Complete game
Encyclopedia
In baseball
, a complete game (denoted by CG) is the act of a pitcher
pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher
.
As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball
pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were expected to complete games they started. As the 20th century went on, complete games became less common, to the point where a good pitcher typically achieves only 1 or 2 complete games a season today. (In the 2009 MLB season, 3.1% of starts were complete games) To put this in perspective, as recently as the 1980s, 10–15 complete games a year by a star pitcher was not unheard of, and in 1980, Oakland Athletics
pitcher Rick Langford
threw 22 consecutive complete games. Years earlier, Robin Roberts of the Philadelphia Phillies
threw 28 consecutive complete games, spanning the 1952 and 1953 seasons.
This change has been brought about by strict adherence to pitch count
s as a basis for removing a pitcher, even though he may appear to be pitching well, and new pitching philosophies in general. Many have come to believe that the risk of arm injuries becomes far more prevalent after a pitcher has thrown 100 to 120 pitches in a single game. Though Hall-of-Famer Nolan Ryan
once threw well over 200 pitches in a single game (a 1974 contest in which he pitched 13 innings), it is now rare for a manager to allow a pitcher to throw more than 120 pitches in a start.
Given this, sabermetricians generally regard Cy Young
's total of 749 complete games as the career baseball record most unlikely to ever be broken.
CC Sabathia threw a total of 10 complete games in the 2008 season for the Cleveland Indians
and Milwaukee Brewers
, becoming the first pitcher to reach double digits in a single season since Randy Johnson
threw twelve complete games for the Arizona Diamondbacks
in 1999. The last pitcher to throw as many as 15 complete games in a single season was Curt Schilling
, who accomplished that feat for the Philadelphia Phillies
in 1998. The last pitcher to throw 20 complete games in a single season was Fernando Valenzuela
, who did so for the Los Angeles Dodgers
in 1986. The last pitcher to throw 25 complete games in a season was Rick Langford
, who had 28 for the Oakland Athletics
in 1980. The last pitcher to throw 30 complete games in a season was Catfish Hunter
, who did so for the New York Yankees
in 1975.
All pitchers above are right-handed, except for Eddie Plank.
All pitchers right-handed except Matt Kilroy and Toad Ramsey.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
, a complete game (denoted by CG) is the act of a pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
.
As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were expected to complete games they started. As the 20th century went on, complete games became less common, to the point where a good pitcher typically achieves only 1 or 2 complete games a season today. (In the 2009 MLB season, 3.1% of starts were complete games) To put this in perspective, as recently as the 1980s, 10–15 complete games a year by a star pitcher was not unheard of, and in 1980, Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
pitcher Rick Langford
Rick Langford
James Rick Langford , is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1976-1986...
threw 22 consecutive complete games. Years earlier, Robin Roberts of the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
threw 28 consecutive complete games, spanning the 1952 and 1953 seasons.
This change has been brought about by strict adherence to pitch count
Pitch count
In baseball statistics, pitch count is the number of pitches thrown by a pitcher in a game.Pitch counts are especially a concern for young pitchers, pitchers recovering from injury, or pitchers who have a history of injuries. The pitcher wants to keep the pitch count low because of his stamina...
s as a basis for removing a pitcher, even though he may appear to be pitching well, and new pitching philosophies in general. Many have come to believe that the risk of arm injuries becomes far more prevalent after a pitcher has thrown 100 to 120 pitches in a single game. Though Hall-of-Famer Nolan Ryan
Nolan Ryan
Lynn Nolan Ryan, Jr. , nicknamed "The Ryan Express", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He is currently principal owner, president and CEO of the Texas Rangers....
once threw well over 200 pitches in a single game (a 1974 contest in which he pitched 13 innings), it is now rare for a manager to allow a pitcher to throw more than 120 pitches in a start.
Given this, sabermetricians generally regard Cy Young
Cy Young
Denton True "Cy" Young was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. During his 22-year baseball career , he pitched for five different teams. Young was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1937...
's total of 749 complete games as the career baseball record most unlikely to ever be broken.
