Single Season Complete Game Leaders
| Rank | Player | Year | Team | W | L | W-L% | ERA | G | GS | GF | CG | SH | SV | SV% | IP | BB | SO | WHIP | BR9 | HR9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charlie Root | 1927 | GTL | 19 | 13 | .594 | 2.99 | 40 | 39 | 1 | 19 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 322.1 | 131 | 146 | 1.198 | 10.78 | 0.53 |
| Warren Spahn | 1949 | SSL | 11 | 20 | .355 | 3.94 | 36 | 36 | 0 | 19 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 285.2 | 109 | 155 | 1.386 | 12.48 | 0.66 | |
| 3 | Mel Parnell | 1949 | BRI | 20 | 17 | .541 | 3.35 | 40 | 40 | 0 | 18 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 322.1 | 134 | 133 | 1.350 | 12.15 | 0.47 |
| 4 | Tommy Thomas | 1927 | THD | 24 | 9 | .727 | 2.82 | 41 | 41 | 0 | 15 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 319.2 | 119 | 117 | 1.233 | 11.09 | 0.39 |
| Pete Alexander | 1927 | MNL | 18 | 12 | .600 | 3.15 | 35 | 34 | 1 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 274 | 51 | 66 | 1.226 | 11.04 | 0.36 | |
| Virgil Trucks | 1949 | PVA | 13 | 15 | .464 | 3.52 | 39 | 37 | 2 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 100 | 289 | 128 | 156 | 1.277 | 11.49 | 0.69 | |
| Sam Streeter | 1927 | MWB | 16 | 14 | .533 | 5.11 | 38 | 38 | 0 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 288.2 | 84 | 103 | 1.510 | 13.59 | 0.62 | |
| 8 | Phil Niekro | 1974 | CIR | 15 | 6 | .714 | 2.58 | 28 | 28 | 0 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 227 | 83 | 152 | 1.106 | 9.95 | 0.48 |
| Jesse Petty | 1927 | GTL | 16 | 18 | .471 | 3.02 | 40 | 36 | 4 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 283.1 | 74 | 103 | 1.214 | 10.93 | 0.29 | |
| Jesse Haines | 1927 | IMG | 16 | 19 | .457 | 3.36 | 49 | 36 | 13 | 14 | 1 | 4 | 67 | 297.1 | 92 | 92 | 1.291 | 11.62 | 0.39 | |
| Lee Meadows | 1927 | CIR | 13 | 20 | .394 | 3.51 | 40 | 40 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 297.1 | 83 | 77 | 1.305 | 11.74 | 0.54 | |
| 12 | Bert Blyleven | 1974 | GTL | 13 | 8 | .619 | 2.45 | 27 | 27 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 213.1 | 65 | 200 | 1.144 | 10.29 | 0.38 |
| Carmen Hill | 1927 | SSL | 19 | 11 | .633 | 2.94 | 49 | 31 | 18 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 100 | 294.1 | 107 | 98 | 1.284 | 11.56 | 0.40 | |
| Dazzy Vance | 1927 | MNL | 10 | 20 | .333 | 3.07 | 39 | 34 | 5 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 272.2 | 77 | 175 | 1.133 | 10.20 | 0.40 | |
| Waite Hoyt | 1927 | BRI | 15 | 13 | .536 | 3.08 | 34 | 34 | 0 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 257 | 55 | 112 | 1.183 | 10.65 | 0.53 | |
| Roger Clemens | 1987 | LIO | 14 | 11 | .560 | 3.56 | 29 | 29 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 230.1 | 58 | 209 | 1.181 | 10.63 | 0.94 | |
| 17 | Bob Lemon | 1949 | SPS | 25 | 12 | .676 | 3.04 | 42 | 40 | 2 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 308.1 | 155 | 167 | 1.242 | 11.18 | 0.90 |
| Bob Purkey | 1961 | GTL | 17 | 10 | .630 | 3.89 | 33 | 31 | 2 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 242.2 | 66 | 120 | 1.302 | 11.72 | 1.30 | |
| Wilbur Wood | 1974 | DSP | 15 | 12 | .556 | 3.96 | 28 | 28 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 216 | 65 | 119 | 1.356 | 12.21 | 0.79 | |
