitches fooled some of the <a href="/crowdranked-list/best-hitters-in-baseball-history" target="_blank">best hitters in MLB history</a>, and they pitched for some of the <a href="/crowdranked-list/best-baseball-teams" target="_blank">best baseball teams ever</a>, throwing the best curveball in the game.

Jeff Francoeur

This list of the greatest throwing arms of all time includes some legendary MLB players known for being true flamethrowers from the outfield. These baseball players might be way out in the outfield, but they get (or got) a ton of attention for making some incredibly exciting defensive plays, via assists. Which Major League Baseball players do you think had the best throwing arms ever?Vote, and be sure to re-rank this list your way, too.MLB players with the greatest throwing arms ever had cannons, keeping runners who were thinking about stealing bases in place, because they knew the chances they'd get thrown out were very, very high. The ballplayers listed here are without a doubt some of the <a href="/crowdranked-list/the-greatest-baseball-players-of-all-time" target="_blank">best baseball players</a> ever. Every single one of them racked up incredible assist numbers, combining sheer strength with athleticism and accuracy. If baseball's your thing, you'll definitely want to check out these lists of the greatest <a href="/crowdranked-list/greatest-first-basemen-of-all-time" target="_blank">first</a>, <a href="/crowdranked-list/greatest-2nd-basemen-of-all-time" target="_blank">second</a> and <a href="/crowdranked-list/greatest-third-basemen-of-all-time" target="_blank">third basemen of all time</a>.&nbsp;

Play Ball!

pageType

safe_grapeshot

X_AMP

edit_update_annually

top_search_2-3

amazon_alexa

mod_alexa

flagship poll

scale_cleanup

cb_play-ball-

srch

cb_lefty-loosey

Lists of famous and notable people who naturally favor the more sinister side of their bodies. 

Lefty Loosey

Who is the best MLB left handed pitcher ever? This list includes pitchers in the Hall of Fame as well as those who have not yet been inducted, but are truly great. It also includes players from all eras of baseball. They are responsible for coming in during crucial situations and preventing runs. This list has been ranked by baseball fans with the best Major League left handed pitchers of all time.Major League Baseball is America’s pastime and from its pastoral beginnings, through to its professional urban setting today, it has always captured the imaginations and hearts of fans. Baseball is a game many Americans played as kids, and for that reason it always holds a special place in the American zeitgeist. Opening day each spring is something many baseball fans count down to all year long.The best left handed pitchers of all time on this list include players such as Lefty Grove, Warren Spahn, and Sandy Koufax. The best left handers ever in Major League Baseball are all supremely talented at getting batters out in all situations. Through their careers these <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-starting-pitchers-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best starting pitchers</a> helped their teams jockey for post-season position and win games.Vote up the best left handed pitchers of all time or add the lefty pitcher you think is the best to have ever played if he isn't already on the list.

The Greatest Left Handed Pitchers of All Time

Baseball Player

Best Rankings of Sports Teams and Players, Interesting Sports Facts, and Moments in Sports

sports

Ranker Baseball

Gender

Women

Gen Zs

Millenials

Gen Xers

Baby Boomers

Region

West Coast US

Mountain US

Midwest US

Southern US

Northeastern US

International

FREEFORM

Lefty Grove

Robert Moses "Lefty" Grove (March 6, 1900 – May 22, 1975) was an American professional baseball pitcher. After having success in the minor leagues during the early 1920s, Grove became a star in Major League Baseball with the American League's Philadelphia Athletics and Boston Red Sox. One of the greatest pitchers in history, Grove led the American League in wins in four separate seasons, in strikeouts seven years in a row, and had the league's lowest earned run average a record nine times. Over the course of the three years from 1929 to 1931 he twice won the pitcher's Triple Crown, leading the league in wins, strikeouts, and ERA, while amassing a 79-15 record and leading the Athletics to three straight AL championships. Overall, Grove won 300 games in his 17-year MLB career. He was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1947.

