MLB Baseball 20 Win Pitchers

Name the Major League pitchers who have won 20 games in a single-season since 1968.
Quiz by Quizmaster
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Last updated: October 1, 2023
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First submittedOctober 7, 2012
Times taken17,935
Average score42.6%
Rating3.66
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Year
Team
#
Player
2023
ATL
20
Spencer Strider
2022
ATL
21
Kyle Wright
2021
LAD
20
Julio Urias
2019
HOU
21
Justin Verlander
2019
HOU
20
Gerrit Cole
2018
TB
21
Blake Snell
2018
CLE
20
Corey Kluber
2016
BOS
22
Rick Porcello
2016
TOR
20
J.A. Happ
2016
WSH
20
Max Scherzer
2015
CHC
22
Jake Arrieta
2015
HOU
20
Dallas Keuchel
2014
LAD
21
Clayton Kershaw
2014
CIN
20
Johnny Cueto
2014
STL
20
Adam Wainwright
2013
DET
21
Max Scherzer
2012
WAS
21
Gio González
2012
LAA
20
Jered Weaver
2012
NYM
20
R.A. Dickey
2012
TB
20
David Price
2011
DET
24
Justin Verlander
2011
ARI
21
Ian Kennedy
2011
LAD
21
Clayton Kershaw
2010
NYY
21
C.C. Sabathia
2010
PHI
21
Roy Halladay
2010
STL
20
Adam Wainwright
2008
ARI
22
Brandon Webb
2008
CLE
22
Cliff Lee
2008
NYY
20
Mike Mussina
2008
TOR
20
Roy Halladay
2007
BOS
20
Josh Beckett
2005
FLA
22
Dontrelle Willis
2005
LAA
21
Bartolo Colon
2005
STL
21
Chris Carpenter
2005
HOU
20
Roy Oswalt
2004
BOS
21
Curt Schilling
2004
HOU
20
Roy Oswalt
2004
MIN
20
Johan Santana
2003
TOR
22
Roy Halladay
2003
ATL
21
Russ Ortiz
2003
CHW
21
Esteban Loaiza
2003
NYY
21
Andy Pettitte
2003
SEA
21
Jamie Moyer
2002
ARI
24
Randy Johnson
2002
ARI
23
Curt Schilling
2002
OAK
23
Barry Zito
2002
BOS
21
Derek Lowe
2002
BOS
20
Pedro Martinez
2001
ARI
22
Curt Schilling
2001
STL
22
Matt Morris
2001
ARI
21
Randy Johnson
2001
OAK
21
Mark Mulder
2001
CHC
20
Jon Lieber
2001
NYY
20
Roger Clemens
2001
SEA
20
Jamie Moyer
2000
ATL
21
Tom Glavine
2000
OAK
20
Tim Hudson
2000
STL
20
Darryl Kile
2000
TOR
20
David Wells
1999
BOS
23
Pedro Martinez
1999
HOU
22
Mike Hampton
1999
HOU
21
Jose Lima
1998
ATL
20
Tom Glavine
1998
NYY
20
David Cone
1998
TEX
20
Rick Helling
1998
TOR
20
Roger Clemens
1997
TOR
21
Roger Clemens
1997
ATL
20
Denny Neagle
1997
MIN
20
Brad Radke
1997
SEA
20
Randy Johnson
1996
ATL
24
John Smoltz
1996
NYY
21
Andy Pettitte
1996
TOR
20
Pat Hentgen
1993
ATL
22
Tom Glavine
1993
CHW
22
Jack McDowell
1993
SFG
22
John Burkett
1993
SFG
21
Bill Swift
1993
ATL
20
Greg Maddux
1992
TEX
21
Kevin Brown
1992
TOR
21
Jack Morris
1992
ATL
20
Tom Glavine
1992
ATL
20
Greg Maddux
1992
CHW
20
Jack McDowell
1991
ATL
20
Tom Glavine
1991
DET
20
Bill Gullickson
1991