| Ken Raffensberger | 1949 | THD | 21 | 13 | .618 | 4.05 | 41 | 40 | 1 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 277.2 | 102 | 117 | 1.401 | 12.61 | 0.88 | |
| Lefty Lamarque | 1949 | GTL | 15 | 16 | .484 | 4.15 | 41 | 41 | 0 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 297.1 | 80 | 110 | 1.339 | 12.05 | 0.64 | |
| Jesse Hubbard | 1927 | GTL | 17 | 10 | .630 | 4.22 | 31 | 31 | 0 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 239 | 27 | 45 | 1.251 | 11.26 | 0.75 | |
| 23 | Harry Salmon | 1927 | MIT | 16 | 10 | .615 | 2.75 | 79 | 17 | 62 | 11 | 1 | 7 | 78 | 281 | 63 | 108 | 1.125 | 10.12 | 0.54 |
| Ray Kremer | 1927 | TBK | 11 | 12 | .478 | 3.21 | 34 | 29 | 5 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 100 | 229.2 | 66 | 67 | 1.271 | 11.44 | 0.31 | |
| Gaylord Perry | 1974 | BBC | 20 | 7 | .741 | 3.40 | 35 | 35 | 0 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 270.1 | 96 | 187 | 1.158 | 10.42 | 0.87 | |
| Jakie May | 1927 | PBP | 17 | 12 | .586 | 3.41 | 56 | 23 | 33 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 50 | 235 | 93 | 130 | 1.349 | 12.14 | 0.23 | |
| Bob Welch | 1987 | LIO | 13 | 9 | .591 | 3.88 | 29 | 29 | 0 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 213.1 | 77 | 157 | 1.177 | 10.59 | 1.14 | |
| Hal Newhouser | 1949 | TAF | 14 | 15 | .483 | 4.13 | 46 | 33 | 13 | 11 | 1 | 5 | 100 | 268 | 104 | 142 | 1.340 | 12.06 | 0.94 | |
| Don Newcombe | 1949 | MNL | 15 | 14 | .517 | 4.16 | 37 | 34 | 3 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 255.1 | 96 | 155 | 1.449 | 13.04 | 0.81 | |
| J.r. Richard | 1977 | BBS | 11 | 18 | .379 | 4.40 | 34 | 34 | 0 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 268 | 108 | 207 | 1.287 | 11.59 | 1.21 | |
| 31 | Fergie Jenkins | 1974 | BRI | 12 | 9 | .571 | 3.21 | 23 | 23 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 185 | 33 | 115 | 1.086 | 9.78 | 1.17 |
| Nolan Ryan | 1977 | SRR | 16 | 16 | .500 | 3.26 | 37 | 37 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 268 | 206 | 298 | 1.474 | 13.26 | 0.47 | |
| Jeep Jessup | 1949 | QCK | 15 | 11 | .577 | 3.80 | 44 | 35 | 9 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 258.1 | 137 | 106 | 1.397 | 12.58 | 0.94 | |
| 34 | Roger Clemens | 1997 | MNL | 16 | 12 | .571 | 2.11 | 35 | 35 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 269.1 | 83 | 283 | 1.073 | 9.66 | 0.67 |
| Jon Matlack | 1974 | IMG | 12 | 9 | .571 | 2.30 | 25 | 25 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 195.1 | 56 | 142 | 1.080 | 9.72 | 0.28 | |
| Frank Lary | 1961 | SUS | 12 | 15 | .444 | 2.82 | 30 | 29 | 1 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 214 | 61 | 107 | 1.131 | 10.18 | 0.46 | |
| Gready McKinnis | 1949 | SSL | 11 | 15 | .423 | 2.83 | 32 | 32 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 229 | 75 | 103 | 1.162 | 10.45 | 0.51 | |
| Steve Rogers | 1977 | COL | 21 | 9 | .700 | 3.27 | 37 | 37 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 275.1 | 92 | 203 | 1.271 | 11.44 | 0.78 | |
| Nolan Ryan | 1974 | LVS | 8 | 12 | .400 | 3.63 | 24 | 24 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 183.1 | 114 | 210 | 1.353 | 12.17 | 0.79 | |