Ranker Community

Warren Spahn

Warren Edward Spahn (April 23, 1921 – November 24, 2003) was a Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher who played his entire 21-year baseball career in the National League. He won 20 games or more in 13 seasons, including a 23–7 record when he was age 42. Spahn was the 1957 Cy Young Award winner, and was the runner-up three times, all during the period when one award was given, covering both leagues. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1973, with 83% of the total vote. (His eligibility was delayed, under the rules of the time, by two years of token minor league play.)
Spahn won 363 games, more than any other left-handed pitcher in history, and more than any other pitcher who played his entire career in the post-1920 live-ball era. He is acknowledged as one of the best pitchers in Major League Baseball history. The Warren Spahn Award, given to the major leagues' best left-handed pitcher, is named after him.
Regarded as a "thinking man's" pitcher who liked to outwit batters, Spahn once described his approach on the mound: "Hitting is timing. Pitching is upsetting timing."

Steve Carlton

Steven Norman Carlton (born December 22, 1944), nicknamed "Lefty", is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He pitched from 1965 to 1988 for six different teams in his career, but it is his time with the Philadelphia Phillies where he received his greatest acclaim as a professional and won four Cy Young Awards. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1994.
Carlton has the second-most lifetime strikeouts of any left-handed pitcher (4th overall), and the second-most lifetime wins of any left-handed pitcher (11th overall). He was the first pitcher to win four Cy Young Awards in a career. He held the lifetime strikeout record several times between 1982 and 1984, before his contemporary Nolan Ryan passed him. One of his most remarkable records was accounting for nearly half (46%) of his team's wins, when he won 27 games for the last-place (59-97) 1972 Phillies. He is the last National League pitcher to win 25 or more games in one season, as well as the last pitcher from any team to throw more than 300 innings in a season. He also holds the record with the most career balks of any pitcher, with 90 (double the second on the all-time list, Bob Welch).

Sandy Koufax

Sanford Koufax (born December 30, 1935) is a former American professional baseball left-handed pitcher. He pitched 12 seasons for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1955 to 1966. Koufax, at age 36 in 1972, became the youngest player ever elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. He has been hailed as one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history.
Koufax's career peaked with a run of six outstanding years from 1961 to 1966, before arthritis in his left elbow ended his career prematurely at age 30. He was an All-Star for six seasons and was the  National League's Most Valuable Player in 1963. He won three Cy Young Awards in 1963, 1965, and 1966, by unanimous votes, making him the first three-time Cy Young winner in baseball history and the only one to win three times when one overall award was given for all of major league baseball instead of one award for each league. Koufax also won the NL Triple Crown for pitchers those same three years by leading the NL in wins, strikeouts, and earned run average.Koufax was the first major league pitcher to pitch four no-hitters and the eighth pitcher to pitch a perfect game in baseball history. Despite his comparatively short career, Koufax's 2,396 career strikeouts ranked 7th in history as of his retirement, at the time trailing only Warren Spahn (2,583) among left-handers. Koufax, Trevor Hoffman, Randy Johnson, Pedro Martínez, and Nolan Ryan are the only five pitchers elected to the Hall of Fame who had more strikeouts than innings pitched.
Koufax is also remembered as one of the outstanding Jewish athletes in American sports. His decision not to pitch Game 1 of the 1965 World Series because it fell on Yom Kippur garnered national attention as an example of conflict between professional pressures and personal beliefs.

Lefty Gomez

Vernon Louis "Lefty" Gomez (November 26, 1908 – February 17, 1989) was an American professional baseball player. A left-handed pitcher, Gomez played in Major League Baseball (MLB) between 1930 and 1943 for the New York Yankees and the Washington Senators. Gomez was a five-time World Series champion with the Yankees. He was also known for his colorful personality and humor throughout his career and life.
Gomez grew up in California and played for the San Francisco Seals after high school. He made his MLB debut with the Yankees in April 1930. He was selected as an All-Star every year between 1933 and 1939. He sustained an arm injury in 1940. Though he rebounded well in 1941, he pitched his last full season in 1942, then appeared in one game in 1943 before retiring with the Washington Senators.
In 1933, Gomez married June O'Dea, who had a brief career as a Broadway actress. After his retirement, he became a popular public speaker. Gomez was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee in 1972. He made an appearance at Yankee Stadium in 1987, when he and Whitey Ford were honored with plaques at the stadium's Monument Park. He died in California in 1989.

slaft

Whitey Ford

Edward Charles "Whitey" Ford (October 21, 1928 - October 8, 2020), nicknamed "The Chairman of the Board", was an American former professional baseball pitcher who played his entire 16-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career with the New York Yankees. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974.
Ford was a ten-time MLB All-Star and six-time World Series champion. In 1961 Ford won both the Cy Young Award and World Series Most Valuable Player Award. He led the American League in wins three times and in earned run average twice. The Yankees retired Ford's uniform number 16 in his honor. In the wake of Yogi Berra's death in 2015, George Vecsey, writing in the New York Times, suggested that Ford was then "The Greatest Living Yankee." Ford himself passed away 5 years later.

