The following is a list of annual leaders in shutouts in Major League Baseball (MLB). A shutout occurs when a single pitcher throws a complete game and does not allow the opposing team to score a single run.
Walter Johnson holds the career shutout record with 110. The most shutouts pitched in one season was 16, which was a feat accomplished by both Pete Alexander (1916) and George Bradley (1876). In the dead-ball era and throughout much of the first three-quarters of the twentieth century, starting pitchers were generally expected to perform complete games, and starting pitchers would throw dozens of complete games a year — thereby increasing a pitcher's chances of achieving a shutout. These shutout records are among the most secure records in baseball, as pitchers today rarely earn more than one or two shutouts per season with the heavy emphasis on pitch counts and relief pitching. Pitchers today will often pitch only a few, if any, complete games a season. The 2018 season marked a new low for complete-game shutouts; no pitcher threw for more than one shutout during the season, with eleven American League and seven National League pitchers finishing with only one shutout that season. Since then, there have been twelve combined occasions in which multiple pitchers in each league threw only one shutout in a season.
American League
* – Denotes a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. ‡ – Denotes a pitcher that led the league in shutouts in their rookie year.
YearPlayer(s)Team(s)Shutouts Clark Griffith*Cy Young* Chicago White SoxBoston AmericansAddie Joss*Cleveland BronchosCy Young*Boston AmericansCy Young*Boston AmericansEd KillianDetroit TigersEd Walsh*Chicago White SoxEddie Plank*Philadelphia AthleticsEd Walsh*Chicago White SoxEd Walsh*Chicago White SoxJack CoombsPhiladelphia AthleticsEddie Plank*Walter Johnson*Philadelphia AthleticsWashington SenatorsSmoky Joe WoodBoston Red SoxWalter Johnson*Washington SenatorsWalter Johnson*Washington SenatorsJim ScottWalter Johnson*Chicago White SoxWashington SenatorsBabe Ruth*Boston Red SoxStan Coveleski*Cleveland IndiansCarl MaysWalter Johnson*Boston Red SoxWashington SenatorsWalter Johnson*Washington SenatorsCarl MaysNew York YankeesSad Sam JonesBoston Red SoxGeorge UhleCleveland IndiansStan Coveleski*Cleveland IndiansWalter Johnson*Washington SenatorsTed Lyons*Chicago White SoxEd WellsDetroit TigersHod Lisenbee‡Washington SenatorsHerb Pennock*New York YankeesGeorge BlaeholderGeneral CrowderSam GrayDanny MacFaydenSt. Louis BrownsSt. Louis BrownsSt. Louis BrownsBoston Red SoxClint BrownGeorge EarnshawGeorge PipgrasCleveland IndiansPhiladelphia AthleticsNew York YankeesLefty Grove*Philadelphia AthleticsLefty Grove*Tommy BridgesPhiladelphia AthleticsDetroit TigersOral HildebrandCleveland IndiansLefty Gomez*Mel HarderNew York YankeesCleveland IndiansSchoolboy RoweDetroit TigersLefty Grove*Boston Red SoxLefty Gomez*New York YankeesLefty Gomez*New York YankeesRed Ruffing*New York YankeesAl MilnarBob Feller*Ted Lyons*Cleveland IndiansCleveland IndiansChicago White SoxBob Feller*Cleveland IndiansTiny BonhamNew York YankeesDizzy TroutSpud ChandlerDetroit TigersNew York YankeesDizzy TroutDetroit TigersHal Newhouser*Detroit TigersBob Feller*Cleveland IndiansBob Feller*Cleveland IndiansBob LemonCleveland IndiansEllis KinderVirgil TrucksBoston Red SoxDetroit TigersArt HouttemanDetroit TigersAllie ReynoldsNew York YankeesAllie ReynoldsMike GarciaNew York YankeesCleveland IndiansBob PorterfieldWashington SenatorsMike GarciaVirgil TrucksCleveland IndiansChicago White SoxBilly HoeftDetroit TigersHerb ScoreCleveland IndiansJim WilsonChicago White SoxWhitey Ford*New York YankeesCamilo PascualWashington SenatorsEarly Wynn*Jim PerryWhitey Ford*Chicago White SoxCleveland IndiansNew York YankeesCamilo PascualSteve BarberMinnesota TwinsBaltimore OriolesCamilo PascualDick DonovanJim Kaat*Minnesota TwinsCleveland IndiansMinnesota TwinsRay HerbertChicago White SoxDean ChanceLos Angeles AngelsMudcat GrantMinnesota TwinsLuis TiantSam McDowellTommy JohnCleveland IndiansCleveland IndiansChicago White SoxJim McGlothlinJoe