SO/WH Leaders
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Annual Leaders Top 50 SO/WH  -  All-Time
N.L. Indv/Lg N.L. Indv/Lg
Year Pitcher Team Age SO/WH SO/WH Index Rank Year Pitcher Team Age  SO/WH  SO/WH Index
1876 Tommy Bond HAR 20 .239 .107 2.234 1 2001 Randy Johnson ARI 37 1.424 .562 2.534
2 1997 Pedro Martinez MON 25 1.356 .571 2.375
1877 Tommy Bond BOS 21 .300 .182 1.648 3 1965 Sandy Koufax LA 29 1.329 .530 2.508
4 1999 Randy Johnson ARI 35 1.314 .495 2.655
1878 Monte Ward PRO 18 .339 .286 1.185 5 2004 Randy Johnson ARI 40 1.312 .546 2.403
6 2002 Curt Schilling ARI 35 1.270 .541 2.348
1879 Bill McGunnigle BUF 24 .484 .275 1.760 7 2000 Randy Johnson ARI 36 1.248 .512 2.438
8 2002 Randy Johnson ARI 38 1.246 .541 2.303
1880 Larry Corcoran CHI 20 .533 .318 1.676 9 1986 Mike Scott HOU 31 1.205 .504 2.391
10 1997 Curt Schilling PHI 30 1.199 .571 2.100
1881 George Derby DET 23 .358 .255 1.404 11 1984 Dwight Gooden NY 19 1.179 .478 2.467
12 1995 Hideo Nomo LA 26 1.168 .535 2.183
1882 Bobby Mathews BOS 30 .510 .312 1.635 13 1998 Kerry Wood CHI 21 1.153 .548 2.104
14 1962 Sandy Koufax LA 26 1.140 .464 2.457
1883 Jim Whitney BOS 25 .655 .346 1.893 15 1980 J.R. Richard HOU 30 1.133 .417 2.717
16 2004 Ben Sheets MIL 25 1.133 .546 2.075
1884 Jim Whitney BOS 26 .902 .467 1.931 17 1963 Sandy Koufax LA 27 1.125 .536 2.099
18 1987 Nolan Ryan HOU 40 1.120 .479 2.338
1885 Lady Baldwin DET 26 .820 .377 2.175 19 2003 Curt Schilling ARI 36 1.102 .535 2.060
20 1996 John Smoltz ATL 29 1.087 .535 2.032
1886 Lady Baldwin DET 27 .686 .408 1.681 21 2002 Mark Prior CHI 21 1.081 .541 1.998
22 1971 Tom Seaver NY 26 1.075 .480 2.240
1887 John Clarkson CHI 25 .393 .242 1.624 23 1964 Sandy Koufax LA 28 1.073 .521 2.060
24 1995 Greg Maddux ATL 29 1.065 .535 1.991
1888 Tim Keefe NY 31 .818 .375 2.181 25 2001 Curt Schilling ARI 34 1.062 .562 1.890
26 2004 Oliver Perez PIT 22 1.058 .546 1.938
1889 Tim Keefe NY 32 .454 .262 1.733 27 2003 Kerry Wood CHI 26 1.056 .535 1.974
28 2003 Mark Prior CHI 22 1.052 .535 1.966
1890 Amos Rusie NY 19 .471 .305 1.544 29 2003 Jason Schmidt SF 30 1.051 .535 1.964
30 2004 Jason Schmidt SF 31 1.037 .546 1.899
1891 Amos Rusie NY 20 .516 .272 1.897 31 1968 Bob Gibson STL 32 1.031 .567 1.818
32 2008 Tim Lincecum SF 24 1.027 .563 1.824
1892 Amos Rusie NY 21 .429 .285 1.505 33 2005 Jake Peavy SD 24 1.019 .527 1.934
34 2007 Jake Peavy SD 26 1.013 .514 1.971
