No. 1: Sandy Koufax, SP

Tenure: 1955-66

Stats: 167-87 W-L record, 2.67 ERA, 2,396 strikeouts

Achievements: 1963 NL MVP, Three-time Cy Young winner, Six-time All Star

Jackie Robinson remains one of the all time legends in baseball history and he was one of the best players in the game from 1949-53. But there are dozens of position players who have more impressive on-the-field resumes than Robinson, even during a five-year stretch.

While there is an endless debate about who “the greatest” pitcher of all-time was, Sandy Koufax has to be in the conversation.

From 1962-66 he threw four no-hitters—including a perfect game—won five consecutive ERA titles, three Cy Young awards and averaged 22 wins and nearly 300 strikeouts per season.

As great as he was in the regular season, Koufax was better in the World Series.

He made seven starts (56 innings) in the Fall Classic and allowed just six earned runs while striking out 61 batters.
Since Koufax was the key component on two World Series winning teams, one more than Robinson—who, for the most part batted in a lineup with Hall of Famers Duke Snider, Roy Campanella, Pee Wee Reese and (should be) Hall of Famer Gil Hodges—Koufax narrowly rises to the top of this list.