Baseball's 300-game winners

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Jun 8, 2009

Baseball's 300-game winners

Randy Johnson | No. 300: June 4, 2009 | Career: 300-164

Arguably the most intimidating man to ever set foot on a major-league pitcher's mound, Randall David Johnson did not win his first game until he was 25 years old. And he won more games in his 40s than in his 20s. At 45, the Big Unit is the second-oldest pitcher to reach 300 wins, and he's just the sixth left-hander to accomplish the feat.

Tom Glavine | No. 300: Aug. 5, 2007 | Career: 305-203

A high school hockey star who was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings, Thomas Michael Glavine went on to become baseball's fourth-winningest left-hander of all time. He is a 10-time All-Star, a five-time 20-game winner and a two-time Cy Young Award winner, as well as one of the game's best hitting and fielding pitchers. Of his 305 career wins, 244 came with the Atlanta Braves, for whom he also won 12 postseason games. After offseason surgery, Glavine has spent this whole season on the DL. The Braves released him on June 3.

Greg Maddux | No. 300: Aug. 7, 2004 | Career: 355-227

One of the game's greatest control pitchers and the first man to win four consecutive Cy Young Awards (1992-95), Gregory Alan Maddux was the game's winningest pitcher in the 1990s (176-88, with most of those wins coming for the Braves). "Mad Dog" received a record 18 Gold Gloves, won four National League ERA titles and a recorded a 3.16 ERA over 23 major league seasons.

Roger Clemens | No. 300: June 13, 2003 | Career: 354-184

A six-time 20-game winner during his 24 major-league seasons, William Roger Clemens won seven ERA titles and seven Cy Young Awards (in three different decades) and is one of only three pitchers with 4,500 career strikeouts. "The Rocket" struck out more than 200 batters in a season 12 times and twice fanned 20 batters in a game. But Clemens' reputation has taken a huge hit with his reported steroid use. The feds are currently building a perjury case against Clemens for lying to Congress.

Nolan Ryan | No. 300: July 31, 1990 | Career: 324-292

With a fastball that approached 100 mph and a work ethic like no other, Lynn Nolan Ryan dominated hitters for 27 seasons on his way to 5,714 strikeouts. "The Ryan Express" led the league in strikeouts 11 times and topped 300 strikeouts six times, including a record 383 in 1973. Among Ryan's 324 wins are seven no-hitters and 12 one-hitters.

Don Sutton | No. 300: June 18, 1986 | Career: 324-256

A model of consistency and durability, Donald Howard Sutton won 324 games and struck out 3,574 batters in 23 seasons. Not once did he miss a turn in the rotation for the Dodgers, Astros, Brewers, Athletics and Angels. A four-time All-Star, Sutton reached double figures in wins in 21 of his 23 seasons and struck out over 100 batters in each of his first 21 campaigns.

Phil Niekro | No. 300: Oct. 6, 1985 | Career: 318-274

During a 24-year career, Philip Henry Niekro relied on a fluttering knuckleball to frustrate hitters. His lifetime record of 318-274 produced a winning percentage significantly higher than those teams for which he pitched. "Knucksie" twice led the NL in wins and propelled Atlanta to the NL West title in 1969, when he recorded 23 victories, 21 complete games and a 2.57 ERA.

Tom Seaver | No. 300: Aug. 4, 1985 | Career: 311-205

George Thomas Seaver was a dominating power pitcher who helped transform the New York Mets from lovable losers into formidable foes. "Tom Terrific" won 311 games with a 2.86 ERA over 20 seasons and fanned 3,640 batters, including 200 or more a record 10 times. Seaver was the NL Rookie of the Year in 1967 and a three-time Cy Young Award winner.

Steve Carlton | No. 300: Sept. 23, 1983 | Career: 329-244

The second-winningest left-hander of all time, Steven Norman Carlton was an extremely focused competitor. He won 329 games -- second only to Warren Spahn among lefties -- and his 4,136 strikeouts are exceeded only by Ryan, Clemens and Randy Johnson. "Lefty" once notched 19 strikeouts in a game, compiled six 20-win seasons and was the first pitcher to win four Cy Young Awards.

