Justin Verlander Gets 20th Win: 20-Game Winners of the Past 20 Years

Justin Verlander, 2011’s First 20-Game Winner (Getty)

The Detroit Tigers‘ Justin Verlander is the first pitcher in the major leagues this season to notch his 20th win – his first 20-win season.  He defeated Carl Pavano and the Minnesota Twins 6-4. Verlander yielded the four earned runs in six innings of eight-hit ball.  He  recorded six strikeouts and allowed three walks in the outing.

It wasn’t easy. “Name a pitch, I had trouble finding consistency with anything,” Verlander said. (espn.com)

The 20th win is the victory milestone for which all pitchers aim each season.  Hall of Fame hurlers are often noted for the number of 20-win seasons under their belt.  There is a big difference between a 19-game winner and a 20-game winner, at least in the minds of analysts and the average fan.

So, let’s refresh our memory of 20-game winners from the past 20 years.  Here they are in today’s Sports List of the Day, Hurricane Irene Special.

CC Sabathia was a 20-game winner last year (his first time) and looks poised to do it again.  He’s at 17 wins.  Not so much for Roy Halladay (15 wins, maybe he’ll get there) and Adam Wainwright (out for season, Tommy John surgery).

Halladay has three 20-win seasons to his credit already.  Other multiple 20-game winners of the last 20 years? Bartolo Colon, Roy Oswalt, Curt Schilling, Jamie Moyer, Andy Pettitte, Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez, Roger Clemens, Tom Glavine, Jack McDowell and Greg Maddux.

Other possibilities this year: Ian Kennedy of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Clayton Kershaw of the L.A. Dodgers lead the National League with 16 wins apiece.

The L.A. Angels‘ Jered Weaver and Milwaukee Brewers‘ Yovani Gallardo have 15.

* Updated as of end of 2012 Regular Season:

1. 2012 – Gio Gonzalez, 21-8, Washington Nationals

2. 2012 – David Price, 20-5, Tampa Bay Rays

3. 2012 – Jered Weaver, 20-5, Los Angeles Angels

4. 2012 – R.A. Dickey, 20-6, New York Mets

*

1. 2011 – Justin Verlander, 24-5, Detroit Tigers

2. 2011 – Ian Kennedy, 21-5, Arizona Diamondbacks

3. 2011 – Clayton Kershaw, 21-5, Los Angeles Dodgers

	YEAR	PITCHER	W	L	TEAM
1.	2010	CC Sabathia	21	7	Yankees
2.	2010	Roy Halladay	21	10	Phillies
3.	2010	Adam Wainwright	20	11	Cardinals
	2009	None
4.	2008	Cliff Lee	22	3	Indians
5.	2008	Brandon Webb	22	7	Diamondbacks
6.	2008	Mike Mussina	20	9	Yankees
7.	2008	Roy Halladay	20	11	Blue Jays
8.	2007	Josh Beckett	20	7	Red Sox
	2006	None
9.	2005	Dontrelle Willis	22	10	Marlins
10.	2005	Chris Carpenter	21	5	Cardinals
11.	2005	Bartolo Colon	21	8	Angels
12.	2005	Roy Oswalt	20	12	Astros
13.	2004	Curt Schilling	21	6	Red Sox
14.	2004	Johan Santana	20	6	Twins
15.	2004	Roy Oswalt	20	10	Astros
16.	2003	Roy Halladay	22	7	Blue Jays
17.	2003	Jamie Moyer	21	7	Mariners
18.	2003	Russ Ortiz	21	7	Braves
19.	2003	Andy Pettitte	21	8	Yankees
20.	2003	Esteban Loaiza	21	9	White Sox
21.	2002	Randy Johnson	24	5	Diamondbacks
22.	2002	Barry Zito	23	5	A’s
23.	2002	Curt Schilling	23	7	Diamondbacks
24.	2002	Derrick Lowe	21	8	Red Sox
25.	2002	Pedro Martinez	20	4	Red Sox
26.	2002	Bartolo Colon	20	8	Expos
27.	2001	Curt Schilling	22	6	Diamondbacks
28.	2001	Matt Morris	22	8	Cardinals
29.	2001	Randy Johnson	21	6	Diamondbacks
30.	2001	Mark Mulder	21	8	A’s
31.	2001	Roger Clemens	20	3	Yankees
32.	2001	Jon Lieber	20	6	Cubs
33.	2001	Jamie Moyer	20	6	Mariners
34.	2000	Tom Glavine	21	9	Braves
35.	2000	Tim Hudson	20	6	A’s
36.	2000	David Wells	20	8	Blue Jays
37.	2000	Darryl Kyle	20	9	Cardinals
38.	1999	Pedro Martinez	23	4	Red Sox
39.	1999	Mike Hampton	22	4	Astros
40.	1999	Jose Lima	21	10	Astros
41.	1998	Roger Clemens	20	6	Blue Jays
42.	1998	Tom Glavine	20	6	Braves
43.	1998	David Cone	20	7	Yankees
44.	1998	Rick Helling	20	7	Rangers
45.	1997	Roger Clemens	21	7	Blue Jays
46.	1997	Randy Johnson	20	4	Mariners
47.	1997	Denny Neagle	20	5	Braves
48.	1997	Brad Radke	20	10	Twins
49.	1996	John Smoltz	24	8	Braves
50.	1996	Andy Pettitte	21	8	Yankees
51.	1996	Pat Hentgen	20	10	Blue Jays
	1995	None
	1994	None
52.	1993	Tom Glavine	22	6	Braves
53.	1993	John Burkett	22	7	Giants
54.	1993	Jack McDowell	22	10	White Sox
55.	1993	Bill Swift	21	8	Giants
56.	1993	Greg Maddux	20	10	Braves
57.	1992	Jack Morris	21	6	Blue Jays
58.	1992	Kevin Brown	21	11	Rangers
59.	1992	Tom Glavine	20	8	Braves
60.	1992	Jack McDowell	20	10	White Sox
61.	1992	Greg Maddux	20	11	Braves
62.	1991	Scott Erickson	20	8	Twins
63.	1991	John Smiley	20	8	Pirates
64.	1991	Bill Gullickson	20	9	Tigers
65.	1991	Tom Glavine	20	11	Braves
66.	1990	Bob Welch	27	6	A’s
67.	1990	Doug Drabek	22	6	Pirates
68.	1990	Dave Stewart	22	11	A’s
69.	1990	Roger Clemens	21	6	Red Sox
70.	1990	Ramon Martinez	20	6	Dodgers
71.	1990	Frank Viola	20	12	Mets