Top 5 MLB Pitchers of each year

Batters   Batters More   Pitchers   Pitchers More

Except for a few stars, it is rare for pitchers to remain elite for a decade or two

TOP 5 PER YEAR BASED ON WAR FROM FANGRAPHS NOT BBREF PITCHING IS FIP
2024 Tanner Houck Cole Ragans Zack Wheeler Chris Sale Ranger Suarez
2023 Zack Wheeler Spencer Strider Kevin Gausman Sonny Gray Gerrit Cole
2022 Aaron Nola Carlos Rodon Justin Verlander Sandy Alcantara Kevin Gausman
2021 Corbin Burnes Zack Wheeler Nathan Eovaldi Walker Buehler Max Scherzer
2020 Shane Bieber Yu Darvish Jacob deGrom Trevor Bauer Dinelson Lamet
2019 Gerrit Cole Jacob deGrom Lance Lynn Max Scherzer Justin Verlander
2018 Jacob deGrom Max Scherzer Justin Verlander Gerrit Cole Trevor Bauer
2017 Chris Sale Corey Kluber Max Scherzer Stephen Strasburg Luis Severino
2016 Jose Fernandez Noah Syndergaard Max Scherzer Justin Verlander Chris Sale
2015 Clayton Kershaw Jake Arrieta David Price Max Scherzer Dallas Keuchel
2014 Clayton Kershaw Corey Kluber Phil Hughes Felix Hernandez David Price
2013 Clayton Kershaw Matt Harvey Adam Wainwright Felix Hernandez Max Scherzer
2012 Justin Verlander Felix Hernandez Clayton Kershaw Gio Gonzalez Cliff Lee
2011 Roy Halladay Clayton Kershaw Cliff Lee Justin Verlander Dan Haren
2010 Cliff Lee Justin Verlander Felix Hernandez Roy Halladay Josh Johnson
2009 Zack Greinke Justin Verlander Tim Lincecum Felix Hernandez Roy Halladay
2008 CC Sabathia Tim Lincecum Cliff Lee Roy Halladay Dan Haren
2007 Jake Peavy CC Sabathia Brandon Webb Josh Beckett John Smoltz
2006 Johan Santana Brandon Webb Roy Oswalt Aaron Harang Jeremy Bonderman
2005 Johan Santana Dontrelle Willis Chris Carpenter Pedro Martinez Roy Oswalt
2004 Randy Johnson Ben Sheets Johan Santana Roy Oswalt Curt Schilling
2003 Mark Prior Pedro Martinez Roy Halladay Esteban Loaiza Jason Schmidt
2002 Curt Schilling Randy Johnson Pedro Martinez Roy Halladay Roy Oswalt
2001 Randy Johnson Curt Schilling Mike Mussina Greg Maddux Matt Morris
2000 Randy Johnson Pedro Martinez Greg Maddux Kevin Brown Mike Mussina
1999 Pedro Martinez Randy Johnson Kevin Brown Mike Mussina Shane Reynolds
1998 Kevin Brown Curt Schilling Roger Clemens Randy Johnson Greg Maddux
1997 Roger Clemens Pedro Martinez Curt Schilling Greg Maddux Andy Pettitte
1996 John Smoltz Greg Maddux Roger Clemens Kevin Brown Kevin Appier
1995 Randy Johnson Greg Maddux Kevin Appier Hideo Nomo Mike Mussina
1994 Greg Maddux Bret Saberhagen Randy Johnson Jack McDowell Roger Clemens
1993 Greg Maddux Jose Rijo Randy Johnson Kevin Appier Mark Langston
1992 Roger Clemens Charles Nagy Greg Maddux Kevin Brown Melido Perez
1991 Roger Clemens David Cone Jose Rijo Greg Swindell Greg Maddux
1990 Roger Clemens Dwight Gooden Erik Hanson Frank Viola Ed Whitson
1989 Bret Saberhagen Nolan Ryan Mark Gubicza Orel Hershiser Chris Bosio
1988 Roger Clemens Greg Swindell Frank Viola Mark Gubicza Dwight Gooden
1987 Roger Clemens Teddy Higuera Nolan Ryan Mark Langston Jimmy Key
1986 Mike Scott Roger Clemens Mike Witt Fernando Valenzuela Kirk McCaskill
1985 Dwight Gooden Bert Blyleven John Tudor Bret Saberhagen Mike Moore
1984 Dwight Gooden Rick Sutcliffe Mike Witt Dave Stieb Fernando Valenzuela
1983 Steve Carlton Jack Morris John Denny Dave Righetti LaMarr Hoyt
1982 Steve Carlton Mario Soto Steve Rogers Fernando Valenzuela Len Barker
1981 Steve Carlton Fernando Valenzuela Bill Gullickson Len Barker Don Sutton
1980 Steve Carlton Mike Norris Jon Matlack Len Barker Scott McGregor
1979 J.R. Richard Tommy John Ron Guidry Mike Flanagan Jerry Koosman
1978 Ron Guidry Phil Niekro Jon Matlack J.R. Richard Mike Caldwell
