SO/WH Leaders
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Annual Leaders Top 50 SO/WH  -  All-Time
A.L. Indv/Lg A.L. Indv/Lg
Year Pitcher Team Age SO/WH SO/WH Index Rank Year Pitcher Team Age  SO/WH  SO/WH Index
1901 Cy Young BOS 34 .438 .215 2.037 1 2000 Pedro Martinez BOS 28 1.775 .466 3.809
2 1999 Pedro Martinez BOS 27 1.585 .457 3.468
1902 Rube Waddell PHI 25 .729 .223 3.269 3 2001 Pedro Martinez BOS 29 1.495 .493 3.032
4 1995 Randy Johnson SEA 31 1.313 .465 2.824
1903 Rube Waddell PHI 26 .842 .372 2.263 5 2002 Pedro Martinez BOS 30 1.299 .501 2.593
6 1997 Randy Johnson SEA 33 1.297 .487 2.663
1904 Rube Waddell PHI 27 .877 .402 2.182 7 2004 Johan Santana MIN 25 1.262 .484 2.607
8 2006 Francisco Liriano MIN 22 1.244 .503 2.473
1905 Rube Waddell PHI 28 .895 .407 2.199 9 1968 Luis Tiant CLE 27 1.202 .583 2.062
10 1991 Nolan Ryan TEX 44 1.167 .461 2.531
1906 Ed Walsh CHI 25 .627 .363 1.727 11 1989 Nolan Ryan TEX 42 1.158 .436 2.656
12 2007 Erik Bedard BAL 28 1.116 .521 2.142
1907 Rube Waddell PHI 30 .759 .361 2.102 13 1990 Nolan Ryan TEX 43 1.100 .464 2.371
14 1993 Randy Johnson SEA 29 1.078 .459 2.349
1908 Rube Waddell STL 31 .741 .418 1.773 15 1997 Roger Clemens TOR 34 1.074 .487 2.205
16 2003 Pedro Martinez BOS 31 1.062 .469 2.264
1909 Harry Krause PHI 21 .696 .415 1.677 17 2005 Johan Santana MIN 26 1.058 .479 2.209
18 1998 Roger Clemens TOR 35 1.054 .492 2.142
1910 Walter Johnson WAS 22 .927 .423 2.191 19 2006 Johan Santana MIN 27 1.052 .503 2.091
20 1988 Roger Clemens BOS 25 1.043 .455 2.292
1911 Smoky Joe Wood BOS 21 .768 .372 2.065 21 1965 Sam McDowell CLE 22 1.040 .515 2.019
22 1998 Randy Johnson SEA 34 1.034 .492 2.102
1912 Walter Johnson WAS 24 .903 .381 2.370 23 1972 Nolan Ryan CAL 25 1.019 .518 1.967
24 1971 Vida Blue OAK 21 1.013 .471 2.151
1913 Walter Johnson WAS 25 .899 .368 2.443 25 1965 Sonny Siebert CLE 28 1.006 .515 1.953
T26 1994 Randy Johnson SEA 30 1.000 .478 2.092
1914 Dutch Leonard BOS 22 .884 .390 2.267 T26 2007 Johan Santana MIN 28 1.000 .521 1.919
28 2003 Johan Santana MIN 24 .991 .469 2.113
1915 Walter Johnson WAS 27 .647 .375 1.725 29 1998 Pedro Martinez BOS 26 .984 .492 2.000
30 1968 Sam McDowell CLE 25 .972 .583 1.667
1916 Walter Johnson WAS 28 .613 .350 1.751 31 1986 Roger Clemens BOS 23 .967 .477 2.027
32 1966 Sam McDowell CLE 23 .964 .552 1.746
1917 Walter Johnson WAS 29 .596 .312 1.910 33 1973 Nolan Ryan CAL 26 .959 .422 2.273
34 1978 Ron Guidry NY 27 .958 .378 2.534
1918 Walter Johnson WAS 30 .521 .268 1.944 35 1975 Frank Tanana CAL 21 .947 .407 2.327
36 1966 Dave Boswell MIN 21 .928 .552 1.681
1919 Walter Johnson WAS 31 .515 .291 1.770 37 1910 Walter Johnson WAS 22 .927 .423 2.191
38 1997 David Cone NY 34 .921 .487 1.891
1920 Walter Johnson WAS 32 .483 .248 1.948 39 1968 Denny McLain DET 24 .921 .583 1.580
40 1976 Frank Tanana CAL 22 .916 .399 2.296
1921 Walter Johnson WAS 33 .401 .236 1.699 41 1956 Herb Score CLE 23 .909 .407 2.233
42 1912 Walter Johnson WAS 24 .903 .381 2.370
A.L. Indv/Lg A.L. Indv/Lg
Year Pitcher Team Age SO/WH SO/WH Index Rank Year Pitcher Team Age  SO/WH  SO/WH Index
1922 Red Faber CHI 33 .355 .233 1.524 43 1963 Al Downing NY 22 .901 .500 1.802
44 1913 Walter Johnson WAS 25 .899 .368 2.443
1923 Syl Johnson DET 22 .406 .236 1.720 45 1967 Luis Tiant CLE 26 .896 .582 1.540
46 1905 Rube Waddell PHI 28 .895 .407 2.199
1924 Walter Johnson WAS 36 .510 .203 2.512 47 2004 Pedro Martinez BOS 32 .894 .484 1.847
48 2007 A.J. Burnett TOR 30 .893 .521 1.714
1925 Walter Johnson WAS 37 .374 .204 1.833 49 2006 Scott Kazmir TB 22 .886 .503 1.761
50 1914 Dutch (H) Leonard BOS 22 .884 .390 2.267
1926 Lefty Grove PHI 26 .593 .227 2.612
