The Best Left-Handed Pitchers in MLB History
Southpaws Who Shaped the Mound
Left-handed pitchers are a rare breed in baseball, and they’ve long fascinated fans, coaches, and batters alike. The big question always hangs in the air like a curveball: are left handed pitchers better? Some say yes. Some just grimace and swing. In a sport full of subtle edges, throwing from the left side can absolutely matter. Left handed pitchers have long been seen as valuable tools in the MLB arsenal, especially against left-handed hitters. But do left handed pitchers have an advantage? When you look at how many famous left handed athletes have carved out legendary careers on the mound, the numbers start to lean in their favor.
It’s not just gimmick or novelty. From full-season starters to clutch relief specialists, these left handed major league pitchers made history one strikeout at a time. While most of us are just trying to throw a decent spiral or hit a wiffle ball without embarrassing ourselves, these guys became icons of lefty sports.
So, grab a coffee in your left-handed mug, settle in, and meet some of the most legendary left handed baseball players to take the mound.
Randy Johnson
A 6-foot-10 menace with a mullet, a death stare, and a fastball that felt like a dare. Johnson didn’t just pitch. He intimidated, obliterated, and sometimes exploded birds mid-flight. With 4,875 strikeouts, five Cy Young Awards, and a World Series MVP, he’s the prototype for the modern power lefty. If you’re asking are left-handed pitchers better? Randy Johnson is Exhibit A.
Warren Spahn
He won more games than any other left-handed pitcher in history. 363, to be exact. Spahn did it with guile, consistency, and a military career in the middle. A 17-time All-Star and one of the most durable arms the game has ever seen, he wasn’t flashy, but he absolutely got it done. Left-handed MLB pitchers don’t get more reliable or respected.
Steve Carlton
Instead of talking to the media, Carlton let his fastball speak. With 329 wins, four Cy Young Awards, and 4,136 strikeouts, he was one of the most dominant arms of the ’70s and ’80s. In 1972, he won 27 games for a Phillies team that only won 59 total. That’s not just being good. It’s being absurdly essential. Left-handed baseball pitchers should probably be measured against him.
Lefty Grove
He might not be as famous today, but Grove absolutely cooked hitters in the 1930s. He posted a career ERA of 2.54, led the league in ERA nine times, and even won the pitching Triple Crown—twice. He threw hard, talked trash, and was widely considered the best of his era. Proof that left-handed greatness existed long before radar guns and pitch tracking.
Clayton Kershaw
He has been the face of lefty pitching for the past 15 years. And even with injuries, Kershaw’s been nearly unhittable. With a lifetime ERA under 2.50, three Cy Youngs, and a long-overdue World Series ring, he’s combined finesse, movement, and command better than almost anyone. The fact that he’s still active and still nasty makes him one of the best left-handed major league pitchers of all time.
The Legacy of Lefty Baseball Players
Left handed pitchers make up a minority in baseball, but many of the most unique and memorable names on the mound have thrown from the left. The debate around do left handed pitchers have an advantage might never fully settle, but these famous left handed athletes didn’t wait for the answer. They just threw hard. And well.
If you're into southpaw greatness beyond baseball, we've got you covered. Check out our other articles featuring the best of the best, from left-handed NBA players to left-handed NFL players to the greatest NHL left-handed shooters.