| Don Drysdale | 1961 | BBS | 13 | 12 | .520 | 3.64 | 31 | 31 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 232.1 | 66 | 159 | 1.261 | 11.35 | 1.20 | |
| Luther Farrell | 1927 | BUM | 17 | 13 | .567 | 3.98 | 43 | 43 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 283 | 77 | 72 | 1.360 | 12.24 | 0.51 | |
| Randy Gumpert | 1949 | GTL | 16 | 8 | .667 | 3.99 | 33 | 31 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 232.1 | 67 | 68 | 1.248 | 11.23 | 0.97 | |
| Jim Bunning | 1961 | BBS | 12 | 14 | .462 | 4.12 | 32 | 32 | 0 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 233.2 | 70 | 143 | 1.262 | 11.36 | 1.54 | |
| Joe Shaute | 1927 | MWB | 17 | 10 | .630 | 4.23 | 30 | 30 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 231.2 | 93 | 82 | 1.459 | 13.13 | 0.70 | |
| 45 | Jerry Koosman | 1977 | MNL | 16 | 10 | .615 | 2.62 | 30 | 30 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 227 | 69 | 190 | 1.167 | 10.51 | 0.95 |
| Jim Perry | 1974 | GTL | 7 | 12 | .368 | 2.68 | 26 | 26 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 191.1 | 48 | 60 | 1.265 | 11.38 | 0.38 | |
| Vic Aldridge | 1927 | CIR | 16 | 11 | .593 | 2.71 | 36 | 34 | 2 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 245.1 | 96 | 107 | 1.333 | 12.00 | 0.55 | |
| Oscar Levis | 1927 | DIN | 14 | 7 | .667 | 3.00 | 27 | 27 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 204 | 52 | 40 | 1.123 | 10.10 | 0.62 | |
| Corner Pocket Yokely | 1927 | TLF | 18 | 11 | .621 | 3.00 | 34 | 34 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 246.1 | 86 | 71 | 1.100 | 9.90 | 0.40 | |
| Andy Cooper | 1927 | TBK | 10 | 7 | .588 | 3.07 | 29 | 18 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 100 | 155.1 | 14 | 44 | 1.120 | 10.08 | 0.52 | |
| Jim 'catfish' Hunter | 1974 | SSL | 7 | 6 | .538 | 3.14 | 17 | 17 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 132 | 20 | 68 | 1.076 | 9.68 | 1.02 | |
| Red Lucas | 1927 | COL | 17 | 9 | .654 | 3.14 | 35 | 33 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 252 | 58 | 67 | 1.131 | 10.18 | 0.32 | |
| Andy Messersmith | 1974 | DSP | 12 | 11 | .522 | 3.40 | 27 | 27 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 198.1 | 70 | 147 | 1.175 | 10.57 | 1.00 | |
| Ellis Kinder | 1949 | TAF | 11 | 17 | .393 | 3.80 | 36 | 33 | 3 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 50 | 241.2 | 88 | 149 | 1.283 | 11.54 | 0.97 | |
| Don Gullett | 1974 | GTL | 7 | 13 | .350 | 3.89 | 26 | 26 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 196.2 | 67 | 149 | 1.246 | 11.21 | 1.10 | |
| Bill Sherdel | 1927 | THD | 17 | 12 | .586 | 4.04 | 36 | 36 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 243 | 78 | 70 | 1.473 | 13.26 | 0.56 | |
| Sheriff Blake | 1927 | PBP | 14 | 8 | .636 | 4.06 | 45 | 23 | 22 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 80 | 213 | 105 | 65 | 1.610 | 14.49 | 0.17 | |
| Big Bill Foster | 1927 | SSL | 10 | 16 | .385 | 4.34 | 34 | 33 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 221.2 | 133 | 90 | 1.674 | 15.06 | 0.45 | |
| Bill F. Lee | 1974 | THD | 6 | 10 | .375 | 4.36 | 23 | 23 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161 | 45 | 70 | 1.460 | 13.14 | 0.95 | |
