This is a quick list.
Best starting pitchers since 1954 as of age 26, with a K/9 greater than 4.5
(defining # of IP as "best")
Code:
Cnt Player IP SO/9 From To
+----+-----------------+------+-----+----+----+
1 Bert Blyleven 2143.2 7.25 1970 1977
2 Don Drysdale 1945 6.88 1956 1963
3 Catfish Hunter 1881.2 5.99 1965 1972
4 Fernando Valenzue 1805.2 7.30 1980 1987
5 Dwight Gooden 1713.2 8.09 1984 1991
6 Joe Coleman 1704.2 6.45 1965 1973
7 Vida Blue 1666 6.26 1969 1976
8 Larry Dierker 1651 5.99 1964 1973
9 Milt Pappas 1632 5.21 1957 1965
10 Frank Tanana 1615.1 6.87 1973 1980
11 Dick Ellsworth 1613.1 5.05 1958 1966
12 Denny McLain 1593 6.50 1963 1970
13 Sam McDowell 1590 9.41 1961 1969
14 Ken Holtzman 1541.2 6.08 1965 1972
15 Dean Chance 1520.1 6.38 1961 1967
16 Rick Wise 1513.1 5.11 1964 1972
17 Dennis Eckersley 1500 6.33 1975 1981
18 Don Sutton 1485 6.98 1966 1971
19 Mike Witt 1475.1 6.18 1981 1987
20 Bret Saberhagen 1464 5.88 1984 1990
21 Greg Maddux 1442 5.85 1986 1992
22 C.C. Sabathia 1406.1 7.31 2001 2007
23 Mike McCormick 1398.1 5.29 1956 1965
24 Jim Palmer 1391.2 6.05 1965 1972
25 Dave Stieb 1389 5.02 1979 1984
Best starting pitchers since 1954 as of age 26, with a K/9 less than 4.5
(defining # of IP as "best")
Code:
Cnt Player IP SO/9 From To
+----+-----------------+------+-----+----+----+
1 Pedro Ramos 1544.1 4.31 1955 1961
2 Ross Grimsley 1230.2 3.83 1971 1976
3 Jim Slaton 1227.2 4.38 1971 1976
4 Lary Sorensen 1183.2 2.78 1977 1982
5 Doyle Alexander 1059 3.13 1971 1977
6 Matt Keough 1016.1 4.27 1977 1982
7 Steve Trout 992 4.11 1978 1984
8 Jaime Navarro 953.1 4.33 1989 1993
9 Randy Jones 948.1 3.77 1973 1976
10 John Denny 934.2 3.94 1974 1979
11 Bill Travers 914 3.91 1974 1979
12 Dave Rozema 906.1 3.53 1977 1983
13 Joe Niekro 903.1 3.47 1967 1971
14 Tom Murphy 865.2 3.95 1968 1972
15 Ron Kline 843 3.95 1955 1958
16 Randy Lerch 837.1 4.16 1975 1981
17 Jim Perry 831.2 3.93 1959 1962
18 John Buzhardt 807 3.68 1958 1963
19 Mike Torrez 802.1 4.31 1967 1973
20 Roger Erickson 799.1 4.11 1978 1983
21 Ricky Bones 792 3.33 1991 1995
22 Scott McGregor 788.1 4.05 1976 1980
23 Neal Heaton 785.1 3.85 1982 1986
24 Andy Hawkins 767.1 4.07 1982 1986
25 Nino Espinosa 745.2 3.81 1974 1980
Best starting pitchers since 1954 as of age 26, with a K/9 greater than 4.5
(defining highest ERA+ as "best", min 300 ip)
Code:
Cnt Player ERA+ SO/9 IP From To
+----+-----------------+----+-----+------+----+----+
1 Tim Lincecum 150 10.16 598.2 2007 2009
2 Orel Hershiser 150 6.42 437.1 1983 1985
3 Tom Seaver 149 7.54 1379 1967 1971
4 Pedro Martinez 145 9.59 1146 1992 1998
5 Roy Oswalt 142 8.11 739 2001 2004
6 Jerry Koosman 142 6.30 527 1967 1969
7 Johnny Antonelli 141 5.26 752.1 1954 1956
8 Kevin Appier 139 6.87 1017 1989 1994
9 Roger Clemens 139 8.51 1284.2 1984 1989
10 Mike Mussina 139 5.60 894.1 1991 1995
11 Matt Morris 139 6.71 600 1997 2001
12 Frank Sullivan 138 4.69 708.1 1954 1956
13 Brandon Webb 136 7.40 617.2 2003 2005
14 Rich Harden 136 8.99 612.2 2003 2008
15 Mike Boddicker 136 5.15 479 1980 1984
16 Jimmy Key 135 5.05 767.2 1984 1987
17 Bert Blyleven 134 7.25 2143.2 1970 1977
18 Whitey Ford 133 5.08 464.1 1954 1955
19 Jair Jurrjens 131 6.30 434 2007 2009
20 Tim Hudson 130 7.03 812 1999 2002
21 Carlos Zambrano 130 7.86 1193.1 2001 2007
22 Barry Zito 130 7.10 981 2000 2004
23 Dave Stieb 129 5.02 1389 1979 1984
24 Juan Guzman 129 8.03 540.1 1991 1993
25 Jon Lester 128 7.85 558 2006 2009
Best starting pitchers since 1954 as of age 26, with a K/9 less than 4.5
(defining highest ERA+ as "best", min 300 ip)
Code:
Cnt Player ERA+ SO/9 IP From To
+----+-----------------+----+-----+------+----+----+
1 Mark Fidrych 126 3.71 412.1 1976 1980
2 Dave Rozema 122 3.53 906.1 1977 1983
3 Dave Frost 120 3.98 343.1 1977 1979
4 Chien-Ming Wang 117 3.31 334.1 2005 2006
5 Dennis Lamp 114 3.39 454 1977 1979
6 Curt Simmons 114 4.30 383 1954 1955
7 Randy Jones 113 3.77 948.1 1973 1976
8 Bob Forsch 112 3.83 524 1974 1976
9 Tom Poholsky 112 4.23 460 1954 1956
10 Al Nipper 109 4.34 360.2 1983 1985
11 Scott McGregor 109 4.05 788.1 1976 1980
12 Greg Hibbard 108 3.62 542.1 1989 1991
13 Steve Comer 108 3.59 401.1 1978 1980
14 Ross Baumgarten 107 4.09 451.1 1978 1981
15 Rick Waits 106 4.14 560.2 1973 1978
16 Allan Anderson 105 3.79 684.1 1986 1990
17 Rick Rhoden 104 4.36 675.1 1974 1979
18 Ron Kline 104 3.95 843 1955 1958
19 Horacio Ramirez 104 4.28 521.1 2003 2006
20 Steve Kline 104 2.84 730 1970 1974
21 Doyle Alexander 103 3.13 1059 1971 1977
22 John Stuper 103 3.60 334.2 1982 1983
23 Aaron Cook 102 3.21 339.2 2002 2005
24 Ricky Bones 102 3.33 792 1991 1995
25 Steve Trout 101 4.11 992 1978 1984