MIN
20
Scott Erickson
1991
PIT
20
John Smiley
1990
OAK
27
Bob Welch
1990
OAK
22
Dave Stewart
1990
PIT
22
Doug Drabek
1990
BOS
21
Roger Clemens
1990
LAD
20
Ramon Martinez
1990
NYM
20
Frank Viola
1989
KC
23
Bret Saberhagen
1989
OAK
21
Dave Stewart
1989
HOU
20
Mike Scott
1988
MIN
24
Frank Viola
1988
CIN
23
Danny Jackson
1988
LAD
23
Orel Hershiser
1988
OAK
21
Dave Stewart
1988
KC
20
Mark Gubicza
1988
NYM
20
David Cone
1987
BOS
20
Roger Clemens
1987
OAK
20
Dave Stewart
1986
BOS
24
Roger Clemens
1986
DET
21
Jack Morris
1986
LAD
21
Fernando Valenzuela
1986
MIL
20
Teddy Higuera
1986
SFG
20
Mike Krukow
1985
NYM
24
Dwight Gooden
1985
NYY
22
Ron Guidry
1985
STL
21
Joaquin Andujar
1985
STL
21
John Tudor
1985
CIN
20
Tom Browning
1985
KC
20
Bret Saberhagen
1984
BAL
20
Mike Boddicker
1984
STL
20
Joaquin Andujar
1984
CLE/CHC
20
Rick Sutcliffe
1983
CHW
24
LaMarr Hoyt
1983
CHW
22
Richard Dotson
1983
NYY
21
Ron Guidry
1983
DET
20
Jack Morris
1982
PHI
23
Steve Carlton
1980
BAL
25
Steve Stone
1980
PHI
24
Steve Carlton
1980
NYY
22
Tommy John
1980
OAK
22
Mike Norris
1980
BAL
20
Scott McGregor
1980
HOU
20
Joe Niekro
1980
KC
20
Dennis Leonard
1979
BAL
23
Mike Flanagan
1979
ATL
21
Phil Niekro
1979
HOU
21
Joe Niekro
1979
NYY
21
Tommy John
1979
MIN
20
Jerry Koosman
1978
NYY
25
Ron Guidry
1978
MIL
22
Mike Caldwell
1978
BAL
21
Jim Palmer
1978
KC
21
Dennis Leonard
1978
SD
21
Gaylord Perry
1978
BOS
20
Dennis Eckersley
1978
MON
20
Ross Grimsley
1978
NYY
20
Ed Figueroa
1977
PHI
23
Steve Carlton
1977
NYM/CIN
21
Tom Seaver
1977
BAL
20
Jim Palmer
1977
CHC
20
Rick Reuschel
1977
KC
20
Dennis Leonard
1977
LAD
20
Tommy John
1977
MIN
20
Dave Goltz
1977
PIT
20
John Candelaria
1977
STL
20
Bob Forsch
1976
BAL
22
Jim Palmer
1976
SD
22
Randy Jones
1976
BOS
21
Luis Tiant
1976
LAD
21
Don Sutton
1976
NYM
21
Jerry Koosman
1976
BAL
20
Wayne Garland
1976
HOU
20
J.R. Richard
1976
PHI
20
Steve Carlton
1975
BAL
23
Jim Palmer
1975
NYY
23
Catfish Hunter
1975
NYM
22
Tom Seaver
1975
OAK
22
Vida Blue
1975
BAL
20
Mike Torrez
1975
CHW
20
Jim Kaat
1975
SD
20
Randy Jones
1974
OAK
25
Catfish Hunter
1974
TEX
25
Fergie Jenkins
1974
BAL
22
Mike Cuellar
1974
BOS
22
Luis Tiant
1974
CAL
22
Nolan Ryan
1974
KC
22
Steve Busby
1974
CHW
21
Jim Kaat
1974
CLE
21
Gaylord Perry
1974
ATL
20
Phil Niekro
1974
CHW
20
Wilbur Wood
1974
LAD
20
Andy Messersmith
1973
CHW
24
Wilbur Wood
1973
SFG
24
Ron Bryant
1973
DET
23
Joe Coleman
1973
BAL
22
Jim Palmer
1973
CAL
21
Nolan Ryan
1973
OAK
21
Catfish Hunter
1973
OAK
21
Ken Holtzman
1973
BOS
20
Luis Tiant
1973
CAL
20
Bill Singer
1973
KC
20
Paul Splittorff
