31. Steve Carlton
One of the great workhorses in MLB history, Steve Carlton was perhaps the greatest pitcher of the 1970’s.
Despite pitching for some terrible Phillies teams, Carlton won twenty or more games six times, leading the National League in wins on four occasions. He pitched over 200 innings 16 times, going over the 300 inning mark twice, including 1980, when he became the final pitcher to throw over 300 innings in a season. The first pitcher with four Cy Young awards, Carlton was a ten time All-Star and finished fifth in the MVP vote three times.
In his long and storied career, Carlton posted a 329-244 record with a 3.22 ERA and a 1.247 WHiP. In his 5217.2 innings, Carlton struck out 4,136 batters with 1,833 walks. Carlton ranks 11th in wins, ninth in innings, fourth in strikeouts and 14th in career shutouts. He was truly one of the dominant pitchers of his time.
Carlton was also locked in a battle with Nolan Ryan for the all time strikeout lead. While Ryan would end up running away with that crown, Carlton and Ryan passed the title back and forth, with the legendary Ryan finally taking the crown away for good on September 5, 1984.
One of the best left handed pitchers of all time, Steve Carlton was a true workhorse the likes of which we will never see again.
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