Who Was The Best Pitcher In Baseball?

We take a look at the stats to determine who the best pitcher in baseball was in 2020.

Sandy Koufax

Sandy Koufax was a left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played 12 seasons for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers, from 1955 to 1966. Koufax, at his peak, was the best pitcher in baseball and one of the most feared hitters. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972.

Sandy Koufax’s Early Life

Sandy Koufax was born in Brooklyn, New York, on December 30, 1935. His birth name was Sanford Braun, and he was the oldest of three children. Sandy’s father worked as a neighbor for a Brooklyn Dodgers fan. When Sandy was three years old, his family moved to the Bronx. Sandy’s parents divorced when he was nine years old, and Sandy went to live with his grandparents on Long Island. In high school, Sandy was an All-City pitcher and infielder for Lafayette High School. He also played basketball and hockey.

Sandy Koufax’s Career

Sandy Koufax was one of the best pitchers in baseball history. He played his entire career with the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers, from 1955 to 1966. In that time, he won three Cy Young Awards and was named National League MVP in 1963. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972.

Koufax’s career was cut short by injury, but in the time that he did play, he was one of the most dominant pitchers in the game. He had a fastball that was nearly unhittable, and a curveball that confounded batters. In 1962, he became the first pitcher to throw a perfect game in the modern era of baseball. He went on to pitch two more no-hitters, including a perfect game in 1965.

In his final season, Koufax battled through pain to help his team win the World Series. He retired after that season, at just 30 years old. Despite his relatively short career, Sandy Koufax is considered one of the greatest pitchers of all time.

Sandy Koufax’s Legacy

Sandy Koufax is often considered the best pitcher in baseball history. He played for the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1955 to 1966 and is a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Koufax’s career was cut short by injuries, but he still managed to win three Cy Young Awards and be named National League MVP in 1963. He was also a key member of the Dodgers’ World Series-winning teams in 1955 and 1959.

Nolan Ryan

Nolan Ryan was born on January 31, 1947, in Refugio, Texas. Ryan was drafted by the New York Mets in the first round of the 1965 Major League Baseball draft. He made his Major League debut on September 11, 1966. Ryan was traded to the California Angels in 1972. He became the Angels’ pitching coach in 1981. Ryan retired from baseball in 1993.

Nolan Ryan’s Early Life

Nolan Ryan was born on January 31, 1947 in Refugio, Texas. He was the youngest of six children. His father, Virgil Ryan, was a tough Taskmaster who ran the family like a military drill team. His mother, Martha Lee Hancock Ryan, was a compassionate woman who doted on her children. Nolan grew up working on his family’s farm and ranch. He learned how to milk cows, Brand cattle, and mend fences. He also learned how to throw a baseball from his father.

Nolan went to high school in Alvin, Texas. He played varsity baseball and football and was captain of both teams his senior year. After graduation, he attended Alvin Community College for one semester before being drafted by the New York Mets in the 1965 amateur draft.

Nolan Ryan’s Career

Nolan Ryan is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for 27 seasons, mostly with the Houston Astros and Texas Rangers. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999.

During his career, Ryan was a eight-time MLB All-Star, won five pitching Triple Crowns, and pitched seven no-hitters (a record tied with Sandy Koufax), tied for the most in MLB history. He is also the all-time leader in strikeouts with 5,714.

Nolan Ryan’s Legacy

Nolan Ryan is considered by many to be the best pitcher in baseball history. During his 27 years in Major League Baseball, Ryan pitched for four different teams: the New York Mets, California Angels, Houston Astros, and Texas Rangers. He holds numerous records, including the most Career Strikeouts (5,714), most no-hitters (7), and the oldest player to throw a no-hitter (44 years old). Nolan Ryan was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999.

Bob Gibson

Many people would say that Bob Gibson was the best pitcher in baseball. He played for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1959 to 1975 and was a 9-time All-Star. He won 2 World Series titles and was the National League MVP in 1968. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1981.

Bob Gibson’s Early Life

Robert Gibson was born in Omaha, Nebraska, on November 9, 1935. He was one of five children born to Bundle and Pack Gibson. His father worked in a railroad yard, and his mother was a domestic worker. Gibson’s parents instilled in him a strong work ethic. “My father used to say that the only way to succeed in life was just to outwork everybody,” Gibson later recalled.

Gibson excelled at baseball and basketball from an early age. He attended John J. Pershing High School, where he starred on the school’s baseball and basketball teams. After graduating from high school in 1953, Gibson enrolled at Creighton University on a basketball scholarship. He soon gave up basketball, however, to focus on baseball.

Bob Gibson’s Career

Bob Gibson was born in 1934 in Markham, Illinois. He began his professional career in 1956 with the St. Louis Cardinals, and he would go on to play for the Cardinals until his retirement in 1975. During his time with the Cardinals, Gibson won two World Series titles and was named National League Most Valuable Player in 1968. He also set a then-record of 1.12 ERA in 1968, a mark that stood for over three decades.

Gibson was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1981, and his number 45 was retired by the Cardinals in 1983. He died in 2020 at the age of 84.