| Jerry Koosman | 1974 | SSL | 8 | 13 | .381 | 4.74 | 25 | 25 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 182.1 | 69 | 126 | 1.684 | 15.15 | 0.94 | |
| 61 | Dick Donovan | 1961 | MNL | 11 | 6 | .647 | 2.60 | 23 | 23 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 169.1 | 26 | 70 | 0.980 | 8.82 | 1.01 |
| Jack Quinn | 1927 | TBK | 8 | 14 | .364 | 2.93 | 30 | 26 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 193.1 | 62 | 48 | 1.407 | 12.66 | 0.37 | |
| Brad Radke | 1997 | GTL | 15 | 9 | .625 | 3.10 | 32 | 32 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 235.1 | 58 | 157 | 1.045 | 9.41 | 0.84 | |
| Gene Richardson | 1949 | GTL | 15 | 10 | .600 | 3.23 | 35 | 35 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 253.2 | 109 | 136 | 1.329 | 11.96 | 0.53 | |
| Phil Cockrell | 1927 | SSL | 14 | 11 | .560 | 3.26 | 30 | 30 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 221 | 70 | 44 | 1.167 | 10.51 | 0.69 | |
| Mike Cuellar | 1974 | BRI | 12 | 9 | .571 | 3.42 | 24 | 24 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 181.1 | 58 | 78 | 1.312 | 11.81 | 0.79 | |
| Lefty Smith | 1949 | CIR | 14 | 9 | .609 | 3.43 | 35 | 24 | 11 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 202 | 125 | 86 | 1.391 | 12.52 | 0.53 | |
| Carl Morton | 1974 | SSL | 12 | 8 | .600 | 3.46 | 25 | 25 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 182.1 | 63 | 74 | 1.431 | 12.88 | 0.39 | |
| Don Mossi | 1961 | GTL | 14 | 7 | .667 | 3.78 | 30 | 30 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 223.2 | 56 | 126 | 1.256 | 11.31 | 1.05 | |
| Jim O'toole | 1961 | IMG | 16 | 8 | .667 | 3.83 | 35 | 29 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 100 | 213.2 | 112 | 137 | 1.395 | 12.55 | 0.67 | |
| Steve Busby | 1974 | LVS | 5 | 10 | .333 | 3.84 | 24 | 24 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 176 | 71 | 133 | 1.375 | 12.38 | 0.46 | |
| Steve Barber | 1961 | CIR | 16 | 12 | .571 | 3.95 | 34 | 34 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 236.2 | 159 | 163 | 1.534 | 13.80 | 0.72 | |
| Yellowhorse Morris | 1927 | SSL | 9 | 17 | .346 | 4.17 | 36 | 33 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 215.2 | 102 | 62 | 1.567 | 14.11 | 0.46 | |
| Harry Brecheen | 1949 | PVA | 14 | 11 | .560 | 4.19 | 33 | 31 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 210.2 | 69 | 87 | 1.324 | 11.92 | 0.85 | |
| Bert Blyleven | 1987 | SIM | 10 | 9 | .526 | 4.33 | 29 | 29 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 206 | 73 | 172 | 1.301 | 11.71 | 1.09 | |
| Jack Kralick | 1961 | BBS | 6 | 19 | .240 | 4.66 | 31 | 31 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 218.1 | 57 | 123 | 1.392 | 12.53 | 1.20 | |
| Jack Morris | 1987 | LVS | 9 | 10 | .474 | 5.16 | 27 | 27 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 183 | 75 | 154 | 1.464 | 13.18 | 1.38 | |
| 78 | Rudy May | 1974 | MNL | 8 | 4 | .667 | 2.00 | 15 | 15 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 121.1 | 40 | 85 | 1.030 | 9.27 | 0.74 |
| Zack Greinke | 2015 | MNL | 18 | 7 | .720 | 2.30 | 29 | 29 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 222.2 | 49 | 182 | 0.862 | 7.76 | 0.73 | |
| Mike Scott | 1987 | QBS | 16 | 7 | .696 | 2.62 | 32 | 32 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 230.1 | 74 | 206 | 1.059 | 9.53 | 0.78 | |
