# List of Major League Baseball annual wins leaders

Major League Baseball recognizes the player or players in each league with the most wins each season. In baseball, wins are a statistic used to evaluate pitchers. Credit for a win is given by the official scorer to the pitcher whose team takes and maintains the lead while he is the pitcher of record. If a game is tied or if the lead changes to the other team, all pitchers who have participated and exited the game to that point are unable to receive credit for the victory. A starting pitcher is ineligible for the win unless he pitches at least five innings. (If he doesn't, but nevertheless leaves his team with a lead that it never relinquishes (a rather uncommon combination), the scorer would award the victory to the relief pitcher who was "most effective... in the official scorer's judgment".)

## History

The National League's first win champion was Albert Spalding, who led the senior circuit with 47 wins after leading the semi-professional National Association in each of its five seasons. Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young led the American League in wins in each of its first three years (1901–1903), amassing 33, 32, and 28 victories in those seasons for the Boston Americans. Warren Spahn leads all players with 8 win championships for the Boston and Milwaukee Braves in his 21 seasons.

### Six titles

Three players have led their league in wins six times during their careers. Grover Cleveland Alexander led the National League in victories six times, with a single-season career-high 33 wins in 1916. In the American League, two pitchers have accomplished the same feat: Walter Johnson, whose 36 wins in 1913—his first season leading the league—were a single-season career high, and Bob Feller.

### Five and four titles

In addition to his three American League wins, Young also led the National League twice (1892, 1895) to amass the third-highest total of win championships in major league history. Joe McGinnity and Tom Glavine also captured five wins titles in the National League. Pitchers who have led their league four times include Steve Carlton, Roger Clemens, Christy Mathewson, Hal Newhouser, and Robin Roberts.

### Most wins in a Major League season

Charles "Old Hoss" Radbourn holds the single-season record for the most games won in a major league season; he notched 59 victories in 1884. There is a discrepancy in Radbourn's victory total in 1884. The classic MacMillan Baseball Encyclopedia, as well as other sources credit Radbourn with 60 wins (against 12 losses), other sources place his win total as high as 62. He and John Clarkson (53 wins in 1885) are the only pitchers to exceed 50 wins in a single season in the current major leagues; Guy Hecker also accomplished the feat in the American Association. The American League leader is Jack Chesbro, who won 41 games for the New York Highlanders in 1904; his total is the highest since 1901. The highest total in the National League since 1901 is Mathewson's 37 victories in 1908. The largest margin of victory for the title is 21 wins, achieved by Clarkson in 1889; he won 49 games, while his closest competitors (Charlie Buffinton and Tim Keefe) won 28 each. The American League title's largest margin of victory is 16 wins—Ed Walsh notched 40 wins in 1908, followed by Addie Joss and Ed Summers with 24 victories.
The number of wins required to lead the league each season has gone down significantly over the last century. For example, from 1900 to 1920, the average number of wins for the AL league leader was 30.8; from 1990 to 2010, it was 20.9.

### Ties

Ties for the win championship are common. The most recent tie in the American League was in 2012, when Jered Weaver and David Price tied for the lead with 20 wins each, and the most recent tie in the National League was in 2011, when Ian Kennedy and Clayton Kershaw tied with 21 wins each. The most pitchers to share the title in a single season is six, accomplished in 2006 when Aaron Harang, Derek Lowe, Brad Penny, John Smoltz, Brandon Webb, and Carlos Zambrano each won 16 games in the National League. In the American League, four pitchers shared the award in the strike-shortened 1981 season.

## Key

| Year | Links to the corresponding "year in baseball" or "Major League Baseball season" article |
| Champion(s) | Player or players with the highest win total in the league |
| W | Number of wins |
| Runner(s)-up | Player or players with the second-best win total in the league |
| League | Denoted only for players outside of the modern major leagues |
| † | Member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum |

