Cy Young, the all-time leader in complete games.

In baseball, a complete game (denoted by CG) is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a closer.[1] A pitcher who meets this criterion will be credited with a complete game regardless of the number of innings played - pitchers who throw an entire official game that is shortened by rain will still be credited with a complete game, while starting pitchers who are relieved in extra innings after throwing nine or more innings will not be credited with a complete game. A starting pitcher who is replaced by a pinch hitter in the final half inning of a game will still be credited with a complete game.

Cy Young is the all-time leader in complete games with 749 and the only player to complete more than 700 games. Pud Galvin is second all-time with 646 career complete games and the only other player to complete more than 600 games. No active pitcher has yet to even reach 30 career complete games.[2]

Key

Rank Rank amongst leaders in career complete games. A blank field indicates a tie.
Player Name of the player.
CG Total career complete games.
* Denotes elected to National Baseball Hall of Fame.

List

Rank Player CG
1 Cy Young * 749
2 Pud Galvin * 646
3 Tim Keefe * 554
4 Kid Nichols * 532
5 Walter Johnson * 531
6 Bobby Mathews 525
Mickey Welch * 525
8 Charles Radbourn * 488
9 John Clarkson * 485
10 Tony Mullane 468
11 Jim McCormick 466
12 Gus Weyhing 449
13 Grover Cleveland Alexander * 436
14 Christy Mathewson * 435
15 Jack Powell 422
16 Eddie Plank * 410
17 Will White 394
18 Amos Rusie * 393
19 Vic Willis * 388
20 Tommy Bond 386
21 Warren Spahn * 382
22 Jim Whitney 377
23 Adonis Terry 367
24 Ted Lyons * 356
25 George Mullin 353
26 Charlie Buffinton 351
27 Chick Fraser 342
28 Clark Griffith * 337
29 Red Ruffing * 335
30 Silver King 328
31 Al Orth 324
32 Bill Hutchison 321
33 Burleigh Grimes * 314
Joe McGinnity * 314
35 Red Donahue 312
Guy Hecker 312
37 Bill Dinneen 306
38 Robin Roberts * 305
39 Gaylord Perry * 303
40 George Bradley 302
41 Ted Breitenstein 301
42 Bob Caruthers 298
Lefty Grove * 298
44 Pink Hawley 297
Ed Morris 297
46 Mark Baldwin 295
47 Brickyard Kennedy 294
48 Eppa Rixey * 290
49 Bill Donovan 289
Early Wynn * 289
Rank Player CG
51 Bert Cunningham 287
52 Wilbur Cooper 279
Bob Feller * 279
Sadie McMahon 279
Al Spalding * 279
Jack Taylor 279
57 Jack Stivetts 278
58 Pretzels Getzien 277
59 Red Faber * 273
60 Mordecai Brown * 271
Frank Dwyer 271
62 Jouett Meekin 270
63 Fergie Jenkins * 267
64 Ice Box Chamberlain 264
Matt Kilroy 264
Jesse Tannehill 264
67 Doc White 262
68 Rube Waddell * 261
69 Jack Chesbro * 260
Red Ehret 260
Carl Hubbell * 260
72 Larry Corcoran 256
73 Chief Bender * 255
Bob Gibson * 255
75 Steve Carlton * 254
76 Frank Killen 253
Win Mercer 253
78 Paul Derringer 251
79 Sad Sam Jones 250
Ed Walsh * 250
81 Eddie Cicotte 249
Herb Pennock * 249
Stump Weidman 249
84 Bobo Newsom 246
85 Hooks Dauss 245
Phil Niekro * 245
John Montgomery Ward * 245
88 Harry Howell 244
Juan Marichal * 244
90 Jack Quinn 243
91 Bert Blyleven * 242
Deacon Phillippe 242
Bucky Walters 242
94 Sam Leever 241
95 Kid Gleason 240
96 Addie Joss * 234
97 Candy Cummings * 233
98 Harry Staley 232
George Uhle 232
100 Carl Mays 231
Tom Seaver * 231

Sources

References

  1. ^ Dickson, Paul (1999). The new Dickson baseball dictionary. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. p. 130. ISBN 978-0-15-600580-7. Retrieved August 27, 2011.
  2. ^ "Active Career Leaders in Complete Games". Baseball Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
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