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Best Southpaw Ever?
Randy Johnson and Tom Glavine are portsiding kings of the modern mound and both seem far from over the proverbial hill. Each has recently added an exclamation to an already stellar career; Johnson w/ last week's perfecto and Glavine w/ yesterday's 1-hitter. Both certainly make the list of the top-10 greatest lefties, but who's the best? Nearly 14,000 AOL members voted last week, w/ Sandy Koufax taking 54% of the cake. While I respect their collective opinion, I've got one of my own. Read on to see why I think another fella is the greatest southpaw ever.
5. Warren Spahn won 363 games, posted a 3.09 ERA and led the league in wins 8 times. So impressive, but he did pitch in a defensive era (as did Koufax); evidenced by the 3.65 league ERA during his time (note: League ERAs provided by the amazing Baseball-Reference.com). He's a clear-cut top-5 lefty, but not quite as great as these other four guys. Hey, it's a tough list.
4. Steve Carlton notched 4 CY awards and the 2nd-most Ks ever (4,136). His win % (.574) was a bit down for this group, but he played on many a loser and his other numbers (329 wins and 3.22 ERA) place him securely in 4th.
3. Lefty Grove makes the cut on namesake alone. I mean, w/out researching, does anyone even know his given name? Furthering his cause are 9 ERA titles, 7 K titles and 4 win titles. The man won 68% of his games. His career ERA was an absurd 1.49 runs better than the league avg. The only reason he's not the greatest is b/c I'm guilty of historical discrimination; he played in the '20s and '30s and it's simply too hard to say he's better than...
2. Sandy Koufax has the vote of pretty much everyone who ever saw him dominate in the '60s to the tune a 2.76 ERA, 3 pitching Triple Crowns and CYs, 2 World Series MVPs and a 1.11 WHIP. Of course, I was born in the '70s and, after looking at the numbers, think there's another who threw as well as Koufax but for a much longer period of time.
1. Randy Johnson's portfolio includes 5 CYs, 1 Triple Crown, 1 WS MVP, 8 K titles, nearly 4,000 Ks, 235 wins and 3.09 ERA; all while hurling in a highly offensive era (4.43 league ERA). Given his self-effacing demeanor, outside interests (photography, guitar) and historically horrible hair (the flaming mullet!), the title of greatest southpaw ever couldn't go to a more deserving guy. The Unit stands alone.
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any of the picks behind randy johnson is superior to him
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Wel, I like Sandy however in the recent book "Koufax, A lefty's legacy" co-authored by Sandy, he hold Warren Saphn to be the greatest, no way is the Unit close to Sandy, think of the deluted talent, lack of competitive pitching match ups, I mean Sandy would throw against Maricahal, Gibson, Niekro, Perry, Bunning and the list goes on, every outing, No question Koufax #1!!!
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koufax
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Lefty Grove is the best. Your prejudice against the twenties and thirties is not sound. Also remember that Lefty pitched in the "minors" for several years when he should have been in the "majors," because back then the minor-league owners could keep their best players if they desired. Think this over again. I respect your intelligence and interest in this topic, but I would like you to think about this some more.
4/14/07 8:27 AM
he was a not to shabby batter also!