1973
MIL
20
Jim Colborn
1973
MIN
20
Bert Blyleven
1973
OAK
20
Vida Blue
1972
PHI
27
Steve Carlton
1972
CHW
24
Wilbur Wood
1972
CLE
24
Gaylord Perry
1972
DET
22
Mickey Lolich
1972
BAL
21
Jim Palmer
1972
CHW
21
Stan Bahnsen
1972
NYM
21
Tom Seaver
1972
OAK
21
Catfish Hunter
1972
CHC
20
Fergie Jenkins
1972
LAD
20
Claude Osteen
1971
DET
25
Mickey Lolich
1971
CHC
24
Fergie Jenkins
1971
OAK
24
Vida Blue
1971
CHW
22
Wilbur Wood
1971
BAL
21
Dave McNally
1971
OAK
21
Catfish Hunter
1971
BAL
20
Pat Dobson
1971
BAL
20
Jim Palmer
1971
BAL
20
Mike Cuellar
1971
CAL
20
Andy Messersmith
1971
DET
20
Joe Coleman
1971
LAD
20
Al Downing
1971
NYM
20
Tom Seaver
1971
STL
20
Steve Carlton
1970
BAL
24
Dave McNally
1970
BAL
24
Mike Cuellar
1970
MIN
24
Jim Perry
1970
SFG
23
Gaylord Perry
1970
STL
23
Bob Gibson
1970
CAL
22
Clyde Wright
1970
CHC
22
Fergie Jenkins
1970
CIN
22
Jim Merritt
1970
BAL
20
Jim Palmer
1970
CLE
20
Sam McDowell
1970
NYY
20
Fritz Peterson
1969
NYM
25
Tom Seaver
1969
DET
24
Denny McLain
1969
ATL
23
Phil Niekro
1969
BAL
23
Mike Cuellar
1969
CHC
21
Fergie Jenkins
1969
SFG
21
Juan Marichal
1969
BAL
20
Dave McNally
1969
CHC
20
Bill Hands
1969
HOU
20
Larry Dierker
1969
LAD
20
Bill Singer
1969
LAD
20
Claude Osteen
1969
MIN
20
Dave Boswell
1969
MIN
20
Jim Perry
1969
NYY
20
Mel Stottlemyre
1969
STL
20
Bob Gibson
1968
DET
31
Denny McLain
1968
SFG
26
Juan Marichal
1968
BAL
22
Dave McNally
1968
STL
22
Bob Gibson
1968
CLE
21
Luis Tiant
1968
NYY
21
Mel Stottlemyre
1968
CHC
20
Fergie Jenkins
+1
Level 54
Aug 7, 2013
50/ 135. after seeing the results, I should have gotten more. Couldn't spell Stottlemyre...
+1
Level 79
Oct 7, 2013
Only 47. Should have gotten more, but did get Lima Time
+1
Level 82
Oct 3, 2014
Is it baseball week or something?
+1
Level 90
Mar 25, 2016
There must have been something in the water in Baltimore in 1971. Three 20-game winners on one team?!
+1
Level 84
Apr 14, 2021
Four. Palmer, Cuellar, McNally and Dobson. And despite that, they lost the World Series to the Pirates after being up 2 games to 0.
+1
Level 88
May 7, 2016
How are only 36% getting Jamie Moyer?! When you play 42 seasons, you're bound to have a 20 win season or two! ;)
+1
Level 75
Oct 1, 2018
Baseball has changed a lot over the years. There were more complete games thrown (way more) and tons of quality pitchers who could notch 20 wins or more, no problem. Looking at the stats here. In eleven years, between 1968 and 1979, pitchers had 20 win seasons 119 times. In the next 38 years, between 1980 and 2018 there were 123. What happened?! Any thoughts?
