Baseball Reference Blog
Best left-handed pitchers of all time
Posted by Brett Baker on October 12, 2023
There may be no more sure-fire way to remain in Major League Baseball than to be an effective left-handed pitcher. A southpaw is practically worth his weight in gold, whether he just throws the ball so hard that hitters can’t catch up to it, or he’s a bit more crafty and keeps hitters off-balance, inducing soft contact. Pitchers like Jamie Moyer, Tommy John, and Kenny Rogers likely had longer careers as left-handers than they would have had if they were right-handers. And it’s not just starting pitchers. The top-3 in career games pitched are lefties Jesse Orosco, Mike Stanton, and John Franco, who had five career starts combined out of more than 3,500 games pitched. Only 10% of the general population is left-handed, but the numbers suggest that among all-time greats, left-handedness is a bit more common. The 10th-greatest lefty and the 46th-greatest righty have the same career WAR, which means that among the greatest 56 pitchers according to WAR, 17.8% are left-handed. More than we would think. Here are the top ten, presented alphabetically.
Steve Carlton
Position: Pitcher
Bats: Left • Throws: Left
6-4, 210lb (193cm, 95kg)
Born: December 22, 1944 (Age: 78-286d) in Miami, FL us
High School: North Miami HS (North Miami, FL)
School: Miami Dade College, North Campus (Miami, FL)
Debut:
April 12, 1965
(Age 20-111d,
12,326th in major league history)
vs. CHC 0.0 IP, 0 H, 0 SO, 1 BB, 0 ER
Last Game:
April 23, 1988
(Age 43-123d)
vs. CLE 5.0 IP, 9 H, 4 SO, 3 BB, 8 ER, L
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1994.
(Voted by BBWAA on 436/456 ballots)
View Steve Carlton’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1966 season
Agents: Dick Moss • Previously: David Landfield, LaRue Harcourt
Full Name: Steven Norman Carlton
Nicknames: Lefty
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Career
90.2
329
244
3.22
741
709
2
5217.2
4136
1.247
It’s hard to choose which of Steve Carlton’s accomplishments are most impressive. Is it the four Cy Young awards? The 1972 pitching Triple Crown when he led the league with 27 wins, and 310 strikeouts with a 1.97 ERA? Or that he was second all-time in career strikeouts (4,136) when he retired? But perhaps Carlton’s most amazing stat is that those 27 wins in 1972 came while playing for a team that only won 59 games that season! He completed 30 of 41 starts that season, averaging 8.43 innings per start. The heavy workload wasn’t unusual for Carlton, who is ninth all-time in career innings pitched.
Tom Glavine
Position: Pitcher
Bats: Left • Throws: Left
6-0, 175lb (183cm, 79kg)
Born: March 25, 1966 (Age: 57-193d) in Concord, MA us
Draft: Drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 2nd round of the 1984 MLB June Amateur Draft from Billerica HS (Billerica, MA).
High School: Billerica HS (Billerica, MA)
Debut:
August 17, 1987
(Age 21-145d,
15,375th in major league history)
vs. HOU 3.2 IP, 10 H, 1 SO, 5 BB, 6 ER, L
Last Game:
August 14, 2008
(Age 42-142d)
vs. CHC 4.0 IP, 7 H, 3 SO, 4 BB, 7 ER, L
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 2014.
(Voted by BBWAA on 525/571 ballots)
View Tom Glavine’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1987 season
Agents: Gregg Clifton • Previously: Gregg Clifton
Full Name: Thomas Michael Glavine
Pronunciation: \GLA-vin\
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Relatives: Brother of Mike Glavine
Career
80.7
305
203
3.54
682
682
0
4413.1
2607
1.314
With six top-3 Cy Young finishes, and two wins, Glavine remained one of the National League’s top pitchers throughout his 22 year career. Only Greg Maddux threw more innings in the 1990s, and only Maddux, Clemens, and Randy Johnson had a lower ERA. Glavine’s 8-inning, 1-hit gem in game 6 of the 1995 World Series clinched the title for the Braves, and earned him the World Series MVP. In eight World Series starts he threw 58.1 innings with a 2.16 ERA, and a .909 WHIP.