## National League

| Year | Champion(s) | W | Team | Runner(s)-up | W |
| 1876 | Albert Spalding$^†$ | 47 | Chicago White Stockings | George Bradley | 45 |
| 1877 | Tommy Bond | 40 | Boston Red Caps | Jim Devlin | 35 |
| 1878 | Tommy Bond | 40 | Boston Red Caps | Will White | 30 |
| 1879 | John Montgomery Ward$^†$ | 47 | Providence Grays | Tommy Bond Will White | 43 |
| 1880 | Jim McCormick | 45 | Cleveland Blues | Larry Corcoran | 43 |
| 1881 | Larry Corcoran Jim Whitney | 31 | Chicago White Stockings Boston Red Caps | George Derby | 29 |
| 1882 | Jim McCormick | 36 | Cleveland Blues | Charles Radbourn$^†$ | 33 |
| 1883 | Charles Radbourn$^†$ | 48 | Providence Grays | Pud Galvin$^†$ | 46 |
| 1884 | Charles Radbourn$^†$ | 60 | Providence Grays | Charlie Buffinton | 46 |
| 1885 | John Clarkson$^†$ | 53 | Chicago White Stockings | Mickey Welch$^†$ | 44 |
| 1886 | Lady Baldwin Tim Keefe$^†$ | 42 | Detroit Wolverines New York Giants | John Clarkson$^†$ | 36 |
| 1887 | John Clarkson$^†$ | 38 | Chicago White Stockings | Tim Keefe$^†$ | 35 |
| 1888 | Tim Keefe$^†$ | 35 | New York Giants | John Clarkson$^†$ | 33 |
| 1889 | John Clarkson$^†$ | 49 | Boston Beaneaters | Bob Caruthers | 40 |
| 1890 | Bill Hutchison | 41 | Chicago White Stockings | Kid Gleason | 38 |
| 1891 | Bill Hutchison | 44 | Chicago White Stockings | John Clarkson$^†$ Amos Rusie$^†$ | 33 |
| 1892 | Bill Hutchison Cy Young$^†$ | 36 | Chicago White Stockings Cleveland Spiders | Kid Nichols$^†$ Jack Stivetts | 35 |
| 1893 | Frank Killen | 36 | Pittsburgh Pirates | Kid Nichols$^†$ Cy Young$^†$ | 34 |
| 1894 | Amos Rusie$^†$ | 36 | New York Giants | Jouett Meekin | 33 |
| 1895 | Cy Young$^†$ | 35 | Cleveland Spiders | Bill Hoffer Pink Hawley | 31 |
| 1896 | Frank Killen Kid Nichols$^†$ | 30 | Pittsburgh Pirates Boston Beaneaters | Cy Young$^†$ | 28 |
| 1897 | Kid Nichols$^†$ | 31 | Boston Beaneaters | Amos Rusie$^†$ | 28 |
| 1898 | Kid Nichols$^†$ | 31 | Boston Beaneaters | Bert Cunningham | 28 |
| 1899 | Jay Hughes Joe McGinnity$^†$ | 28 | Baltimore Orioles Brooklyn Superbas | Vic Willis$^†$ | 27 |
| 1900 | Joe McGinnity$^†$ | 28 | Brooklyn Superbas | Bill Dinneen Brickyard Kennedy Deacon Phillippe Jesse Tannehill | 20 |
| 1901 | Bill Donovan | 25 | Brooklyn Superbas | Jack Harper | 23 |
| 1902 | Jack Chesbro$^†$ | 28 | Pittsburgh Pirates | Togie Pittinger Vic Willis$^†$ | 27 |
| 1903 | Joe McGinnity$^†$ | 31 | New York Giants | Christy Mathewson$^†$ | 30 |
| 1904 | Joe McGinnity$^†$ | 35 | New York Giants | Christy Mathewson$^†$ | 33 |
| 1905 | Christy Mathewson$^†$ | 31 | New York Giants | Togie Pittinger | 23 |
| 1906 | Joe McGinnity$^†$ | 27 | New York Giants | Mordecai Brown$^†$ | 26 |
| 1907 | Christy Mathewson$^†$ | 24 | New York Giants | Orval Overall | 23 |
| 1908 | Christy Mathewson$^†$ | 37 | New York Giants | Mordecai Brown$^†$ | 29 |
| 1909 | Mordecai Brown$^†$ | 27 | Chicago Cubs | Howie Camnitz Christy Mathewson$^†$ | 25 |
| 1910 | Christy Mathewson$^†$ | 27 | New York Giants | Mordecai Brown$^†$ | 25 |
| 1911 | Grover Cleveland Alexander$^†$ | 28 | Philadelphia Phillies | Christy Mathewson$^†$ | 26 |
| 1912 | Larry Cheney Rube Marquard$^†$ | 26 | Chicago Cubs New York Giants | Claude Hendrix | 24 |
| 1913 | Tom Seaton | 27 | Philadelphia Phillies | Christy Mathewson$^†$ | 25 |
| 1914 | Grover Cleveland Alexander$^†$ | 27 | Philadelphia Phillies | Bill James Dick Rudolph Jeff Tesreau | 26 |
| 1915 | Grover Cleveland Alexander$^†$ | 31 | Philadelphia Phillies | Dick Rudolph | 22 |
| 1916 | Grover Cleveland Alexander$^†$ | 33 | Philadelphia Phillies | Jeff Pfeffer | 25 |
| 1917 | Grover Cleveland Alexander$^†$ | 30 | Philadelphia Phillies | Fred Toney | 24 |
| 1918 | Hippo Vaughn | 22 | Chicago Cubs | Claude Hendrix | 20 |
| 1919 | Jesse Barnes | 25 | New York Giants | Slim Sallee Hippo Vaughn | 21 |
| 1920 | Grover Cleveland Alexander$^†$ | 27 | Chicago Cubs | Wilbur Cooper | 24 |
| 1921 | Wilbur Cooper Burleigh Grimes$^†$ | 22 | Pittsburgh Pirates Brooklyn Robins | Art Nehf Joe Oeschger | 20 |
| 1922 | Eppa Rixey$^†$ | 25 | Cincinnati Reds | Wilbur Cooper | 23 |
| 1923 | Dolf Luque | 27 | Cincinnati Reds | Johnny Morrison | 25 |
| 1924 | Dazzy Vance$^†$ | 28 | Brooklyn Robins | Burleigh Grimes$^†$ | 22 |
| 1925 | Dazzy Vance$^†$ | 22 | Brooklyn Robins | Pete Donohue Eppa Rixey$^†$ | 21 |
| 1926 | Pete Donohue Ray Kremer Lee Meadows Flint Rhem | 20 | Cincinnati Reds Pittsburgh Pirates Pittsburgh Pirates St. Louis Cardinals | Carl Mays | 19 |
