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 T29 1998 Pedro Martinez BOS 26 .984 .492 2.000
T29 2009 Zack Greinke KC 25 .984 .541 1.819
1916 Walter Johnson WAS 28 .613 .350 1.751 31 1968 Sam McDowell CLE 25 .972 .583 1.667
T32 1986 Roger Clemens BOS 23 .967 .477 2.027
1917 Walter Johnson WAS 29 .596 .312 1.910 T32 2010 Jered Weaver LA 27 .967 .558 1.733
34 1966 Sam McDowell CLE 23 .964 .552 1.746
1918 Walter Johnson WAS 30 .521 .268 1.944 35 1973 Nolan Ryan CAL 26 .959 .422 2.273
36 1978 Ron Guidry NY 27 .958 .378 2.534
1919 Walter Johnson WAS 31 .515 .291 1.770 37 2009 Justin Verlander DET 26 .954 .541 1.763
38 1975 Frank Tanana CAL 21 .947 .407 2.327
1920 Walter Johnson WAS 32 .545 .251 2.171 39 1966 Dave Boswell MIN 21 .928 .552 1.681
40 1910 Walter Johnson WAS 22 .927 .423 2.191
1921 Walter Johnson WAS 33 .402 .236 1.703 41 1997 David Cone NY 34 .921 .487 1.891
42 1968 Denny McLain DET 24 .921 .583 1.580
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 Urban Shocker STL 31 .358 .231 1.550 43 1976 Frank Tanana CAL 22 .916 .399 2.296
T44 1956 Herb Score CLE 23 .909 .407 2.233
1923 Walter Johnson WAS 35 .398 .238 1.672 T44 2009 Erik Bedard SEA 30 .909 .541 1.680
46 1912 Walter Johnson WAS 24 .903 .381 2.370
1924 Walter Johnson WAS 36 .511 .204 2.505 47 1963 Al Downing NY 22 .901 .500 1.802
T48 2009 Jon Lester BOS 25 .900 .541 1.664
1925 Walter Johnson WAS 37 .362 .200 1.810 T48 2010 Jon Lester BOS 26 .900 .558 1.613
50 1913 Walter Johnson WAS 25 .899 .368 2.443
1926 Lefty Grove PHI 26 .624 .222 2.811
1927 Lefty Grove PHI 27 .520 .212 2.453
Top 50 SO/WH Indv/Lg Index  -  All-Time
1928 Lefty Grove PHI 28 .625 .244 2.561
A.L. Indv/Lg
1929 Lefty Grove PHI 29 .456 .238 1.916 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 .584 .263 2.221 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 .514 .257 2.000 4 2001 Pedro Martinez BOS 29 1.495 .493 3.032
5 1995 Randy Johnson SEA 31 1.313 .465 2.824
1932 Lefty Grove PHI 32 .561 .264 2.125 6 1926 Lefty Grove PHI 26 .624 .222 2.811
7 1997 Randy Johnson SEA 33 1.297 .487 2.663
1933 Lefty Gomez NY 24 .508 .266 1.910 8 1989 Nolan Ryan TEX 42 1.158 .436 2.656
9 2004 Johan Santana MIN 25 1.262 .484 2.607
1934 Lefty Gomez NY 25 .489 .263 1.859 10 2002 Pedro Martinez BOS 30 1.299 .501 2.593
11 1928 Lefty Grove PHI 28 .625 .244 2.561
1935 Johnny Allen NY 29 .546 .251 2.175 12 1978 Ron Guidry NY 27 .958 .378 2.534
13 1991 Nolan Ryan TEX 44 1.167 .461 2.531
1936 Johnny Allen CLE 30 .481 .241 1.996 14 1937 Bob Feller CLE 18 .698 .278 2.511
15 1924 Walter Johnson WAS 36 .511 .204 2.505
1937 Bob Feller CLE 18 .698 .278 2.511 16 2006 Francisco Liriano MIN 22 1.244 .503 2.473
17 1927 Lefty Grove PHI 27 .520 .212 2.453
1938 Bob Feller CLE 19 .557 .272 2.048 18 1913 Walter Johnson WAS 25 .899 .368 2.443
19 1990 Nolan Ryan TEX 43 1.100 .464 2.371
1939 Bob Feller CLE 20 .664 .283 2.346 20 1912 Walter Johnson WAS 24 .903 .381 2.370
21 1993 Randy Johnson SEA 29 1.078 .459 2.349
1940 Bob Feller CLE 21 .723 .308 2.347 22 1940 Bob Feller CLE 21 .723 .308 2.347
23 1939 Bob Feller CLE 20 .664 .283 2.346
1941 Bob Feller CLE 22 .542 .289 1.875 24 1975 Frank Tanana CAL 21 .947 .407 2.327
25 1976 Frank Tanana CAL 22 .916 .399 2.296
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 .427 .272 1.570 26 1988 Roger Clemens BOS 25 1.043 .455 2.292
27 1946 Hal Newhouser DET 25 .876 .384 2.281
1943 Allie Reynolds CLE 28 .626 .313 2.000 28 1973 Nolan Ryan CAL 26 .959 .422 2.273
29 1914 Dutch (H) Leonard BOS 22 .884 .390 2.267
1944 Tex Hughson BOS 28 .512 .296 1.730 30 2003 Pedro Martinez BOS 31 1.062 .469 2.264
31 1903 Rube Waddell PHI 26 .842 .372 2.263
1945 Hal Newhouser DET 24 .609 .290 2.100 32 1956 Herb Score CLE 23 .909 .407 2.233
