Greatest Left Handed Pitcher In History

Interesting debate here from the writers at ESPN:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4231338

Thoughts?

 

Koufax, Spahn, Grove, Carlton, take your pick. All top of the tops.

 

Strasburg.

 

Koufax.
Spahn.
Carlton.

 

Sandy Koufax is the greatest pitcher of all time.

I agree with Spahn and Carlton in any order as the 2 and 3 lefties.


And where the hell did you dig up an ESPN debate from June, 2009?

 

Koufax and Spahn immediately came to mind. I cringed at the thought that Randy Johnson would be on the list. I found it interesting that they mentioned pitchers from Johnson's era having some sort of mysterious boost. I'd like to see how these guys compare in terms of innings per start. It's much easier to maintain a relatively low ERA if you're only called upon to throw six or seven innings.

 

Bruce Hurst

 

Jesse Orosco

 

Oliver Perez

 

The greatest left-handed pitcher I have ever seen play is Steve Carlton.

I'm guessing Spahn, Grove and Koufax weren't bad either.

 

I was checking my favorites, and it was in there. I totally forgot it was there.

Anyway, Id say the debate is pretty much between Grove and Johnson and I'd take Grove. Both had as good or better a peak than Koufax and did it much longer. Spahn had an awesome career, but can't match their peaks (interesting that Spahn and Aaron were team mates so long and are arguably the greatest examples for consistent greatness amoung pitchers and position players). Carlton just a notch behind Spahn there. His best years (especially best year) are better, but he had a few clunkers mixed in as well. Hubbell would be next on my list, but he is clearly behind all of the above.

 

Lefty Gomez, of course.

Or Lefty Driesell.