| 1927 | Charlie Root | 26 | Chicago Cubs | Jesse Haines$^†$ | 24 |
| 1928 | Larry Benton Burleigh Grimes$^†$ | 25 | New York Giants Pittsburgh Pirates | Dazzy Vance$^†$ | 22 |
| 1929 | Pat Malone | 22 | Chicago Cubs | Red Lucas Charlie Root | 19 |
| 1930 | Ray Kremer Pat Malone | 20 | Pittsburgh Pirates Chicago Cubs | Freddie Fitzsimmons | 19 |
| 1931 | Jumbo Elliott Bill Hallahan Heinie Meine | 19 | Philadelphia Phillies St. Louis Cardinals Pittsburgh Pirates | Ed Brandt Paul Derringer Freddie Fitzsimmons | 18 |
| 1932 | Lon Warneke | 22 | Chicago Cubs | Watty Clark | 20 |
| 1933 | Carl Hubbell$^†$ | 23 | New York Giants | Guy Bush Ben Cantwell Dizzy Dean$^†$ | 20 |
| 1934 | Dizzy Dean$^†$ | 30 | St. Louis Cardinals | Hal Schumacher | 23 |
| 1935 | Dizzy Dean$^†$ | 28 | St. Louis Cardinals | Carl Hubbell$^†$ | 23 |
| 1936 | Carl Hubbell$^†$ | 26 | New York Giants | Dizzy Dean$^†$ | 24 |
| 1937 | Carl Hubbell$^†$ | 22 | New York Giants | Lou Fette Cliff Melton Jim Turner | 20 |
| 1938 | Bill Lee | 22 | Chicago Cubs | Paul Derringer | 21 |
| 1939 | Bucky Walters | 27 | Cincinnati Reds | Paul Derringer | 25 |
| 1940 | Bucky Walters | 22 | Cincinnati Reds | Paul Derringer Claude Passeau | 20 |
| 1941 | Kirby Higbe Whit Wyatt | 22 | Brooklyn Dodgers Brooklyn Dodgers | Elmer Riddle Bucky Walters | 19 |
| 1942 | Mort Cooper | 22 | St. Louis Cardinals | Johnny Beazley | 21 |
| 1943 | Mort Cooper Elmer Riddle Rip Sewell | 21 | St. Louis Cardinals Cincinnati Reds Pittsburgh Pirates | Hiram Bithorn | 18 |
| 1944 | Bucky Walters | 23 | Cincinnati Reds | Mort Cooper | 22 |
| 1945 | Red Barrett | 23 | Boston Braves St. Louis Cardinals | Hank Wyse | 22 |
| 1946 | Howie Pollet | 21 | St. Louis Cardinals | Johnny Sain | 20 |
| 1947 | Ewell Blackwell | 22 | Cincinnati Reds | Ralph Branca Larry Jansen Johnny Sain Warren Spahn$^†$ | 21 |
| 1948 | Johnny Sain | 24 | Boston Braves | Harry Brecheen | 20 |
| 1949 | Warren Spahn$^†$ | 21 | Boston Braves | Howie Pollet | 20 |
| 1950 | Warren Spahn$^†$ | 21 | Boston Braves | Robin Roberts$^†$ Johnny Sain | 20 |
| 1951 | Larry Jansen Sal Maglie | 23 | New York Giants New York Giants | Preacher Roe Warren Spahn$^†$ | 22 |
| 1952 | Robin Roberts$^†$ | 28 | Philadelphia Phillies | Sal Maglie | 18 |
| 1953 | Robin Roberts$^†$ Warren Spahn$^†$ | 23 | Philadelphia Phillies Milwaukee Braves | Carl Erskine Harvey Haddix | 20 |
| 1954 | Robin Roberts$^†$ | 23 | Philadelphia Phillies | Johnny Antonelli Warren Spahn$^†$ | 21 |
| 1955 | Robin Roberts$^†$ | 23 | Philadelphia Phillies | Don Newcombe | 20 |
| 1956 | Don Newcombe | 27 | Brooklyn Dodgers | Johnny Antonelli Warren Spahn$^†$ | 20 |
| 1957 | Warren Spahn$^†$ | 21 | Milwaukee Braves | Jack Sanford | 19 |
| 1958 | Bob Friend Warren Spahn$^†$ | 22 | Pittsburgh Pirates Milwaukee Braves | Lew Burdette | 20 |
| 1959 | Lew Burdette Sam Jones Warren Spahn$^†$ | 21 | Milwaukee Braves San Francisco Giants Milwaukee Braves | Johnny Antonelli | 19 |
| 1960 | Ernie Broglio Warren Spahn$^†$ | 21 | St. Louis Cardinals Milwaukee Braves | Vern Law | 20 |
| 1961 | Joey Jay Warren Spahn$^†$ | 21 | Cincinnati Reds Milwaukee Braves | Jim O'Toole | 19 |
| 1962 | Don Drysdale$^†$ | 25 | Los Angeles Dodgers | Jack Sanford | 24 |
| 1963 | Sandy Koufax$^†$ Juan Marichal$^†$ | 25 | Los Angeles Dodgers San Francisco Giants | Jim Maloney Warren Spahn$^†$ | 23 |
| 1964 | Larry Jackson | 24 | Chicago Cubs | Juan Marichal$^†$ | 21 |
| 1965 | Sandy Koufax$^†$ | 26 | Los Angeles Dodgers | Tony Cloninger | 24 |
| 1966 | Sandy Koufax$^†$ | 27 | Los Angeles Dodgers | Juan Marichal$^†$ | 25 |
| 1967 | Mike McCormick | 22 | San Francisco Giants | Ferguson Jenkins$^†$ | 20 |
| 1968 | Juan Marichal$^†$ | 26 | San Francisco Giants | Bob Gibson$^†$ | 22 |
| 1969 | Tom Seaver$^†$ | 25 | New York Mets | Phil Niekro$^†$ | 23 |
| 1970 | Bob Gibson$^†$ Gaylord Perry$^†$ | 23 | St. Louis Cardinals San Francisco Giants | Ferguson Jenkins$^†$ | 22 |
| 1971 | Ferguson Jenkins$^†$ | 24 | Chicago Cubs | Steve Carlton$^†$ Al Downing Tom Seaver$^†$ | 20 |
| 1972 | Steve Carlton$^†$ | 27 | Philadelphia Phillies | Tom Seaver$^†$ | 21 |
| 1973 | Ron Bryant | 24 | San Francisco Giants | Jack Billingham Tom Seaver$^†$ | 19 |
| 1974 | Andy Messersmith Phil Niekro$^†$ | 20 | Los Angeles Dodgers Atlanta Braves | Jack Billingham Don Sutton$^†$ | 19 |
