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| Photo Credit: SABR |
By Zane Miller
Quick disclaimer here, most of the stats mentioned are approximations since some pitchers changed numbers multiple times mid-season (especially in the older days), so it's next to impossible to determine exactly what number they were wearing for which game in situations like that. With that said, enjoy the list!
0- Marcus Stroman (Mets, Cubs, Yankees)
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| Photo Credit: New York Daily News |
Stroman has used the #0 since the 2021 season, claiming 16 wins for the Chicago Cubs, 13 for the New York Yankees and 10 as a member of the New York Mets while using the number.
25-win
seasons: 0
World
Series titles: 1
MVP awards:
0
Last won
CYA: N/A
1- MacKenzie Gore (Padres, Nationals)
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| Photo Credit: USA Today |
Gore has nabbed a total of 26 wins in his time with the San Diego Padres and Washington Nationals, getting four with the former and 22 with the latter thus far.
25-win
seasons: 0
World
Series titles: 0
MVP
awards: 0
Last won
CYA: N/A
4-
Blake Snell (Rays, Padres)
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| Photo Credit: Getty Images |
The man known as "Snellzilla" earned plenty of accolades to justify his nickname during his tenure of wearing the number 4 jersey. From 2016 to 2023, Snell secured 42 wins for the Tampa Bay Rays and 29 victories as a San Diego Padre for 71 wins in total. This culminated in a pair of Cy Young Awards for the Seattle native, winning the honor first for the Rays in 2018 and then with the Padres in 2023. His 2018 effort saw him lead MLB in wins with 21 while posting a fabulous 1.89 ERA over 180 innings, while his 2023 season produced an impressive 2.25 ERA with 14 wins in 180 innings pitched.
25-win
seasons: 0
World
Series titles: 0
MVP
awards: 0
Last won
CYA: 2023 season (Blake Snell)
6- Alek
Manoah (Blue Jays)
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| Photo Credit: Getty Images |
Manoah has claimed 29 victories during his time using the #6 jersey for the Toronto Blue Jays, with his standout campaign coming in 2022 as he won 16 games with an ERA of 2.24 over 196 innings pitched, being named a finalist for the AL Cy Young Award. However, other than that season, Manoah has had a troublesome career at the MLB level, with multiple injuries and poor play leading to him being waived by Toronto near the end of the 2025 season.
25-win
seasons: 0
World
Series titles: 0
MVP
awards: 0
Last won
CYA: N/A
7-
Julio Urias (Dodgers)
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| Photo Credit: Arturo Pardavila III - Wikipedia |
Urias has captured a total of 60 wins in his MLB career in the #7 jersey, spent entirely with the Los Angeles Dodgers. In the 2020 World Series, Urias got the start in game four as the Dodgers got their first championship in 32 years. He followed this up with an excellent 2021 season, winning exactly 20 games with an ERA of 2.96 in 185 innings. However, near the end of the 2023 season, he was arrested on domestic battery charges, which he eventually pled no contest to. While Urias was suspended by MLB for the first half of the 2025 season, he has not appeared in any pro league since 2023.
25-win
seasons: 0
World
Series titles: 2
MVP
awards: 0
Last won
CYA: N/A
10- Lefty
Grove (Athletics, Red Sox)
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| Photo Credit: Chicago Tribune |
After already having played several strong seasons for the Philadelphia Athletics, Grove took the #10 jersey as the team began using uniform numbers for the 1931 season. He would see immediate success while wearing the number, winning 31 games in '31 with a sparkling 2.06 ERA in 288 innings pitched. Not only that, he picked up 25 wins in 1932, going 291 innings with an ERA of 2.84. After being credited with 80 wins from 1931 to 1933, Grove ended up taking the #10 with him to the Boston Red Sox in 1934, where he added a further 105 victories before his retirement after the 1941 season.
World Series titles: 3
MVP awards: 1
Last won CYA: N/A
11- Lefty
Gomez (Yankees)
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| Photo Credit: soxphotos - Wikipedia |
Yet another 'Lefty' makes an appearance on this list, with Lefty Gomez scoring 166 victories while wearing the #11 with the New York Yankees from 1932 to 1942. He had his best season in 1934, winning 26 games while also leading the AL in ERA with 2.33 and innings pitched at 281, being named an MVP finalist in the process.
World Series titles: 10
MVP awards: 2
Last won CYA: N/A
Retired by: San Francisco Giants (Carl Hubbell)
12-
Mark Langston (Mariners, Expos, Angels)
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| Photo Credit: Los Angeles Times |
Langston collected a total of 174 wins while using the #12 from 1984 to 1997, getting 88 with the California Angels, 74 as a member of the Seattle Mariners and 12 with the Montreal Expos.
25-win
seasons: 1
World
Series titles: 3
MVP
awards: 0
Last won
CYA: N/A
13-
Mort Cooper (Cardinals, Braves, Giants)
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| Photo Credit: Find a Grave |
Arguably the most dominant starting pitcher in MLB as the league pushed through World War II, Cooper grabbed 103 wins with the #13 jersey from 1941 to 1947, 80 of which came with the St. Louis Cardinals, 22 with the Boston Braves and one as a member of the New York Giants. He was the game one starter for the Cardinals in the 1942 World Series, while also getting the ball in game four as the team won it in five games. Cooper also started games one and five in the 1944 World Series, which the Cardinals also took for his second championship ring. His 22-win season in 1942 with 10 complete game shutouts and a microscopic 1.78 ERA over 278 innings enabled him to take home the NL MVP award.
25-win
seasons: 0
World
Series titles: 4
MVP
awards: 1
Last won
CYA: N/A
14- Jim
Bunning (Tigers, Phillies, Pirates)
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| Photo Credit: Getty Images |
Born and raised in Cincinnati (though he unfortunately never ended up playing for the Reds), Bunning captured 218 wins while using the #14 jersey throughout his MLB career from 1956 to 1971. 118 of those came with the Detroit Tigers, 89 while on the Philadelphia Phillies and, fittingly, 14 were added as a Pittsburgh Pirate. Although he wasn't quite able to win a Cy Young Award, he did have a 20-win season in 1957 with Detroit, getting a 2.69 ERA in 267 innings along the way.
