Yearly League Leaders & Records for WAR for Pitchers

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Table
Year National League WAR American League WAR Other WAR Other WAR
2026Cristopher Sánchez* (PHI)5.1 Cam Schlittler (NYY)3.9
2025Cristopher Sánchez* (PHI)8.1 Tarik Skubal* (DET)6.4
2024Zack Wheeler (PHI)6.5 Tarik Skubal* (DET)6.7
2023Blake Snell* (SDP)6.5 Gerrit Cole (NYY)7.4
2022Sandy Alcantara (MIA)8.0 Dylan Cease (CHW)6.4
2021Zack Wheeler (PHI)7.5 Robbie Ray* (TOR)6.9
2020Trevor Bauer (CIN)3.0 Shane Bieber (CLE)3.2
2019Jacob deGrom (NYM)7.2 Mike Minor* (TEX)8.0
2018Aaron Nola (PHI)9.7 Blake Snell* (TBR)7.1
2017Max Scherzer (WSN)7.2 Corey Kluber (CLE)7.9
2016Max Scherzer (WSN)6.3 Justin Verlander (DET)7.4
2015Zack Greinke (LAD)8.9 Dallas Keuchel* (HOU)6.6
2014Clayton Kershaw* (LAD)7.7 Corey Kluber (CLE)8.1
2013Clayton Kershaw* (LAD)8.1 Hisashi Iwakuma (SEA)7.0
2012Clayton Kershaw* (LAD)6.4 Justin Verlander (DET)8.1
2011Roy Halladay+ (PHI)8.8 Justin Verlander (DET)8.6
2010Roy Halladay+ (PHI)8.5 Félix Hernández (SEA)7.2
2009Tim Lincecum (SFG)7.4 Zack Greinke (KCR)10.4
2008Tim Lincecum (SFG)7.8 Cliff Lee* (CLE)6.8
2007Roy Oswalt (HOU)6.6 Josh Beckett (BOS)6.5
2006Brandon Webb (ARI)7.0 Johan Santana* (MIN)7.6
2005Roger Clemens (HOU)7.8 Johan Santana* (MIN)7.2
2004Randy Johnson+* (ARI)8.4 Johan Santana* (MIN)8.7
2003Mark Prior (CHC)7.4 Roy Halladay+ (TOR)8.1
2002Randy Johnson+* (ARI)10.7 Roy Halladay+ (TOR)7.3
2001Randy Johnson+* (ARI)10.1 Mike Mussina+ (NYY)7.1
2000Randy Johnson+* (ARI)8.1 Pedro Martínez+ (BOS)11.7
1999Randy Johnson+* (ARI)9.1 Pedro Martínez+ (BOS)9.8
1998Kevin Brown (SDP)8.6 Roger Clemens (TOR)8.1
1997Pedro Martínez+ (MON)9.0 Roger Clemens (TOR)11.9
1996Kevin Brown (FLA)7.9 Pat Hentgen (TOR)8.6
1995Greg Maddux+ (ATL)9.7 Randy Johnson+* (SEA)8.6
1994Greg Maddux+ (ATL)8.5 David Cone (KCR)6.9
1993José Rijo (CIN)9.2 Kevin Appier (KCR)9.3
1992Greg Maddux+ (CHC)9.1 Roger Clemens (BOS)8.7
1991Tom Glavine+* (ATL)8.5 Roger Clemens (BOS)7.9
1990Ed Whitson (SDP)7.0 Roger Clemens (BOS)10.4
1989Orel Hershiser (LAD)7.0 Bret Saberhagen (KCR)9.7
1988Orel Hershiser (LAD)7.2 Mark Gubicza (KCR)7.7
1987Bob Welch (LAD)7.1 Roger Clemens (BOS)9.4
1986Mike Scott (HOU)8.4 Teddy Higuera* (MIL)9.4
