Image: Wiki Commons via Keith Allison from Owings Mills, USA
About This Quiz
If there's one pitcher you don't want to go up against, it's the one with the lowest ERA! In Major League Baseball, the ERA is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. So now we want to know ... do you have what it takes to recognize some of the greatest career ERA pitchers of all time? This quiz is sure to test your greatest baseball knowledge!
From Cy Young to Pedro Martinez, and Smoky Joe Wood to Mariano Rivera, these pitchers will have you shaking in your cleats! Of course everyone knows that Ed Walsh holds the record at 1.816 ... but did you know that Babe Ruth is also on the list? Why yes! His ERA ranks in at #17 greatest of all time with 2.277! This baseball star may be remembered as a strong slugging outfielder for the New York Yankees, but he actually began his career on the mound for the Boston Red Sox ... and he was quite good at it to boot!
So step right up, batter! It's time to see how well you know the best pitchers the MLB has ever known! They sure will try, but don't let these pitchers strike you out! Good luck and PLAY BALL!
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Can you name this MLB career ERA leader?
Roger Clemens
William Roger Clemens was nicknamed "Rocket", and for good reason too! He was a pitcher during his 24 seasons in the MLB with a career ERA of 3.12.
Gaylord Perry
Kid Nichols
Tom Seaver
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Who is this ERA leader?
Tom Seaver
Jim Palmer
Mariano Rivera
Born in Panama City, Panama, Mariano Rivera was a relief pitcher who played all 19 seasons in the MLB for the New York Yankees. He was nicknamed "Mo" and "Sandman" and recorded an ERA of 2.21!
Smoky Joe Wood
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Frank Russo via Youtube
Do you know who this ERA leader is?
Bob Feller
Bob Feller was born in Van Meter, Iowa in 1918. He played 18 seasons in the MLB for the Cleveland Indians, earning the nickname "The Heater from Van Meter." He was the 1940 AL ERA leader and had a career ERA of 3.25.
Smoky Joe Wood
Roy Halladay
Phil Niekro
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Wiki Commons via Tony the Marine
Name this MLB pitcher.
Phil Niekro
Greg Maddux
Gaylord Perry
Catfish Hunter
James Augustus Hunter was a five-time World Series champion! He was the 1974 AL ERA leader and also won the AL Cy Young Award that year. His #27 was retired by the Oakland Athletics.
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Wiki Commons
Who is the pitcher seen in this photo?
Sandy Koufax
With a career ERA of 2.76, Sandy Koufax pitched 12 seasons for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers. At the age of 36, he became the youngest player ever elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Gaylord Perry
Dennis Eckersley
Whitey Ford
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Wiki Commons via Keith Allison from Owings Mills, USA
Can you name this MLB pitcher?
Whitey Ford
Clayton Kershaw
Currently a starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Clayton Kershaw is a 3-time NL Cy Young Award recipient! He has been named the NL ERA leader five times already in his career.
Kid Nichols
Curt Schilling
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Which ERA-leading pitcher is seen here?
Curt Schilling
Randy Johnson
Satchel Paige
Lefty Grove
Robert Moses Grove played for the Philadelphia Athletics and Boston Red Sox, winning 300 games in his 17-year MLB career. He was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1947, and he had a career ERA of 3.06.
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Wiki Commons
There is an award named after him ...
Satchel Paige
Ed Walsh
Cy Young
Denton True "Cy" Young played in the MLB for 22 years and five different teams. During his career, he compiled 511 wins - which is the most in MLB history! His ERA? That was 2.63!
Don Sutton
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Recognize this famous pitcher?
Don Sutton
Phil Niekro
Dizzy Dean
Pedro Martínez
Hailing from the Dominican Republic, Pedro Martinez was a three-time Cy Young Award recipient as well as a five-time MLB ERA leader. His ERA was 2.93.
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Wiki Commons via Keith Allison from Owings Mills, USA
What is the name of this ERA-leading pitcher?
John Smoltz
Nicknamed "Marmaduke", John Smoltz was born in 1967 and played 22 seasons in the MLB. His win-loss record is 213-155 with an ERA of 3.33. Did you know he had more than 3,000 strikeouts in his career?
Dizzy Dean
Smoky Joe Wood
Tom Seaver
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Wiki Commons via ABC Television
Can you name this pitcher?
Tom Seaver
Don Drysdale
Donald Scott Drysdale was a right-handed pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers for his entire MLB career. Did you know that he won the 1962 Cy Young Award and in 1968 pitched a record six consecutive shutouts and 58 2⁄3 consecutive scoreless innings?
Kid Nichols
Ed Walsh
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Wiki Commons via 2 on a Whim Creations
Who is this ERA leader?