CC Sabathia threw a total of 10 complete games in the 2008 season for the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
and Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
, becoming the first pitcher to reach double digits in a single season since Randy Johnson
Randy Johnson
Randall David Johnson , nicknamed "The Big Unit", is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. During a 22-year career, he pitched for six different teams....
threw twelve complete games for the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
in 1999. The last pitcher to throw as many as 15 complete games in a single season was Curt Schilling
Curt Schilling
Curtis Montague "Curt" Schilling is a former American Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He helped lead the Philadelphia Phillies to the World Series in and won World Series championships in with the Arizona Diamondbacks and in and with the Boston Red Sox. Schilling retired with a...
, who accomplished that feat for the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
in 1998. The last pitcher to throw 20 complete games in a single season was Fernando Valenzuela
Fernando Valenzuela
Fernando Valenzuela Anguamea is a Mexican former left-handed pitcher, most notably with the Los Angeles Dodgers.In 1981, the 20-year-old Valenzuela took Los Angeles by storm, winning his first 8 decisions and leading the Dodgers to the World Championship...
, who did so for the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
in 1986. The last pitcher to throw 25 complete games in a season was Rick Langford
Rick Langford
James Rick Langford , is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1976-1986...
, who had 28 for the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
in 1980. The last pitcher to throw 30 complete games in a season was Catfish Hunter
Catfish Hunter
James Augustus "Catfish" Hunter , was a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. During a 15-year baseball career, he pitched from 1965-1979 for both the Oakland Athletics and the New York Yankees...
, who did so for the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
in 1975.
Historical trend
| Year | Games started | Complete games | Complete game % | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,496 | 2,186 | 87.6 | ||
| 3,758 | 2,067 | 55.0 | ||
| 2,462 | 1,198 | 48.7 | ||
| 2,446 | 1,061 | 43.4 | ||
| 2,484 | 1,123 | 45.2 | ||
| 2,472 | 840 | 34.0 | ||
| 3,252 | 797 | 24.5 | ||
| 3,890 | 1,089 | 28.0 | ||
| 4,210 | 632 | 15.0 | ||
| 3,200 | 255 | 8.0 | ||
| 4,854 | 150 | 3.1 |
Career leaders
- 1. Cy YoungCy YoungDenton True "Cy" Young was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. During his 22-year baseball career , he pitched for five different teams. Young was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1937...
- 749 - 2. Pud GalvinPud GalvinJames Francis Galvin , nicknamed "Pud", "Gentle Jeems", and "The Little Steam Engine", was an American National Association and Major League Baseball pitcher. He was Major League Baseball's first 300-game winner...
- 646 - 3. Tim KeefeTim KeefeTimothy John "Tim" Keefe , nicknamed "Smiling Tim" and "Sir Timothy", was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. He was one of the most dominating pitchers of the 19th century and posted impressive statistics in one category or another for almost every season he pitched...
- 554 - 4. Walter JohnsonWalter JohnsonWalter Perry Johnson , nicknamed "Barney" and "The Big Train", was a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He played his entire 21-year baseball career for the Washington Senators...
- 531 - 5. Kid NicholsKid NicholsCharles Augustus Nichols , better known as Kid Nichols, was a Major League Baseball pitcher. Admired for his steadfast consistency year-in and year-out, Nichols won 361 games, the 7th highest total in major league history...
- 531 - 6. Bobby MathewsBobby MathewsRobert T. Mathews was an American right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher for twenty years beginning in the late 1860s. He is credited as being one of the inventors of the spitball pitch, which was rediscovered or reintroduced to the major leagues after he died. He is also credited with the...
- 525 - 7. Mickey WelchMickey WelchMichael Francis Welch Born as Michael Francis Walsh , nicknamed "Smiling Mickey", was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He was the third pitcher to accumulate 300 career victories. Welch was born in Brooklyn, New York, and played 13 seasons in the major leagues, three with the Troy Trojans, and 10...
- 525 - 8. Charley Radbourn - 489
- 9. John ClarksonJohn ClarksonJohn Gibson Clarkson was a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He played from 1882 to 1894. Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Clarkson played for the Worcester Ruby Legs , Chicago White Stockings , Boston Beaneaters , and Cleveland Spiders .He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in...
- 485 - 10. Tony MullaneTony MullaneAnthony John "Tony" Mullane , nickamed "Count" and "The Apollo of the Box", was an Irish Major League Baseball player who pitched for seven teams during his 13-season career...