Carl Hubbell

Carl Owen Hubbell (June 22, 1903 – November 21, 1988), nicknamed "The Meal Ticket" and "King Carl", was an American baseball player. He stood 6 feet 0 inches (1.83 m) tall and weighed 170 pounds (77 kg). He was a member of the New York Giants in the National League from 1928 to 1943. He remained on the team's payroll for the rest of his life, long after their move to San Francisco.
Twice voted the National League's Most Valuable Player, Hubbell was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1947. During 1936 and 1937, Hubbell set the major league record for consecutive wins by a pitcher with 24. He is perhaps best remembered for his performance in the 1934 All-Star Game, when he struck out five future Hall of Famers, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, Al Simmons and Joe Cronin, in succession. Hubbell's primary pitch was the screwball.

Mickey Lolich

Michael Stephen Lolich (born September 12, 1940) is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a pitcher from 1962 until 1979, most notably for the Detroit Tigers. He is best known for his performance in the 1968 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals when he earned three complete-game victories, including a win over Bob Gibson in the climactic Game 7. Lolich is one of only 22 major league pitchers to have struck out at least 2,800 batters in his career. He is of Croatian descent.

Eddie Plank

Edward Stewart Plank (August 31, 1875 – February 24, 1926), nicknamed "Gettysburg Eddie", was an American professional baseball player. A pitcher, Plank played in Major League Baseball for the Philadelphia Athletics from 1901 through 1914, the St. Louis Terriers in 1915, and the St. Louis Browns in 1916 and 1917.
Plank was the first left-handed pitcher to win 200 games and then 300 games, and now ranks third in all-time wins among left-handers with 326 career victories (eleventh all time) and first all-time in career shutouts by a left-handed pitcher with 66. Philadelphia went to the World Series five times while Plank played there, but he sat out the 1910 World Series due to an injury. Plank had only a 1.32 earned run average (ERA) in his World Series career, but he was unlucky, with a 2–5 win–loss record in those games.
Plank died of a stroke in 1926. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1946.



Babe Ruth

George Herman "Babe" Ruth Jr. (February 6, 1895 – August 16, 1948) was an American professional baseball player whose career in Major League Baseball (MLB) spanned 22 seasons, from 1914 through 1935. Nicknamed "The Bambino" and "The Sultan of Swat", he began his MLB career as a star left-handed pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, but achieved his greatest fame as a slugging outfielder for the New York Yankees. Ruth established many MLB batting (and some pitching) records, including career home runs (714), runs batted in (RBIs) (2,213), bases on balls (2,062), slugging percentage (.690), and on-base plus slugging (OPS) (1.164); the latter still stands as of 2019. Ruth is regarded as one of the greatest sports heroes in American culture and is considered by many to be the greatest baseball player of all time. In 1936, Ruth was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame as one of its "first five" inaugural members.
At age seven, Ruth was sent to St. Mary's Industrial School for Boys, a reformatory where he was mentored by Brother Matthias Boutlier of the Xaverian Brothers, the school's disciplinarian and a capable baseball player. In 1914, Ruth was signed to play minor-league baseball for the Baltimore Orioles but was soon sold to the Red Sox. By 1916, he had built a reputation as an outstanding pitcher who sometimes hit long home runs, a feat unusual for any player in the pre-1920 dead-ball era. Although Ruth twice won 23 games in a season as a pitcher and was a member of three World Series championship teams with the Red Sox, he wanted to play every day and was allowed to convert to an outfielder. With regular playing time, he broke the MLB single-season home run record in 1919.
After that season, Red Sox owner Harry Frazee sold Ruth to the Yankees amid controversy. The trade fueled Boston's subsequent 86-year championship drought and popularized the "Curse of the Bambino" superstition. In his 15 years with the Yankees, Ruth helped the team win seven American League (AL) pennants and four World Series championships. His big swing led to escalating home run totals that not only drew fans to the ballpark and boosted the sport's popularity but also helped usher in baseball's live-ball era, which evolved from a low-scoring game of strategy to a sport where the home run was a major factor. As part of the Yankees' vaunted "Murderers' Row" lineup of 1927, Ruth hit 60 home runs, which extended his MLB single-season record by a single home run. Ruth's last season with the Yankees was 1934; he retired from the game the following year, after a short stint with the Boston Braves. During his career, Ruth led the AL in home runs during a season 12 times.
During Ruth's career, he was the target of intense press and public attention for his baseball exploits and off-field penchants for drinking and womanizing. After his retirement as a player, he was denied the opportunity to manage a major league club, most likely due to poor behavior during parts of his playing career. In his final years, Ruth made many public appearances, especially in support of American efforts in World War II. In 1946, he became ill with nasopharyngeal cancer and died from the disease two years later. Ruth remains a part of American culture and in 2018, President Donald Trump posthumously awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom.