1893 Amos Rusie NY 22 .311 .158 1.968 35 1998 Curt Schilling PHI 31 1.010 .548 1.843
36 2005 Pedro Martinez NY 33 1.010 .527 1.917
1894 Amos Rusie NY 23 .311 .149 2.087 37 1985 Dwight Gooden NY 20 1.004 .468 2.145
38 2006 Ben Sheets MIL 27 1.000 .524 1.908
1895 Amos Rusie NY 24 .370 .170 2.176 39 1966 Sandy Koufax LA 30 .997 .526 1.895
40 1988 Jose Rijo CIN 23 .992 .509 1.949
N.L. Indv/Lg N.L. Indv/Lg
Year Pitcher Team Age SO/WH SO/WH Index Rank Year Pitcher Team Age  SO/WH  SO/WH Index
1896 Arlie Pond BAL 24 .276 .175 1.577 41 2001 Kerry Wood CHI 24 .991 .562 1.763
42 1982 Mario Soto CIN 25 .989 .451 2.193
1897 Cy Seymour NY 24 .356 .185 1.924 43 2001 Roy Oswalt HOU 23 .985 .562 1.753
44 1979 J.R. Richard HOU 29 .984 .416 2.365
1898 Cy Seymour NY 25 .453 .202 2.243 45 1963 Jim Maloney CIN 23 .978 .536 1.825
46 2008 C.C. Sabathia MIL 27 .977 .563 1.735
1899 Noodles Hahn CIN 20 .416 .177 2.350 47 1983 Jose DeLeon PIT 22 .967 .460 2.102
48 1986 Nolan Ryan HOU 39 .965 .504 1.915
1900 Rube Waddell PIT 23 .562 .201 2.796 49 1990 David Cone NY 27 .963 .488 1.973
50 1988 Sid Fernandez NY 25 .959 .509 1.884
1901 Christy Mathewson NY 22 .573 .348 1.647
1902 Doc White PHI 23 .532 .329 1.617
Top 50 SO/WH Indv/Lg Index  -  All-Time
1903 Christy Mathewson NY 24 .635 .296 2.145
N.L. Indv/Lg
1904 Christy Mathewson NY 25 .553 .320 1.728 Rank Year Pitcher Team Age  SO/WH  SO/WH Index
1 1924 Dazzy Vance BRO 33 .831 .230 3.613
1905 Christy Mathewson NY 26 .650 .330 1.970 2 1925 Dazzy Vance BRO 34 .706 .226 3.124
3 1928 Dazzy Vance BRO 37 .670 .234 2.863
1906 Jack Pfeister CHI 28 .651 .355 1.834 4 1900 Rube Waddell PIT 23 .562 .201 2.796
5 1980 J.R. Richard HOU 30 1.133 .417 2.717
1907 Christy Mathewson NY 28 .590 .333 1.772 6 1999 Randy Johnson ARI 35 1.314 .495 2.655
7 1926 Dazzy Vance BRO 35 .609 .231 2.636
1908 Christy Mathewson NY 29 .791 .335 2.361 8 2001 Randy Johnson ARI 37 1.424 .562 2.534
9 1965 Sandy Koufax LA 29 1.329 .530 2.508
1909 Orval Overall CHI 28 .722 .355 2.034 10 1923 Dazzy Vance BRO 32 .543 .219 2.479
11 1984 Dwight Gooden NY 19 1.179 .478 2.467
1910 Louis Drucke NY 21 .591 .329 1.796 12 1930 Dazzy Vance BRO 39 .585 .238 2.458
13 1962 Sandy Koufax LA 26 1.140 .464 2.457
1911 Rube Marquard NY 24 .728 .339 2.147 14 2000 Randy Johnson ARI 36 1.248 .512 2.438
15 1927 Dazzy Vance BRO 36 .592 .244 2.426
1912 Grover Alexander PHI 25 .494 .329 1.502 16 2004 Randy Johnson ARI 40 1.312 .546 2.403