1927 Lefty Grove PHI 27 .528 .217 2.433
Top 50 SO/WH Indv/Lg Index  -  All-Time
1928 Lefty Grove PHI 28 .628 .250 2.512
A.L. Indv/Lg
1929 Lefty Grove PHI 29 .473 .241 1.963 Rank Year Pitcher Team Age  SO/WH  SO/WH Index
1 2000 Pedro Martinez BOS 28 1.775 .466 3.809
1930 Lefty Grove PHI 30 .629 .264 2.383 2 1999 Pedro Martinez BOS 27 1.585 .457 3.468
3 1902 Rube Waddell PHI 25 .729 .223 3.269
1931 Lefty Grove PHI 31 .564 .257 2.195 4 2001 Pedro Martinez BOS 29 1.495 .493 3.032
5 1995 Randy Johnson SEA 31 1.313 .465 2.824
1932 Red Ruffing NY 28 .569 .263 2.163 6 1997 Randy Johnson SEA 33 1.297 .487 2.663
7 1989 Nolan Ryan TEX 42 1.158 .436 2.656
1933 Lefty Gomez NY 24 .502 .266 1.887 8 1926 Lefty Grove PHI 26 .593 .227 2.612
9 2004 Johan Santana MIN 25 1.262 .484 2.607
1934 Lefty Gomez NY 25 .494 .269 1.836 10 2002 Pedro Martinez BOS 30 1.299 .501 2.593
11 1978 Ron Guidry NY 27 .958 .378 2.534
1935 Johnny Allen NY 29 .546 .252 2.167 12 1991 Nolan Ryan TEX 44 1.167 .461 2.531
13 1924 Walter Johnson WAS 36 .510 .203 2.512
1936 Johnny Allen CLE 30 .497 .248 2.004 14 1928 Lefty Grove PHI 28 .628 .250 2.512
15 2006 Francisco Liriano MIN 22 1.244 .503 2.473
1937 Bob Feller CLE 18 .675 .282 2.394 16 1913 Walter Johnson WAS 25 .899 .368 2.443
17 1927 Lefty Grove PHI 27 .528 .217 2.433
1938 Bob Feller CLE 19 .554 .271 2.044 18 1937 Bob Feller CLE 18 .675 .282 2.394
19 1930 Lefty Grove PHI 30 .629 .264 2.383
1939 Bob Feller CLE 20 .665 .285 2.333 20 1990 Nolan Ryan TEX 43 1.100 .464 2.371
21 1912 Walter Johnson WAS 24 .903 .381 2.370
1940 Bob Feller CLE 21 .721 .310 2.326 22 1993 Randy Johnson SEA 29 1.078 .459 2.349
23 1939 Bob Feller CLE 20 .665 .285 2.333
1941 Bob Feller CLE 22 .543 .294 1.847 24 1975 Frank Tanana CAL 21 .947 .407 2.327
25 1940 Bob Feller CLE 21 .721 .310 2.326
A.L. Indv/Lg A.L. Indv/Lg
Year Pitcher Team Age SO/WH SO/WH Index Rank Year Pitcher Team Age  SO/WH  SO/WH Index
1942 Tommy Bridges DET 35 .432 .277 1.560 26 1976 Frank Tanana CAL 22 .916 .399 2.296
27 1988 Roger Clemens BOS 25 1.043 .455 2.292
1943 Allie Reynolds CLE 28 .604 .316 1.911 28 1946 Hal Newhouser DET 25 .879 .385 2.283
29 1973 Nolan Ryan CAL 26 .959 .422 2.273
1944 Tex Hughson BOS 28 .522 .297 1.758 30 1914 Dutch (H) Leonard BOS 22 .884 .390 2.267
31 2003 Pedro Martinez BOS 31 1.062 .469 2.264
1945 Hal Newhouser DET 24 .606 .293 2.068 32 1903 Rube Waddell PHI 26 .842 .372 2.263
33 1956 Herb Score CLE 23 .909 .407 2.233
1946 Hal Newhouser DET 25 .879 .385 2.283 34 1979 Nolan Ryan CAL 32 .788 .356 2.213
35 2005 Johan Santana MIN 26 1.058 .479 2.209
1947 Bob Feller CLE 28 .549 .312 1.760 36 1997 Roger Clemens TOR 34 1.074 .487 2.205
37 1905 Rube Waddell PHI 28 .895 .407 2.199
1948 Virgil Trucks DET 31 .445 .276 1.612 38 1931 Lefty Grove PHI 31 .564 .257 2.195
39 1910 Walter Johnson WAS 22 .927 .423 2.191
1949 Virgil Trucks DET 32 .460 .279 1.649 40 1904 Rube Waddell PHI 27 .877 .402 2.182
41 1976 Nolan Ryan CAL 29 .870 .399 2.180
1950 Early Wynn CLE 30 .537 .296 1.814 42 1935 Johnny Allen NY 29 .546 .252 2.167
43 1932 Red Ruffing NY 28 .569 .263 2.163
1951 Mickey McDermott BOS 23 .543 .302 1.798 44 1976 Dennis Eckersley CLE 21 .863 .399 2.163
45 1971 Vida Blue OAK 21 1.013 .471 2.151
1952 Allie Reynolds NY 37 .548 .363 1.510 46 1998 Roger Clemens TOR 35 1.054 .492 2.142
47 2007 Erik Bedard BAL 28 1.116 .521 2.142
1953 Billy Pierce CHI 26 .587 .337 1.742 48 1981 Ron Guidry NY 30 .823 .389 2.116
49 2003 Johan Santana MIN 24 .991 .469 2.113
1954 Billy Pierce CHI 27 .556 .346 1.607 50 1937 Lefty Gomez NY 28 .595 .282 2.110
1955 Herb Score CLE 22 .784 .376 2.085
Note: League leaders SO/WH is bolded.