Randy Johnson

Randall David Johnson (born September 10, 1963), nicknamed "The Big Unit", is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB), from 1988 to 2009, for six teams. He played primarily for the Seattle Mariners and Arizona Diamondbacks. His 303 career victories rank as the fifth-most by a left-hander in MLB history, while his 4,875 strikeouts place him second all-time behind Nolan Ryan and are the most by a left-hander. He holds five of the seven highest single-season strikeout totals by a left-hander in modern history. Johnson won the Cy Young Award five times, second only to Roger Clemens' seven, and he is one of only two pitchers (the other being Greg Maddux) to win the award in four consecutive seasons (1999–2002). In 1999, he joined Pedro Martínez and Gaylord Perry in the rare feat of winning the award in both the American and National Leagues (a feat since accomplished by Clemens, Roy Halladay, and Max Scherzer). He is also one of five pitchers to pitch no-hitters in both leagues. On May 18, 2004, at the age of forty, Johnson became the oldest pitcher in major league history to throw a perfect game, and is one of seven pitchers who have thrown both a perfect game and a no-hitter in their careers. He is also one of eighteen pitchers in history to record a win against all 30 MLB franchises. On May 8th 2001, Johnson achieved the feat of striking out 20 batters in one game, doing so against the Cincinnati Reds. 
One of the tallest players in major league history at 6 feet 10 inches (2.08 m), and a ten-time All-Star, Johnson was celebrated for having one of the most dominant fastballs in the game. He regularly approached – and occasionally exceeded – 100 miles per hour (160 km/h), during his prime. Johnson also threw a hard, biting slider. After struggling early in his career (having won only 64 games by his 30th birthday), he went on to lead his league in strikeouts nine times, and in earned run average, winning percentage, and complete games four times each. Johnson was named one of two (along with Curt Schilling) World Series Most Valuable Players in 2001, with three pitching victories, leading the Diamondbacks to a World Series championship over the New York Yankees in only Arizona’s fourth season. He won the pitching Triple Crown in 2002.
Johnson's .646 career winning percentage ranks sixth among left-handers with at least 200 decisions; among southpaws, he ranks eighth in games started (603) and ninth in innings pitched (​4,135 1⁄3). Johnson’s career elite rankings also include: first in strikeouts per nine innings pitched (10.67), third in hit batsmen (188), and tenth in fewest hits allowed per nine innings pitched (7.24). He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2015, his first year of eligibility, and is the first member of the Hall to be depicted in a Diamondbacks uniform on his plaque.

Hal Newhouser

Harold Newhouser (May 20, 1921 – November 10, 1998), nicknamed "Prince Hal," was an American professional baseball player. In Major League Baseball (MLB), he pitched 17 seasons on the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Indians, from 1939 through 1955. Newhouser was an All-Star for six seasons, and was considered to be the most dominating pitcher of the World War II era of baseball, winning a pitcher's triple crown for the Tigers in 1945. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992. 
After his retirement from baseball Newhouser was away from the sport for 20 years, serving as a bank vice president. He later worked as a scout for several MLB teams, including the Houston Astros. Angered when they rebuffed his recommendation to draft future Hall of Famer Derek Jeter in favor of Phil Nevin, he quit shortly after.

