Best Left-Handed Pitchers of All-Time

Best Lefty Pitchers

Roughly 10% of the general population is left-handed. However, about a quarter of the pitchers in MLB throw from their left side. They have a slight advantage as most batters are accustomed to right-handed pitchers.

Some of the greatest pitchers of all time have been left-handed. Although there are many who deserve a quality look, here's a list of the very best left-handed pitchers.

5. Steve Carlton

• Career: 1965–1988
• Stats: 329–244 record, 3.22 ERA, and 4,136 strikeouts
• Accolades: 10-time All-Star, two-time World Series champion, four Cy Young Awards, Gold Glove Award, and Hall of Fame inductee

At his peak, Steve Carlton was the all-time strikeout leader (1982 to 1984). Even now, he still sits fourth on the all-time strikeout list with 4,136 K's. He's 11th on the all-time win list with 329, and he is second among lefties. Carlton was the first pitcher to win four Cy Young awards.

His 1972 season was incredible. He went 27–9 and became the last NL pitcher to win 25 games in a single season. There also hasn't been a pitcher (in any league, left-handed or not) to pitch 300 innings since Carlton did it in 1980.

4. Sandy Koufax

• Career: 1955–1966
• Stats: 165–87 record, 2.76 ERA, and 2,386 strikeouts
• Accolades: Seven-time All-Star, four-time World Series champion, NL MVP, three Cy Young Awards, two-time World Series MVP, and Hall of Fame inductee

This famous southpaw only lasted 12 years in the bigs because of the excruciating pain caused by arthritis in his elbow. He led the league in 1961 with strikeouts with 269. In his final four seasons, he went 97–27, and he led the league in ERA each year.

His final year was dominant. He went 27–9 with a 1.73 ERA and 317 strikeouts. In his short career, he had four no-hitters. Who knows what his career would have been had he not been injured?

3. Lefty Grove

• Career: 1925–1941
• Stats: 300–141 record, 3.06 ERA, and 2,266 strikeouts
• Accolades: Six-time All-Star, two-time World Series champion, AL MVP, and Hall of Fame inductee

Born Robert Moses Grove, "Lefty" won 300 games in the Majors. He did so with an incredible winning percentage (.680), which still leads all pitchers who have won over 300 games. Lefty led the AL in strikeouts in each of his first seven seasons, and he won nine ERA titles during his career.

His 1931 season was legendary. He went 31–4 with a 2.06 ERA and 175 strikeouts. He did all of this while throwing 27 complete games, and he even notched five saves.

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2. Warren Spahn

• Career: 1942, 1946–1965
• Stats: 363–245 record, 3,09 ERA, and 2,583 strikeouts
• Accolades: 17-time All-Star, World Series champion, Cy Young Award, and Hall of Fame inductee

Warren Spahn amassed 363 wins, the most of any left-handed pitcher and the sixth-most in baseball history. Keep in mind that he missed three years of his career to military service. Spahn won over 20 games 13 times in his career, including a 23-win season when he was 42 years old.

He led the league in strikeouts four times and won three ERA titles. He was voted onto 14 All-Star teams, won four World Series games, pitched two no-hitters, and threw an astonishing 382 complete games.

1. Randy Johnson

• Career: 1988–2009
• Stats: 303–166 record, 3.29 ERA, and 4,875 strikeouts
• Accolades: 10-time All-Star, World Series champion, five Cy Young Awards, World Series MVP, and Hall of Fame inductee

The overpowering dominance of this very tall 6'10" hurler is even more incredible considering the fact that it was done during the steroid era. Randy Johnson finished his career with 303 wins and 4,875 strikeouts (second only to Nolan Ryan). During his career, he earned five Cy Young Awards, four of them won consecutively. Johnson led the league in ERA four times and finished second three times.

The Big Unit was fantastic in the postseason. He was 3–0 with a 1.04 ERA in the 2001 World Series, and he won the co-MVP. He pitched a no-hitter and perfect game, and he once struck out 20 guys in one game. He had a vicious slider and threw extremely hard. His size, scowl, speed, and hair made him a terrifying force on the mound, and he is the greatest left-handed pitcher of all time.

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Comments

Jerry Soncrant on February 03, 2020:

Wheres HAL NEWHOUSER the Grear Tiger Lefty from the 40s and 50s??

Joe E on September 07, 2019:

I think Grove is the best. His numbers are far better than Warren Spahn's, (more efficient), though Spahnie was great. His best competition is Randy Johnson and Clayton Kershaw.

Frank LiCausi on September 20, 2018:

I do not believe any current pitcher will get to 300 wins; I feel that 270 wins should be enough for selection in the HOF based upon the need for relief pitchers.