1956 Herb Score CLE 23 .909 .407 2.233
1957 Bob Turley NY 26 .747 .410 1.822
SO/WH Leaders age 22 or younger
1958 Jim Bunning DET 26 .668 .435 1.536
A.L. Indv/Lg
1959 Camilo Pascual WAS 25 .693 .418 1.658 Year Pitcher Team Age  SO/WH  SO/WH Index
1937 Bob Feller CLE 18 .675 .282 2.394
1960 Camilo Pascual WAS 26 .755 .398 1.897 1938 Bob Feller CLE 19 .554 .271 2.044
1939 Bob Feller CLE 20 .665 .285 2.333
1961 Juan Pizarro CHI 24 .800 .425 1.882 1909 Harry Krause PHI 21 .696 .415 1.677
1911 Smoky Joe Wood BOS 21 .768 .372 2.065
A.L. Indv/Lg 1940 Bob Feller CLE 21 .721 .310 2.326
Year Pitcher Team Age SO/WH SO/WH Index 1971 Vida Blue OAK 21 1.013 .471 2.151
1962 Camilo Pascual MIN 28 .680 .435 1.563 1975 Frank Tanana CAL 21 .947 .407 2.327
1984 Roger Clemens BOS 21 .728 .410 1.776
1963 Al Downing NY 22 .901 .500 1.802 1910 Walter Johnson WAS 22 .927 .423 2.191
1914 Dutch Leonard BOS 22 .884 .390 2.267
1964 Dean Chance LA 23 .736 .523 1.407 1923 Syl Johnson DET 22 .406 .236 1.720
1941 Bob Feller CLE 22 .543 .294 1.847
1965 Sam McDowell CLE 22 1.040 .515 2.019 1955 Herb Score CLE 22 .784 .376 2.085
1963 Al Downing NY 22 .901 .500 1.802
1966 Sam McDowell CLE 23 .964 .552 1.746 1965 Sam McDowell CLE 22 1.040 .515 2.019
1976 Frank Tanana CAL 22 .916 .399 2.296
1967 Luis Tiant CLE 26 .896 .582 1.540 2006 Francisco Liriano MIN 22 1.244 .503 2.473
1968 Luis Tiant CLE 27 1.202 .583 2.062
1969 Sam McDowell CLE 26 .852 .477 1.786 SO/WH Leaders age 35 or older
1970 Sam McDowell CLE 27 .828 .468 1.769 A.L. Indv/Lg
Year Pitcher Team Age  SO/WH  SO/WH Index
1971 Vida Blue OAK 21 1.013 .471 2.151 1991 Nolan Ryan TEX 44 1.167 .461 2.531
1990 Nolan Ryan TEX 43 1.100 .464 2.371
1972 Nolan Ryan CAL 25 1.019 .518 1.967 1989 Nolan Ryan TEX 42 1.158 .436 2.656
1925 Walter Johnson WAS 37 .374 .204 1.833
1973 Nolan Ryan CAL 26 .959 .422 2.273 1952 Allie Reynolds NY 37 .548 .363 1.510
1924 Walter Johnson WAS 36 .510 .203 2.512
1974 Nolan Ryan CAL 27 .871 .413 2.109 1942 Tommy Bridges DET 35 .432 .277 1.560
1980 Rudy May NY 35 .681 .371 1.836
1975 Frank Tanana CAL 21 .947 .407 2.327 1998 Roger Clemens TOR 35 1.054 .492 2.142
1976 Frank Tanana CAL 22 .916 .399 2.296
1977 Nolan Ryan CAL 30 .848 .403 2.104 SO/WH Leaders Age Distribution
1978 Ron Guidry NY 27 .958 .378 2.534 Age No.
18   1