25-win
seasons: 1
World
Series titles: 6
MVP
awards: 0
Last won
CYA: 2012 season (David Price)
Retired by: Philadelphia Phillies (Jim Bunning)
15- Red
Ruffing (Yankees)
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| Photo Credit: New York Daily News |
Ruffing used the number 15 exclusively with the New York Yankees from 1932 to 1942, claiming 188 victories during that span. This timeframe also coincided with incredible team success for the Yankees franchise, beginning right away in the 1932 World Series as Ruffing was named the game one starter. New York went on to earn the series sweep, giving Ruffing his first of six World Series titles. He went on to become a staple World Series game one starter for the rest of his Yankees tenure, doing so in 1936, 1938, 1939, 1941 and 1942. His six World Series championships as a starting pitcher remains tied for the MLB record, shared with fellow Yankee greats Allie Reynolds and Whitey Ford. Speaking of which...
25-win
seasons: 1
World
Series titles: 8
MVP
awards: 0
Last won
CYA: N/A
16-
Whitey Ford (Yankees)
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| Photo Credit: Getty Images |
Nicknamed "The Chairman of the Board", Ford nailed down 227 wins while wearing the number 16 in a legendary career spent entirely with the New York Yankees from 1953 to 1967. While he previously had a World Series win in 1950 during his brief time wearing #19, Ford was also a starter for the Yankees' championships in 1953, 1956, 1958, 1961 and 1962, while taking the game one starting spot in four of those World Series matchups. Not only did he get World Series MVP honors in 1961, this season also saw him take home the AL Cy Young Award with 25 wins, 283 innings pitched and a solid 3.21 ERA.
25-win
seasons: 4
World
Series titles: 15
MVP
awards: 2
Last won
CYA: 1988 season (Frank Viola)
Retired by: Chicago White Sox (Ted Lyons), Detroit Tigers (Hal Newhouser), New York Mets (Dwight Gooden), New York Yankees (Whitey Ford)
17- Vic
Raschi (Yankees, Cardinals)
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| Photo Credit: National Baseball Hall of Fame |
Raschi claimed 126 wins with the #17 jersey from 1947 to 1955, getting 118 victories as a New York Yankee and eight with the St. Louis Cardinals. An unsung hero of the Yankees dominance during the early 1950's, Raschi started in each of the team's five consecutive World Series triumphs from 1949 to 1953, including a game one start in 1950.
25-win
seasons: 4
World
Series titles: 16
MVP
awards: 5
Last won
CYA: 2006 season (Brandon Webb)
Retired by: St. Louis Cardinals (Dizzy Dean)
18- Matt
Cain (Giants)
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| Photo Credit: Getty Images |
Perhaps best known for his perfect game in 2012, Cain had a splendid career overall while wearing the #18 for the San Francisco Giants from 2006 to 2017. He collected 102 victories for San Fran during this span, though he saved his best for the postseason with World Series titles as a starter in 2010 and 2012. The 2010 run was particularly eye-popping as he did not allow a single earned run throughout the entire postseason, while going 21 and two-thirds innings.
25-win
seasons: 0
World
Series titles: 11
MVP
awards: 0
Last won
CYA: 1989 season (Bret Saberhagen)
Retired by: Cleveland Guardians (Mel Harder)
19- Bob
Feller (Indians)
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| Photo Credit: Galesburg Register-Mail |
One of the hardest-throwing pitchers of all time, Feller picked up the #19 jersey for the Cleveland Indians in 1939 and never looked back, using it until his 1956 retirement. Playing his whole career in Cleveland, Feller nabbed 235 victories with the prime number on his back, including three seasons with 25 or more victories in 1940, 1941 and 1946. That 1940 season saw him earn a career-high 27 wins, while posting a league-leading 320 innings pitched and an AL-best 2.61 ERA. Feller would achieve postseason success as well, winning the World Series in 1948 as the game one and game five starter.
25-win
seasons: 3
World
Series titles: 12
MVP
awards: 0
Last won
CYA: N/A
Retired by: Chicago White Sox (Billy Pierce), Cleveland Guardians (Bob Feller)
20- Don
Sutton (Dodgers, Astros, Brewers, Angels)
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| Photo Credit: Getty Images |
The man known as "The Mechanic" built an outstanding career wearing the number 20 uniform throughout much of his 23 years in MLB, collecting 309 wins along the way. The vast majority of those victories came as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers with 233, later tacking on 24 more as a Houston Astro and 26 wins each with the Milwaukee Brewers and California Angels. Despite making it to the World Series four times during his career, he left empty-handed on each occasion. Regardless, he would claim a 21-win 1976 campaign, taking a 3.06 ERA in 267 innings in the process.
25-win
seasons: 0
World
Series titles: 7
MVP
awards: 0
Last won
CYA: N/A
Retired by: Los Angeles Dodgers (Don Sutton)
21- Warren
Spahn (Braves, Mets, Giants)
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| Photo Credit: National Baseball Hall of Fame |
One of the greatest lefty pitchers in MLB history, Spahn dominated on the mound while using the #21 jersey for nearly all of his 20-plus year career. Of his 363 career wins, 356 came with the Boston/Milwaukee Braves franchise, with four wins as a New York Met and three as a San Francisco Giant added in for good measure. Spahn earned a World Series title with the Milwaukee Braves in 1957, starting games one and four as the team outlasted the Yankees in seven games. Coincidentally, this was also the same year in which Spahn took home NL Cy Young honors after winning 21 games to the tune of a 2.69 ERA over 271 innings.
25-win
seasons: 0
World
Series titles: 11
MVP
awards: 2
Last won
CYA: 1998 season (Roger Clemens)
Retired by: Atlanta Braves (Warren Spahn), Cleveland Guardians (Bob Lemon)
22- Jim
Palmer (Orioles)
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| Public domain photo |
While a few pitchers make a strong case as the best to wear the #22, for me I have to go with 1970's great Jim Palmer. Spending his entire career with both the 22 jersey and the Baltimore Orioles, Palmer nabbed 268 victories from 1965 to 1983, including a career-best season in 1975 in which he had 23 wins, 10 complete game shutouts and a 2.09 ERA in 323 innings for one of three career AL Cy Young Awards. More importantly, Palmer helped the Orioles to World Series titles in 1966, 1970 (as game one starter) and 1983, accounting for all of the Orioles' championships to date.
