Major_league_pitchers_beating_all_30_teams

List of major league pitchers who have beaten all 30 teams

List of major league pitchers who have beaten all 30 teams

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Since 1998, there have been 30 teams in Major League Baseball (MLB). It is very rare for a pitcher to record a win against every team. In earlier times, two factors made it nearly impossible to defeat all teams in both leagues (even before expansion increased the number to 30):

  • Before the era of free-agency, in which players are free to move to another team at the end of their contract, a pitcher would play for only a few teams, and could not, of course, win a game against his own team.
  • Before inter-league play began in June 1997, a pitcher would see only half of the 30 teams in any single season, unless traded to a team in the other league. Even with inter-league play, a pitcher may not have his spot in a typical 5-man rotation match the games in the single 3- or 4-game series against another team, and only a few teams from the other league were played in any season prior to 2023.

In any case, defeating all teams is more likely only if a pitcher has a long career. In 2023, the MLB switched to a more balanced schedule, and for the first time in MLB history, every team played every other team in each league at least three times. MLB teams now play 1 three-game series against 14 of the other league's teams, with the home team switching every year, and 2 two-game series (one series at home, one away) against the team in the other league deemed their "geographic rival." They also play more games against non-division teams in their league, and as a result, play less intra-divisional games.[1]

Because of the schedule changes, it is easier now than ever before for MLB pitchers to win a game against every team in the league. That being said, it is still an extremely difficult feat due to five different pitchers being in a starting rotation on any given team, the longevity and high winning percentage needed by a pitcher to be able to win games consistently, and other unforeseen and random barriers that very from player to player.

30 team winners

As of May 10, 2023, there have been 21 pitchers who have beaten all 30 teams. Only 14 teams have had a pitcher accomplish the feat while on their roster, with the San Francisco Giants and New York Yankees the only franchises to have three such pitchers: Randy Johnson, Barry Zito, and Tim Hudson for the Giants, and Kevin Brown, Javier Vázquez, and Gerrit Cole for the Yankees. Johnson is so far the only member to be elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

More information *, Bold ...
More information Name, Date feat was accomplished ...
Notes
    1. A player is considered inactive if he has announced his retirement or not played for a full season.
    2. In Tokyo, Japan.
    3. Scherzer is the first pitcher to accomplish the feat with a complete game. He also struck out 20 batters, tying an MLB record for a nine-inning game.

    Active pitchers approaching 30 wins

    29 team winners

    As of November 20, 2023, five active pitchers have defeated 29 teams.

    28 team winners

    As of November 20, 2023, four active pitchers have defeated 28 teams.

    27 team winners

    As of November 20, 2023, two active pitchers have defeated 27 teams.

    26 team winners

    As of November 20, 2023, eleven active pitchers have defeated 26 teams.

    References

    1. [1]
      "Play ball vs. all: MLB teams facing other 29 in '23". ESPN.com. 2022-08-24. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
    2. [2]
      Lennon, David (May 1, 2002). "All Teams Know 'L' In Leiter". newsday.com. Newsday. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
    3. [3]
      Jaffe, Chris (April 30, 2012). "10th anniversary: first man to beat 30 franchises". hardballtimes.com. The Hardball Times. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
    4. [4]
      "Mullholland Beats All – Veteran Left-hander Tops Detroit, His 30th Victim". Toledo Blade. Associated Press. July 20, 2004. p. C1. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
    5. [5]
      Associated Press (July 21, 2010). "Javier Vazquez Becomes Third Active Pitcher to Beat All 30 Teams in Yankees Win". nesn.com. New England Sports Network. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
    6. [6]
      Cassavell, A.J. (August 9, 2013). "Washington Nationals right-hander Dan Haren tops the Philadelphia Phillies to become the 13th pitcher to beat all 30 Major League teams". Major League Baseball. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
    7. [7]
      Gruman, Andrew (June 27, 2015). "Milwaukee Brewers' Kyle Lohse completes rare feat with defeat of Minnesota Twins". Fox Sports. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
    8. [8]
      McCauley, Janie (27 July 2015). "Hudson beats his former A's, now has W against all 30 teams". Yahoo! Sports. Associated Press.
    9. [9]
      Sharkey-Gotlieb, Simon (April 19, 2016). "Lackey becomes 16th pitcher to beat all 30 teams". thescore.com. Score Media Ventures. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
    10. [10]
      Birenbaum, Jonah (May 12, 2016). "Scherzer's Gem Makes Him 17th Pitcher to Beat All 30 Teams". thescore.com. Score Media Ventures. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
    11. [11]
      "Twins' Bartolo Colon Beats Diamondbacks to Accomplish Rare MLB Feat". 20 August 2017.
    12. [12]
      "Greinke slows Royals for wins over all MLB clubs". MLB.com. Retrieved 2019-09-15.
    13. [13]
      "Yankees vs. Astros - Game Recap - July 10, 2021 - ESPN".
    14. [14]
      "Mets vs. Reds - Game Recap - May 10, 2023". MLB.com.
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