| 1975 | Tom Seaver$^†$ | 22 | New York Mets | Randy Jones | 20 |
| 1976 | Randy Jones | 22 | San Diego Padres | Jerry Koosman Don Sutton$^†$ | 21 |
| 1977 | Steve Carlton$^†$ | 23 | Philadelphia Phillies | Tom Seaver$^†$ | 21 |
| 1978 | Gaylord Perry$^†$ | 21 | San Diego Padres | Ross Grimsley | 20 |
| 1979 | Joe Niekro Phil Niekro$^†$ | 21 | Houston Astros Atlanta Braves | Steve Carlton$^†$ J. R. Richard Rick Reuschel | 18 |
| 1980 | Steve Carlton$^†$ | 24 | Philadelphia Phillies | Joe Niekro | 20 |
| 1981 | Tom Seaver$^†$ | 14 | Cincinnati Reds | Steve Carlton$^†$ Fernando Valenzuela | 13 |
| 1982 | Steve Carlton$^†$ | 23 | Philadelphia Phillies | Steve Rogers Fernando Valenzuela | 19 |
| 1983 | John Denny | 19 | Philadelphia Phillies | Bill Gullickson Steve Rogers Mario Soto | 17 |
| 1984 | Joaquín Andújar | 20 | St. Louis Cardinals | Mario Soto | 18 |
| 1985 | Dwight Gooden | 24 | New York Mets | Joaquín Andújar John Tudor | 21 |
| 1986 | Fernando Valenzuela | 21 | Los Angeles Dodgers | Mike Krukow | 20 |
| 1987 | Rick Sutcliffe | 18 | Chicago Cubs | Shane Rawley | 17 |
| 1988 | Orel Hershiser Danny Jackson | 23 | Los Angeles Dodgers Cincinnati Reds | David Cone | 20 |
| 1989 | Mike Scott | 20 | Houston Astros | Greg Maddux$^†$ | 19 |
| 1990 | Doug Drabek | 22 | Pittsburgh Pirates | Ramón Martínez Frank Viola | 20 |
| 1991 | Tom Glavine$^†$ John Smiley | 20 | Atlanta Braves Pittsburgh Pirates | Steve Avery | 18 |
| 1992 | Tom Glavine$^†$ Greg Maddux$^†$ | 20 | Atlanta Braves Chicago Cubs | Ken Hill Pedro Martínez$^†$ Mike Morgan Bob Tewksbury | 16 |
| 1993 | John Burkett Tom Glavine$^†$ | 22 | San Francisco Giants Atlanta Braves | Bill Swift | 21 |
| 1994 | Ken Hill Greg Maddux$^†$ | 16 | Montréal Expos Atlanta Braves | Danny Jackson Bret Saberhagen | 14 |
| 1995 | Greg Maddux$^†$ | 19 | Atlanta Braves | Pete Schourek | 18 |
| 1996 | John Smoltz$^†$ | 24 | Atlanta Braves | Andy Benes | 18 |
| 1997 | Denny Neagle | 20 | Atlanta Braves | Shawn Estes Darryl Kile Greg Maddux$^†$ | 19 |
| 1998 | Tom Glavine$^†$ | 20 | Atlanta Braves | Shane Reynolds Kevin Tapani | 19 |
| 1999 | Mike Hampton | 22 | Houston Astros | José Lima | 21 |
| 2000 | Tom Glavine$^†$ | 21 | Atlanta Braves | Darryl Kile | 20 |
| 2001 | Matt Morris Curt Schilling | 22 | St. Louis Cardinals Arizona Diamondbacks | Randy Johnson$^†$ | 21 |
| 2002 | Randy Johnson$^†$ | 24 | Arizona Diamondbacks | Curt Schilling | 23 |
| 2003 | Russ Ortiz | 21 | Atlanta Braves | Mark Prior Woody Williams | 18 |
| 2004 | Roy Oswalt | 20 | Houston Astros | Roger Clemens Carl Pavano Jason Schmidt | 18 |
| 2005 | Dontrelle Willis | 22 | Florida Marlins | Chris Carpenter | 21 |
| 2006 | Aaron Harang Derek Lowe Brad Penny John Smoltz$^†$ Brandon Webb Carlos Zambrano | 16 | Cincinnati Reds Los Angeles Dodgers Los Angeles Dodgers Atlanta Braves Arizona Diamondbacks Chicago Cubs | Chris Carpenter Tom Glavine$^†$ Greg Maddux$^†$ Roy Oswalt Steve Trachsel | 15 |
| 2007 | Jake Peavy | 19 | San Diego Padres | Brandon Webb Carlos Zambrano | 18 |
| 2008 | Brandon Webb | 22 | Arizona Diamondbacks | Tim Lincecum | 18 |
| 2009 | Adam Wainwright | 19 | St. Louis Cardinals | Chris Carpenter | 17 |
| 2010 | Roy Halladay$^†$ | 21 | Philadelphia Phillies | Adam Wainwright | 20 |
| 2011 | Ian Kennedy Clayton Kershaw | 21 | Arizona Diamondbacks Los Angeles Dodgers | Roy Halladay$^†$ | 19 |
| 2012 | Gio González | 21 | Washington Nationals | R. A. Dickey | 20 |
| 2013 | Adam Wainwright Jordan Zimmermann | 19 | St. Louis Cardinals Washington Nationals | Clayton Kershaw | 16 |
| 2014 | Clayton Kershaw | 21 | Los Angeles Dodgers | Johnny Cueto Adam Wainwright | 20 |
| 2015 | Jake Arrieta | 22 | Chicago Cubs | Gerrit Cole Zack Greinke | 19 |
| 2016 | Max Scherzer | 20 | Washington Nationals | Jon Lester | 19 |
| 2017 | Clayton Kershaw | 18 | Los Angeles Dodgers | Zach Davies Zack Greinke | 17 |
| 2018 | Jon Lester Miles Mikolas Max Scherzer | 18 | Chicago Cubs St. Louis Cardinals Washington Nationals | Kyle Freeland Aaron Nola | 17 |
| 2019 | Stephen Strasburg | 18 | Washington Nationals | Max Fried | 17 |
| 2020 | Yu Darvish | 8 | Chicago Cubs | Zach Davies Max Fried | 7 |
| 2021 | Julio Urías | 20 | Los Angeles Dodgers | Adam Wainwright | 17 |
| 2022 | Kyle Wright | 21 | Atlanta Braves | Julio Urías | 17 |
| 2023 | Spencer Strider | 20 | Atlanta Braves | Zac Gallen | 17 |
| 2024 | Chris Sale | 18 | Atlanta Braves | Zack Wheeler | 16 |