25-win
seasons: 0
World
Series titles: 26
MVP
awards: 1
Last won
CYA: 2022 season (Sandy Alcantara)
Retired by: Baltimore Orioles (Jim Palmer)
23- Claude
Osteen (Dodgers)
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| Photo Credit: Getty Images |
Osteen didn't start wearing the #23 until joining the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1965, but made it count nonetheless as he picked up 147 wins before changing teams and, consequently, uniform numbers after the 1973 season. As it turned out, 1965 was a great year to join the Dodgers as the team won the World Series, with Osteen starting games three and six. In 1969, the Cincinnati area native collected his first of two 20-win seasons, going 321 innings with a 2.66 ERA.
25-win
seasons: 0
World
Series titles: 6
MVP
awards: 0
Last won
CYA: 2009 season (Zack Greinke)
24- Early
Wynn (Indians, White Sox)
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| Photo Credit: Hucklebuck4 - eBay |
Wynn wore the number 24 throughout his time with the Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox, nabbing 163 wins as an Indian and 64 with the White Sox for 227 in total. While he won his AL Cy Young Award in 1959, I'd argue that his best season came with Cleveland in 1954, going 270 innings for 23 wins and a 2.73 ERA.
25-win
seasons: 0
World
Series titles: 2
MVP
awards: 0
Last won
CYA: 1959 season (Early Wynn)
25- Tommy
John (White Sox, Dodgers, Yankees, Angels, Athletics)
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| Photo Credit: Getty Images |
While best known for the form of elbow surgery which both bears his name and saved his pitching career, John also carried the #25 jersey across multiple teams during his time in MLB. Of his 282 wins with the number, 91 occurred as a New York Yankee, 87 with the Los Angeles Dodgers, 82 with the Chicago White Sox, 20 as a member of the California Angels and two for the Oakland Athletics. While he came up just short of a Cy Young Award on a couple occasions, he would reach the 20-win mark three times during his career.
25-win
seasons: 0
World
Series titles: 3
MVP
awards: 0
Last won
CYA: N/A
26- Orlando
Hernandez (Yankees, White Sox, Diamondbacks, Mets)
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| Photo Credit: Sports Illustrated |
Although he didn't play in the Bronx for very long, Hernandez certainly maximized his opportunity with the Yankees. Wearing the #26 for his entire career, Hernandez was a starter for the Yankees' three consecutive World Series championships from 1998 to 2000, including 1999 where he was the starting pitcher for game one. In regular season play, Hernandez registered 61 wins for the Yankees, 18 for the New York Mets, nine with the Chicago White Sox and two for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
25-win
seasons: 0
World
Series titles: 5
MVP
awards: 0
Last won
CYA: N/A
27- Catfish
Hunter (Athletics)
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| Photo Credit: San Francisco Chronicle |
An all-time great name with an all-time great pitching career, Hunter scored 161 wins while using #27 for the entirety of his time with the Kansas City/Oakland Athletics. This came along with three straight World Series titles from 1972 to 1974, with the 1974 season also seeing Hunter earn a 25-win season while posting an AL-leading 2.49 ERA. Coupled with his 318 innings pitched, it's no wonder why Hunter caught himself Cy Young honors that year.
25-win
seasons: 2
World
Series titles: 9
MVP
awards: 0
Last won
CYA: 2020 season (Trevor Bauer)
Retired by: Sacramento Athletics (Catfish Hunter), San Francisco Giants (Juan Marichal)
28- Bert
Blyleven (Twins, Rangers, Indians, Angels)
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| Photo Credit: SABR |
Wearing the #28 from 1970 to 1977, before picking it back up from 1981 to 1992, Blyleven earned 253 victories with the jersey. The lion's share of wins went to the Minnesota Twins with 149, though he also added 48 victories as a Cleveland Indian, 33 with the California Angels and 23 with the Texas Rangers. He was able to capture a 20-win season early in his career, doing so in 1973 with 325 innings pitched an a 2.52 ERA for Minnesota. He would also get a World Series ring with the number in the 1987 postseason during his second stint with the Twins, starting games two and five.
25-win
seasons: 0
World
Series titles: 8
MVP
awards: 0
Last won
CYA: 2017 season (Corey Kluber)
Retired by: Minnesota Twins (Bert Blyleven)
29- John
Smoltz (Braves, Red Sox)
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| Photo Credit: Fox News |
Smoltz wore the number 29 for all but one win of his fantastic career from 1988 to 2009, getting 210 wins for the Atlanta Braves and an extra two wins for the Boston Red Sox. In 1996, Smoltz narrowly missed out on being the most recent starting pitcher to reach 25 wins in a season, instead settling for 24 victories and a Cy Young Award with an ERA of 2.94 over an NL-best 253 innings pitched. This came on the heels of the Braves' World Series victory in 1995, with Smoltz getting the ball in game three as part of arguably the most lethal pitching rotation in recent memory.
25-win
seasons: 1
World
Series titles: 6
MVP
awards: 0
Last won
CYA: 2025 season (Tarik Skubal)
Retired by: Atlanta Braves (John Smoltz)
30- Ken
Holtzman (Cubs, Athletics, Orioles)
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| Photo Credit: Jewish Baseball Museum |
Holtzman used the #30 jersey from 1965 to 1976, before returning to it just before his 1979 retirement. In the process, Holtzman picked up 162 wins, 80 coming with the Chicago Cubs, 77 as a member of the Oakland Athletics and five with the Baltimore Orioles. However, his stint with Oakland was the most memorable of the three as he secured three World Series titles during the team's dominant stretch from 1972-74, starting game one for all three championship bouts. This run also overlapped with his best regular season showing in 1973, as he won 21 games with a 2.97 ERA over 297 innings pitched.
