Continuing my list of the 10 greatest players at each position in the last 50 years, today I am looking at left-handed starting pitchers. Since this is based on the last 50 years, the player must have played in MLB for at least 5 years since the 1973 season. Note players who began their career prior to 73 can be considered. However only their performance and accomplishments since the 1973 season will be counted for.
Here is my list
of the top 10 left-handed starting pitchers in the last 50 years.
10. Jon Lester
(2006-2021)- NLCS MVP, 4-1 WS record.
9. Ron Guidry (1975-1988)- Cy Young award. 5X
Gold Glove award winner.
8. Andy Pettitte (1995-2013)- ALCS MVP, 5X WS
champion.
7. CC Sabathia (2001-2019)- Cy Young award winner, ALCS MVP.
6. Madison
Bumgarner (2009-active)- NLCS MVP, WS MVP.
5. Johan
Santana (2000-2012)- 2X Cy Young award winner. Gold Glove award winner.
4. Tom Glavine (1987-2008)-
HOF, 2X Cy Young award winner, WS MVP
3. Clayton
Kershaw (2008- active)- 3X Cy Young award winner, MVP, Gold Glove.
2. Steve
Carlton (1973-1988)- HOF, 3X Cy Young award winner (since 72). Gold Glove.
1. Randy
Johnson (1988-2009)- HOF, 5X Cy Young award winner, WS MVP.
Notes. This
list was quite different than the right-handed starting pitchers. That list was
so deep there were 4 Hall of Famers who didn’t make it. The lefties didn’t have
the depth. Ranking 6 through 10 was quite challenging. Lester had to make this
list. He had great post season numbers and won a championship with both the
Cubs and Red Sox. Guidry had one of the great seasons of all time in 1978. He
went 25-3 with a 1.74 ERA. Pettitte was a key contributor for the 5-time
champion Yankees. He has the most post season wins in MLB history with 19. Sabathia was a work horse throughout his career and is only the 3rd
lefthanded pitcher to have 3,000 strikeouts. Bumgarner is a terrific post
season pitcher. He was a big part of the Giants 3 championships in the 2010s, while
posting a 4-0 record in the World Series. Santana had a career cut short by
injuries, but his dominance put him high up on the list. Besides winning 2 Cy
Youngs, he finished in the top 5 voting 3 other times. Glavine is a Hall of
Famer who was integral to 6 World Series teams with the Braves in the 90s and
led them to the championship in 95. Kershaw is one of only 11 pitchers to win
the Cy Young and MVP in the same season. Carlton won an additional Cy Young
Award in 1972. He is one of only 4 pitchers to win at least 4 Cy Youngs awards.
Johnson has the second most Cy Young awards in history with 5.
Next up is the
10 greatest relief pitchers in the last 50 years.