1985Dwight Gooden (NYM)12.2 Bret Saberhagen (KCR)7.1
1984Dwight Gooden (NYM)5.5 Dave Stieb (TOR)7.9
1983John Denny (PHI)7.4 Dave Stieb (TOR)7.0
1982Steve Rogers (MON)7.7 Dave Stieb (TOR)7.6
1981Steve Carlton+* (PHI)5.5 Bert Blyleven+ (CLE)5.6
1980Steve Carlton+* (PHI)10.2 Britt Burns* (CHW)7.0
1979Phil Niekro+ (ATL)7.4 Jerry Koosman* (MIN)7.2
1978Phil Niekro+ (ATL)10.0 Ron Guidry* (NYY)9.6
1977Rick Reuschel (CHC)9.5 Frank Tanana* (CAL)8.3
1976John Montefusco (SFG)6.9 Mark Fidrych (DET)9.6
1975Tom Seaver+ (NYM)7.8 Jim Palmer+ (BAL)8.4
1974Jon Matlack* (NYM)9.1 Gaylord Perry+ (CLE)8.5
1973Tom Seaver+ (NYM)10.6 Bert Blyleven+ (MIN)9.7
1972Steve Carlton+* (PHI)12.1 Gaylord Perry+ (CLE)10.8
1971Tom Seaver+ (NYM)10.2 Wilbur Wood* (CHW)11.8
1970Bob Gibson+ (STL)8.9 Sam McDowell* (CLE)8.3
1969Bob Gibson+ (STL)10.4 Denny McLain (DET)8.1
1968Bob Gibson+ (STL)11.2 Luis Tiant (CLE)8.5
1967Jim Bunning+ (PHI)7.8 Jim Merritt* (MIN)6.5
1966Sandy Koufax+* (LAD)10.3 Earl Wilson (2TM)5.9
1965Juan Marichal+ (SFG)10.3 Sam McDowell* (CLE)8.2
1964Don Drysdale+ (LAD)7.8 Dean Chance (LAA)9.4
1963Sandy Koufax+* (LAD)10.7 Camilo Pascual (MIN)6.1
1962Bob Purkey (CIN)7.3 Hank Aguirre* (DET)7.4
1961Don Cardwell (CHC)6.1 Jack Kralick* (MIN)6.0
1960Ernie Broglio (STL)7.1 Jim Bunning+ (DET)6.6
1959Larry Jackson (STL)7.3 Camilo Pascual (WSH)7.8
1958Robin Roberts+ (PHI)6.3 Frank Lary (DET)6.7
1957Don Drysdale+ (BRO)6.0 Frank Sullivan (BOS)6.4
1956Johnny Antonelli* (NYG)6.4 Early Wynn+ (CLE)7.8
1955Bob Friend (PIT)6.0 Billy Pierce* (CHW)7.0
1954Robin Roberts+ (PHI)9.0 Steve Gromek (DET)5.6
1953Robin Roberts+ (PHI)9.8 Billy Pierce* (CHW)6.2
1952Robin Roberts+ (PHI)8.4 Bobby Shantz* (PHA)8.8
1951Robin Roberts+ (PHI)8.0 Early Wynn+ (CLE)5.5
1950Ewell Blackwell (CIN)7.5 Ned Garver (SLB)7.3
1949Howie Pollet* (STL)6.5 Mel Parnell* (BOS)8.0
1948Harry Brecheen* (STL)8.7 Hal Newhouser+* (DET)6.5 NN2: Max Manning (NE)3.2NAL: Jim LaMarque* (KCM)3.2
1947Warren Spahn+* (BSN)9.5 Hal Newhouser+* (DET)5.8 NN2: Max Manning (NE)3.5NAL: Ford Smith (KCM)2.6
1946Johnny Sain (BSN)7.2 Bob Feller+ (CLE)10.0 NN2: Barney Brown* (PS)4.4NAL: Gentry Jessup (CAG) • Satchel Paige+ (KCM)1.6
1945Preacher Roe* (PIT)7.3 Hal Newhouser+* (DET)11.3 NN2: Roy Welmaker* (HG)4.2NAL: Booker McDaniel (KCM)3.1