25-win
seasons: 0
World
Series titles: 15
MVP
awards: 1
Last won
CYA: 2025 season (Paul Skenes)
Retired by: Los Angeles Angels (Nolan Ryan)
31- Greg
Maddux (Cubs, Braves)
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| Photo Credit: MLB |
Another significant part of the brilliant 1990's Braves pitching staff, Maddux grabbed 327 wins with the #31 from 1986 to 2006. The Braves were his team for 194 wins, while his Chicago Cubs tenure contributed a further 133 victories. He had a 20-win season for each team, doing so with Chicago in 1992 and Atlanta the next year. However, only his time with the Braves would bear a World Series ring, starting games one and five as the team went on to get their first championship in 38 years.
25-win
seasons: 2
World
Series titles: 17
MVP
awards: 1
Last won
CYA: 2017 season (Max Scherzer)
Retired by: Atlanta Braves (Greg Maddux), Chicago Cubs (Greg Maddux & Fergie Jenkins)
32- Sandy
Koufax (Dodgers)
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| Photo Credit: Getty Images |
Who else was it going to be? Koufax wore the #32 jersey for his whole career while never leaving the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers organization, winning 165 games from 1955 to his retirement after the 1966 season, which included a perfect game in 1965. He also took home World Series titles with the team in 1959, 1963 (as game one starter) and 1965, being named as the series MVP in the latter two. Not only that, Koufax also scored three seasons of at least 25 wins during his career, with his 1963 campaign seeing him get 25 wins exactly, 11 complete game shutouts and an ERA of 1.88 in 311 innings to earn league MVP honors. However, I'd venture to say his send-off season of 1966 was even more impressive, going 323 innings with a 1.73 ERA and 27 victories to capture third NL Cy Young Award.
25-win
seasons: 5
World
Series titles: 15
MVP
awards: 1
Last won
CYA: 2003 season (Roy Halladay)
Retired by: Los Angeles Dodgers (Sandy Koufax), Philadelphia Phillies (Steve Carlton), Toronto Blue Jays (Roy Halladay)
33- Lew
Burdette (Braves, Cardinals, Cubs)
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| Photo Credit: Bleacher Report |
Burdette had a brilliant yet underrated career using the #33 for the Milwaukee Braves, getting 179 wins with the organization before adding a further nine wins with the number for the Chicago Cubs and four for the St. Louis Cardinals. While the regular season success was great, Burdette absolutely dominated in the 1957 World Series, nailing down complete game shutouts in games five and seven for the Braves' only championship in the Cream City.
25-win
seasons: 1
World
Series titles: 3
MVP
awards: 0
Last won
CYA: 1986 season (Mike Scott)
Retired by: Houston Astros (Mike Scott)
34- Nolan
Ryan (Mets, Astros, Rangers)
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| Photo Credit: Getty Images |
The embodiment of longevity, Ryan had countless incredible seasons wearing the #34 jersey throughout the second half of his career. Briefly using the number during his 1966 debut, Ryan dusted it back off in 1980 and kept it with him until his 1993 retirement. The all-time strikeout leader earned a total of 157 wins during this time, 106 with the Houston Astros and 51 with the Texas Rangers. Although he surprisingly never took home a Cy Young Award, Ryan still had an impressive achievement with the #34 in 1989, posting 301 strikeouts for the Rangers.
25-win
seasons: 0
World
Series titles: 12
MVP
awards: 0
Last won
CYA: 2010 season (Felix Hernandez)
Retired by: Houston Astros (Nolan Ryan), Los Angeles Dodgers (Fernando Valenzuela), Philadelphia Phillies (Roy Halladay), Sacramento Athletics (Dave Stewart), Texas Rangers (Nolan Ryan)
35- Justin
Verlander (Tigers, Astros, Mets, Giants)
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| Photo Credit: Jeffrey Hays - Wikipedia |
Using the #35 for all of his 266 career wins, Verlander did the most regular season damage as a member of the Detroit Tigers, taking 183 wins. He has also added 73 triumphs for the Houston Astros, six for the New York Mets and four with the San Francisco Giants. This included a 24-win effort for the Tigers in 2011, earning the AL MVP on the strength of a 2.40 ERA and 251 innings pitched. Regarding the postseason, Verlander was a key piece of the Astros' World Series titles in both 2017 and 2022, getting the ball as game one starter in the latter season.
25-win
seasons: 1
World
Series titles: 12
MVP
awards: 2
Last won
CYA: 2022 season (Justin Verlander)
Retired by: Atlanta Braves (Phil Niekro), San Diego Padres (Randy Jones)
36- Gaylord
Perry (Giants, Indians, Rangers, Padres, Yankees, Braves, Mariners, Royals)
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| Photo Credit: National Baseball Hall of Fame |
Perry established himself as an exceptional journeyman pitcher over the course of his career, yet more often than not he was still able to hold onto his familiar #36 jersey. Perry claimed 131 wins for the number with the San Francisco Giants, 70 as a Cleveland Indian, 48 for the Texas Rangers, 33 as a member of the San Diego Padres, 13 with the Seattle Mariners, eight with the Atlanta Braves and four apiece for the New York Yankees and Kansas City Royals. Adding up to 311 victories in total, he posted his finest season in 1972 with the Indians, pitching an arthritis-inducing 342 innings with a 1.92 ERA and 24 victories on the year. However, Perry would appear in the playoffs only once during his MLB career.
25-win
seasons: 3
World
Series titles: 10
MVP
awards: 1
Last won
CYA: 1978 season (Gaylord Perry)
Retired by: Minnesota Twins (Jim Kaat), New York Mets (Jerry Koosman), Philadelphia Phillies (Robin Roberts), San Francisco Giants (Gaylord Perry)
37- Dave
Stieb (Blue Jays)
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| Photo Credit: Robert Taylor - Wikipedia |
The Toronto Blue Jays great secured 175 wins for Canada's team, all of which utilizing the #37 jersey from 1979 to 1992 and tacking on a final win in 1998 following his brief unretirement.