Ed Walsh
Warren Spahn
Tom Glavine
With a career ERA of 3.43, Tom Glavine was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014. He recorded 2,607 strikeouts and had a win-loss record of 305 - 203.
Carl Hubbell
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Wiki Commons via Baseball Digest
Do you know this pitcher?
Early Wynn
Did you know that Early Wynn was nicknamed Gus? With an ERA of 3.54, he is remembered as one of the most intimidating pitchers in the game with his powerful fastball combined with a hard attitude toward batters.
Carl Hubbell
Mordecai Brown
Christy Mathewson
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Wiki Commons
Who is the pitcher in this photo?
Christy Mathewson
Clayton Kershaw
Ferguson Jenkins
Warren Spahn
Warren Spahn was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1973 with a career ERA of 3.09. The Warren Spahn Award, given to the Major Leagues' best left-handed pitcher, is named after him.
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Wiki Commons via 5 of 7 - Flickr
The name of this famous pitcher is ________.
Catfish Hunter
Mordecai Brown
Ferguson Jenkins
Born in Chatham, Ontario, Fergie Jenkins recorded a whopping 3,192 strikeouts in his career. His ERA was 3.34 and he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991.
Don Drysdale
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Youtube via MLB
Recognize this pitcher?
Don Drysdale
Christy Mathewson
Satchel Paige
Roy Halladay
Did you know that Roy Halladay's nickname is "Doc"? With a career ERA of 3.38, Halladay died tragically in a plane crash on Nov. 7, 2017.
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YouTube
Surely you recognize this one ...
Carl Hubbell
Carl Hubbell ... The Meal Ticket! Twice voted the National League's Most Valuable Player, Hubbell was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1947. His career ERA was 2.98.
Satchel Paige
Ferguson Jenkins
Walter Johnson
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Wiki Commons
Do you know who this famous pitcher is?
Walter Johnson
Greg Maddux
Mad Dog played in the MLB from 1986 - 2008. He was the first pitcher in MLB history to win the Cy Young Award for four consecutive years (1992–1995), matched by only one other pitcher, Randy Johnson.
Kid Nichols
Rollie Fingers
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masn Orioles via Youtube
What is the name of this ERA-leading pitcher?
Rollie Fingers
Ed Walsh
Jim Palmer
James Alvin Palmer played all of his 19 years in the MLB with the Baltimore Orioles. He recorded an ERA of 2.86 and 2,212 strikeouts during his career!
Don Sutton
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Wiki Commons via George Grantham Bain Collection
Who is this pitcher?
Don Sutton
Whitey Ford
Mordecai Brown
"Three Finger" was born on October 19, 1876 in Nyesville, Indiana. Due to a farm-machinery accident in his youth, he lost parts of two fingers on his right hand. He turned this handicap into an advantage by learning how to grip a baseball in a way that resulted in an exceptional curveball.
Dizzy Dean
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Wiki Commons via Baseball Digest
Can you name the pitcher in this photo?
Dizzy Dean
Phil Niekro
Dennis Eckersley
Juan Marichal
Juan Marichal played in the MLB from 1960 - 1975. His career ERA was 2.89 and his number 27 was retired by the San Francisco Giants in 1975.
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Wiki commons
Which pitcher is seen here?
Dennis Eckersley
Christy Mathewson
Christopher Mathewson made his MLB debut in 1900. He played 17 seasons with the New York Giants and is remembered as one of the most dominant pitchers in history. His ERA was 2.13!
Tom Seaver
Goose Gossage
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Wiki Commons via Harris & Ewing, photographer
The career ERA-leading pitcher seen here is...
Goose Gossage
Randy Johnson
Christy Mathewson
Smoky Joe Wood
Do you know Smoky Joe's real name? Howard Ellsworth Wood of course! Wood is one of only 13 pitchers to win 30 or more games in one season since 1900. His career ERA was 2.03.
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Wiki Commons
Who is this "big" pitcher seen here?
Randy Johnson
The Big Unit was a star pitcher in the MLB from 1988 - 2009. He batted right but threw left, and he had a career ERA of 3.29. Johnson has the second-most number of strikeouts in MLB history with 4,875!
Christy Mathewson
Early Wynn
Lefty Grove
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Wiki Commons
Recognize this pitcher?
Lefty Grove
Don Drysdale
Walter Johnson
Remembered as The Big Train, Walter Johnson pitched his entire 21-year career for the Washington Senators. His ERA is recorded as 2.17!
Mariano Rivera
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How about this one?
Satchel Paige
Leroy Robert "Satchel" Paige was an American Negro League and Major League Baseball pitcher. He became a legend in his own lifetime by his longevity in the game, and by attracting record crowds wherever he pitched! His ERA was 3.29.
Mariano Rivera
Clayton Kershaw
Roger Clemens
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Can you name this ERA-leading pitcher?