Bob Gibson’s Legacy

Robert Gibson is considered by many to be one of the best pitchers in baseball history. He played his entire career with the St. Louis Cardinals, from 1959 to 1975. During that time, he won nine Gold Glove Awards, three World Series titles, two National League Most Valuable Player Awards, and a place in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Gibson was known for his fierce competitiveness on the mound. He was also known for his ability to pitch effectively on short rest. In 1968, he had one of the most dominant seasons in baseball history, posting an ERA+ of 258 and striking out 268 batters in 34 starts. That year, he also won the World Series MVP Award.

Bob Gibson passed away on October 2, 2020, at the age of 84.

Pedro Martinez

Pedro Martinez, who was born on October 25, 1971, is a former starting pitcher who played in Major League Baseball from 1992 to 2009. He is considered one of the best pitchers of all time.

Pedro Martinez’s Early Life

Pedro Martínez, who was born on October 25, 1971, grew up in the town of Manoguayabo, a municipality located southeast of Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic. He was one of six children born to Pablo Jaime Martínez, a married truck driver who had several children from different relationships, and Leopoldina Román, a housewife. In his autobiography, Martinez wrote that his father “didn’t promote good values or set an example for us to follow.” Pablo Jaime Martínez was often away from home for days or weeks at a time while working. Leopoldina Román relied on her own parents—Manuel and Maria Román—to help raise her children. These were Pedro’s maternal grandparents, whom he later credited with instilling in him strong family values.

Pedro Martinez’s Career

Pedro Martinez, one of baseball’s all-time great pitchers, played for five teams over his 18-year career. He began his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1992, and was traded to the Montreal Expos after the 1993 season. In Montreal, Martinez became one of the game’s premier pitchers, winning the National League Cy Young Award in 1997. He was traded to the Boston Red Sox after the 1997 season, and helped lead the team to a World Series championship in 2004. Martinez then spent two seasons with the New York Mets before retiring in 2009.

Over his 18-year career, Martinez compiled a record of 219-100 with a 2.93 ERA and 3,154 strikeouts. He was a eight-time All-Star and three-time Cy Young Award winner. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2015.

Pedro Martinez’s Legacy

Few pitchers in baseball history can match the level of domination that Pedro Martinez displayed during his 18-year MLB career. Martinez was a master at mixing his pitches, keeping hitters off balance, and striking them out. He was also a fierce competitor, known for coming up big in the biggest moments.

Martinez began his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1992 and was quickly establishing himself as one of the best young pitchers in the game. He was traded to the Montreal Expos after just four seasons, where he truly blossomed into a superstar. In his seven seasons with the Expos, Martinez won two Cy Young Awards and became one of the most feared pitchers in baseball.

Martinez then signed with the Boston Red Sox as a free agent prior to the 1998 season, and proceeded to have one of the greatest individual seasons in MLB history. He went 23-4 with a minuscule 1.98 ERA en route to winning his third Cy Young Award. He also helped lead the Red Sox to their first World Series title in 86 years.

Martinez continued to pitch at a high level over his final 11 seasons, winning another Cy Young Award with the Red Sox in 2000 and adding World Series titles with Boston in 2004 and 2007. He retired following the 2009 season with a career record of 219-100 and an ERA of 2.93, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest pitchers of all time.

Roger Clemens

Roger Clemens was the best pitcher in baseball for many years. He was a member of the famed Boston Red Sox team that won the World Series in 2004. Clemens was also a member of the New York Yankees team that won the World Series in 2009. In both of those years, Clemens won the Cy Young Award, which is given to the best pitcher in baseball.

Roger Clemens’s Early Life

Roger Clemens was born in Ohio in 1962. When he was young, his family moved to Texas. Roger loved baseball and played on his high school team. After high school, he was drafted by the New York Yankees. He played for the Yankees for 12 years before being traded to the Toronto Blue Jays. In 1996, he became a free agent and signed with the Houston Astros. He played for the Astros for five years before returning to the Yankees in 2007. He retired from baseball in 2007.

Roger Clemens’s Career

Roger Clemens was one of the best pitchers in baseball during his 24-year career. He played for the Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees, and Houston Astros. Clemens was a two-time World Series champion and a seven-time Cy Young Award winner. He also holds the record for the most strikeouts in a season, with 20.

Roger Clemens’s Legacy

Roger Clemens is considered by many to be one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history. He played for 24 seasons, winning seven Cy Young Awards and 11 MLB All-Star selections. In his prime, Clemens was an unbelievable pitcher, posting a 3.12 ERA and winning 20 games or more in 11 different seasons. He is also the only pitcher in history to have struck out 20 batters in a single game on three occasions. Overall, Clemens finished his career with a 354-184 record, 4,672 strikeouts, and a 3.12 ERA.

However, despite his great accomplishments on the field, Clemens has been embroiled in controversy ever since he retired. In 2007, he was accused of using performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs), which led to him being snubbed from the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. Clemens has always denied using PEDs, but many people still believe that he did use them and that has stained his legacy.