To Rank pitchers I created the RPI ranking.
The RPI
is calculated by dividing the # of runs given up by the # of innings pitched.
The Average Innings Pitched (AIP) is calculated
by dividing total innings pitched by the # of games thrown.
Multiplying
the RPI x AIP gives you the average runs given up per game (RPG).
However a problem occurs when using the RPG to
compare pitchers. Since relievers, closers, and starters have different AIP the pitcher with less innings has an advantage
over those pitchers who average more innings.
Baseball statisticians tried to fix the problem by using 9 as the
multiplier to calculate the ERA. The problem exists still because all the pitchers now have inflated RPI's.
But baseball used what they believe is fair for everyone.
There
isn't a perfect way to numerically compare pitchers. I believe the fairest way is to use the RPI to compare pitchers.
If you'd rather multiply the AIP and the RPI and get what a pitcher averaged per game that's fine.
Career Pitching
Tm Name
Yrs G AIP RPI
Cle Addie Joss 1902-10
31 8.14 .314
Was
Walter Johnson 1907-27 38 7.34 .343
Stl Dizzy
Dean 1930-47 26 5.72
.344
Phi A's Eddie Plank 1901-17 36
7.20 .346
Chc Mordecai Brown 1903-16 37
6.56 .359
Phi A's Rollie Finger 1968-85 58
1.81 .360
Chw Ed Walsh
1904-17 30 6.36 .363
Phi A's Rube Waddell
1897-10 31 7.11 .364
Nym Tom
Seaver 1967-86 29 7.19
.369
Det Troy Percival 1995-04 58
1.01 .371
LA Don Drysdale
1956-69 37 6.50 .386
LA
Sandy Koufax 1955-66 33 5.59
.392
SF C. Mathewson 1900-16 37
7.45 .393
Stl Bob Gibson 1959-75
31 7.20 .395
Atl John Smoltz
1988-04 37 5.31 .394
Nyy Mike
Mussina 1991-04 29 6.88
.395
Nyy Whitey Ford 1950-67
31 7.14 .399
LA Don Sutton
1966-88 33 6.79 .400
Hou
Don Wilson 1966-74 33 6.56
.403
Phi Cleveland Alexander 1911-30 34 7.30 .403
Phi
A's Satchel Paige 1948-65 30 2.81 .406
Chw Billy Pierce
1945-64 32 5.42 .406
Bal Jim Palmer 1965-84
29 6.68 .411
BB Vic Willis
1898-10 39 7.76 .412
Oak Dennis Eckersley 1975-98 44 3.89 .414
BB/MB
Warren Spahn 1942-65 35 6.83 .415
SF McGinnity, Joe
1899-08 46 7.34 .417
Chc Fergie Jenkins 1965-83
34 6.62 .424
Cle Hoyt Wilhelm 1952-72
41 2.07 .424
Oak Jim Catfish Hunter 1965-79 33 6.91 .425
LA Orel Hershiser
1983-00 29 6.00 .425
SF Gaylord Perry
1962-83 35 6.75 .426
Hou Larry Dierker
1964-77 25 6.17 .426
Phi A's Lefty Grove P 1925-41 36 6.51 .428
Cle
Stan Coveleski 1912-28 32 6.36 .428
Nyy Ron Guidry
1975-88 26 5.89 .429
Min Bert Blyleven
1970-92 31 7.03 .432
Nyy Kevin Brown
1986-04 26 6.47 .432
Cle Cy Young
1890-11 41 8.10 .433
Phi Robin Roberts 1948-66
35 6.86 .434
Nyy Randy Johnson 1988-04 30 6.74
.435
SF Juan Marichal 1960-75
29 7.05 .438
Det Jim Bunning 1955-71 34 6.10 .439
Chw Red Faber 1914-33 33 6.24 .449
Cle Early Wynn 1939-63 30 6.57
.454
Cin Eppa Rixey 1912-33 32 6.36 .459
Nyy Lefty Gomez 1930-43 27 6.33 .463
Nyy Jack Chesbro 1899-09 36 7.79
.464
Nyy Waite Hoyt 1918-38 30 5.31 .464
Hou Nolan Ryan 1966-93 29 6.55 .464
Stl Jesse Haines 1918-37
30 5.67 .468
Det Fred Hutchinson 1939-53 24 5.58 .471
Phi A's Chief Bender P 1903-25 28 6.27 .471
Phi Steve Carlton
1965-88 29 6.61 .482
SF Marquard, Rube 1908-25 27 6.02 .488
Hou Jim Umbricht 1959-63 17 3.32 .493
Nyy Red Ruffing
1924-47 28 6.91 .500
SD Randy Jones 1973-82 30 6.16 .500
Min Jim Kaat 1959-83 36 4.77 .506
Chw Ted Lyons 1923-46
28 7.06 .509
Nyy Babe Ruth 1914-33 16 7.05 .517
Cin Charles Radbourn 1881-91 48 8.54 .524
Brk Grimes, Burleigh 1916-34
32 6.63 .525
Atl Phil Niekro 1964-87 37 6.0 .528
Cle Mel Harder 1928-47 29 5.74 .533
Nyy Herb Pennock 1912-34 28
5.43 .545
Hou Mike Scott 1979-91 26 5.60 .545
BB Kid Nichols 1890-06 40 7.78 .561
Nyy Dazzy Vance 1915-35 28 6.67
.584
Pit Pud Galvin 1875-92 44 8.55 .588
Cin Amos Rusie 1889-01 46 8.03 .613
Chc Clark Griffith 1891-14 22 6.16 .651