25-win
seasons: 0
World
Series titles: 5
MVP
awards: 0
Last won
CYA: 2013 season (Max Scherzer)
38- Curt
Schilling (Phillies, Diamondbacks, Red Sox)
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| Photo Credit: Getty Images |
Schilling began using the #38 jersey with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1992 and never looked back, keeping it to the end of his career in 2007. 101 of his 212 wins with the number came with the Phillies, as the 58 wins as an Arizona Diamondback and 53 with the Boston Red Sox make up the remaining sum. However, his greatest strength was in the postseason, starting by helping the Diamondbacks to their first and only championship to date in 2001, claiming World Series MVP as the game one starter as well. He followed that up with the Red Sox in 2004, playing a large role in breaking the franchise's 86-year long championship drought and winning another with the team in 2007 to close out his career.
World
Series titles: 8
MVP
awards: 0
Last won
CYA: 2021 season (Robbie Ray)
39- Mike
Witt (Angels, Yankees)
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| Photo Credit: MLB |
Witt carried the #39 for the California Angels throughout the 1980s, gathering 109 victories and a perfect game in 1984 before leaving to join the New York Yankees early in the 1990 season. After a couple seasons of experimenting with different numbers, Witt returned to his familiar 39 in 1993, grabbing three more wins as a Yank before announcing his retirement.
25-win
seasons: 0
World
Series titles: 5
MVP
awards: 0
Last won
CYA: 2021 season (Corbin Burnes)
40- Madison
Bumgarner (Giants, Diamondbacks)
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| Photo Credit: Arturo Pardavila III - Wikipedia |
"MadBum" takes the top spot of the #40 brigade, using the number for 119 wins with the San Francisco Giants from 2010 to 2019 and 15 wins with the Arizona Diamondbacks from 2020 to 2022, taking 134 altogether. Bumgarner wasted no time in getting his first World Series ring, winning it all with the Giants in 2010 before following it up with another San Francisco title in 2012. He was finally named a game one starter for the Giants in the 2014 World Series, though his best outing came in game five with a complete game shutout as the team went on to claim their third championship in five years with Bumgarner taking the series MVP.
25-win
seasons: 0
World
Series titles: 7
MVP
awards: 0
Last won
CYA: 2005 season (Bartolo Colon)
Retired by: Houston Astros (Don Wilson)
41- Tom
Seaver (Mets, Reds, White Sox, Red Sox)
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| Photo Credit: ShelleyS - Wikipedia |
Seaver made sure to live up to his "Tom Terrific" nickname for the entirety of his 20-year long MLB career, all of which featured the #41 on his back. Seaver posted 198 victories for the New York Mets from 1967 to 1977 (with a lone return season with the team in 1983), 75 wins as a Cincinnati Red from 1977 to 1982, 33 triumphs with the Chicago White Sox from 1984-86 and five wins for the Boston Red Sox to close out what would be his final year in '86 with 311 in total. Out of his three Cy Young Award seasons, Seaver made his biggest mark in 1969, winning 25 games to the tune of a 2.21 ERA over 273 innings pitched. That same season, he would lead the "Miracle Mets" to one of the most improbable championships in the history of pro sports, taking the mound in games one and four of the World Series as they went on to lift the Commissioner's Trophy despite having had nothing but losing seasons in each of their seven seasons prior.
25-win
seasons: 1
World
Series titles: 11
MVP
awards: 0
Last won
CYA: 1996 season (Pat Hentgen)
Retired by: New York Mets (Tom Seaver)
42- Rick
Mahler (Braves, Reds, Expos)
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| Photo Credit: Getty Images |
With the #42 being retired league-wide since 1997 in honor of second baseman Jackie Robinson, Mahler's spot on this list as the best starting pitcher to wear the #42 is essentially cemented. Mahler picked up 79 wins with the number as an Atlanta Brave from 1981 to 1988, with an additional win added on in 1991, as well as getting 16 wins for the Cincinnati Reds in 1989 & 1990 and one more win for the Montreal Expos early in 1991 for 96 victories in total.
25-win
seasons: 0
World
Series titles: 0
MVP
awards: 0
Last won
CYA: N/A
43- Dennis
Eckersley (Red Sox, Cubs)
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| Photo Credit: SABR |
World
Series titles: 5
MVP
awards: 0
Last won
CYA: 2012 season (RA Dickey)
44- Jake
Peavy (Padres, White Sox, Red Sox)
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| Photo Credit: Jim Epler - Wikipedia |
Peavy secured a total of 133 victories while wearing the #44 jersey, winning 92 games for the San Diego Padres from 2002 to 2009, 36 as a member of the Chicago White Sox from 2010-13 and five with the Boston Red Sox in part of 2013 and 2014. While he had an anomalous 2007 season which saw him win a Cy Young Award despite never being inside the top-10 in voting in any other season before or after, his biggest moments came towards the end of his career. In the 2013 World Series with the Red Sox, Peavy earned his first ring after starting game three.
25-win
seasons: 0
World
Series titles: 3
MVP
awards: 0
Last won
CYA: 2007 season (Jake Peavy)
45- Bob
Gibson (Cardinals)
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| Photo Credit: Sports Illustrated |
The late, great Bob Gibson carried the #45 for all but three of his 251 career wins, playing all 17 seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals. After enjoying relatively modest success throughout the 1960s as the Cardinals' ace, Gibson exploded in 1968 for arguably the most impressive single-season performance by a starting pitcher. Going 304 innings, Gibson posted 13 complete game shutouts, 22 wins and an astounding 1.12 ERA, the lowest of any full season starter in the World Series era. Speaking of the World Series, Gibson won two of those in 1964 and 1967, the latter as a game one starter, though both saw him win World Series MVP.
25-win
seasons: 0
World
Series titles: 8
MVP
awards: 1
Last won
CYA: 2023 season (Gerrit Cole)
Retired by: Boston Red Sox (Pedro Martinez), St. Louis Cardinals (Bob Gibson)
46- Andy
Pettitte (Yankees)
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| Photo Credit: kidsire - Wikipedia |
Pettitte burst onto the scene with the #46 jersey in 1995 and remained a force to be reckoned with throughout his New York Yankees career, winning 256 games with the number. Although Pettitte never took home a Cy Young Award, he still had a pair of 20-win seasons in 1996 and 2003 to show for his efforts. Not to mention his five World Series rings, as he was the game one starter for the Yankees in 1998 and 2000 while also adding titles in 1996, 1999 and 2009.