## American League

| Year | Leader | W | Team | Runner-up | W |
| 1901 | Cy Young$^†$ | 33 | Boston Americans | Joe McGinnity$^†$ | 26 |
| 1902 | Cy Young$^†$ | 32 | Boston Americans | Rube Waddell$^†$ | 24 |
| 1903 | Cy Young$^†$ | 28 | Boston Americans | Eddie Plank$^†$ | 23 |
| 1904 | Jack Chesbro$^†$ | 41 | New York Highlanders | Eddie Plank$^†$ Cy Young$^†$ | 26 |
| 1905 | Rube Waddell$^†$ | 27 | Philadelphia Athletics | Eddie Plank$^†$ | 24 |
| 1906 | Al Orth | 27 | New York Highlanders | Jack Chesbro$^†$ | 23 |
| 1907 | Addie Joss$^†$ Doc White | 27 | Cleveland Naps Chicago White Sox | Bill Donovan Ed Killian | 25 |
| 1908 | Ed Walsh$^†$ | 40 | Chicago White Sox | Addie Joss$^†$ Ed Summers | 24 |
| 1909 | George Mullin | 29 | Detroit Tigers | Frank Smith | 25 |
| 1910 | Jack Coombs | 31 | Philadelphia Athletics | Russ Ford | 26 |
| 1911 | Jack Coombs | 28 | Philadelphia Athletics | Ed Walsh$^†$ | 27 |
| 1912 | Joe Wood | 34 | Boston Red Sox | Walter Johnson$^†$ | 33 |
| 1913 | Walter Johnson$^†$ | 36 | Washington Senators | Cy Falkenberg | 23 |
| 1914 | Walter Johnson$^†$ | 28 | Washington Senators | Stan Coveleski$^†$ | 22 |
| 1915 | Walter Johnson$^†$ | 27 | Washington Senators | Hooks Dauss Red Faber$^†$ Jim Scott | 24 |
| 1916 | Walter Johnson$^†$ | 25 | Washington Senators | Bob Shawkey | 24 |
| 1917 | Eddie Cicotte | 28 | Chicago White Sox | Babe Ruth$^†$ | 24 |
| 1918 | Walter Johnson$^†$ | 23 | Washington Senators | Stan Coveleski$^†$ | 22 |
| 1919 | Eddie Cicotte | 29 | Chicago White Sox | Stan Coveleski$^†$ | 24 |
| 1920 | Jim Bagby | 31 | Cleveland Indians | Carl Mays | 26 |
| 1921 | Carl Mays Urban Shocker | 27 | New York Yankees St. Louis Browns | Red Faber$^†$ | 25 |
| 1922 | Eddie Rommel | 27 | Philadelphia Athletics | Joe Bush | 26 |
| 1923 | George Uhle | 26 | Cleveland Indians | Hooks Dauss Sam Jones | 21 |
| 1924 | Walter Johnson$^†$ | 23 | Washington Senators | Herb Pennock$^†$ | 21 |
| 1925 | Ted Lyons$^†$ Eddie Rommel | 21 | Chicago White Sox Philadelphia Athletics | Stan Coveleski$^†$ Walter Johnson$^†$ | 20 |
| 1926 | George Uhle | 27 | Cleveland Indians | Herb Pennock$^†$ | 23 |
| 1927 | Waite Hoyt$^†$ Ted Lyons$^†$ | 22 | New York Yankees Chicago White Sox | Lefty Grove$^†$ | 20 |
| 1928 | Lefty Grove$^†$ George Pipgras | 24 | Philadelphia Athletics New York Yankees | Waite Hoyt$^†$ | 23 |
| 1929 | George Earnshaw | 24 | Philadelphia Athletics | Wes Ferrell | 21 |
| 1930 | Lefty Grove$^†$ | 28 | Philadelphia Athletics | Wes Ferrell | 25 |
| 1931 | Lefty Grove$^†$ | 31 | Philadelphia Athletics | Wes Ferrell | 22 |
| 1932 | Alvin Crowder | 26 | Washington Senators | Lefty Grove$^†$ | 25 |
| 1933 | Alvin Crowder Lefty Grove$^†$ | 24 | Washington Senators Philadelphia Athletics | Earl Whitehill | 22 |
| 1934 | Lefty Gomez$^†$ | 26 | New York Yankees | Schoolboy Rowe | 24 |
| 1935 | Wes Ferrell | 25 | Boston Red Sox | Mel Harder | 22 |
| 1936 | Tommy Bridges | 23 | Detroit Tigers | Vern Kennedy | 21 |
| 1937 | Lefty Gomez$^†$ | 21 | New York Yankees | Red Ruffing$^†$ | 20 |
| 1938 | Red Ruffing$^†$ | 21 | New York Yankees | Bobo Newsom | 20 |
| 1939 | Bob Feller$^†$ | 24 | Cleveland Indians | Red Ruffing$^†$ | 21 |
| 1940 | Bob Feller$^†$ | 27 | Cleveland Indians | Bobo Newsom | 21 |
| 1941 | Bob Feller$^†$ | 25 | Cleveland Indians | Thornton Lee | 22 |
| 1942 | Tex Hughson | 22 | Boston Red Sox | Tiny Bonham | 21 |
| 1943 | Spud Chandler Dizzy Trout | 20 | New York Yankees Detroit Tigers | Early Wynn$^†$ | 18 |
| 1944 | Hal Newhouser$^†$ | 29 | Detroit Tigers | Dizzy Trout | 27 |
| 1945 | Hal Newhouser$^†$ | 25 | Detroit Tigers | Dave Ferriss | 21 |