Lefty Grove
Position: Pitcher
Bats: Left • Throws: Left
6-3, 190lb (190cm, 86kg)
Born: March 6, 1900 in Lonaconing, MD us
Died: May 22, 1975 (Aged 75-077d) in Norwalk, OH
Buried: Frostburg Memorial Park, Frostburg, MD
High School: Central HS (Lonaconing, MD)
Debut:
April 14, 1925
(Age 25-039d,
6,154th in major league history)
vs. BOS 3.2 IP, 6 H, 0 SO, 4 BB, 4 ER
Last Game:
September 28, 1941
(Age 41-206d)
vs. PHA 1.0 IP, 4 H, 0 SO, 0 BB, 3 ER, L
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1947.
(Voted by BBWAA on 123/161 ballots)
View Lefty Grove’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1925 season
Full Name: Robert Moses Grove
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Career
106.8
300
141
3.06
616
457
54
3940.2
2266
1.278
Of course a man named Lefty would lead all left-handers in career WAR. Lefty Grove is much more catchy than Robert Moses Grove. But whatever the name, leading the league in ERA nine seasons, and Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) eight seasons is among the greats. He led the league in strikeouts each of his first seven seasons, and ERA+ in nine seasons. He led the league in WAR for pitchers eight times, and won the 1931 MVP. In 1929 Grove led the AL in ERA, strikeouts, FIP, and games started, but didn’t start any of the five games of the World Series because the Cubs had eight right-handed hitters in their lineup. But over the next two World Series he pitched 45 innings with a 2.00 ERA.
Carl Hubbell
Position: Pitcher
Bats: Right • Throws: Left
6-0, 170lb (183cm, 77kg)
Born: June 22, 1903 in Carthage, MO us
Died: November 21, 1988 (Aged 85-152d) in Scottsdale, AZ
Buried: New Hope Cemetery, Meeker, OK
High School: Meeker HS (Meeker, OK)
Debut:
July 26, 1928
(Age 25-034d,
6,762nd in major league history)
vs. PIT 1.2 IP, 7 H, 1 SO, 0 BB, 2 ER, L
Last Game:
August 24, 1943
(Age 40-063d)
vs. CHC 0.0 IP, 2 H, 0 SO, 0 BB, 0 ER
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1947.
(Voted by BBWAA on 140/161 ballots)
View Carl Hubbell’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1928 season
Full Name: Carl Owen Hubbell
Nicknames: King Carl or Meal Ticket
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Career
68.5
253
154
2.98
535
433
33
3590.1
1677
1.166
One of my prized baseball cards as a kid commemorated Carl Hubbell’s feat of striking out five future Hall of Famers in a row – Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, Al Simmons, and Joe Cronin – in the 1934 All-Star game at the Polo Grounds. And while impressive, that might only be the second most-amazing game that he pitched. On July 2, 1933, Hubbell faced the St. Louis Cardinals and shut them out on six hits. Solid, but not impressive. What is impressive? He pitched eighteen innings! 18! Those feats alone may have justified his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1947, but when you add two MVP awards (1933, 1936), three ERA titles, and nine all-star selections, it’s no wonder he’s one of the greatest left-handed pitchers ever.
Tommy John
Position: Pitcher
Bats: Right • Throws: Left
6-3, 180lb (190cm, 81kg)
Born: May 22, 1943 (Age: 80-135d) in Terre Haute, IN us
High School: Gerstmeyer HS (Terre Haute, IN)
School: Indiana State University (Terre Haute, IN)
Debut:
September 6, 1963
(Age 20-107d,
12,154th in major league history)
vs. WSA 1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 SO, 0 BB, 0 ER
Last Game:
May 25, 1989
(Age 46-003d)
vs. CAL 5.1 IP, 6 H, 1 SO, 0 BB, 5 ER
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1964 season
Agents: Bob Cohen
Full Name: Thomas Edward John
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Career
61.6
288
231
3.34
760
700
3
4710.1
2245
1.283
His name is spoken so often in baseball that it can be easy to forget that Tommy John isn’t just a surgery, but an actual player. When he tore his ulnar collateral ligament in 1974, and then had surgery to replace it with a tendon from his other forearm, he changed baseball forever. John had pitched more than 2,000 innings with a 2.97 ERA by that point of his career. He missed all of 1975, but returned in 1976 and pitched 14 more seasons and 2,500 innings, finishing second in Cy Young voting in 1977 and 1979.