Gaylord Perry | No. 300: May 6, 1982 | Career: 314-265

Over 22 seasons, Gaylord Jackson Perry frustrated batters and umpires with his (allegedly) illegal pitches. One of nine pitchers with 300 wins and 3,000 strikeouts, Perry was a five-time 20-game winner. Perry threw a no-hitter in 1968 and won Cy Young Awards in 1972 with Cleveland and in 1978 with San Diego -- the first pitcher to win the award in both leagues.

Early Wynn | No. 300: July 13, 1963 | Career: 300-244

A fierce competitor who once said he would knock down his grandmother if she dug in against him, Early Wynn was a five-time 20-game winner during his 23-year career with the Senators, Indians and White Sox. "Gus" won the American League Cy Young Award in 1959 and notched his 300th win four years later at the age of 43.

Warren Spahn | No. 300: Aug. 11, 1961 | Career: 363-245

Despite three years in the military during his early 20s, Warren Edward Spahn won more games than any other left-hander in major league history. A 13-time 20-game winner, Spahn completed more than half his starts (382 of 665) and recorded 68 shutouts. He still holds the NL record for innings pitched over his 21-year career, during which he hurled two no-hitters.

Lefty Grove | No. 300: July 25, 1941 | Career: 300-141

Considered the greatest left-handed pitcher in American League history, Robert Moses Grove won nine ERA titles and posted eight 20-win seasons. With a temperament as mean as his fastball, "Lefty" led the AL in strikeouts in seven consecutive seasons from 1925-31. Grove's .680 career winning percentage is tops among 300-game winners.

Grover Alexander | No. 300: Sept. 20, 1924 | Career: 373-208

Grover Cleveland Alexander overcame epilepsy and alcoholism to become one of baseball's greatest pitchers. "Ol' Pete" won 30 or more games each season from 1915-17 and led the league in ERA five times. Alexander is the all-time National League leader in wins and shutouts (90), and his four one-hitters in 1915 and 16 shutouts in 1916 are still major league highs.

Walter Johnson | No. 300: May 14, 1920 | Career: 417-279

Considered the greatest right-hander in baseball history, Walter Perry Johnson was a 10-time 20-game winner despite playing mostly for losing teams (he lost 27 games 1-0). With an overpowering fastball, "The Big Train" led the American League in strikeouts 12 times and won three pitching triple crowns. His 110 career shutouts are 20 more than the second-best total.

Eddie Plank | No. 300: Sept. 11, 1915 | Career: 326-194

A finesse pitcher with a sweeping sidearm curveball, Edward Stewart Plank won at least 20 games in eight of his 17 seasons, leading the Philadelphia Athletics to six American League pennants. Despite not playing baseball until college, "Gettysburg Eddie" remains the all-time leader in complete games and shutouts among left-handers.

Christy Mathewson | No. 300: June 13, 1912 | Career: 373-188

As charismatic and popular as any player in the early 1900s, Christopher Mathewson won at least 22 games for 12 straight seasons. "Matty" baffled hitters with his "fadeaway pitch" -- known today as a screwball. Throughout his career, he walked 1.6 batters per 9 innings. In 11 World Series games, Mathewson pitched 10 complete games, including four shutouts.

Cy Young | No. 300: July 12, 1901 | Career: 511-315

Denton True Young, baseball's biggest winner -- and loser -- logged a record 7,356 innings during his 22-year career. Among his 511 wins were 76 shutouts and three no-hitters. Nicknamed ''Cy'' because of his cyclone-like fastball, Young won 20 games 16 times (five 30-win seasons). He averaged 27 wins and a 3.05 ERA in the 1890s; 27 wins and a 2.12 ERA in the 1900s. Not pictured: - Kid Nichols | No. 300: July, 7, 1900 | Career: 360-205 - John Clarkson | No. 300: Sept. 21, 1892 | Career: 329-177 - Charley Radbourn | No. 300: June 2, 1891 | Career: 310-196 - Mickey Welch | No. 300: July 28, 1890 | Career: 309-212 - Tim Keefe | No. 300: June 4, 1890 | Career: 341-223 - Pud Galvin | No. 300: Oct. 5, 1888 | Career: 361-302

Baseball's 300-game winners