| 1946 | Bob Feller$^†$ Hal Newhouser$^†$ | 26 | Cleveland Indians Detroit Tigers | Dave Ferriss | 25 |
| 1947 | Bob Feller$^†$ | 20 | Cleveland Indians | Phil Marchildon Allie Reynolds | 19 |
| 1948 | Hal Newhouser$^†$ | 21 | Detroit Tigers | Gene Bearden Bob Lemon$^†$ | 20 |
| 1949 | Mel Parnell | 25 | Boston Red Sox | Ellis Kinder | 23 |
| 1950 | Bob Lemon$^†$ | 23 | Cleveland Indians | Vic Raschi | 21 |
| 1951 | Bob Feller$^†$ | 22 | Cleveland Indians | Ed Lopat Vic Raschi | 21 |
| 1952 | Bobby Shantz | 24 | Philadelphia Athletics | Early Wynn$^†$ | 23 |
| 1953 | Bob Porterfield | 22 | Washington Senators | Bob Lemon$^†$ Mel Parnell | 21 |
| 1954 | Bob Lemon$^†$ Early Wynn$^†$ | 23 | Cleveland Indians Cleveland Indians | Bob Grim | 20 |
| 1955 | Whitey Ford$^†$ Bob Lemon$^†$ Frank Sullivan | 18 | New York Yankees Cleveland Indians Boston Red Sox | Bob Turley Early Wynn$^†$ | 17 |
| 1956 | Frank Lary | 21 | Detroit Tigers | Billy Hoeft Bob Lemon$^†$ Billy Pierce Herb Score Early Wynn$^†$ | 20 |
| 1957 | Jim Bunning$^†$ Billy Pierce | 20 | Detroit Tigers Chicago White Sox | Tom Brewer Dick Donovan Tom Sturdivant | 16 |
| 1958 | Bob Turley | 21 | New York Yankees | Billy Pierce | 17 |
| 1959 | Early Wynn$^†$ | 22 | Chicago White Sox | Cal McLish | 19 |
| 1960 | Chuck Estrada Jim Perry | 18 | Baltimore Orioles Cleveland Indians | Bud Daley | 16 |
| 1961 | Whitey Ford$^†$ | 25 | New York Yankees | Frank Lary | 23 |
| 1962 | Ralph Terry | 23 | New York Yankees | Dick Donovan Ray Herbert Camilo Pascual | 20 |
| 1963 | Whitey Ford$^†$ | 24 | New York Yankees | Jim Bouton Camilo Pascual | 21 |
| 1964 | Dean Chance Gary Peters | 20 | Los Angeles Angels Chicago White Sox | Wally Bunker Juan Pizarro Dave Wickersham | 19 |
| 1965 | Mudcat Grant | 21 | Minnesota Twins | Mel Stottlemyre | 20 |
| 1966 | Jim Kaat$^†$ | 25 | Minnesota Twins | Denny McLain | 20 |
| 1967 | Jim Lonborg Earl Wilson | 22 | Boston Red Sox Detroit Tigers | Dean Chance | 20 |
| 1968 | Denny McLain | 31 | Detroit Tigers | Dave McNally | 22 |
| 1969 | Denny McLain | 24 | Detroit Tigers | Mike Cuellar | 23 |
| 1970 | Mike Cuellar Dave McNally Jim Perry | 24 | Baltimore Orioles Baltimore Orioles Minnesota Twins | Clyde Wright | 22 |
| 1971 | Mickey Lolich | 25 | Detroit Tigers | Vida Blue | 24 |
| 1972 | Gaylord Perry$^†$ Wilbur Wood | 24 | Cleveland Indians Chicago White Sox | Mickey Lolich | 22 |
| 1973 | Wilbur Wood | 24 | Chicago White Sox | Joe Coleman | 23 |
| 1974 | Catfish Hunter$^†$ Ferguson Jenkins$^†$ | 25 | Oakland Athletics Texas Rangers | Steve Busby Mike Cuellar Nolan Ryan$^†$ Luis Tiant | 22 |
| 1975 | Catfish Hunter$^†$ Jim Palmer$^†$ | 23 | New York Yankees Baltimore Orioles | Vida Blue | 22 |
| 1976 | Jim Palmer$^†$ | 22 | Baltimore Orioles | Luis Tiant | 21 |
| 1977 | Dave Goltz Dennis Leonard Jim Palmer$^†$ | 20 | Minnesota Twins Kansas City Royals Baltimore Orioles | Nolan Ryan$^†$ | 19 |
| 1978 | Ron Guidry | 25 | New York Yankees | Mike Caldwell | 22 |
| 1979 | Mike Flanagan | 23 | Baltimore Orioles | Tommy John | 21 |
| 1980 | Steve Stone | 25 | Baltimore Orioles | Tommy John Mike Norris | 22 |
| 1981 | Dennis Martínez Steve McCatty Jack Morris$^†$ Pete Vuckovich | 14 | Baltimore Orioles Oakland Athletics Detroit Tigers Milwaukee Brewers | Dennis Leonard Scott McGregor | 13 |
| 1982 | LaMarr Hoyt | 19 | Chicago White Sox | Larry Gura Pete Vuckovich Geoff Zahn | 18 |
| 1983 | LaMarr Hoyt | 24 | Chicago White Sox | Richard Dotson | 22 |
| 1984 | Mike Boddicker | 20 | Baltimore Orioles | Bert Blyleven$^†$ Jack Morris$^†$ | 19 |
| 1985 | Ron Guidry | 22 | New York Yankees | Bret Saberhagen | 20 |
