12. Jim Kaat, 283 wins, 108 ERA+, 4,530 1/3 innings, 2,461 strikeouts, 50.7 bWAR
Because he didn’t strike out a ton of hitters, many seemed to miss just how incredible the career of the 6’4″ 200-pound lefty from Michigan truly was. Kaat is widely considered the best defensive pitcher of the last 50 years, if not in the history of the game.
He did more than just field his position well as well. Kaat moved with the Senators to Minnesota, making the rotation in the Twins’ first season in the Twin Cities. Though he threw well, he lost 17 games that season. His fortunes reversed in 1962 as Kaat earned his first All-Star nod, winning 18 games.
Kaat was a fixture in the Twins rotation during a decade of success in Minnesota in the 1960s, but as the team started to struggle, Kaat also ran into some injury struggles. As he got healthy again in 1973, the Twins took the opportunity to trade him to the White Sox.
Over the next decade, he would pitch for multiple very good teams along the way, but often as a swingman instead of a featured starter. He finished his career in his 40s pitching with the Cardinals as a reliever.
Because he didn’t have the dominant numbers and often was entrusted by his manager to stay in the ballgame late because of his ability to generate ground balls and field his position so well, which often meant that his ERA numbers were inflated.
Kaat was selected to 3 All-Star games over his career and amazingly only received Cy Young votes in one season, which is interesting since he actually received MVP votes three seasons. Kaat won 16 Gold Gloves over his career. Only Greg Maddux won more as a pitcher…or any other position, and no other pitcher than Kaat and Maddux has won even 10 Gold Gloves.
In spite of his impressive accolades defensively, Kaat did not make the Hall of Fame. He remains the pitcher with the second-most wins who is not in the Hall of Fame.
Next: 11. King Carl