Top Eight Red Sox Pitchers of All Time

With the Boston Red Sox pitching staff struggling in recent weeks, here is a look back at the top eight pitchers in Red Sox history that they should emulate.

In my last article, I highlighted former Red Sox pitchers, like Jon Lester and John Lackey, who are currently dominating the National League. It poured salt into the already deep wounds of Red Sox fans, who last night were forced to watch Clay Buchholz return to the mound for yet another dismal performance.

The Red Sox pitching staff is ranked 18th in the majors with a 4.36 ERA. They have given up 334 earned runs in 689 innings pitched. Red Sox pitchers have walked 260 and struck out 665 batters, and have recorded a BAA or opponent’s batting average of .247.

Of the 77 starts made by Red Sox pitchers, only 40 have been deemed quality, and this year, Red Sox relievers have recorded 18 total saves.

The team’s best pitcher is, without question Steven Wright, who has the fifth lowest ERA in baseball (2.18), and has earned a record of 8-5, recording 84 strikeouts, and allowing only five home runs and seventy-eight hits in fifteen starts. Wright’s performance this year has been a welcomed surprise, as opposed to the unwelcome one that has been the performance of David Price.

Perhaps the Red Sox pitching staff should start channeling the energy of the following eight men, who are the greatest pitchers in Red Sox history.

Next: Luis Tiant

Number Seven: Jon Lester

Failing to re-sign Jon Lester may be the greatest mistake in Red Sox history. During his nine years in Boston, Lester garnered the love and respect of Red Sox fans, and rightly so. The left-hander earned a reputation as one of the best pitchers in baseball, recording a record of 110-63, an ERA of 3.58, and 1386 strikeouts.

Lester also played a key role in two World Series victories. During Game 4 of the 2007 World Series, Lester made his first playoff start. He allowed only three hits, leading the Red Sox to victory, and becoming the third pitcher in World Series to clinch a series on his first playoff start.

Then, in 2013, as the team’s ace, Lester led the Red Sox to the World Series, and a victory in Game One.

With two World Series rings, three All-Star selections, and phenomenal stats, Lester easily makes it onto our list.

Next: Curt Schilling

Number Six: Curt Schilling

While Curt Schilling was past his prime when he joined the Boston Red Sox, he is, without question, one of the most impactful players in the history of the organization.

Schilling spent the final four years of his career with the Red Sox, in which he recorded a 53-29 record, a 3.95 ERA, and 574 strikeouts.

One of the greatest pitchers in playoff history, Schilling joined the Red Sox pitching staff in 2004, and, along with the likes of David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez, and Pedro Martinez, led the team through the greatest comeback in sports history. Down 3-2 against the Yankees in the 2004 American League Championship Series, Schilling famously led the Red Sox to victory on an injured ankle; pitching with a bloody sock, and tying the series 3-3.

The Red Sox would go on to win that series, and then the World Series, in which Schilling won Game 2.

In 2007, his final season, Schilling contributed to yet another World Series victory, winning Game 2 and becoming just the second pitcher over forty years of age in MLB history to start and win a World Series game.

His playoff heroics made the Red Sox the best MLB team of this century, thus earning him a spot on our list.

Next: Lefty Grove

Number Five: Lefty Grove

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One of the most dominant pitchers of his day, Lefty Grove consistently led the league in ERA, retiring, after seventeen years, in 1941 with a career ERA of 3.06.

He was a member of the Boston Red Sox from 1934-1941, recording a record of 105-62, with an ERA of 3.34, 734 strikeouts, and a WHIP of 1.321. Grove earned five of his six All-Star selection while on the Red Sox, and led the league four times in ERA.

Grove retired in 1947; his last victory was his 300th. He was inducted to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1947 and, in 1999 was named to the MLB All-Century Team.

Next: Roger Clemens

Number Four: Roger Clemens

The best pitcher of his day and, prior to steroid allegations, one of the greatest of all-time, Roger Clemens is without a doubt one of the top eight pitchers in Red Sox history. Clemens played on the Red Sox for the first twelve years of his career, from 1984 to 1996.

During that time, he recorded 192 wins and an ERA of 3.06. He struck out an astounding 2,590 batters, and recorded a WHIP of 1.158. Clemens consistently led the league in ERA, and won three Cy Young Awards (1986,1987, & 1991) and the 1986 MVP Award. In 1990, he recorded the lowest ERA in baseball of 1.93.

In 1986, Clemens became the first pitcher to record 20 strikeouts in a single game, and led the Red Sox to the World Series. A decade later he once again recorded 20 strikeouts, becoming the only player to do so twice.

Clemens was named an All-Star five times when he was with the Red Sox, and was twice the AL wins leader, and three times both the ERA and strikeout leader. He was inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame in 2014.

Next: Babe Ruth

Number Three: Babe Ruth

While everyone knows that Babe Ruth was an elite pitcher in his day, his offensive prowess overshadows just how good he was, especially while putting up monster numbers at the plate.

In just six years, Ruth started 143 games, earning an 89-46 record, and recording a 2.19 ERA. He struck out 483 batters, and had a WHIP of 1.142. During this same stretch, Ruth recorded a .308 batting average, and hit 224 RBIs, 49 home runs, 342 hits, a slugging percentage of .568 and an on base percentage of .413.

During this time, Ruth aided in three World Series victories, in 1915, 1916, and 1918. It was not until Ruth went to the Yankees that he became a star, and arguably, the greatest hitter of all time. Ruth’s years as a pitcher in Boston demonstrated his unparalleled versatility as a player; making him not only one of the greatest offensive players of all-time but one of the Red Sox greatest pitchers as well.

Next: Cy Young

Number Two: Cy Young

Technically, Young played for the Boston Americans, who would eventually become the Red Sox. As evidenced by his status as one of baseball’s greatest legends, Young was nothing short of dominate while with the Red Sox.

From 1901-1908, Young recorded an ERA of 2.00, and a record of 192-112. That’s an average of 24 wins a year. In that time, Young struck out 1,341 batters, and had a WHIP of 0.97. In 1903, he led the league with 28 wins and just nine loses, and then led the Red Sox to victory in the first modern World Series.

It is tough to compare eras, and while Cy Young certainly could top any list, I have to give the nod to the next player.

Next: Pedro Martinez

Number One: Pedro Martinez

Last month, FiveThirtyEight named Pedro Martinez the greatest pitcher of All Time, confirming what many of us knew the whole time. During his peak years, from 1998 to 2003, there was nobody, in the history of baseball, better than Pedro Martinez.

Pedro came to the Red Sox in 1998, and was nothing short of dominant until he left, after winning the World Series, in 2004. Martinez recorded an ERA of 2.52, a winning percentage of .760 (117-37), 1683 strikeouts, and a WHIP of 0.978.

During this time, Pedro recorded too many highlights to count, winning two Cy Young Awards, and earning the reputation of a funny-lovable man off the field, and a fierce competitor on it. 1999 was arguably the greatest season by a pitcher in the history of the MLB; Pedro won the Triple Crown, and put on the greatest performance in All-Star Game history, winning the MVP.

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Last year, Pedro was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame and had his number retired by the Red Sox. He is, without question, a Red Sox legend, and, at least in my opinion, the greatest pitcher in Red Sox history.