Jim Kaat

James Lee Kaat (born November 7, 1938), nicknamed "Kitty", is an American former professional baseball pitcher, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Washington Senators / Minnesota Twins (1959–1973), Chicago White Sox (1973–1975), Philadelphia Phillies (1976–1979), New York Yankees (1979–1980), and St. Louis Cardinals (1980–1983). His 25-year career spanned four decades.
Kaat was an All-Star for three seasons and a Gold Glove winner for sixteen seasons. He was the American League (AL) leader in shutouts (5) in 1962, and the AL leader in wins (25) and complete games (19) in 1966. In addition to his 283 career wins, he has three 20-win seasons.
After a brief stint as a pitching coach for the Cincinnati Reds under former player Pete Rose, he went on to become a sportscaster and for the next 22 years called games for the New York Yankees and the Minnesota Twins. Following a brief retirement in 2006, Jim Kaat was back in the broadcast booth calling Pool D for the 2009 World Baseball Classic in Puerto Rico, called games for NESN in 2009 (as a replacement for Jerry Remy), and currently calls games for the MLB Network as of the 2018 season.He has written a best-selling book, Still Pitching, and has started a sports management company, Southpaw Enterprises, Inc., solely representing pitchers.
In 2014, Kaat appeared for the second time as a candidate on the National Baseball Hall of Fame's Golden Era Committee election ballot for possible Hall of Fame consideration for 2015 which required 12 votes. He missed getting inducted in 2015 by 2 votes. None of the candidates on the ballot were elected. The Committee meets and votes on ten selected candidates from the 1947 to 1972 era every three years.

Tommy John

Thomas Edward John Jr. (born May 22, 1943) is a retired American professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 26 seasons between 1963 and 1989. He played for the Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, California Angels, and Oakland Athletics. He was a four-time MLB All-Star.
John's 288 career victories rank as the seventh-highest total among left-handers in major league history. He had 188 career no decisions, an all-time MLB record among starting pitchers (dating back to at least 1908). He is also known for the surgical procedure ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, nicknamed "Tommy John surgery", which he underwent in 1974 after damaging the ligament in his throwing arm. John was the first pitcher to receive the operation, and despite a poor outlook initially, he returned to being an effective pitcher, as more than half of his career wins came after his surgery. It has since become a common procedure among baseball pitchers.

Sam McDowell

Samuel Edward Thomas McDowell (born September 21, 1942 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), is a former professional baseball pitcher. He played 15 seasons in Major League Baseball, with the first 11 coming for the Cleveland Indians before a 1971 trade to the San Francisco Giants, followed by stints with the New York Yankees and Pittsburgh Pirates. A six-time All-Star (1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970 and 1971), McDowell was primarily a starting pitcher during his major league career.
Tall (6 feet, 5 inches) and powerful, his left-handed fastball was delivered with an unusually calm pitching motion which led to his memorable nickname, Sudden Sam. His strikeout prowess was sometimes nullified by periodic control problems.

dewmaster

Rube Marquard

Richard William "Rube" Marquard (October 9, 1886 – June 1, 1980) was an American left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball in the 1910s and early 1920s. He achieved his greatest success with the New York Giants. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1971.

Dazzy Vance

Charles Arthur "Dazzy" Vance (March 4, 1891 – February 16, 1961) was an American professional baseball player. He played as a pitcher for five different franchises in Major League Baseball (MLB) in a career that spanned twenty years. Known for his impressive fastball, Vance was the only pitcher to lead the National League in strikeouts seven consecutive seasons. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1955.

Ron Guidry

Ronald Ames Guidry (; born August 28, 1950), nicknamed "Louisiana Lightning" and "Gator", is a former Major League Baseball (MLB) left-handed pitcher who played his entire 14-year career for the New York Yankees of the American League (AL). Guidry was also the pitching coach of the Yankees from 2006 to 2007.
Guidry's major league career began in 1975. He was a member of World Series-winning Yankees teams in 1977 and 1978. He won the AL Cy Young Award in 1978, winning 25 games and losing only 3. He also won five Gold Glove Awards and appeared in four All-Star games. Guidry served as captain of the Yankees beginning in 1986; he retired from baseball in 1989. In 2003, the Yankees retired Guidry's uniform number (49) and dedicated a plaque to him in Monument Park.

Clayton Edward Kershaw  (born March 19, 1988) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). A left-handed starting pitcher, Kershaw has played in the major leagues since 2008, and his career earned run average (ERA) and walks and hits per innings pitched average (WHIP) are the lowest among starters in the live-ball era with a minimum of 1,000 innings pitched. Kershaw has a career hits allowed per nine innings pitched average of 6.61—the second-lowest in MLB history—along with three Cy Young Awards and the 2014 National League Most Valuable Player Award. He has been described throughout the majority of his career as the best pitcher in baseball.Kershaw was drafted seventh overall in the 2006 MLB draft.