1977 Dennis Leonard Steve Rogers Nolan Ryan Rick Reuschel Tom Seaver
1976 Vida Blue Tom Seaver Bert Blyleven Frank Tanana Nolan Ryan
1975 Tom Seaver Frank Tanana Gaylord Perry Jim Palmer Ron Reed
1974 Bert Blyleven Fergie Jenkins Jon Matlack Phil Niekro Nolan Ryan
1973 Bert Blyleven Nolan Ryan Wilbur Wood Tom Seaver Bill Singer
1972 Steve Carlton Gaylord Perry Don Sutton Bob Gibson Mickey Lolich
1971 Fergie Jenkins Tom Seaver Vida Blue Wilbur Wood Mickey Lolich
1970 Bob Gibson Fergie Jenkins Tom Seaver Sam McDowell Jim Perry
1969 Sam McDowell Bob Gibson Fergie Jenkins Juan Marichal Larry Dierker
1968 Bob Gibson Dean Chance Luis Tiant Denny McLain Sam McDowell
1967 Dean Chance Jim Bunning Jim Kaat Jim Lonborg Gaylord Perry
1966 Sandy Koufax Gaylord Perry Jim Bunning Jim Kaat Juan Marichal
1965 Sandy Koufax Sam McDowell Bob Veale Jim Bunning Juan Marichal
1964 Dean Chance Don Drysdale Whitey Ford Bob Veale Juan Marichal
1963 Sandy Koufax Juan Marichal Dick Ellsworth Larry Jackson Gary Peters
1962 Camilo Pascual Don Drysdale Billy O'Dell Bob Gibson Sandy Koufax
1961 Jim Bunning Sandy Koufax Frank Lary Whitey Ford Jim O'Toole
1960 Bob Friend Jim Bunning Don Drysdale Larry Jackson Ray Herbert
1959 Camilo Pascual Larry Jackson Don Drysdale Sam Jones Don Mossi
1958 Sam Jones Lew Burdette Billy O'Dell Bob Friend Frank Sullivan
1957 Frank Sullivan Billy Pierce Connie Johnson Don Drysdale Willard Nixon
1956 Herb Score Early Wynn Bob Friend Billy Pierce Frank Lary
1955 Bob Rush Billy Pierce Robin Roberts Frank Sullivan Willard Nixon
1954 Robin Roberts Mike Garcia Harvey Haddix Virgil Trucks Bob Rush
1953 Robin Roberts Warren Spahn Harvey Haddix Carl Erskine Vinegar Bend Mizell
1952 Robin Roberts Bobby Shantz Warren Spahn Mike Garcia Bob Rush
1951 Robin Roberts Don Newcombe Larry Jansen Warren Spahn Sal Maglie
1950 Ewell Blackwell Warren Spahn Larry Jansen Don Newcombe Robin Roberts
1949 Mel Parnell Howie Pollet Hal Newhouser Don Newcombe Virgil Trucks
1948 Harry Brecheen Hal Newhouser Joe Dobson Johnny Sain Larry Jansen
1947 Ewell Blackwell Hal Newhouser Warren Spahn Red Munger Johnny Sain
1946 Bob Feller Hal Newhouser Tex Hughson Spud Chandler Dizzy Trout
1945 Hal Newhouser Preacher Roe Nels Potter Claude Passeau Nick Strincevich
1944 Dizzy Trout Hal Newhouser Ken Raffensberger Jack Kramer Max Lanier
1943 Spud Chandler Mort Cooper Max Lanier Denny Galehouse Virgil Trucks
1942 Mort Cooper Tex Hughson Johnny Vander Meer Tiny Bonham Al Benton
1941 Whit Wyatt Dutch Leonard Bob Feller Bucky Walters Bobo Newsom
1940 Ray Brown Bob Feller Claude Passeau Bobo Newsom Paul Derringer
1939 Bob Feller Paul Derringer Bobo Newsom Claude Passeau Tommy Bridges
1938 Lefty Gomez Paul Derringer Bobo Newsom Mel Harder Red Ruffing
1937 Lefty Grove Lefty Gomez Claude Passeau Cliff Melton Dizzy Dean
1936 Van Mungo Dizzy Dean Johnny Allen Lefty Grove Carl Hubbell
1935 Lefty Grove Mel Harder Cy Blanton Dizzy Dean Schoolboy Rowe
1934 Dizzy Dean Curt Davis Schoolboy Rowe Carl Hubbell Van Mungo
1933 Dizzy Dean Carl Hubbell Bump Hadley Lefty Grove Lon Warneke
1932 Lefty Grove Mel Harder Dizzy Dean Alvin Crowder Clint Brown
1931 Lefty Grove Ray Benge George Earnshaw Charlie Root Watson Clark
1930 Lefty Grove Dazzy Vance Wes Ferrell Bump Hadley Carl Hubbell
1929 Chet Brewer Lefty Grove John Williams Watson Clark George Uhle
1928 Dazzy Vance Lefty Grove Burleigh Grimes George Pipgras Larry Benton
1927 Willie Foster Lefty Grove Dazzy Vance William Bell Bullet Rogan
1926 Lefty Grove George Uhle Hal Carlson Pete Donohue Charlie Root
1925 Bullet Rogan Dazzy Vance Nip Winters Pete Donohue Dolf Luque
