There aren't many things more majestic in baseball than a dominant lefty on the mound. Whether it's a high-voltage Aroldis Chapman fastball zooming by a hitter, or Clayton Kershaw's beautiful rainbow curveball, there's simply a different mystique that southpaws have about them.
In honor of all that lefties bring to the game of baseball, here are the top five lefty aces in MLB history.
5. Lefty Grove
Though his strikeout numbers pale in comparison to today's aces, Robert âLeftyâ Grove was simply dominant during his era from the beginning of his career to the end â the 1920s through 1930s. Grove led the majors in strikeouts in each of his first 7 seasons as a big leaguer, was the first pitcher to ever win an MVP award, and was voted to 6 of the first 7 All-Star games ever. Despite playing only 17 seasons, he's one of only 19 pitchers since the 20th century to join the 300 career wins club, with exactly 300.
4. Steve Carlton
Carlton was the pioneer of lefty power pitching, as his dominant 16 year peak spanning from 1968 to 1983 saw him rack up a ridiculous 3,496 strikeouts, good enough for over 218 a year. His consistency in churning out elite season after elite season resulted in career totals â 4,136 strikeouts (4th all-time) and 329 wins (11th) â that somehow seem even greater than the sum of their parts. Amazing, considering he still won 4 Cy Young awards and went to 10 All-Star games.
3. Sandy Koufax
During Sandy Koufax's 9 full seasons as a starting pitcher, he amassed arguably the greatest stretch of sheer dominance that the game has ever seen. Koufax, from 1961-1966 had 6 straight All-Star campaigns, posting a sub-2.05 ERA 5 times, struck out over 300 batters three times, won 3 Cy Young Awards, an MVP, and 2 World Series MVP awards. Though his career was cut short by arthritis, as a 4-time World Series winner with the Dodgers with 4 no-hitters and a perfect game to boot, there aren't even many 20-season pitchers with a pedigree as sterling as Koufax's.
2. Clayton Kershaw
Despite his career is far from over, Kershaw certainly has a strong case for taking the number one spot on this list. Easily the most dominant pitcher of the modern era, he's won 3 Cy Young awards, an MVP, posted 3 seasons with a sub-2.00 ERA, hasn't had a season with an ERA over 3.03 since his rookie campaign, and consistently showcases incredible stamina in a modern game where true workhorse aces are rare to find. And, as he finally got over the hump, pitching an incredible 2020 postseason to dispel his âPlayoff Kershawâ struggles en route to a World Series victory, there are no more proverbial monkeys for Kershaw to get off his back.
1. Randy Johnson
âThe Big Unitâ places number one on this list as a marvel specimen, both in body and longevity. Towering at 6 feet 10 inches and hurling upper 90s fastballs in the peak of the steroid era, Johnson has a case as the best pitcher that baseball has ever seen. Ranking second all-time with strikeouts with 4,875, but also arguably more dominant than strikeout king Nolan Ryan with 5 Cy Young awards to Ryan's 0, it's scary to wonder how dominant Johnson would have been had he pitched in a time where hitters weren't doping en masse. Johnson's peak was an absolutely monstrous 4 season stretch with the Arizona Diamondbacks in which he won 4 straight Cy Young awards, struck out no less than 334 batters every year, led the league in ERA three times, and authored an incredible 2001 World Series, leading Arizona to their first-ever title and winning series MVP in the pinnacle of his career.
Clayton Kershaw may one day take the crown as baseball's best southpaw, but, for now, Johnson holds the throne.
Follow Us
Subscribe