17 1986 Mike Scott HOU 31 1.205 .504 2.391
1913 Rube Marquard NY 26 .509 .337 1.510 18 1997 Pedro Martinez MON 25 1.356 .571 2.375
19 1979 J.R. Richard HOU 29 .984 .416 2.365
1914 Grover Alexander PHI 27 .530 .352 1.506 20 1908 Christy Mathewson NY 29 .791 .335 2.361
21 1899 Noodles Hahn CIN 20 .416 .177 2.350
1915 Grover Alexander PHI 28 .761 .361 2.108 22 2002 Curt Schilling ARI 35 1.270 .541 2.348
23 1987 Nolan Ryan HOU 40 1.120 .479 2.338
N.L. Indv/Lg N.L. Indv/Lg
Year Pitcher Team Age SO/WH SO/WH Index Rank Year Pitcher Team Age  SO/WH  SO/WH Index
1916 Larry Cheney BRO 30 .586 .382 1.534 24 2002 Randy Johnson ARI 38 1.246 .541 2.303
25 1898 Cy Seymour NY 25 .453 .202 2.243
1917 Hippo Vaughn CHI 29 .562 .348 1.615 26 1971 Tom Seaver NY 26 1.075 .480 2.240
27 1876 Tommy Bond HAR 20 .239 .107 2.234
1918 Hippo Vaughn CHI 30 .505 .266 1.898 28 1982 Mario Soto CIN 25 .989 .451 2.193
29 1941 Johnny Vander Meer CIN 26 .679 .310 2.190
1919 Grover Alexander CHI 32 .555 .288 1.927 30 1995 Hideo Nomo LA 26 1.168 .535 2.183
31 1888 Tim Keefe NY 31 .818 .375 2.181
1920 Al Mamaux BRO 26 .430 .267 1.610 32 1895 Amos Rusie NY 24 .370 .170 2.176
33 1885 Lady Baldwin DET 26 .820 .377 2.175
1921 Burleigh Grimes BRO 27 .349 .225 1.551 34 1942 Johnny Vander Meer CIN 27 .641 .296 2.166
35 1933 Dizzy Dean STL 23 .580 .268 2.164
1922 Dazzy Vance BRO 31 .380 .214 1.776 36 1911 Rube Marquard NY 24 .728 .339 2.147
37 1985 Dwight Gooden NY 20 1.004 .468 2.145
1923 Dazzy Vance BRO 32 .543 .219 2.479 38 1903 Christy Mathewson NY 24 .635 .296 2.145
39 1978 J.R. Richard HOU 28 .910 .427 2.131
1924 Dazzy Vance BRO 33 .831 .230 3.613 40 1931 Carl Hubbell NY 28 .556 .262 2.122
41 1915 Grover Alexander PHI 28 .761 .361 2.108
1925 Dazzy Vance BRO 34 .706 .226 3.124 42 1998 Kerry Wood CHI 21 1.153 .548 2.104
43 1983 Jose DeLeon PIT 22 .967 .460 2.102
1926 Dazzy Vance BRO 35 .609 .231 2.636 44 1997 Curt Schilling PHI 30 1.199 .571 2.100
45 1963 Sandy Koufax LA 27 1.125 .536 2.099
1927 Dazzy Vance BRO 36 .592 .244 2.426 46 1931 Dazzy Vance BRO 40 .548 .262 2.092
47 1894 Amos Rusie NY 23 .311 .149 2.087
1928 Dazzy Vance BRO 37 .670 .234 2.863 48 1928 Pat Malone CHI 25 .487 .234 2.081
49 1930 Bill Hallahan STL 27 .494 .238 2.076
1929 Pat Malone CHI 26 .433 .220 1.968 50 2004 Ben Sheets MIL 25 1.133 .546 2.075
1930 Dazzy Vance BRO 39 .585 .238 2.458
Note: League leaders SO/WH is bolded.