| 1986 | Roger Clemens | 24 | Boston Red Sox | Jack Morris$^†$ | 21 |
| 1987 | Roger Clemens Dave Stewart | 20 | Boston Red Sox Oakland Athletics | Mark Langston | 19 |
| 1988 | Frank Viola | 24 | Minnesota Twins | Dave Stewart | 21 |
| 1989 | Bret Saberhagen | 23 | Kansas City Royals | Dave Stewart | 21 |
| 1990 | Bob Welch | 27 | Oakland Athletics | Dave Stewart | 22 |
| 1991 | Scott Erickson Bill Gullickson | 20 | Minnesota Twins Detroit Tigers | Mark Langston | 19 |
| 1992 | Kevin Brown Jack Morris$^†$ | 21 | Texas Rangers Toronto Blue Jays | Jack McDowell | 20 |
| 1993 | Jack McDowell | 22 | Chicago White Sox | Pat Hentgen Randy Johnson$^†$ | 19 |
| 1994 | Jimmy Key | 17 | New York Yankees | David Cone Mike Mussina$^†$ | 16 |
| 1995 | Mike Mussina$^†$ | 19 | Baltimore Orioles | David Cone Randy Johnson$^†$ | 18 |
| 1996 | Andy Pettitte | 21 | New York Yankees | Pat Hentgen | 20 |
| 1997 | Roger Clemens | 21 | Toronto Blue Jays | Randy Johnson$^†$ Brad Radke | 20 |
| 1998 | Roger Clemens David Cone Rick Helling | 20 | Toronto Blue Jays New York Yankees Texas Rangers | Pedro Martínez$^†$ Aaron Sele | 19 |
| 1999 | Pedro Martínez$^†$ | 23 | Boston Red Sox | Bartolo Colón Mike Mussina$^†$ Aaron Sele | 18 |
| 2000 | Tim Hudson David Wells | 20 | Oakland Athletics Toronto Blue Jays | Andy Pettitte | 19 |
| 2001 | Mark Mulder | 21 | Oakland Athletics | Roger Clemens Jamie Moyer | 20 |
| 2002 | Barry Zito | 23 | Oakland Athletics | Derek Lowe | 21 |
| 2003 | Roy Halladay$^†$ | 22 | Toronto Blue Jays | Esteban Loaiza Jamie Moyer Andy Pettitte | 21 |
| 2004 | Curt Schilling | 21 | Boston Red Sox | Johan Santana | 20 |
| 2005 | Bartolo Colón | 21 | Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim | Jon Garland Cliff Lee | 18 |
| 2006 | Johan Santana Chien-Ming Wang | 19 | Minnesota Twins New York Yankees | Jon Garland | 18 |
| 2007 | Josh Beckett | 20 | Boston Red Sox | Fausto Carmona John Lackey CC Sabathia$^†$ Chien-Ming Wang | 19 |
| 2008 | Cliff Lee | 22 | Cleveland Indians | Roy Halladay$^†$ Mike Mussina$^†$ | 20 |
| 2009 | Félix Hernández CC Sabathia$^†$ Justin Verlander | 19 | Seattle Mariners New York Yankees Detroit Tigers | Josh Beckett Scott Feldman Roy Halladay$^†$ | 17 |
| 2010 | CC Sabathia$^†$ | 21 | New York Yankees | Jon Lester David Price | 19 |
| 2011 | Justin Verlander | 24 | Detroit Tigers | CC Sabathia$^†$ | 19 |
| 2012 | David Price Jered Weaver | 20 | Tampa Bay Rays Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim | Matt Harrison | 18 |
| 2013 | Max Scherzer | 21 | Detroit Tigers | Bartolo Colón | 18 |
| 2014 | Corey Kluber Max Scherzer Jered Weaver | 18 | Cleveland Indians Detroit Tigers Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim | Wei-Yin Chen Phil Hughes Jon Lester Matt Shoemaker | 16 |
| 2015 | Dallas Keuchel | 20 | Houston Astros | Collin McHugh | 19 |
| 2016 | Rick Porcello | 22 | Boston Red Sox | J. A. Happ | 20 |
| 2017 | Carlos Carrasco Corey Kluber Jason Vargas | 18 | Cleveland Indians Cleveland Indians Kansas City Royals | Trevor Bauer Drew Pomeranz Chris Sale | 17 |
| 2018 | Blake Snell | 21 | Tampa Bay Rays | Corey Kluber | 20 |
| 2019 | Justin Verlander | 21 | Houston Astros | Gerrit Cole | 20 |
| 2020 | Shane Bieber | 8 | Cleveland Indians | Gerrit Cole Marco Gonzales | 7 |
| 2021 | Gerrit Cole | 16 | New York Yankees | Chris Flexen Steven Matz Hyun-jin Ryu | 14 |
| 2022 | Justin Verlander | 18 | Houston Astros | Framber Valdez | 17 |
| 2023 | Chris Bassitt Zach Eflin | 16 | Toronto Blue Jays Tampa Bay Rays | Gerrit Cole Kyle Gibson | 15 |
| 2024 | Tarik Skubal | 18 | Detroit Tigers | José Berríos Seth Lugo Carlos Rodón | 16 |