- 468 - 11. Jim McCormick - 466
- 12. Gus WeyhingGus WeyhingAugust "Gus" Weyhing was a pitcher for nine professional baseball teams in a career that spanned 14 years from to . He was small for a pitcher by today's standards, listed at 5 feet 10 inches tall and between 120-145 pounds...
- 448 - 13. Pete AlexanderGrover Cleveland AlexanderGrover Cleveland Alexander , nicknamed "Old Pete", was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. He played for the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, and St. Louis Cardinals and was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1938.-Career:Alexander was born in Elba, Nebraska, one of thirteen...
- 437 - 14. Christy MathewsonChristy MathewsonChristopher "Christy" Mathewson , nicknamed "Big Six", "The Christian Gentleman", or "Matty", was an American Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He played his entire career in what is known as the dead-ball era...
- 434 - 15. Jack Powell - 422
- 16. Eddie PlankEddie PlankEdward Stewart Plank , nicknamed "Gettysburg Eddie", was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He is the first left-handed pitcher to win 200 games and then 300 games, and now ranks third in all-time wins among left-handers with 326 career victories and first all-time in career shutouts by a...
- 410 - 17. Will WhiteWill WhiteWilliam Henry "Whoop-La" White was an American Major League Baseball pitcher.White made his debut on July 20, 1877 with the Boston Red Caps at the age of 23...
- 394 - 18. Amos RusieAmos RusieAmos Wilson Rusie , nicknamed "The Hoosier Thunderbolt", was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball during the late 19th century...
- 392 - 19. Vic WillisVic WillisVictor Gazaway Willis was a Major League Baseball player nicknamed "The Delaware Peach." He was a starting pitcher...
- 388 - 20. Tommy BondTommy Bond (baseball)Thomas Henry Bond was a Major League Baseball player who was a pitcher and a right fielder a total of ten seasons. A native of Granard, Ireland, he is the first person born in Ireland to play Major League Baseball. Bond was also the last survivor of the National League's first season...
- 386
All pitchers above are right-handed, except for Eddie Plank.
Active career leaders
As of the season, the active players in Major League Baseball who lead MLB in career complete games are:- 1. Roy HalladayRoy HalladayHarry Leroy "Roy" Halladay III , nicknamed "Doc", is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies...
- 66 - 2. Liván HernándezLiván HernándezEisler Liván Hernández Carrera is a Cuban professional baseball pitcher. He is the half-brother of pitcher Orlando "El Duque" Hernández.-Playing career:...
- 50 - 3. Jamie MoyerJamie MoyerJamie Moyer is an American professional left handed baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. At the time of his last game to date , he was the oldest player in the major leagues and had the most wins, losses, and strikeouts of any active Major League pitcher...
- 33 - 4. Tim WakefieldTim WakefieldTimothy Stephen Wakefield is an American professional baseball pitcher. Wakefield began pitching with the Red Sox in 1995, making him the longest-serving player currently on the team. Wakefield is also the oldest current active player in the majors, and one of two active knuckleballers, the other...
- 32 - 5. CC Sabathia - 30
Single-season leaders
- 1. Will WhiteWill WhiteWilliam Henry "Whoop-La" White was an American Major League Baseball pitcher.White made his debut on July 20, 1877 with the Boston Red Caps at the age of 23...
- 75 - 1879 - 2. Charley Radbourn - 73 - 1884
- 3. Pud GalvinPud GalvinJames Francis Galvin , nicknamed "Pud", "Gentle Jeems", and "The Little Steam Engine", was an American National Association and Major League Baseball pitcher. He was Major League Baseball's first 300-game winner...
- 72 - 1883 - 4. Guy HeckerGuy HeckerGuy Jackson Hecker was an American pitcher in Major League Baseball. He was born in Youngsville, Pennsylvania. His debut game took place on May 2, 1882. His final game took place on September 30, 1890. During his career he played for the Louisville Eclipse and Pittsburgh Pirates...
- 72 - 1884 - 5. Jim McCormick - 72 - 1880
- 6. Pud GalvinPud GalvinJames Francis Galvin , nicknamed "Pud", "Gentle Jeems", and "The Little Steam Engine", was an American National Association and Major League Baseball pitcher. He was Major League Baseball's first 300-game winner...