1979 Nolan Ryan CAL 32 .788 .356 2.213 19   1
20   1
1980 Rudy May NY 35 .681 .371 1.836 21   6
22   9
1981 Ron Guidry NY 30 .823 .389 2.116 23   5
24   5
A.L. Indv/Lg 25  10
Year Pitcher Team Age SO/WH SO/WH Index 26  10
1982 Floyd Bannister SEA 27 .692 .372 1.860 27  10
28  12
1983 Floyd Bannister CHI 28 .737 .396 1.861 29   5
30  10
1984 Roger Clemens BOS 21 .728 .410 1.776 31   6
32   3
1985 Floyd Bannister CHI 30 .637 .419 1.520 33   4
34   1
1986 Roger Clemens BOS 23 .967 .477 2.027 35   3
36   1
1987 Roger Clemens BOS 24 .773 .481 1.607 37   2
38     -  
1988 Roger Clemens BOS 25 1.043 .455 2.292 39     -  
40     -  
1989 Nolan Ryan TEX 42 1.158 .436 2.656 41     -  
42   1
1990 Nolan Ryan TEX 43 1.100 .464 2.371 43   1
44   1
1991 Nolan Ryan TEX 44 1.167 .461 2.531
1992 Randy Johnson SEA 28 .809 .451 1.794
SO/WH Leaders by Frequency
1993 Randy Johnson SEA 29 1.078 .459 2.349
Pitcher No.
1994 Randy Johnson SEA 30 1.000 .478 2.092 Walter Johnson  12
Nolan Ryan   8
1995 Randy Johnson SEA 31 1.313 .465 2.824 Roger Clemens   6
Bob Feller   6
1996 Roger Clemens BOS 33 .798 .458 1.742 Lefty Grove   6
Rube Waddell   6
1997 Randy Johnson SEA 33 1.297 .487 2.663 Randy Johnson   5
Pedro Martinez   5
1998 Roger Clemens TOR 35 1.054 .492 2.142 Sam McDowell   4
Floyd Bannister   3
1999 Pedro Martinez BOS 27 1.585 .457 3.468 Camilo Pascual   3
2000 Pedro Martinez BOS 28 1.775 .466 3.809
2001 Pedro Martinez BOS 29 1.495 .493 3.032 SO/WH Leaders by Team
A.L. Indv/Lg Team No.
Year Pitcher Team Age SO/WH SO/WH Index Was Senators/Min Twins  18
2002 Pedro Martinez BOS 30 1.299 .501 2.593 Cleveland Indians  17
Boston Red Sox  15
2003 Pedro Martinez BOS 31 1.062 .469 2.264 Phi/K.C./Oak Athletics  13
N.Y. Yankees  10
2004 Johan Santana MIN 25 1.262 .484 2.607 L.A. Angels   9
Detroit Tigers   7
2005 Johan Santana MIN 26 1.058 .479 2.209 Chicago White Sox   7
Seattle Mariners   6
2006 Francisco Liriano MIN 22 1.244 .503 2.473 Was Senators/Tex Rangers   3
StL Browns/Bal Orioles   2
2007 Erik Bedard BAL 28 1.116 .521 2.142 Toronto Blue Jays   1
2008 Ervin Santana LA 25 .873 .522 1.672
For an explanation of SO/WH, see Starting Pitchers Tables Guide
Copyright © 2009 by Andre Lower
Sources:
All-Time Major League Handbook
Win Shares Digital Update
baseball-reference.com
ESPN Baseball Encyclopedia