List of Major League Baseball career games started leaders
In baseball statistics, a pitcher is credited with a game started (denoted by GS) if he is the first pitcher to pitch for his team in a game.
Cy Young[1][2][3] holds the Major League Baseball games started record with 815. Young is the only pitcher in MLB history to start more than 800 career games. Nolan Ryan[4] (773), Don Sutton[5] (756), Greg Maddux[6] (740), Phil Niekro[7] (716), Steve Carlton[8] (709), Roger Clemens[9] (707), and Tommy John[10] (700) are the only other pitchers to have started 700 or more games their career.
Key[]
Rank | Rank amongst leaders in career wins. A blank field indicates a tie. |
Player (2021 GS) | Number of games started during the 2021 Major League Baseball season |
GS | Total career games started |
* | Denotes elected to National Baseball Hall of Fame. |
---|---|
Bold | Denotes active player.[note 1] |
List[]
- Stats updated as of September 26, 2021
Rank | Player (2021 GS) | GS |
---|---|---|
1 | Cy Young * | 815 |
2 | Nolan Ryan * | 773 |
3 | Don Sutton * | 756 |
4 | Greg Maddux * | 740 |
5 | Phil Niekro * | 716 |
6 | Steve Carlton * | 709 |
7 | Roger Clemens | 707 |
8 | Tommy John | 700 |
9 | Gaylord Perry * | 690 |
10 | Pud Galvin * | 688 |
11 | Bert Blyleven * | 685 |
12 | Tom Glavine * | 682 |
13 | Walter Johnson * | 666 |
14 | Warren Spahn * | 665 |
15 | Tom Seaver * | 647 |
16 | Jamie Moyer | 638 |
17 | Jim Kaat * | 625 |
18 | Frank Tanana | 616 |
19 | Early Wynn * | 611 |
20 | Robin Roberts * | 609 |
21 | Randy Johnson * | 603 |
22 | Grover Cleveland Alexander * | 600 |
23 | Ferguson Jenkins * | 594 |
Tim Keefe * | 594 | |
25 | Bobby Mathews | 568 |
26 | Dennis Martínez | 562 |
Kid Nichols * | 562 | |
28 | CC Sabathia | 560 |
29 | Eppa Rixey * | 554 |
30 | Bartolo Colón | 552 |
Christy Mathewson * | 552 | |
32 | Mickey Welch * | 549 |
33 | Jerry Reuss | 547 |
34 | Red Ruffing * | 538 |
35 | Mike Mussina * | 536 |
36 | Eddie Plank * | 529 |
Rick Reuschel | 529 | |
38 | Jerry Koosman | 527 |
Jack Morris * | 527 | |
40 | Jim Palmer * | 521 |
Andy Pettitte | 521 | |
42 | Jim Bunning * | 519 |
43 | John Clarkson * | 518 |
44 | Jack Powell | 516 |
45 | Gus Weyhing | 505 |
46 | Tony Mullane | 504 |
47 | Charlie Radbourn * | 502 |
48 | Joe Niekro | 500 |
49 | Bob Friend | 497 |
Burleigh Grimes * | 497 |
Rank | Player (2021 GS) | GS |
---|---|---|
51 | Mickey Lolich | 496 |
52 | Mark Buehrle | 493 |
53 | David Wells | 489 |
54 | Zack Greinke (29) | 488 |
Claude Osteen | 488 | |
56 | Sad Sam Jones | 487 |
57 | Jim McCormick | 485 |
58 | Bob Feller * | 484 |
Ted Lyons * | 484 | |
Luis Tiant | 484 | |
61 | Red Faber * | 483 |
Bobo Newsom | 483 | |
63 | Bob Gibson * | 482 |
64 | John Smoltz * | 481 |
65 | Tim Hudson | 479 |
66 | Kevin Brown | 476 |
Catfish Hunter * | 476 | |
68 | Liván Hernández | 474 |
Kenny Rogers | 474 | |
70 | Vida Blue | 473 |
Earl Whitehill | 473 | |
72 | Vic Willis * | 471 |
73 | Chuck Finley | 467 |
74 | Orel Hershiser | 466 |
75 | Don Drysdale * | 465 |
Milt Pappas | 465 | |
77 | Doyle Alexander | 464 |
78 | Tim Wakefield | 463 |
79 | Curt Simmons | 462 |
Bob Welch | 462 | |
81 | Mike Torrez | 458 |
82 | Lefty Grove * | 457 |
Juan Marichal * | 457 | |
84 | Rick Wise | 455 |
85 | Justin Verlander (0) | 454 |
86 | Jon Lester (27) | 450 |
87 | Jim Perry | 447 |
88 | John Lackey | 446 |
89 | Paul Derringer | 445 |
90 | Kevin Millwood | 443 |
Jack Quinn | 443 | |
Javier Vázquez | 443 | |
93 | Charlie Hough | 440 |
Mike Moore | 440 | |
95 | Whitey Ford * | 438 |
96 | Curt Schilling | 436 |
97 | Mel Harder | 433 |
Carl Hubbell * | 433 | |
Billy Pierce | 433 | |
100 | A. J. Burnett | 430 |
Notes[]
- ^ A player is considered inactive if he has announced his retirement or not played for a full season.
References[]
- ^ "Cy Young Career Stats". Baseball Reference. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
- ^ Nowlin - Southwick, Bill - David. "Cy Young Bio". Society For American Baseball Research. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
- ^ "Cy Young Hall of Fame Profile". National Baseball Hall of Fame. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
- ^ "Nolan Ryan Career Stats". Baseball Reference. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
- ^ "Don Sutton Career Stats". Baseball Reference. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
- ^ "Greg Maddux Career Stats". Baseball Reference. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
- ^ "Phil Niekro Career Stats". Baseball Reference. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
- ^ "Steve Carlton Career Stats". Baseball Reference. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
- ^ "Roger Clemens Career Stats". Baseball Reference. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
- ^ "Tommy John Career Stats". Baseball Reference. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
External links[]
- "Career Leaders & Records for Games Started". Baseball-Reference.com.
Categories:
- Major League Baseball lists
- Major League Baseball statistics