- 71 - 1884 - 7. John ClarksonJohn ClarksonJohn Gibson Clarkson was a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He played from 1882 to 1894. Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Clarkson played for the Worcester Ruby Legs , Chicago White Stockings , Boston Beaneaters , and Cleveland Spiders .He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in...
- 68 - 1885 - 8. John ClarksonJohn ClarksonJohn Gibson Clarkson was a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He played from 1882 to 1894. Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Clarkson played for the Worcester Ruby Legs , Chicago White Stockings , Boston Beaneaters , and Cleveland Spiders .He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in...
- 68 - 1889 - 9. Tim KeefeTim KeefeTimothy John "Tim" Keefe , nicknamed "Smiling Tim" and "Sir Timothy", was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. He was one of the most dominating pitchers of the 19th century and posted impressive statistics in one category or another for almost every season he pitched...
- 68 - 1883 - 10. Bill Hutchinson - 67 - 1892
- 11. Jim DevlinJim DevlinJames Alexander Devlin was an American Major League Baseball player who played mainly as a first baseman early in his career, then as a pitcher in the latter part...
- 66 - 1876 - 12. Matt KilroyMatt KilroyMatthew Aloysius Kilroy was an American left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.-Rookie season:...
- 66 - 1886 - 13. Matt KilroyMatt KilroyMatthew Aloysius Kilroy was an American left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.-Rookie season:...
- 66 - 1887 - 14. Charley Radbourn - 66 - 1883
- 15. Toad RamseyToad RamseyThomas H. "Toad" Ramsey was an American Major League Baseball player who pitched in the Majors from to . Ramsey spent his entire career in the American Association, split between two different teams. He played for the Louisville Colonels, and later, the St. Louis Browns...
- 66 - 1886 - 16. Pud GalvinPud GalvinJames Francis Galvin , nicknamed "Pud", "Gentle Jeems", and "The Little Steam Engine", was an American National Association and Major League Baseball pitcher. He was Major League Baseball's first 300-game winner...
- 65 - 1879 - 17. Bill Hutchinson - 65 - 1890
- 18. Jim McCormick - 65 - 1882
- 19. Silver KingSilver King (baseball player)Silver King , born Charles Frederick Koenig in St. Louis, Missouri, was a Major League Baseball player from 1886 through 1897....
- 64 - 1888 - 20. Tony MullaneTony MullaneAnthony John "Tony" Mullane , nickamed "Count" and "The Apollo of the Box", was an Irish Major League Baseball player who pitched for seven teams during his 13-season career...
- 64 - 1884 - 21. Mickey WelchMickey WelchMichael Francis Welch Born as Michael Francis Walsh , nicknamed "Smiling Mickey", was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He was the third pitcher to accumulate 300 career victories. Welch was born in Brooklyn, New York, and played 13 seasons in the major leagues, three with the Troy Trojans, and 10...
- 64 - 1880 - 22. Will WhiteWill WhiteWilliam Henry "Whoop-La" White was an American Major League Baseball pitcher.White made his debut on July 20, 1877 with the Boston Red Caps at the age of 23...
- 64 - 1883
All pitchers right-handed except Matt Kilroy and Toad Ramsey.
Other records
- Jack TaylorJack Taylor (20th century baseball player)John W. "Jack" Taylor was an award-winning right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Chicago Cubs baseball team.He was born in New Straitsville, Ohio.- Career :...
completed 187 consecutive games he started between 1901 and 1906. - Leon CadoreLeon CadoreLeon "Caddy" Joseph Cadore was a right-handed American pitcher from 1915 - 1924. Cadore shares a MLB record for the most innings pitched in a single game . In 1920, both Cadore and Joe Oeschger pitched all 26 innings for their respective teams in a game that was eventually called a tie due to...
and Joe OeschgerJoe OeschgerJoseph Carl Oeschger was an American pitcher in Major League Baseball who played 12 seasons from 1914 to 1925. After starting his career with the Philadelphia Phillies, Oeschger was traded to the New York Giants...
share the record for the longest complete game, achieved when they pitched against each other in a 26-inning marathon that ended in a 1-1 tie on May 1, 1920.