25-win
seasons: 0
World
Series titles: 10
MVP
awards: 0
Last won
CYA: 1979 season (Mike Flanagan)
Retired by: New York Yankees (Andy Pettitte)
47- Jack
Morris (Tigers, Twins, Blue Jays, Indians)
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| Photo Credit: National Baseball Hall of Fame |
As a Braves fan, it hurts to admit that Morris just barely has the edge over Tom Glavine in the battle for the best of the #47s. Known for reliably going deep into ballgames and even refusing to leave the mound, Morris collected 198 wins for the Detroit Tigers, 28 as a Toronto Blue Jay, 18 for the Minnesota Twins and 10 for the Cleveland Indians for 254 in total, all of which took place with the #47. Morris also claimed three 20-win seasons, but his postseason prowess was what likely pushed him over the edge into Hall of Fame status. After earning his first World Series title with the Tigers in 1984 after getting the game one start, he was again named a game one starter for the Twins in their 1991 World Series run. This time, however, Morris outdid himself in game seven with a 10-inning complete game shutout to win both his second ring and World Series MVP. He would also take a third title in 1992 with the Blue Jays, yet again taking the game one start.
25-win
seasons: 0
World
Series titles: 7
MVP
awards: 0
Last won
CYA: 1998 season (Tom Glavine)
Retired by: Atlanta Braves (Tom Glavine), Detroit Tigers (Jack Morris)
48- Rick
Reuschel (Cubs, Yankees, Pirates, Giants)
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| Photo Credit: Public domain photo |
Reuschel grabbed 209 wins during his time in the #48 jersey, getting 134 with the Chicago Cubs from 1972 to 1981 (then a brief stint in 1984), 44 as a San Francisco Giant, 31 with the Pittsburgh Pirates and four for the New York Yankees. He also managed a 20-win performance in 1977, pitching 252 innings with a 2.79 ERA.
25-win
seasons: 0
World
Series titles: 2
MVP
awards: 0
Last won
CYA: 2019 season (Jacob deGrom)
49- Ron Guidry (Yankees)
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| Photo Credit: Cyberlegends Autographs - eBay |
25-win
seasons: 1
World
Series titles: 6
MVP
awards: 0
Last won
CYA: 2015 season (Jake Arrieta)
Retired by: Houston Astros (Larry Dierker), New York Yankees (Ron Guidry)
50- Charlie
Morton (Braves, Pirates, Astros, Rays, Orioles)
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| Photo Credit: Keith Allison - Wikipedia |
Likely having just wrapped up a 17-year MLB career after the 2025 season, Morton has a final tally of 139 wins while wearing the #50 jersey. 49 wins were as a member of the Atlanta Braves, beginning his career there in 2008 before embarking on a second stint from 2021 to 2025. 34 more wins came with the Pittsburgh Pirates, 29 with the Houston Astros, 18 with the Tampa Bay Rays, seven as a Baltimore Oriole and two with the Detroit Tigers. After several years in Pittsburgh, Morton had his chance at a World Series in 2017 with Houston and didn't miss, getting the start in game four as the team went on to take their first championship. In 2021, he had rejoined the Braves for the first time in 13 years and was the surprise game one starter, though the unconventional strategy eventually paid off with a second World Series title for Morton.
25-win
seasons: 0
World
Series titles: 5
MVP
awards: 0
Last won
CYA: 1982 season (Pete Vuckovich)
51- Randy
Johnson (Expos, Mariners, Astros, Diamondbacks, Giants)
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| Photo Credit: MLB |
"The Big Unit" came up big throughout his time in the #51 uniform, earning 269 wins and a perfect game in 2004. Johnson nabbed 130 wins as a Seattle Mariner from 1989 to 1998, 118 wins for the Arizona Diamondbacks, 10 victories with the Houston Astros, eight wins with the San Francisco Giants and three wins for the Montreal Expos. Capturing five Cy Youngs during his career, his 2002 season was the best of them all with 24 wins, 260 innings pitched and an immaculate 2.32 ERA. Just a year prior, Johnson etched his name into Diamondbacks lore as he led the team to their lone World Series title thus far, starting games two and six with the former being a complete game shutout.
25-win
seasons: 0
World
Series titles: 1
MVP
awards: 0
Last won
CYA: 2024 season (Chris Sale)
Retired by: Arizona Diamondbacks (Randy Johnson)
52- CC
Sabathia (Indians, Brewers, Yankees)
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| Photo Credit: kowarski - Wikipedia |
Sabathia got 251 wins over his 19 years in the major leagues, all of which featuring the #52. He picked up 134 wins with the New York Yankees from 2009 to 2019, 106 for the Cleveland Indians and 11 as a trade deadline acquisition by the Milwaukee Brewers. He joined up with the Yankees at just the right time, as the team made their way back to the World Series with Sabathia as the game one starter. He later started game four as well, getting a World Series title to his credit as the Yankees won their 27th overall. Still flying high off of the feat, Sabathia posted a 21-win season in 2010, pitching 237 innings while maintaining a 3.18 ERA.
25-win
seasons: 0
World
Series titles: 4
MVP
awards: 0
Last won
CYA: 2007 season (CC Sabathia)
53- Don
Drysdale (Dodgers)
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| Photo Credit: MLB |
The LA native played his entire career with the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers organization from 1956 to 1969, with the #53 on his jersey all the while. Of his 209 wins, 25 were gained in the 1962 season alone, with Drysdale pitching an MLB-topping 314 innings for an ERA of 2.83. This enabled him to collect the NL Cy Young Award, though he had already won the greater prize in 1959 with his Dodgers winning the World Series (Drysdale got the start in game three). He wasn't done yet, as in 1963 he would start game three of the World Series once again and didn't disappoint, getting a complete game shutout. The team went on to win it all for Drysdale's second World Series title, before giving him a third in 1965. This time, he was the game one starter, though he also toed the rubber first in game four as the team scooped up another World Series victory.
