Who has the Lowest ERA Ever?

Ed Walsh holds the record for the lowest career Earned Run Average (ERA) in Major League Baseball history, with an impressive 1.816. This remarkable achievement is recognized among pitchers who have thrown at least 1,000 innings, a standard benchmark for career longevity and statistical significance.

Understanding Earned Run Average (ERA)

ERA is a fundamental statistic in baseball that measures the average number of earned runs allowed by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It's a key indicator of a pitcher's effectiveness and ability to prevent opponents from scoring. A lower ERA signifies a more dominant pitcher.

• Calculation: ERA is calculated by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched, then multiplying by nine.
• Significance: It provides insight into a pitcher's performance independent of their team's fielding or offensive support.

The All-Time ERA Leaderboard

Ed Walsh's career spanned from 1904 to 1917, a period often referred to as the "Dead-ball era" due to lower offensive production and different pitching styles. This historical context contributed to the incredibly low ERAs seen during that time. While Walsh stands alone at the top, a select few other pitchers also achieved career ERAs below 2.000.

Here's a look at the top three pitchers with the lowest career ERAs (minimum 1,000 innings pitched):

These figures underscore the exceptional skill and dominance of these pitchers in their respective eras. For more detailed statistics on baseball's most enduring records, you can explore resources like Wikipedia's Earned Run Average page.