5 Best Pitchers I've Ever Seen

A few weeks ago I wrote a betting blog on my 5 best ever position players that I’d ever watched. I restricted myself to those players I’d actually seen with my own eyes, and came up with Manny Ramirez, A-Rod, Barry Bonds, Ichiro and Ken Griffey Jnr.

Today I want to talk about my 5 favourite pitchers. Again, only those I’ve seen so no room, I’m afraid, for Nolan Ryan and Cy Young and Sandy Koufax.

1. Mariano Rivera. The Sand Man! The closer of closers. Sadly injured now and looking at possible retirement, Mo was lights out for the ninth inning throughout the Yankees golden years. His cut fastball, thrown with that beautiful tempo and rhythm, was a thing of beauty.

2. Roger Clemens. One of the most hated players in history (he seemed to leave a trail of ill will behind him every club he left) but there’s no doubting the man’s ability. Dominant in three different decades (a Cy Young in each!) and with an MVP award too, Clemens might be the best of the lot.

3. Pedro Martinez. Pedro didn’t have the longevity of Clemens, but at his peak I doubt there was a pitcher in history who could have lived with him. His 2000 season (18-6, 1.74 ERA) has to be in the discussion of the best of all time, and this was bang in the middle of the steroid era!

4. Roy Halladay. Still going strong and still throwing hard, Halladay has been the best pitcher in baseball over the last decade. He’s won a Cy Young in both the AL and NL and finished in the top five of the voting all time. An eight time all star with two no-hitters.

5. Randy Johnson. The Big Unit! Has there ever been a better nickname? The 6’10” monster struck batters out for fun, with the highest K/9 rate of any pitcher in history. He also has, lest we forget, a no hitter, a perfect game and a World Series MVP in the locker.