| Dennis Leonard | 1977 | MIT | 17 | 13 | .567 | 2.83 | 59 | 27 | 32 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 60 | 260.2 | 87 | 221 | 1.162 | 10.46 | 0.79 | |
| Bill Long | 1987 | GTL | 9 | 6 | .600 | 2.85 | 24 | 21 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 148.1 | 30 | 64 | 1.139 | 10.25 | 1.15 | |
| Clayton Kershaw | 2015 | QCK | 18 | 7 | .720 | 2.91 | 34 | 33 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 231.2 | 52 | 293 | 1.019 | 9.17 | 0.89 | |
| Dolf Luque | 1927 | MNL | 16 | 8 | .667 | 2.96 | 32 | 28 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 224.2 | 53 | 72 | 1.255 | 11.30 | 0.40 | |
| Frank Tanana | 1977 | MWB | 17 | 7 | .708 | 3.00 | 35 | 35 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 237.1 | 67 | 211 | 1.108 | 9.97 | 0.68 | |
| Mountain Drop Mitchell | 1927 | MNL | 10 | 5 | .667 | 3.09 | 34 | 18 | 16 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 40 | 166 | 59 | 35 | 1.349 | 12.14 | 0.27 | |
| Jack Sanford | 1961 | PBP | 14 | 7 | .667 | 3.22 | 38 | 27 | 11 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 204 | 95 | 106 | 1.299 | 11.69 | 0.97 | |
| Jim Rooker | 1974 | GRR | 11 | 11 | .500 | 3.30 | 29 | 29 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 210 | 95 | 121 | 1.362 | 12.26 | 0.69 | |
| Jim Palmer | 1977 | IMG | 16 | 14 | .533 | 3.38 | 38 | 38 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 288 | 107 | 205 | 1.205 | 10.84 | 0.97 | |
| Mike Flanagan | 1977 | GTL | 14 | 12 | .538 | 3.41 | 31 | 31 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 229.2 | 65 | 159 | 1.232 | 11.09 | 0.59 | |
| Willis Hudlin | 1927 | DIN | 13 | 12 | .520 | 3.42 | 38 | 38 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 263.1 | 70 | 78 | 1.375 | 12.37 | 0.27 | |
| Verdell Mathis | 1949 | QCK | 9 | 13 | .409 | 3.58 | 54 | 18 | 36 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 75 | 208.2 | 131 | 65 | 1.476 | 13.28 | 0.56 | |
| Hod Lisenbee | 1927 | TBK | 14 | 9 | .609 | 3.60 | 37 | 29 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 100 | 225 | 86 | 106 | 1.351 | 12.16 | 0.40 | |
| Ross Grimsley | 1974 | NJJ | 13 | 11 | .542 | 3.61 | 28 | 28 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 202 | 55 | 128 | 1.317 | 11.85 | 0.98 | |
| Luis Tiant | 1974 | GRR | 15 | 9 | .625 | 3.76 | 31 | 31 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 220.1 | 97 | 131 | 1.389 | 12.50 | 0.61 | |
| Ken Kravec | 1977 | SLP | 9 | 10 | .474 | 3.81 | 24 | 23 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 165.1 | 60 | 126 | 1.234 | 11.10 | 0.82 | |
| Howie Pollet | 1949 | MNL | 12 | 13 | .480 | 3.89 | 40 | 31 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 249.2 | 77 | 135 | 1.374 | 12.36 | 0.68 | |
| Randy Jones | 1974 | GTL | 9 | 8 | .529 | 3.91 | 21 | 21 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 156.1 | 35 | 100 | 1.215 | 10.94 | 0.81 | |
| Phil Niekro | 1977 | SRR | 17 | 10 | .630 | 4.25 | 37 | 37 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 243.2 | 152 | 182 | 1.592 | 14.33 | 0.66 | |
| Bill Wight | 1949 | TAF | 13 | 13 | .500 | 4.25 | 41 | 32 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 100 | 226.1 | 73 | 90 | 1.454 | 13.08 | 0.60 |