1931 Carl Hubbell NY 28 .556 .262 2.122
1932 Dizzy Dean STL 22 .499 .268 1.862
SO/WH Leaders age 22 or younger
1933 Dizzy Dean STL 23 .580 .268 2.164
N.L. Indv/Lg
1934 Paul Dean STL 20 .541 .300 1.803 Year Pitcher Team Age  SO/WH  SO/WH Index
1878 Monte Ward PRO 18 .339 .286 1.185
1935 Cy Blanton PIT 26 .519 .287 1.808 1890 Amos Rusie NY 19 .471 .305 1.544
1984 Dwight Gooden NY 19 1.179 .478 2.467
N.L. Indv/Lg 1876 Tommy Bond HAR 20 .239 .107 2.234
Year Pitcher Team Age SO/WH SO/WH Index 1880 Larry Corcoran CHI 20 .533 .318 1.676
1936 Van Lingle Mungo BRO 25 .605 .293 2.065 1891 Amos Rusie NY 20 .516 .272 1.897
1899 Noodles Hahn CIN 20 .416 .177 2.350
1937 Van Lingle Mungo BRO 26 .636 .315 2.019 1934 Paul Dean STL 20 .541 .300 1.803
1981 Fernando Valenzuela LA 20 .896 .452 1.982
1938 Carl Hubbell NY 35 .513 .289 1.775 1985 Dwight Gooden NY 20 1.004 .468 2.145
1877 Tommy Bond BOS 21 .300 .182 1.648
1939 Johnny Vander Meer CIN 24 .460 .273 1.685 1892 Amos Rusie NY 21 .429 .285 1.505
1910 Louis Drucke NY 21 .591 .329 1.796
1940 Tex Carleton BRO 33 .473 .294 1.609 1969 Tom Griffin HOU 21 .803 .547 1.468
1998 Kerry Wood CHI 21 1.153 .548 2.104
1941 Johnny Vander Meer CIN 26 .679 .310 2.190 1893 Amos Rusie NY 22 .311 .158 1.968
1901 Christy Mathewson NY 22 .573 .348 1.647
1942 Johnny Vander Meer CIN 27 .641 .296 2.166 1932 Dizzy Dean STL 22 .499 .268 1.862
1943 Howie Pollet STL 22 .532 .284 1.873
1943 Howie Pollet STL 22 .532 .284 1.873 1983 Jose DeLeon PIT 22 .967 .460 2.102
1944 Max Lanier STL 28 .535 .280 1.911
1945 Preacher Roe PIT 30 .539 .262 2.057 SO/WH Leaders age 35 or older
1946 Johnny Schmitz CHI 25 .488 .309 1.579 A.L. Indv/Lg
Year Pitcher Team Age  SO/WH  SO/WH Index
1947 Ewell Blackwell CIN 24 .599 .313 1.914 1987 Nolan Ryan HOU 40 1.120 .479 2.338
2004 Randy Johnson ARI 40 1.312 .546 2.403
1948 Harry Brecheen STL 33 .616 .322 1.913 1930 Dazzy Vance BRO 39 .585 .238 2.458
1928 Dazzy Vance BRO 37 .670 .234 2.863
1949 Don Newcombe BRO 23 .504 .298 1.691 2001 Randy Johnson ARI 37 1.424 .562 2.534
1927 Dazzy Vance BRO 36 .592 .244 2.426
1950 Ewell Blackwell CIN 27 .597 .344 1.735 2000 Randy Johnson ARI 36 1.248 .512 2.438
2003 Curt Schilling ARI 36 1.102 .535 2.060
1951 Don Newcombe BRO 25 .503 .324 1.552 1926 Dazzy Vance BRO 35 .609 .231 2.636
1938 Carl Hubbell NY 35 .513 .289 1.775
1952 Curt Simmons PHI 23 .588 .373 1.576 1967 Jim Bunning PHI 35 .806 .553 1.458
1999 Randy Johnson ARI 35 1.314 .495 2.655
1953 Carl Erskine BRO 26 .608 .368 1.652 2002 Curt Schilling ARI 35 1.270 .541 2.348
1954 Harvey Haddix STL 28 .567 .342 1.658
1955 Willard Schmidt STL 27 .588 .378 1.556 SO/WH Leaders Age Distribution
N.L. Indv/Lg Age No.
Year Pitcher Team Age SO/WH SO/WH Index 18   1
1956 Sam Jones CHI 30 .632 .391 1.616 19   2
20   7
1957 Jack Sanford PHI 28 .653 .404 1.616 21   5
22   5
1958 Sam Jones STL 32 .723 .400 1.808 23   9
24  11
1959 Sandy Koufax LA 23 .755 .441 1.712 25  12
26  16
1960 Sandy Koufax LA 24 .847 .467 1.814 27  10
28  13
1961 Sandy Koufax LA 25 .873 .442 1.975 29   7
30   8
1962 Sandy Koufax LA 26 1.140 .464 2.457 31   4
32   6
1963 Sandy Koufax LA 27 1.125 .536 2.099 33   3
34   1
1964 Sandy Koufax LA 28 1.073 .521 2.060 35   5
36   3
1965 Sandy Koufax LA 29 1.329 .530 2.508 37   2
38     -  
1966 Sandy Koufax LA 30 .997 .526 1.895 39   1
40   2
1967 Jim Bunning PHI 35 .806 .553 1.458
1968 Bob Gibson STL 32 1.031 .567 1.818
SO/WH Leaders by Frequency
1969 Tom Griffin HOU 21 .803 .547 1.468
Pitcher No.
