Top 11 Starting Pitchers of the 1980s

Ryan entered the 1980s at age 33, but arguably his best season in the decade came at age 42 in 1989. That was his first season with the Rangers, and he struck out 301 hitters for a third straight league-leading mark (the other two came in the National League with the Astros). Despite being over 40 years old in those three seasons, Ryan had more strikeouts than any other pitcher in the majors (799). On Aug. 22, 1989, Ryan struck out fellow Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson to become the first player in baseball history to strike out 5,000 hitters. Somehow Ryan threw the ball harder as the decade drew to a close. He threw a no-hitter for the Astros in 1981 and helped the Astros got to the NLCS in 1986.

4) Brett Saberhagen

Saberhagen won two Cy Young awards in 1985 and 1989. In 1985, the 21-year-old Saberhagen established himself as the ace of the staff. He went 20–6 with a 2.87 ERA and won the American League Cy Young Award. In addition, he led the Royals to a World Series championship. He was named MVP of the World Series, pitching two complete games, including a shutout in Game 7. 1989, Saberhagen brought back his old brilliance by compiling a record of 23–6 with a 2.16 ERA, leading both leagues with 12 complete games, and finishing third in strikeouts. Before his July 26, 1989 start against the Boston Red Sox, Saberhagen had a very average record of 9–5. Over the next two months, he compiled a record of 14–1 with four shutouts. He also led the league in innings pitched, complete games, and strikeout to walk ratio.

3) Bert Blyleven

Blyleven is maybe the most underrated pitcher in the history of Baseball. In 1984 with one of his best seasons: a 19–7 record with a 2.87 ERA. In 1985 he again led the American League in shutouts with five. That year, he pitched 293.2 innings and completed 24 games, a feat that has not been repeated since. He then joined the Twins, passing the 3,000-strikeout mark, and helped the Twins to a 1987 World Series victory. Blyleven went to the California Angels in 1989 and pitched a 2.73 ERA for a 17–5 record in his first season.