33 1930 Lefty Grove PHI 30 .584 .263 2.221
1946 Hal Newhouser DET 25 .876 .384 2.281 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 .558 .312 1.788 36 1997 Roger Clemens TOR 34 1.074 .487 2.205
37 1905 Rube Waddell PHI 28 .895 .407 2.199
1948 Bob Feller CLE 29 .451 .273 1.652 38 1910 Walter Johnson WAS 22 .927 .423 2.191
39 1904 Rube Waddell PHI 27 .877 .402 2.182
1949 Virgil Trucks DET 32 .455 .273 1.667 40 1976 Nolan Ryan CAL 29 .870 .399 2.180
41 1935 Johnny Allen NY 29 .546 .251 2.175
1950 Early Wynn CLE 30 .529 .293 1.805 42 1920 Walter Johnson WAS 32 .545 .251 2.171
43 1976 Dennis Eckersley CLE 21 .863 .399 2.163
1951 Mickey McDermott BOS 23 .552 .296 1.865 44 1971 Vida Blue OAK 21 1.013 .471 2.151
T45 1998 Roger Clemens TOR 35 1.054 .492 2.142
1952 Allie Reynolds NY 37 .558 .341 1.636 T45 2007 Erik Bedard BAL 28 1.116 .521 2.142
47 1937 Lefty Gomez NY 28 .595 .278 2.140
1953 Billy Pierce CHI 26 .561 .332 1.690 48 1932 Lefty Grove PHI 32 .561 .264 2.125
49 1932 Red Ruffing NY 28 .560 .264 2.121
1954 Billy Pierce CHI 27 .556 .346 1.607 50 1981 Ron Guidry NY 30 .823 .389 2.116
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 .698 .278 2.511
1960 Camilo Pascual WAS 26 .755 .398 1.897 1938 Bob Feller CLE 19 .557 .272 2.048
1939 Bob Feller CLE 20 .664 .283 2.346
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 .723 .308 2.347
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 1941 Bob Feller CLE 22 .542 .289 1.875
1955 Herb Score CLE 22 .784 .376 2.085
1965 Sam McDowell CLE 22 1.040 .515 2.019 1963 Al Downing NY 22 .901 .500 1.802
1965 Sam McDowell CLE 22 1.040 .515 2.019
1966 Sam McDowell CLE 23 .964 .552 1.746 1976 Frank Tanana CAL 22 .916 .399 2.296
2006 Francisco Liriano MIN 22 1.244 .503 2.473
1967 Luis Tiant CLE 26 .896 .582 1.540
1968 Luis Tiant CLE 27 1.202 .583 2.062
SO/WH Leaders age 35 or older
1969 Sam McDowell CLE 26 .852 .477 1.786
A.L. Indv/Lg
1970 Sam McDowell CLE 27 .828 .468 1.769 Year Pitcher Team Age  SO/WH  SO/WH Index
1991 Nolan Ryan TEX 44 1.167 .461 2.531
1971 Vida Blue OAK 21 1.013 .471 2.151 1990 Nolan Ryan TEX 43 1.100 .464 2.371
1989 Nolan Ryan TEX 42 1.158 .436 2.656
1972 Nolan Ryan CAL 25 1.019 .518 1.967 1925 Walter Johnson WAS 37 .362 .200 1.810
1952 Allie Reynolds NY 37 .558 .341 1.636
1973 Nolan Ryan CAL 26 .959 .422 2.273 1924 Walter Johnson WAS 36 .511 .204 2.505
1923 Walter Johnson WAS 35 .398 .238 1.672
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   8
1981 Ron Guidry NY 30 .823 .389 2.116 23   5
24   5
A.L. Indv/Lg 25  11
Year Pitcher Team Age SO/WH SO/WH Index 26  10
1982 Floyd Bannister SEA 27 .692 .372 1.860 27  11
28  12
1983 Floyd Bannister CHI 28 .737 .396 1.861 29   6
30  10
1984 Roger Clemens BOS 21 .728 .410 1.776 31   5
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   4
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  13
Nolan Ryan   8
1995 Randy Johnson SEA 31 1.313 .465 2.824 Bob Feller   7
Roger Clemens   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  19
2002 Pedro Martinez BOS 30 1.299 .501 2.593 Cleveland Indians  18
Boston Red Sox  15
2003 Pedro Martinez BOS 31 1.062 .469 2.264 Phi/K.C./Oak Athletics  13
L.A. Angels  10
2004 Johan Santana MIN 25 1.262 .484 2.607 N.Y. Yankees  10
Chicago White Sox   7
2005 Johan Santana MIN 26 1.058 .479 2.209 Seattle Mariners   6
Detroit Tigers   5
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
Kansas City Royals   1
2008 Ervin Santana LA 25 .873 .522 1.672
2009 Zack Greinke KC 25 .984 .541 1.819
2010 Jered Weaver LA 27 .967 .558 1.733
For an explanation of SO/WH, see Starting Pitchers Tables Guide
Copyright © 2009-10 by Andre Lower
Sources:
All-Time Major League Handbook
Win Shares Digital Update
baseball-reference.com
ESPN Baseball Encyclopedia