In the sport of baseball, a loss is a statistic credited to the pitcher of the losing team responsible for the run that gives the opposing team the lead with which the game is won (the go-ahead run). The losing pitcher is the pitcher responsible for the go-ahead run to reach base for a lead that the winning team never relinquishes. If a pitcher allows a run that gives the opposing team the lead, his team comes back to lead or tie the game, and then the opposing team regains the lead against a subsequent pitcher, the earlier pitcher does not get the loss.
Cy Young holds the MLB loss record with 316; Pud Galvin is second with 308. Young and Galvin are the only players to earn 300 or more losses.
Key Rank Rank amongst leaders in career games lost. A blank field indicates a tie.PlayerName of player.LTotal career games lost*Denotes elected to National Baseball Hall of Fame.
List
Stats updated as of September 27, 2026. RankPlayerL1Cy Young*3162Pud Galvin*3083Nolan Ryan*2924Walter Johnson*2795Phil Niekro*2746Gaylord Perry*2657Don Sutton*2568Jack Powell2549Eppa Rixey*25110Bert Blyleven*25011Bobby Mathews24812Robin Roberts*245Warren Spahn*24514Steve Carlton*244Early Wynn*24416Jim Kaat*23717Frank Tanana23618Gus Weyhing23219Tommy John23120Bob Friend230Ted Lyons*23022Greg Maddux*22723Ferguson Jenkins*22624Tim Keefe*225Red Ruffing*22526Bobo Newsom22227Tony Mullane22028Jack Quinn21829Sad Sam Jones21730Charlie Hough21631Jim McCormick21432Red Faber*21333Paul Derringer212Chick Fraser212Burleigh Grimes*21236Mickey Welch*21037Jerry Koosman209Jamie Moyer20939Grover Cleveland Alexander*208Kid Nichols*20841Tom Seaver*205Vic Willis*20543Joe Niekro204Jim Whitney20445Tom Glavine*20346George Mullin196Adonis Terry19648Claude Osteen19549Eddie Plank*194Charles Radbourn*194 RankPlayerL51Dennis Martínez19352Mickey Lolich191Rick Reuschel191Jerry Reuss191Tom Zachary19156Al Orth18957Bartolo Colón188Christy Mathewson*18859Mel Harder186Mike Morgan186Jack Morris*18662Earl Whitehill18563Jim Bunning*184Bullet Joe Bush184Roger Clemens18466Larry Jackson183Curt Simmons18368Danny Darwin182Hooks Dauss182Waite Hoyt*18271Murry Dickson181Dutch Leonard181Rick Wise18174Lee Meadows180Tim Wakefield18076Pink Hawley179Dolf Luque17978John Clarkson*178Wilbur Cooper17880Bill Dinneen177Liván Hernández177Rube Marquard*17783Mike Moore17684Red Donahue17585Doyle Alexander174Bob Gibson*174Tom Hughes174Jim Perry174Amos Rusie*17490Chuck Finley17391Luis Tiant17292Dennis Eckersley*171Larry French17194Ted Breitenstein170Camilo Pascual17096Billy Pierce16997Red Ames167Jim Clancy167Bert Cunningham167Red Ehret167
See also Baseball statistics List of Major League Baseball career wins leaders List of Major League Baseball career games started leaders List of Major League Baseball career games finished leaders
External links