25-win
seasons: 1
World
Series titles: 5
MVP
awards: 0
Last won
CYA: 1962 season (Don Drysdale)
Retired by: Los Angeles Dodgers (Don Drysdale)
54- Sonny
Gray (Athletics, Reds, Twins, Cardinals)
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| Photo Credit: jnashboulden - Wikipedia |
Gray has picked up 110 wins during his still active career with the #54 jersey, taking 44 wins for the Oakland Athletics, 27 with the St. Louis Cardinals, 23 for the Cincinnati Reds and 16 with the Minnesota Twins. Despite having an underwhelming eight wins for the Twins in 2023, Gray nonetheless finished runner-up the AL Cy Young Award with a 2.79 ERA over 184 innings. Gray signed with the Boston Red Sox for the 2026 season, though he has yet to make a number selection.
25-win
seasons: 0
World
Series titles: 3
MVP
awards: 0
Last won
CYA: N/A
55- Orel
Hershiser (Dodgers, Indians, Mets)
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| Photo Credit: SABR |
25-win
seasons: 0
World
Series titles: 4
MVP
awards: 0
Last won
CYA: 2009 season (Tim Lincecum)
56- Mark
Buehrle (White Sox, Marlins, Blue Jays)
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| Photo Credit: Keith Allison - Wikipedia |
Buehrle scored 214 victories over the course of his lengthy career, including his perfect game in 2009, wearing the #56 for all of them. He found the most success with the Chicago White Sox, winning 161 contests for the club from 2000 to 2011, before moving on to the Miami Marlins and Toronto Blue Jays late in his career, adding 13 and 40 wins respectively. Buehrle was also up to the task in the 2005 World Series for the White Sox, getting the start in game two as Chicago completed a four-game sweep to end an 88-year championship drought.
25-win
seasons: 0
World
Series titles: 4
MVP
awards: 0
Last won
CYA: N/A
Retired by: Chicago White Sox (Mark Buehrle)
57- Johan
Santana (Twins, Mets)
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| Photo Credit: slgckgc - Wikipedia |
Despite his career being unfortunately shortened by injuries, Santana still claimed a total of 139 wins exclusively with the #57, 93 of which coming with the Minnesota Twins from 2000 to 2007 and 46 as a member of the New York Mets to end his playing days. Santana earned two AL Cy Young Awards for Minnesota, including a 20-win campaign in 2004 with a 2.61 ERA in 228 innings pitched.
25-win
seasons: 0
World
Series titles: 3
MVP
awards: 0
Last won
CYA: 2020 season (Shane Bieber)
58- Luis
Castillo (Reds, Mariners)
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| Photo Credit: Johnmaxmena2 - Wikipedia |
With Castillo's career with the #58 very much still ongoing, he has so far gathered 80 victories with the number since his 2017 debut. He secured 44 wins with the Cincinnati Reds before a mid-season trade to the Seattle Mariners in 2022, where he has remained to post 36 more victories as of this writing.
25-win
seasons: 0
World
Series titles: 0
MVP
awards: 0
Last won
CYA: N/A
59- Carlos
Carrasco (Indians/Guardians, Mets, Yankees)
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| Photo Credit: Getty Images |
With Carrasco seeming to be in the twilight of his career at this point, he has accumulated 112 wins so far while using the #59 for the entirety of his time in MLB. He took the most wins with the Cleveland Indians by a wide margin, claiming 91 from 2010 through 2020 and a lone return season for the since-renamed Guardians in 2024. Carrasco has also gathered 19 wins for the New York Mets and a pair of victories for the New York Yankees.
25-win
seasons: 0
World
Series titles: 1
MVP
awards: 0
Last won
CYA: N/A
60- Dallas
Keuchel (Astros, Braves, White Sox, Twins)
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| Photo Credit: Arturo Pardavila III - Wikipedia |
The 2015 AL Cy Young winner nabbed all 103 career wins while using the #60 jersey, 76 of them being with the Houston Astros from 2012 to 2018. Speaking of that 2015 season, Keuchel won 20 games on the strength of a 2.48 ERA in 232 innings pitched. After leaving Houston, Keuchel took 17 wins with the Chicago White Sox, eight with the Atlanta Braves and two for the Minnesota Twins.
25-win
seasons: 0
World
Series titles: 2
MVP
awards: 0
Last won
CYA: 2015 season (Dallas Keuchel)
61- Livan
Hernandez (Marlins, Giants, Expos/Nationals, Diamondbacks, Twins, Rockies, Mets,
Braves, Brewers)
 |
| Photo Credit: Paul Kehrer - Wikipedia |
A career journeyman and younger brother of the previously mentioned Orlando Hernandez, Livan Hernandez struggled to find a consistent place to call home, but one thing that was consistent was his use of the #61 jersey. As much as I'd love to put Bronson Arroyo in this spot, Hernandez takes it instead with 178 career wins, 70 coming with the Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals organization from 2003 to 2006 and again from 2009 to 2011. This is easily the most he has had with a single organization, as Hernandez also took 45 wins with the San Francisco Giants, 24 wins with the Florida Marlins, 15 for the Arizona Diamondbacks, 10 for the Minnesota Twins, seven as a New York Met, three each as a member of the Colorado Rockies and Milwaukee Brewers and one more with the Atlanta Braves. However, his rookie season with Florida bore the most fruit, as the team went on an unexpected World Series run in 1997. Hernandez got the ball for games one and five, as the Marlins secured their first championship in franchise history.
25-win
seasons: 0
World
Series titles: 2
MVP
awards: 0
Last won
CYA: N/A
62- Jose
Quintana (White Sox, Cubs, Angels, Pirates, Cardinals, Mets, Brewers)
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| Photo Credit: D. Benjamin Miller - Wikipedia |
Another pitcher on this list who hasn't officially retired yet is almost certain to do so soon, Quintana has earned 113 victories in his career, all of which taken while wearing the #62. 50 of those came with the Chicago White Sox while 33 were with the crosstown rival Chicago Cubs, 13 more added with the New York Mets, 11 with the Milwaukee Brewers and three each as a St. Louis Cardinal and Pittsburgh Pirate.