1944Rip Sewell (PIT)6.0 Dizzy Trout (DET)9.3 NN2: Ray Brown+ (HG)2.9NAL: Satchel Paige+ (KCM)3.8
1943Mort Cooper (STL)5.7 Spud Chandler (NYY)6.4 NN2: Johnny Wright (HG)6.0NAL: Theolic Smith (CBE)2.4
1942Mort Cooper (STL)8.2 Tex Hughson (BOS)6.2 NN2: Leon Day+ (2TM)3.8NAL: Jack Matchett (KCM)2.3
1941Whit Wyatt (BRO)6.7 Thornton Lee* (CHW)8.6 NN2: Dave Barnhill (NYC)3.4NAL: Hilton Smith+ (KCM)3.4
1940Claude Passeau (CHC)6.9 Bob Feller+ (CLE)9.9 NN2: Ray Brown+ (HG)6.9NAL: George Walker (KCM)2.4
1939Bucky Walters (CIN)8.2 Bob Feller+ (CLE)9.2 NN2: Willie Hubert (2TM)2.1NAL: George Walker (KCM)2.7
1938Bill Lee (CHC)8.0 Thornton Lee* (CHW)5.5 NN2: Ray Brown+ (HG)4.6NAL: Willie Cornelius (CAG)4.0
1937Jim Turner (BSN)5.5 Lefty Grove+* (BOS)9.8 NN2: Ray Brown+ (HG)2.5NAL: Hilton Smith+ (2TM)5.8
1936Carl Hubbell+* (NYG)9.7 Lefty Grove+* (BOS)11.2 NN2: Leon Day+ (NE)2.9
1935Cy Blanton (PIT)7.2 Lefty Grove+* (BOS)9.4 NN2: Leroy Matlock* (PC)3.1
1934Dizzy Dean+ (STL)8.9 Lefty Gomez+* (NYY)8.4 NN2: Slim Jones* (PS)8.4
1933Carl Hubbell+* (NYG)9.0 Lefty Grove+* (PHA)8.4 NN2: Leroy Matlock* (PC)4.1
1932Lon Warneke (CHC)6.9 Lefty Grove+* (PHA)9.5 EWL: Bert Hunter (2TM)3.2NSL: Dick Matthews? (MRM)4.3
1931Ray Benge (PHI)6.2 Lefty Grove+* (PHA)10.4 NNL: Luther McDonald (2TM)3.2
1930Dazzy Vance+ (BRO)7.3 Lefty Grove+* (PHA)10.4 NNL: Bill Foster+* (CAG)4.9
1929Watson Clark* (BRO)6.1 Willis Hudlin (CLE)7.5 ANL: Laymon Yokely (BBS)4.9NNL: Chet Brewer (KCM)5.6
1928Dazzy Vance+ (BRO)10.1 Lefty Grove+* (PHA)7.1 NNL: Ted Trent (SLS)5.5ECL: Laymon Yokely (BBS)6.2
1927Dazzy Vance+ (BRO)7.7 Tommy Thomas (CHW)8.3 NNL: Bill Foster+* (CAG)7.3ECL: Darltie Cooper (HBG)4.9
1926Hal Carlson (PHI)8.3 George Uhle (CLE)8.9 NNL: Bill Foster+* (CAG)8.3ECL: Rats Henderson (AC)5.2
1925Eppa Rixey+* (CIN)6.5 Herb Pennock+* (NYY)6.6 NNL: Bullet Rogan+ (KCM)7.2ECL: Rats Henderson (AC)5.3
1924Dazzy Vance+ (BRO)10.5 Howard Ehmke (BOS)8.3 NNL: Sam Streeter* (BBB)5.6ECL: Dave Brown* (NLG)6.2
1923Dolf Luque (CIN)10.7 Urban Shocker (SLB)6.3 NNL: Bullet Rogan+ (KCM)6.0ECL: Nip Winters* (HIL)3.3
1922Wilbur Cooper* (PIT)6.5 Red Faber+ (CHW)9.6 NNL: Bullet Rogan+ (KCM)4.4
1921Burleigh Grimes+ (BRO)7.8 Red Faber+ (CHW)11.4 NNL: Dave Brown* (CAG)6.0
