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The Top 5 Pitchers in Yankees History

Posted on January 18, 2025 - 4:45 pm by

After adding Max Fried earlier this offseason, the New York Yankees’ starting rotation is looking like one of the best they’ve had in years. That is if they’re able to stay healthy and live up to expectations. Still, even last season their starting pitching ERA was 3.85, good for 11th in baseball. With full seasons from Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt, some improvement from Carlos Rodón, and the aforementioned Fried, this rotation could be amongst the best in the majors next year. To commemorate this bolstered pitching staff, here’s a list of the top five pitchers in Yankee history.

Ranking the Top 5 Pitchers in Yankees Franchise History

5. Andy Pettitte

While Andy Pettitte may not be elected into Cooperstown, he will forever be nothing short of a legend in the Bronx. In 16 seasons with New York, the left-hander accumulated a brWAR of 51.3, 219 wins, and 2,020 strikeouts. While these numbers aren’t exactly mind-blowing, October baseball was how he paved his way into Yankee immortality. Pettitte pitched 276 2/3 innings in the postseason across 44 starts and 19 wins, all of which are major league records.

Still, his five World Series rings do outshine his mostly average regular season numbers. As a Yankee, Pettitte was selected to just three All-Star games, and put up a mere two seasons with a brWAR above 4.0 (1996, 1997). But he pitched at his best when it mattered most, and for that he will go down as an all-time great Yankee.

4. Red Ruffing 

Playing from 1924 to 1947, Red Ruffing spent 15 seasons with the Yankees. Those years were the best of his career by a long shot. The youngster initially struggled, posting a 39-96 record in seven years with the Boston Red Sox before he was traded to the rival Yankees. Ironically, he would go on to win 231 games in pinstripes.

His career numbers aren’t so bad either. The right-hander was selected to six All-Star games, finished top 10 in MVP voting thrice (there was no Cy Young Award yet), and pitched a ridiculous 4,344 innings to an ERA of 3.80. But, once again, a great Yankee’s most admirable attribute is postseason success, and there’s no lacking there. Ruffing helped them win six World Series titles, all the while posting a 2.52 ERA in the World Series.

3. Ron Guidry

It’s difficult to decipher whether Ron Guidry is known more for the gloves bearing his name, or his greatness as a Yankee. Looking at his illustrious career, it would have to be the latter. Across 14 seasons, all with New York, Guidry won 170 games, pitching 2,392 innings across 323 starts. He was selected to four All-Star games and won the 1978 AL Cy Young Award with a 25-3 record and 1.74 ERA.

And of course, why mention Guidry if not to discuss his signature skill? The left-hander won five straight Gold Gloves from 1982-1986, and was arguably the best defensive pitcher of his generation. As for postseason success? Guidry won two World Series titles in 1977 and 1978, despite playing the majority of his career through the Yankees’ title drought of the ’80s.

2. Whitey Ford

Of the greatest Yankee starters, Whitey Ford stands out above all of them as the franchise’s best of all time. How couldn’t he be when he has the most wins, shutouts, games started, and innings of any Yankee in history? His six World Series titles are also tied for the most all-time among pitchers.

Ford appeared in 10 All-Star games, won the 1961 AL Cy Young Award, and owned a career 2.75 ERA. Enough said for one of the Yankees’ most dominant pitchers ever.

1. Mariano Rivera

Speaking of the most dominant pitchers ever, Mariano Rivera has to be near the top of anyone’s list. The Panamanian is arguably the greatest relief pitcher in history, let alone one of the greatest Yankees. On top of his five World Series rings, 13 All-Star appearances, and career ERA of 2.21 (0.70 in the postseason), Rivera was also nominated for the AL Cy Young Award four times, which almost never happens at all for relief pitchers. He was the first (and so far only) player elected unanimously to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Anyone who knows baseball at all knows how great Rivera was, so there’s no need to overshare his countless achievements. His signature cutter earned him one of the best baseball careers imaginable, and there’ll never be another pitcher like him. And, cliche and common as this factoid may be, it remains insane nonetheless: more men have walked on the moon than scored an earned run on Mariano Rivera in the postseason.