Earl Whitehill

Earl Oliver Whitehill (February 7, 1899 – October 22, 1954) was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He played for the Detroit Tigers for the most significant portion of his career (1923–1932), and later with the Washington Senators (1933–1936), Cleveland Indians (1937–1938), and the Chicago Cubs (1939). Consistently winning in double digits for thirteen years (1924–1936), left-handed Whitehill went on to become one of the top winning pitchers of all time. He was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
"The Earl", as many called him, was a handsome and often temperamental pitcher who often showed up in the top 10 in hit batsmen, leading the league in his first full year, 1924, when he hit 13 (tied with George Uhle).
Whitehill averaged 14 wins each season and he never dipped below 11 wins in a full season (30 starts or more). Whitehill made his debut on September 15, 1923. He was a small left-handed pitcher, who weighed around 175 pounds. With Detroit, he came to be known as one of the most consistent pitchers in the league. From 1928 through 1932, he never had an ERA higher than 4.62 and never had one lower than 4.08; a difference of only .54 in those years.
In his rookie season, Whitehill was 17–8, with a 3.86 ERA, and two shutouts. The Tigers' offensive support helped, as the Tigers finished 1st in most major offensive categories in 1923. Reduced run support became a factor later in his stint with Detroit, which lead some to believe his overall record could have been better. In his early years with Detroit, Whitehill was part of a starting rotation that included Hooks Dauss, Dutch Leonard, and Lil Stoner.
Whitehill, one of the top pitchers of the Roaring Twenties, had a celebrity marriage to Violet Geissinger.  Geissinger was a model for Sun-Maid Raisins during the 1920s.  She was known as The Sun-Maid Raisin Girl.After he was traded to Washington, for Firpo Marberry and Carl Fischer, Whitehill fit right in there, going a career-best 22–8 in his first year, with a 3.33 ERA (also a career-best, excluding his first year when he pitched in 8 games and had a 2.73 ERA). With Washington that year, he saw his first (and last) postseason action, when the Senators were defeated by the New York Giants in 5 games. However, Whitehill did his part, getting the only win of the series for Washington. In that game, he pitched a complete game shutout allowing 5 hits and 2 walks. Because he didn't start until Game 3, it became his only start of the Series, and his only start of the postseason. Thus, his final postseason ERA was 0.00, tied with many others for a record.
He one-hit the St. Louis Browns on July 4, 1932, Goose Goslin recording the only hit for the Browns. Whitehill also one-hit the New York Yankees on May 30, 1934. The Yanks' Ben Chapman broke up the no-hitter in the ninth inning.
He was traded as part of a three team deal on December 10, 1936. The Senators received Jack Salveson from the Chicago White Sox, who received Thornton Lee from the Indians, which is where Whitehill was headed. In Cleveland, Whitehill had two average years and made a number of relief appearances (mostly in 1937). His final record with the Indians was 17–16.
Whitehill signed with the Cubs in 1939, went 4–7 with a 5.14 ERA there, and was released in October 1939. In 17 seasons, he was 218–185 with a career ERA of 4.36, having given up 1726 earned runs in 3564 and 2/3 innings pitched. He recorded 1350 career strikeouts. He pitched in 541 games, 473 of them starts. His lifetime ERA of 4.36 is higher than any other 200-game winner.
A competent hitting pitcher in his 17 years in the majors, Whitehill compiled a .204 batting average (264-for-1291) with 107 runs, 4 home runs and 98 RBI.
After serving as a coach for the Indians, the Philadelphia Phillies, and in the International League in the early 1940s, he became a sales representative for the A. G. Spalding sporting goods firm. Whitehill died in an automobile accident in Omaha, Nebraska at the age of 54.