Randy Johnson
Position: Pitcher
Bats: Right • Throws: Left
6-10, 225lb (208cm, 102kg)
Born: September 10, 1963 (Age: 60-024d) in Walnut Creek, CA us
Draft: Drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 4th round of the 1982 MLB June Amateur Draft from Livermore HS (Livermore, CA) and the Montreal Expos in the 2nd round of the 1985 MLB June Amateur Draft from University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA).
High School: Livermore HS (Livermore, CA)
School: University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA)
Debut:
September 15, 1988
(Age 25-005d,
15,565th in major league history)
vs. PIT 5.0 IP, 6 H, 5 SO, 3 BB, 2 ER, W
Last Game:
October 4, 2009
(Age 46-024d)
vs. SDP 1.0 IP, 1 H, 2 SO, 0 BB, 0 ER
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 2015.
(Voted by BBWAA on 534/549 ballots)
View Randy Johnson’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1989 season
Agents: Alan Nero, Barry Meister
Full Name: Randall David Johnson
Nicknames: Big Unit
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Career
101.1
303
166
3.29
618
603
2
4135.1
4875
1.171
With more career strikeouts (4,875) than anyone but Nolan Ryan, more career WAR than anyone but Lefty Grove, and more Cy Young awards (5) than anyone but Roger Clemens, The Big Unit dominated hitters. He had more than 300 strikeouts in six different seasons, which is tied with Ryan for the most in baseball history. From 1995 through 2002, he averaged 12.3 strikeouts per nine innings with a 2.61 ERA, which has only been done for a single season twice since. His 37 shutouts since 1990 leads all pitchers. He somehow didn’t collect a Hall of Fame vote from fifteen writers in his first year of eligibility.
Clayton Kershaw
Position: Pitcher
Bats: Left • Throws: Left
6-4, 225lb (193cm, 102kg)
Team: Los Angeles Dodgers (majors)
Born: March 19, 1988 (Age: 35-199d) in Dallas, TX us
Draft: Drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1st round (7th) of the 2006 MLB June Amateur Draft from Highland Park HS (Dallas, TX).
High School: Highland Park HS (Dallas, TX)
Debut:
May 25, 2008
(Age 20-067d,
19,321st in major league history)
vs. STL 6.0 IP, 5 H, 7 SO, 1 BB, 2 ER
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 2008 season
2023 Contract Status: Signed thru 2023, 1 yr/$20M (23)
Service Time (01/2023): 14.105 • Free Agent: 2024
Agents: Excel Sports Management
National Team: us USA (18U)
Full Name: Clayton Edward Kershaw
Nicknames: The Claw, Kid K, The Minotaur or Kersh
Instagram: @claytonkershaw
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
2023
Career
3.7
79.9
13
210
5
92
2.46
2.48
24
425
24
422
0
0
131.2
2712.2
137
2944
1.063
1.004
It’s rare to have an active player on these greatest player lists, but there’s no doubt that Kershaw belongs. His 2.48 ERA is the lowest career ERA for any pitcher with at least 2,000 innings pitched since Walter Johnson, who started pitching in 1907. Although Kershaw won the last of his 3 Cy Young awards in 2014 – when he also won the MVP – his career ERA since 2014 is the exact same as it was up to 2014: 2.48. A ten-time all-star, with seven top-5 Cy Young award finishes, Kershaw is a no doubt first-ballot Hall of Famer and should reach 3,000 strikeouts in 2024.
Eddie Plank
Position: Pitcher
Bats: Left • Throws: Left
5-11, 175lb (180cm, 79kg)
Born: August 31, 1875 in Gettysburg, PA us
Died: February 24, 1926 (Aged 50-177d) in Gettysburg, PA
Buried: Evergreen Cemetery, Gettysburg, PA
High School: Gettysburg Academy (Gettysburg, PA)
School: Gettysburg College (Gettysburg, PA)
Debut:
May 13, 1901
(Age 25-255d,
2,272nd in major league history)
vs. BLA 2.0 IP, 3 H, 1 SO, 2 BB, 3 ER
Last Game:
August 6, 1917
(Age 41-340d)
vs. WSH 10.1 IP, 5 H, 3 SO, 3 BB, 1 ER, L
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1946.