1920Grover Alexander+ (CHC)12.0 Jim Bagby (CLE)9.0 NNL: Dave Brown* (CAG)4.6
1919Grover Alexander+ (CHC)7.4 Walter Johnson+ (WSH)10.8
1918Hippo Vaughn* (CHC)7.7 Walter Johnson+ (WSH)10.5
1917Grover Alexander+ (PHI)9.2 Eddie Cicotte (CHW)11.9
1916Grover Alexander+ (PHI)11.0 Walter Johnson+ (WSH)10.3
1915Grover Alexander+ (PHI)11.0 Walter Johnson+ (WSH)11.9 FL: Dave Davenport (SLM)8.7
1914Grover Alexander+ (PHI)8.9 Walter Johnson+ (WSH)12.0 FL: Cy Falkenberg (IND)8.7
1913Babe Adams (PIT)8.4 Walter Johnson+ (WSH)15.2
1912Nap Rucker* (BRO)8.4 Walter Johnson+ (WSH)14.3
1911Nap Rucker* (BRO)9.2 Ed Walsh+ (CHW)9.7
1910Christy Mathewson+ (NYG)8.2 Russ Ford (NYY)11.4
1909Christy Mathewson+ (NYG)9.7 Frank Smith (CHW)7.1
1908Christy Mathewson+ (NYG)11.8 Ed Walsh+ (CHW)10.3
1907Christy Mathewson+ (NYG)8.6 Ed Walsh+ (CHW)7.7
1906Vic Willis+ (PIT)8.3 Al Orth (NYY)8.1
1905Irv Young* (BSN)9.9 Rube Waddell+* (PHA)9.4
1904Joe McGinnity+ (NYG)9.6 Rube Waddell+* (PHA)11.3
1903Joe McGinnity+ (NYG)12.2 Rube Waddell+* (PHA)8.3
1902Jack Taylor (CHC)9.4 Cy Young+ (BOS)10.1
1901Christy Mathewson+ (NYG)8.8 Cy Young+ (BOS)12.4
1900Bill Dinneen (BSN) • Cy Young+ (STL)7.4
1899Vic Willis+ (BSN)11.1
1898Kid Nichols+ (BSN)11.7
1897Kid Nichols+ (BSN)10.7
1896Cy Young+ (CLV)9.9
1895Cy Young+ (CLV)12.0
1894Amos Rusie+ (NYG)13.7
1893Kid Nichols+ (BSN)12.0
1892Cy Young+ (CLV)13.9
1891Bill Hutchison (CHC)10.1 AA: Gus Weyhing (PHA)9.8
1890Kid Nichols+ (BSN)12.9 AA: Sadie McMahon (2TM)10.7PL: Silver King (CHI)13.2
1889John Clarkson+ (BSN)16.7 AA: Ice Box Chamberlain (STL)9.2
1888Charlie Buffinton (PHI)12.1 AA: Silver King (STL)14.7
1887John Clarkson+ (CHC)14.9 AA: Matt Kilroy* (BAL)11.0
1886Lady Baldwin* (DTN)10.8 AA: Toad Ramsey* (LOU)12.6
1885John Clarkson+ (CHC)12.9 AA: Ed Morris* (PIT)13.3
1884Pud Galvin+ (BUF)20.5 AA: Guy Hecker (LOU)15.5UA: Jim McCormick (COR)7.8
1883Old Hoss Radbourn+ (PRO)13.1 AA: Tim Keefe+ (NYP)19.9
1882Jim McCormick (CLV)11.2 AA: Will White (CIN)11.1
1881George Derby (DTN)8.7
1880Jim McCormick (CLV)10.5
1879Tommy Bond (BSN)14.3
1878Tommy Bond (BSN)13.9
1877Jim Devlin (LOU)13.2
1876Jim Devlin (LOU)17.7
1875 NA: Al Spalding+ (BOS)12.8
1874 NA: Bobby Mathews (NYU)13.6
1873 NA: Bobby Mathews (NYU)10.0
1872 NA: Al Spalding+ (BOS)11.0
1871 NA: George Zettlein (CHI)5.0