CC Sabathia

Carsten Charles Sabathia Jr. (born July 21, 1980) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played for the Cleveland Indians and Milwaukee Brewers. Sabathia bats and throws left-handed.
Sabathia made his major league debut with the Indians in 2001 and placed second in the 2001 AL Rookie of the Year voting behind 2001 AL MVP Ichiro Suzuki. Sabathia played the first seven-and-a-half seasons of his career with the Indians, with whom he won the 2007 Cy Young Award. He led the Indians to the 2007 AL Central Division title and their first postseason berth since his rookie year. Following a trade, Sabathia played the second half of the 2008 MLB season with the Milwaukee Brewers, helping them make the playoffs for the first time in 26 years.
In the 2008 offseason, Sabathia signed with the New York Yankees for seven years and $161 million; at the time, this was the largest contract ever signed by a pitcher. With the Yankees, Sabathia led all of Major League Baseball in wins in both 2009 and 2010 and won a World Series ring in 2009. He was also voted the 2009 American League Championship Series Most Valuable Player. After mid-career struggles attributed to lost fastball velocity, chronic knee injuries, and alcoholism, Sabathia again found success in the late 2010s after reinventing himself as a control pitcher. In February 2019, he announced that 2019 would be his final season as a professional baseball player.
During his career, Sabathia has been named an All-Star six times and has won the Warren Spahn Award three times. In August 2017, Sabathia became the all-time American League leader in strikeouts by a left-handed pitcher. As of June 2019, he leads all active Major League players in career wins, career innings pitched and career strikeouts. On April 30, 2019, he became the seventeenth pitcher in MLB history to reach 3,000 strikeouts and the third left-hander to do so (joining Randy Johnson and Steve Carlton).

Tug McGraw

Frank Edwin "Tug" McGraw, Jr. (August 30, 1944 – January 5, 2004) was an American professional baseball relief pitcher and the father of country music singer and actor Tim McGraw. As a Major League Baseball (MLB) player, Tug McGraw is often remembered for coining the phrase, "Ya Gotta Believe", which became a popular rallying cry for the New York Mets teams of the mid-60s and early 70s, and for recording the final out, via a strikeout of the Kansas City Royals' Willie Wilson, in the 1980 World Series, thereby bringing the Philadelphia Phillies their first world championship. He was the last active big league player to have played under legendary manager Casey Stengel.

Jerry Koosman

Jerome Martin Koosman (born December 23, 1942) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Mets, Minnesota Twins, Chicago White Sox, and Philadelphia Phillies between 1967 and 1985. Koosman is best known as a member of the Miracle Mets team that won the 1969 World Series.

Madison Bumgarner

Madison Kyle Bumgarner (born August 1, 1989), commonly known by his nickname, "MadBum", is an American professional baseball pitcher for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball (MLB). Bumgarner has won three World Series championships (2010, 2012, 2014) and two Silver Slugger Awards (2014, 2015). He has also been selected to four National League All-Star teams and has the most strikeouts in franchise history by a Giants left-handed pitcher.Bumgarner played high school baseball at South Caldwell High School in Hudson, North Carolina, where he helped his team win the 2007 4A State Championship. After graduating, he was selected with the tenth overall pick in the 2007 MLB draft by the San Francisco Giants. In 2008, his first year playing professionally, he won the South Atlantic League pitching triple crown.

StephenMaybach

Cliff Lee

Clifton Phifer Lee (born August 30, 1978) is an  American former professional baseball starting pitcher. Lee played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians, Philadelphia Phillies, Seattle Mariners, and Texas Rangers. He stood 6 feet 3 inches (191 cm) and weighed 205 pounds (93 kg), while playing. During his school days, Lee played baseball at Benton High School and attended Meridian Community College and the University of Arkansas before being drafted by the Montreal Expos in the fourth round of the 2000 draft.
After playing with the Expos’ minor-league affiliate Harrisburg Senators, Lee was traded in 2002 to the Cleveland Indians and was first called up to the big leagues later that season. He was traded to the Phillies in 2009, then traded to the Mariners and Rangers, eventually returning to the Phillies as a free agent in 2011. A four-time All-Star, Lee won the American League (AL) Cy Young Award in 2008 as a member of the Indians, after leading the AL in wins and lowest earned run average (ERA).
Lee won his first seven postseason starts. As a Phillie, he went 4-0 in the 2009 postseason, including a complete game in the 2009 World Series against the New York Yankees. The following season, Lee led the Rangers to a shutout win, defeating the Yankees 8-0 in the 2010 ALCS, en route to reaching the 2010 World Series.Lee threw and batted left-handed and could count on three different   fastballs, the four-seam, two-seam, and cutter, in his pitching arsenal. Other pitches at his command included the slider, curveball, and change-up.

Who is the best MLB left handed pitcher ever? This list includes pitchers in the Hall of Fame as well as those who have not yet been inducted, but are truly ...