(Voted by Old Timers Committee)
Induction ceremony in Cooperstown held in 1947.
View Eddie Plank’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1901 season
Full Name: Edward Stewart Plank
Nicknames: Gettysburg Eddie
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Career
90.8
326
194
2.35
623
529
23
4495.2
2246
1.119
Eddie Plank doesn’t have a lot of black ink indicating that he led the league in specific years, but he does have 17 years of being a very solid pitcher. His ERA in his first two years was 3.31 and 3.30 and then he pitched 15 more seasons without his ERA ever finishing higher than 2.87. His 69 career shutouts is good for fifth on the all-time list. He had a 1.32 ERA in 54.2 innings pitched over four different World Series.
CC Sabathia
Position: Pitcher
Bats: Left • Throws: Left
6-6, 300lb (198cm, 136kg)
Born: July 21, 1980 (Age: 43-075d) in Vallejo, CA us
Draft: Drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 1st round (20th) of the 1998 MLB June Amateur Draft from Vallejo HS (Vallejo, CA).
High School: Vallejo HS (Vallejo, CA)
Debut:
April 8, 2001
(Age 20-261d,
17,832nd in major league history)
vs. BAL 5.2 IP, 3 H, 3 SO, 2 BB, 3 ER
Last Game:
September 24, 2019
(Age 39-065d)
vs. TBR 1.0 IP, 0 H, 2 SO, 0 BB, 0 ER
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 2001 season
Agents: Roc Nation Sports • Previously: Greg Genske, Scott Parker
Full Name: Carsten Charles Sabathia
Nicknames: Dub
Pronunciation: \Sah-BATH-ee-ah\
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
Career
62.3
251
161
3.74
561
560
0
3577.1
3093
1.259
A reliable workhorse for two decades, only Roy Halladay has more seasons (6) with 230 innings pitched in the 21st century than CC Sabathia (5). The 2007 AL Cy Young award winner, Sabathia was traded to the Brewers at the 2008 trade deadline and dominated the National League in 17 starts with 3 shutouts, 7 complete games, and a 1.65 ERA. Sabathia finished in the top 5 in Cy Young voting 5 times, and led the AL in wins in 2009 and 2010 after signing a large free-agent contract with the Yankees.
Warren Spahn
Position: Pitcher
Bats: Left • Throws: Left
6-0, 172lb (183cm, 78kg)
Born: April 23, 1921 in Buffalo, NY us
Died: November 24, 2003 (Aged 82-215d) in Broken Arrow, OK
Buried: Elmwood Cemetery, Hartshorne, OK
High School: South Park HS (Buffalo, NY)
Debut:
April 19, 1942
(Age 20-361d,
9,237th in major league history)
vs. NYG 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 SO, 0 BB, 0 ER
Last Game:
October 1, 1965
(Age 44-161d)
vs. CIN 0.1 IP, 1 H, 0 SO, 1 BB, 0 ER
Hall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1973.
(Voted by BBWAA on 316/380 ballots)
View Warren Spahn’s Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos).
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 1946 season
Full Name: Warren Edward Spahn
View Player Info from the B-R Bullpen
View Player Bio from the SABR BioProject
Career
100.0
363
245
3.09
750
665
28
5243.2
2583
1.195
Spahn had more wins and innings pitched than any lefty in baseball history. After missing his age 22, 23, and 24 seasons to serve in the Army during World War II, Spahn made a quick impact on the league. In just his second full season (1947), he led the National League in ERA (2.33), innings pitched (289.2), WHIP (1.136) and ERA+ (170). He finished 1st, 2nd, or 3rd in five of the first six seasons that the Cy Young Award existed, winning it in 1957. Never a strikeout pitcher, he averaged just 4.4 strikeouts per 9 innings.
Lefty Grove leads all left-handed pitchers in career WAR with 113.3. Randy Johnson is second with 103.5, and also has more strikeouts than any left-hander with 4,875. Warren Spahn leads all left-handers in innings pitched with 5243.2. Clayton Kershaw leads with a 157 ERA+ and 1.004 WHIP.
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