1970 Tom Seaver NY 25 .901 .496 1.817 Sandy Koufax   8
Dazzy Vance   8
1971 Tom Seaver NY 26 1.075 .480 2.240 Tom Seaver   7
Christy Mathewson   6
1972 Steve Carlton PHI 27 .901 .505 1.784 Amos Rusie   6
Grover Alexander   4
1973 Tom Seaver NY 28 .887 .461 1.924 Randy Johnson   4
David Cone   3
1974 Tom Seaver NY 29 .734 .439 1.672 J.R. Richard   3
Johnny Vander Meer   3
1975 Tom Seaver NY 30 .797 .437 1.824
N.L. Indv/Lg
Year Pitcher Team Age SO/WH SO/WH Index SO/WH Leaders by Team
1976 Tom Seaver NY 31 .819 .424 1.932
Team No.
1977 Tom Seaver NY/CIN 32 .740 .439 1.686 Brooklyn/L.A. Dodgers  27
New York/S.F. Giants  22
1978 J.R. Richard HOU 28 .910 .427 2.131 New York Mets  12
Chicago Cubs  11
1979 J.R. Richard HOU 29 .984 .416 2.365 St. Louis Cardinals  10
Cincinnati Reds   9
1980 J.R. Richard HOU 30 1.133 .417 2.717 Philadelphia Phillies   8
Houston Astros   6
1981 Fernando Valenzuela LA 20 .896 .452 1.982 Arizona Diamondbacks   6
Bos/Mil/Atl Braves   5
1982 Mario Soto CIN 25 .989 .451 2.193 Pittsburgh Pirates   4
San Diego Padres   3
1983 Jose DeLeon PIT 22 .967 .460 2.102 Milwaukee Brewers   1
Mon Expos/Was Nationals   1
1984 Dwight Gooden NY 19 1.179 .478 2.467 Split Teams   1
1985 Dwight Gooden NY 20 1.004 .468 2.145 Defunct franchises -
Detroit Wolverines   3
1986 Mike Scott HOU 31 1.205 .504 2.391 Buffalo Bisons   1
Hartford Dark Blues   1
1987 Nolan Ryan HOU 40 1.120 .479 2.338 Providence Grays   1
Baltimore Orioles   1
1988 Jose Rijo CIN 23 .992 .509 1.949
1989 Sid Fernandez NY 26 .855 .488 1.752
1990 David Cone NY 27 .963 .488 1.973
1991 David Cone NY 28 .870 .511 1.703
1992 David Cone NY 29 .877 .506 1.733
1993 Jose Rijo CIN 28 .811 .469 1.729
1994 Andy Benes SD 26 .917 .528 1.737
1995 Hideo Nomo LA 26 1.168 .535 2.183
N.L. Indv/Lg
Year Pitcher Team Age SO/WH SO/WH Index
1996 John Smoltz ATL 29 1.087 .535 2.032
1997 Pedro Martinez MON 25 1.356 .571 2.375
1998 Kerry Wood CHI 21 1.153 .548 2.104
1999 Randy Johnson ARI 35 1.314 .495 2.655
2000 Randy Johnson ARI 36 1.248 .512 2.438
2001 Randy Johnson ARI 37 1.424 .562 2.534
2002 Curt Schilling ARI 35 1.270 .541 2.348
2003 Curt Schilling ARI 36 1.102 .535 2.060
2004 Randy Johnson ARI 40 1.312 .546 2.403
2005 Jake Peavy SD 24 1.019 .527 1.934
2006 Ben Sheets MIL 27 1.000 .524 1.908
2007 Jake Peavy SD 26 1.013 .514 1.971
2008 Tim Lincecum SF 24 1.027 .563 1.824
For an explanation of Win/Start Pct, 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