25-win
seasons: 0
World
Series titles: 0
MVP
awards: 0
Last won
CYA: N/A
63- Justin
Masterson (Red Sox, Indians, Cardinals)
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| Photo Credit: Keith Allison - Wikipedia |
Masterson takes the spot for the #63, winning 48 games for the Cleveland Indians from 2009 to 2014, while also getting 13 more with the Boston Red Sox and three with the St. Louis Cardinals.
25-win
seasons: 0
World
Series titles: 0
MVP
awards: 0
Last won
CYA: N/A
64- Felix
Pena (Angels)
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| Photo Credit: ESPN |
Despite having a relatively brief MLB career, Pena gets the nod for the #64 jersey thanks to his 13 wins with the Los Angeles Angels from 2018 to 2021.
25-win
seasons: 0
World
Series titles: 1
MVP
awards: 0
Last won
CYA: N/A
65- James
Paxton (Mariners, Yankees, Red Sox, Dodgers)
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| Photo Credit: Joe Glorioso - Wikipedia |
Maybe best remembered for having a bald eagle land on him during the playing of the Star-Spangled Banner on opening day of 2018, before pitching a no-hitter about a month later, Paxton had a solid MLB career all things considered with 73 career wins as #65. 41 wins came with the Seattle Mariners from 2013 to 2018, 16 with the New York Yankees and eight wins apiece for the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers.
25-win
seasons: 0
World
Series titles: 0
MVP
awards: 0
Last won
CYA: N/A
66- Juan
Guzman (Blue Jays)
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| Photo Credit: MLB |
Guzman only used the #66 jersey for half of his 10 seasons in the show, but certainly made them count with a pair of World Series rings as a Toronto Blue Jay. Taking 56 wins with the number in Toronto from 1991 to 1995, this coincided with an incredible showing in game three of the 1992 series where he had eight innings of one-run ball. The team of course went on to win the series, before going back-to-back in 1993 as Guzman started in games one and five.
25-win
seasons: 0
World
Series titles: 2
MVP
awards: 0
Last won
CYA: N/A
67- Francisco
Cordova (Pirates)
 |
| Photo Credit: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review |
Being part of the Pittsburgh Pirates' starting rotation from 1997 to 2000 while wearing the #67 on his back, Cordova contributed 38 wins for the largely uninspiring Pirates teams during this span.
25-win
seasons: 0
World
Series titles: 0
MVP
awards: 0
Last won
CYA: N/A
68- George
Kirby (Mariners)
 |
| Photo Credit: Reuters |
Despite only beginning his MLB career in 2022, Kirby already takes his place as the best starting pitcher with the #68 jersey with 45 wins to date as a Seattle Mariner. Of course, he still has a very long way to go in his already promising career, making a name for himself with his exceptional control.
25-win
seasons: 0
World
Series titles: 0
MVP
awards: 0
Last won
CYA: N/A
71- Keegan
Thompson (Cubs)
 |
| Photo Credit: ESPN |
While still an active pitcher, having just signed with the Cincinnati Reds for 2026, Thompson has just one season as a primary starting pitcher under his belt, doing so for the Chicago Cubs in 2022 where he had 10 wins. Since he has mainly been used as a reliever, but we'll have to wait and see how he is utilized by manager Terry Francona in the future.
25-win
seasons: 0
World
Series titles: 0
MVP
awards: 0
Last won
CYA: N/A
73- Thomas
Eshelman (Orioles)
 |
| Photo Credit: Getty Images |
Really getting into the obscure pitchers at this point, Eshelman started in six of his nine games with the Baltimore Orioles in 2021 to barely clear the threshold of consideration as a starting pitcher, but was unable to get a win that season.
25-win
seasons: 0
World
Series titles: 0
MVP
awards: 0
Last won
CYA: N/A
75- Barry
Zito (Athletics, Giants)
 |
| Photo Credit: Ken N - Wikipedia |
Far and away the best starter with a uniform number in the 70s, Zito used the #75 for all but one of his 15 years in the league. The Californian appropriately played his entire career for the Golden State, earning 95 wins with the Oakland Athletics from 2001 to 2006 before getting a further 63 wins with the San Francisco Giants for 158 altogether. Zito proved to be an important addition for the Giants in 2012, getting the game one start in a World Series which San Francisco would take a four-game sweep in.
25-win
seasons: 0
World
Series titles: 1
MVP
awards: 0
Last won
CYA: 2002 season (Barry Zito)
77- Chris
Flexen (Mariners, White Sox, Cubs)
 |
| Photo Credit: Seattle Times |
Having been used as a starter off-and-on during his MLB career, Flexen has carried the #77 to 25 wins as part of a rotation. 22 came with the Seattle Mariners in 2021 and 2022 combined, though he also had three wins as part of the ill-fated 2024 Chicago White Sox, which set the record for most losses in a single season with 121.
25-win
seasons: 0
World
Series titles: 0
MVP
awards: 0
Last won
CYA: N/A
84- Dylan
Cease (White Sox, Padres)
 |
| Photo Credit: AP |
Cease was a major contributor to the San Diego Padres' starting rotation of late, also while using the unconventional #84 jersey throughout his career. He claimed 43 wins for the Chicago White Sox from 2019 to 2023, with 22 coming as a Padre before opting to go the free agency route after the 2025 season.
25-win
seasons: 0
World
Series titles: 0
MVP
awards: 0
Last won
CYA: N/A
99- Hyun
Jin Ryu (Dodgers, Blue Jays)
 |
| Photo Credit: Keith Allison - Wikipedia |
Ryu nabbed 78 MLB victories after coming over from South Korea's KBO League in 2013, getting 54 wins for the Los Angeles Dodgers before joining the Toronto Blue Jays after the 2019 season. He added 24 more wins with the Blue Jays, but returned to South Korea following the 2023 campaign.
25-win
seasons: 0
World
Series titles: 0
MVP
awards: 0
Last won CYA: N/A
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