HorlenMickey LolichSteve HarganTommy JohnCalifornia AngelsChicago White SoxDetroit TigersCleveland IndiansChicago White SoxLuis TiantCleveland IndiansDenny McLainDetroit TigersChuck DobsonJim Palmer*Oakland AthleticsBaltimore OriolesVida BlueOakland AthleticsNolan Ryan*California AngelsBert Blyleven*Minnesota TwinsLuis TiantBoston Red SoxJim Palmer*Baltimore OriolesNolan Ryan*California AngelsFrank TananaCalifornia AngelsRon GuidryNew York YankeesDennis LeonardMike FlanaganNolan Ryan*Kansas City RoyalsBaltimore OriolesCalifornia AngelsTommy JohnNew York YankeesDoc MedichKen ForschRichard DotsonSteve McCattyTexas RangersCalifornia AngelsChicago White SoxOakland AthleticsDave StiebToronto Blue JaysMike BoddickerBaltimore OriolesBob OjedaGeoff ZahnBoston Red SoxCalifornia AngelsBert BlylevenCleveland Indians and Minnesota TwinsJack Morris*Detroit TigersRoger ClemensBoston Red SoxRoger ClemensBoston Red SoxBert Blyleven*California AngelsDave StewartRoger ClemensOakland AthleticsBoston Red SoxRoger ClemensBoston Red SoxRoger ClemensBoston Red SoxJack McDowellChicago White SoxRandy Johnson*Seattle MarinersMike Mussina*Baltimore OriolesKen HillPat HentgenRich RobertsonTexas RangersToronto Blue JaysMinnesota TwinsPat HentgenRoger ClemensToronto Blue JaysToronto Blue JaysDavid WellsNew York YankeesScott EricksonBaltimore OriolesPedro Martínez*Boston Red SoxMark MulderOakland AthleticsJeff WeaverDetroit TigersNew York YankeesJoel PiñeiroJohn LackeyMark MulderRoy Halladay*Tim Hudson Seattle MarinersAnaheim AngelsOakland AthleticsToronto Blue JaysOakland AthleticsJeremy BondermanSidney PonsonTim HudsonDetroit TigersBaltimore OriolesOakland AthleticsJon GarlandChicago White SoxCC Sabathia*Jake WestbrookJeremy Sowers‡John LackeyCleveland IndiansCleveland IndiansCleveland IndiansL.A. Angels of AnaheimJeff WeaverJohn LackeyJosé ContrerasPaul ByrdSeattle MarinersL.A. Angels of AnaheimChicago White SoxCleveland IndiansCC Sabathia*Cliff LeeJames ShieldsJesse LitschJon LesterKevin SloweyMatt GarzaRoy Halladay*Cleveland IndiansCleveland IndiansTampa Bay RaysToronto Blue JaysBoston Red SoxMinnesota TwinsTampa Bay RaysToronto Blue JaysRoy Halladay*Toronto Blue Jays Carl PavanoDallas BradenMinnesota TwinsOakland Athletics James ShieldsDerek HollandTampa Bay RaysTexas Rangers Félix HernándezSeattle Mariners Bartolo ColónJustin MastersonOakland AthleticsCleveland Indians Rick PorcelloDetroit Tigers Sonny GrayFélix HernándezDallas KeuchelMike MontgomeryJeff SamardzijaOakland AthleticsSeattle MarinersHouston AstrosSeattle MarinersChicago White Sox Corey KluberCleveland Indians Corey KluberErvin SantanaCleveland IndiansMinnesota Twins José BerríosMike ClevingerGerrit ColeAndrew HeaneyCorey KluberSean ManaeaDaniel MengdenJames PaxtonLuis SeverinoMasahiro TanakaJustin VerlanderMinnesota TwinsCleveland IndiansHouston AstrosLos Angeles AngelsCleveland IndiansOakland AthleticsOakland AthleticsSeattle MarinersNew York YankeesNew York YankeesHouston Astros Shane BieberLucas GiolitoCleveland IndiansChicago White Sox Gerrit ColeKyle GibsonLucas GiolitoBrad KellerMike MinorNew York YankeesTexas RangersChicago White SoxKansas City RoyalsTexas Rangers/Oakland Athletics Sean ManaeaOakland Athletics Dylan CeaseNestor Cortés Jr.Reid Detmers‡Nathan EovaldiDean KremerMartín PérezPatrick SandovalFramber ValdezMichael WachaChicago White SoxNew York YankeesLos Angeles AngelsBoston Red SoxBaltimore OriolesTexas RangersLos Angeles AngelsHouston AstrosBoston Red Sox Gerrit ColeFramber ValdezNew York YankeesHouston Astros Ronel BlancoJoey Estes‡Kevin GausmanTanner HouckKeider Montero‡Houston AstrosOakland AthleticsToronto Blue JaysBoston Red SoxDetroit Tigers Tanner BibeeGarrett CrochetNathan EovaldiKevin GausmanStephen KolekTarik SkubalCleveland GuardiansBoston Red SoxTexas RangersToronto Blue JaysKansas City RoyalsDetroit Tigers Noah CameronDylan CeaseStephen KolekBailey OberKansas City RoyalsToronto Blue JaysKansas City RoyalsMinnesota Twins
National League
* – Denotes a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. ‡ – Denotes a pitcher that led the league in shutouts in their rookie year.