When discussing the greatest pitchers in MLB history, the same names always seem to come up—Clemens, Maddux, Johnson, and Pedro. But baseball has seen its fair share of arms that didn’t get nearly the love or spotlight they deserved, despite putting up elite numbers and carrying their teams in silence.
This list is for the guys who flew under the radar, racked up stats without the fanfare, and never quite got the national love they earned. From innings-eaters to strikeout machines, here are 20 of the most underrated MLB pitchers of all time, counted down from 20 to 1.
20. Jimmy Key
Consistently reliable and sneaky dominant, Jimmy Key was the pitcher who quietly won games. He didn’t blow hitters away, but he always seemed to leave with a lead and a shrug.
19. Kevin Brown
He had a big contract, but Kevin Brown somehow feels forgotten. His filthy sinker and absurdly good seasons in the ’90s never earned him the respect they should have.
18. Bret Saberhagen
Saberhagen was a lights-out pitcher when healthy and even won two Cy Youngs. However, injuries and playing on mid-tier teams prevented him from becoming a household name.
17. David Cone
Cone had electric stuff and a brain to match, yet he’s rarely mentioned in the same breath as his peers from the same era. His postseason heroics and regular-season dominance deserve more love.
16. Frank Tanana
Tanana reinvented himself mid-career and kept getting outs well into his late 30s. He went from flamethrower to crafty vet, and did both roles incredibly well.
15. Mark Langston
Known mainly through diehards, Langston was a strikeout machine during a pitching-heavy era. His longevity and consistency should earn him more retroactive appreciation.
14. Dave Stieb
Arguably one of the unluckiest pitchers of his time, Stieb was elite without the accolades. He had ace-level stuff and got buried in Toronto box scores.
13. Orel Hershiser
Yes, everyone remembers the scoreless streak, but Hershiser’s career doesn’t get enough credit. He was a gamer, a winner, and one of the smartest guys on the mound.
12. Dennis Martínez
“El Presidente” quietly racked up over 240 wins and a perfect game, yet somehow stayed in the shadows. He was an anchor in multiple rotations and aged like fine wine.
11. Chuck Finley
Finley was as dependable as they came, eating innings and missing bats for two decades. If he had pitched in a bigger market, his reputation might look different.
10. Tim Hudson
Hudson didn’t light up radar guns, but he flat-out pitched. Across three franchises, he was the definition of a winning arm and a rotation stabilizer.
9. Vida Blue
Vida Blue had one of the best starts to a career you’ll ever see and then quietly kept it rolling. His early success sometimes overshadows how solid he was for a long time.
8. Jerry Reuss
Reuss pitched in four different decades and just kept getting people out. His name doesn’t appear much now, but he was a consistent threat throughout his career.
7. Ron Guidry
“Louisiana Lightning” had one of the most dominant single seasons ever in 1978, but the rest of his career is quietly strong, too. He was a Yankee legend who somehow still flies under the radar.
6. Tommy John
Yes, the surgery is famous, but the actual pitcher was incredible too. Over 700 starts and nearly 290 wins are no small feat, yet he’s rarely mentioned as a great.
5. Rick Reuschel
Big, burly, and deceptively nasty, Reuschel was never flashy but consistently effective. Modern analytics love him—too bad his era didn’t.
4. Kenny Rogers
He tossed a perfect game and was a four-time All-Star, yet he’s rarely remembered in any “best of” convos. He was a big-game pitcher with big-time durability.
3. Mel Stottlemyre
As a Yankee in a down era, Stottlemyre’s efforts often got lost in the shuffle. He was steady, sharp, and gave New York everything he had.
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2. Luis Tiant
With his funky delivery and electric performance, Tiant was appointment viewing. However, he’s not in the Hall of Fame, which is a significant oversight.
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1. Andy Pettitte
Yes, he pitched for the Yankees, but Andy Pettitte never was; he did win games, dominate in the postseason, and carry himself like a true ace—even if the headlines went elsewhere.
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