+1
Level ∞
Sep 30, 2019
Sabermetrics happened. Smart people realized that using more relievers is a superior strategy for two reasons. 1) It allows pitchers to throw much harder as they are throwing fewer innings. 2) Batters tend to "figure out" a pitcher after a couple at-bats. Changing pitchers frequently mixes things up.
+2
Level ∞
Sep 30, 2019
Unfortunately, sabermetrics has also made things really boring. Strikeouts, walks, fly outs, and home runs are all way up. Stolen bases, ground balls, and bunts are way down. It's better strategy but boring to watch. I still follow baseball, but I almost never watch a game anymore.
+2
Level ∞
Sep 30, 2019
Fixing the problem should be fairly simple. 1) Lower the mound again. 2) Change the ball to make it slightly softer.
+1
Level 66
Jan 13, 2023
Sabermetrics are the impetus, true. But there is also the aspect of preserving your investment in starting pitchers, whether it be multi-year, 9-figure contracts or young, under-team-control prospects who will command massive trade packages. The powers that be have determined that long-term investment and high-level longevity is better served with 175-200 innings per year than 300+. I mean, you don't see guys with no hitters being pulled in the 8th inning due to pitch count because of effectiveness, that's purely health preservation/long term investment motivated.

Also, making the ball softer (and thereby reducing home runs and motivation to swing for the fences) is not going to get more people interested in baseball. Sure, die hards like to see small ball more than three true outcome (BB, K, HR) ball, but more casual or fringe fans (and chicks) dig the long ball. Don't get me wrong, I grew up on 80s STL Cards, so I'd be quite alright with that product.

+2
Level 56
Oct 8, 2018
Not only are there many fewer complete games, teams have gone to five and six pitcher starting rotations, which limit total starts. You are unlikely to see any 24-20 and 23-15 pitcher records in the near future.
+1
Level 67
Oct 12, 2019
Yeah, I noticed that in 29 seasons since Bob Welch's 27-win season in 1990, only four pitchers have eclipsed 22 wins, and those were four historically great seasons: Smoltz, Martinez, Verlander, and Randy Johnson in each of their best seasons. You're talking about the best years of four of the greatest pitchers of all-time. Jacob deGrom won the Cy Young (well-deserved) last year with ten wins, and might win it again (also well-deserved) this year with 11 wins. The nature of the game has changed so much. Tom Glavin will be the last 350-game winner of all-time, and might even be the last 300-game winner. Verlander is 36 and needs 75 more wins to hit 300 (so at least four more stellar seasons). He's the best pitcher of a generation, and he'll barely scrape 300 even if he gets there. We need to rethink how we evaluate stats.
+1
Level 66
Jan 13, 2023
True. And it isn't just wins due to reduced innings of SP that are changing and should change; it's how real value is measured and projected. Historically, batting average (poor predictor of value in relation to OPS which measures on base and slugging), RBI, Wins, and ERA (largely situational/luck based), have been grossly overvalued. Stats like ISO, OPS+, WAR, DRS, wRC, FIP, xwOBA have all rightfully claimed their places as better indices of value and stats like SwStr%, Exit Velocity, Launch Angle, BABIP, though showing nothing about actual past value, have rightfully claimed their place as better indices of future value/projection that traditional stats. In my opinion, someone should do a deep dive into pre-Sabermetric baseball and offer an opinion on the most overrated and underappreciated players of prior eras to the extent it could be done with more than highly unreliable conjecture.
+1
Level 66
Nov 8, 2019
'71 Orioles rotation with 4 twenty game winners. I didn't get any of them other than Palmer.
+1
Level 62
Sep 29, 2022
Kyle Wright has now approached 20 wins.
+1
Level 73
Oct 1, 2023
Challenging quiz, I scored 93/148, but good for just one point. Thanks for the quiz!
+1
Level 67
Jan 27, 2024
Ditto on the Stottlemyre spelling. I must have tried ten different variations! It might be nice if the quiz maker could add in ten or fifteen more ways that that surname could be spelt!

And to think that I once talked on the phone for an hour with an insurance-company staffer named Stottlemyre, a relative of the pitcher!