1924 Dazzy Vance Nip Winters Dave Brown Red Ryan Howard Ehmke
1923 Dolf Luque Urban Shocker Eppa Rixey George Uhle Bullet Rogan
1922 Urban Shocker Red Faber Wilbur Cooper Eppa Rixey Stan Coveleski
1921 Stan Coveleski Sad Sam Jones Red Faber Burleigh Grimes Wilbur Cooper
1920 Stan Coveleski Grover Alexander Wilbur Cooper Eppa Rixey Babe Adams
1919 Walter Johnson Stan Coveleski Hippo Vaughn Babe Adams Eddie Cicotte
1918 Walter Johnson Eddie Cicotte Hippo Vaughn Stan Coveleski Wilbur Cooper
1917 Grover Alexander Walter Johnson Eddie Cicotte Hippo Vaughn Stan Coveleski
1916 Walter Johnson Grover Alexander Reb Russell Al Demaree Dick Rudolph
1915 Grover Alexander Dave Davenport Walter Johnson Eddie Plank Dick Rudolph
1914 Cy Falkenberg Walter Johnson Grover Alexander Jack Quinn Dick Rudolph
1913 Walter Johnson Grover Alexander Babe Adams Christy Mathewson Cy Falkenberg
1912 Walter Johnson Joe Wood Ed Walsh Christy Mathewson Bob Groom
1911 Ed Walsh Grover Alexander Christy Mathewson Joe Wood Babe Adams
1910 Walter Johnson Ed Walsh Christy Mathewson Russ Ford Mordecai Brown
1909 Mordecai Brown Christy Mathewson Orval Overall Frank Smith Chief Bender
1908 Christy Mathewson Ed Walsh Cy Young Addie Joss Mordecai Brown
1907 Christy Mathewson Rube Waddell Cy Young Bob Ewing Ed Walsh
1906 Al Orth Cy Young Bob Ewing Jack Chesbro Mordecai Brown
1905 Cy Young Christy Mathewson Rube Waddell Eddie Plank Irv Young
1904 Rube Waddell Jack Chesbro Cy Young Christy Mathewson Noodles Hahn
1903 Rube Waddell Christy Mathewson Noodles Hahn Deacon Phillippe Cy Young
1902 Cy Young Rube Waddell Noodles Hahn Vic Willis Deacon Phillippe
1901 Cy Young Noodles Hahn Christy Mathewson Bill Donovan Joe McGinnity
1900 Cy Young Noodles Hahn Deacon Phillippe Ed Scott Bill Dinneen
1899 Cy Young Noodles Hahn Kid Nichols Vic Willis Frank Kitson
1898 Kid Nichols Cy Young James McJames Clark Griffith Jesse Tannehill
1897 Kid Nichols Ted Breitenstein Cy Young Clark Griffith Frank Killen
1896 Cy Young Nig Cuppy Clark Griffith Frank Killen Kid Nichols
1895 Cy Young Kid Nichols Pink Hawley Nig Cuppy Amos Rusie
1894 Cy Young Amos Rusie Kid Nichols Jouett Meekin Pink Hawley
1893 Cy Young Kid Nichols Amos Rusie Frank Killen Ted Breitenstein
1892 William Hutchinson Cy Young Kid Nichols Gus Weyhing Amos Rusie
1891 Sadie McMahon Kid Nichols William Hutchinson Gus Weyhing Amos Rusie
1890 William Hutchinson Kid Nichols Kid Gleason Sadie McMahon Scott Stratton
1889 John Clarkson Silver King Matt Kilroy Charlie Buffinton Ice Box Chamberlain
1888 Silver King Tim Keefe Ed Seward Charlie Buffinton John Clarkson
1887 John Clarkson Toad Ramsey Matt Kilroy Elmer Smith Tim Keefe
1886 Toad Ramsey Matt Kilroy John Clarkson Lady Baldwin Dave Foutz
1885 John Clarkson Bobby Mathews Bob Caruthers Guy Hecker Ed Morris
1884 Pud Galvin Guy Hecker Charlie Buffinton Old Hoss Radbourn Dupee Shaw
1883 Tim Keefe Pud Galvin Jim Whitney Old Hoss Radbourn Larry Corcoran
1882 Pud Galvin Jim Whitney Old Hoss Radbourn Jumbo McGinnis Sam Weaver
1881 Lee Richmond George Derby Pud Galvin Jim Whitney Jim McCormick
1880 Lee Richmond Jim McCormick Larry Corcoran John Ward Pud Galvin
1879 Pud Galvin John Ward Terry Larkin Tommy Bond Will White
1878 Terry Larkin Tommy Bond Sam Weaver Will White John Ward
1877 Jim Devlin Tommy Bond George Bradley Terry Larkin Tricky Nichols
1876 Jim Devlin Tommy Bond Al Spalding George Bradley Bobby Mathews
1875 Dick McBride Al Spalding George Zettlein Candy Cummings Bobby Mathews
1874 Al Spalding Dick McBride George Zettlein Candy Cummings Bobby Mathews
Source:Fangraphs
Less...