Roger Clemens
Bob Gibson
Did you know that Robert Gibson's nicknames were "Gibby" and "Hoot"? He pitched all 17 seasons of his career for the St. Louis Cardinals. His recorded ERA was 2.91.
Bob Feller
Pedro Martínez
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Wiki Commons via The Sporting News
Wouldn't want to go up against him? We don't blame you!
Pedro Martínez
Kid Nichols
Charles Augustus "Kid" Nichols played for the Boston Beaneaters, St. Louis Cardinals and Philadelphia Phillies from 1890 to 1906. He won 361 games in his career and had an ERA of 2.96.
Tom Glavine
Mariano Rivera
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Wiki Commons
Think you can name this pitcher?
Mariano Rivera
Lefty Grove
Nolan Ryan
Nolan Ryan was nicknamed The Ryan Express. He is the current leader of most strikeouts in MLB history with 5,714. His ERA? That was 3.19!
Greg Maddux
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Wiki Commons via Paul Thompson - Library of Congress
Do you recognize this MLB pitcher?
Greg Maddux
Roy Halladay
Carl Hubbell
Ed Walsh
Ed Walsh played in the MLB from 1904 - 1917. Though his career was cut short by injuries, he stands today as the lowest ERA pitcher of all time with 1.82! He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1946.
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Wiki Commons via Adam Fagen
Who is seen in this photo?
Carl Hubbell
Early Wynn
Don Sutton
Don Sutton played in the MLB as a right-handed pitcher. He played for 23 seasons as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Houston Astros, Milwaukee Brewers, Oakland Athletics and California Angels. His career ERA was 3.26.
Mordecai Brown
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Name this MLB ERA-leading pitcher ...
Mordecai Brown
Walter Johnson
Juan Marichal
Rollie Fingers
in 1992, Roland Glen Fingers became only the second reliever to be elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. His career ERA was 2.90, with a record 341 saves!
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Wiki Commons via twm1340
Can you name this MLB pitcher?
Juan Marichal
Warren Spahn
John Smoltz
Gaylord Perry
Gaylord Perry pitched from 1962 - 1983 for eight different teams. During his 22-year baseball career, he compiled 314 wins, 3,534 strikeouts and a 3.11 ERA. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991.
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Wiki Commons
What about this one?
Tom Seaver
Tom Terrific enjoyed a 20-year career in the MLB. During these years, he compiled 311 wins, 3,640 strikeouts, 61 shutouts and a 2.86 earned run average. In 1992, he was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame by the highest percentage of votes ever recorded at the time at 98.84%!
John Smoltz
Ferguson Jenkins
Carl Hubbell
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Wiki Commons via Jim Accordino
Who is this famous pitcher?
Carl Hubbell
Tom Glavine
Phil Niekro
Did you know that Niekro's 318 career victories are the most by a knuckleball pitcher in the MLB? He played in the leave from 1964 - 1987 and ended with a 3.35 ERA.
Walter Johnson
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St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame
A few more now, who is this MLB pitcher?
Dizzy Dean
Jay Hanna Dean, also known as Jerome Herman Dean, was an MLB pitcher from 1930 - 1947. During his career, he won 150 games, had 1,163 strikeouts and an ERA of 3.02.
Walter Johnson
Ed Walsh
Tom Seaver
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You wouldn't want to be at bat with this pitcher ...
Tom Seaver
Warren Spahn
Curt Schilling
Curt Schilling was born in 1966 in Anchorage, Alaska. He played in the MLB from 1988 - 2007 compiling 216 wins, 3,116 strikeouts and an ERA of 3.46.
John Smoltz
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JayJunior
Recognize this pitcher?
Dennis Eckersley
"Eck" as most people know him, played in the MLB from 1975 - 1998. He may have had success as a starter, but he gained his greatest fame as a closer, becoming the first of two pitchers in MLB history to have both a 20-win season and a 50-save season in a career!
John Smoltz
Carl Hubbell
Christy Mathewson
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Don't get caught at the plate with this one!
Goose Gossage
A 9-time All-Star, Goose Gossage was born Richard Michael Gossage in 1951 in Colorado Springs. He made his debut in 1972 for the Chicago White Sox and ended his career in 1994 with the Seattle Mariners.
Christy Mathewson
Cy Young
Early Wynn
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Last one! Can you name this MLB ERA-leading pitcher?
Early Wynn
Juan Marichal
Roger Clemens
Whitey Ford
Did you know that Edward Charles "Whitey" Ford was nicknamed "The Chairman of the Board"! He spent his entire 16-year career with the New York Yankees, compiling 236 wins and an ERA of 2.75!
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You Got:
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Wiki Commons via Keith Allison from Owings Mills, USA