Walter Johnson

Walter Johnson is the gold standard for pitching longevity and dominance, with 417 career wins that rank second all-time behind only Cy Young. His 3,509 strikeouts set a record that stood until 1983, a 66-year reign unmatched by any other pitcher in history. Johnson's career ERA of 2.17 is nearly a full run better than the typical live-ball era starter, which averages around 3.85. The Big Train threw 110 shutouts, a record that remains untouched, outpacing #9 Ken Griffey Jr. in pure statistical legacy. His WHIP of 1.061 over 21 seasons with the Washington Senators is the lowest among all pitchers with at least 3,000 innings, and his 36.9 career WAR per 200 innings pitched is 30% higher than the average Hall of Fame pitcher. Johnson remains the only pitcher to win the MVP award twice before 1930.