## Other major leagues

| Year | Leader | W | Team | League | Runner-up | W |
| 1882 | Will White | 40 | Cincinnati Red Stockings | American Association | Tony Mullane | 30 |
| 1883 | Will White | 43 | Cincinnati Red Stockings | American Association | Tim Keefe$^†$ | 41 |
| 1884 | Guy Hecker | 52 | Louisville Eclipse | American Association | Tim Keefe$^†$ Jack Lynch | 37 |
| 1884 | Bill Sweeney | 40 | Baltimore Monumentals | Union Association | Hugh Daily | 28 |
| 1885 | Bob Caruthers | 40 | St. Louis Browns | American Association | Ed Morris | 39 |
| 1886 | Dave Foutz Ed Morris | 41 | St. Louis Browns Pittsburgh Alleghenys | American Association | Toad Ramsey | 38 |
| 1887 | Matt Kilroy | 46 | Baltimore Orioles | American Association | Toad Ramsey | 37 |
| 1888 | Silver King | 45 | St. Louis Browns | American Association | Ed Seward | 35 |
| 1889 | Bob Caruthers | 40 | Brooklyn Bridegrooms | American Association | Silver King | 35 |
| 1890 | Sadie McMahon | 36 | Philadelphia Athletics Baltimore Orioles | American Association | Scott Stratton | 34 |
| 1890 | Mark Baldwin | 33 | Chicago Pirates | Players' League | Silver King Gus Weyhing | 30 |
| 1891 | Sadie McMahon | 35 | Baltimore Orioles | American Association | George Haddock | 34 |
| 1914 | Claude Hendrix | 29 | Chicago Chi-Feds | Federal League | Jack Quinn | 26 |
| 1915 | George McConnell | 25 | Chicago Chi-Feds | Federal League | Frank Allen | 23 |

## Footnotes

* Baseball portal
* $^a$ Recognized "major leagues" include the current American and National Leagues and several defunct leagues—the American Association, the Federal League, the Players' League, and the Union Association.
* $^b$ A pitcher must throw a minimum of one inning per game scheduled for his team during the season (60 innings in 2020, pandemic-shortened; typically 162 innings) to qualify for the win title.