In baseball statistics, earned run average (ERA) is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched (i.e., the traditional length of a game). It is calculated by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine. Runs resulting from defensive errors (including pitchers' defensive errors) are recorded as unearned runs and are not used to determine earned run average.
This is a list of the top 100 players in career earned run average, who have thrown at least 1,000 innings.
Ed Walsh holds the major league earned run average record at 1.816. Addie Joss (1.887) and Jim Devlin (1.896) are the only other pitchers with a career earned run average under 2.000.
Key Rank Rank amongst leaders in career earned run average. A blank field indicates a tie. Player Name of player. ERA Total career earned run average.* Denotes elected to National Baseball Hall of Fame.Bold Denotes an active player.A player is considered inactive if he has announced his retirement or has not played for a full season.
List
Stats updated as of September 25, 2026. RankPlayerERA1Ed Walsh*1.8162Addie Joss*1.8873Jim Devlin1.8964Jack Pfiester2.0245Smoky Joe Wood2.0336Mordecai Brown*2.0577John Montgomery Ward*2.0998Christy Mathewson*2.133Al Spalding*2.13310Tommy Bond2.13811Rube Waddell*2.16112Walter Johnson*2.16713Mariano Rivera*2.20914Jake Weimer2.23115Orval Overall2.25716Will White2.27617Babe Ruth*2.27718Ed Reulbach2.28419Jim Scott2.29820Reb Russell2.33421Andy Coakley2.350Eddie Plank*2.35023Larry Corcoran2.35524Eddie Cicotte2.38025George McQuillan2.38126Ed Killian2.38227Doc White2.39128Harry Coveleski2.39429Carl Lundgren2.41730Nap Rucker2.42131Candy Cummings*2.42432Jeff Tesreau2.42833Joe Benz2.42934Jim McCormick2.43135George Bradley2.43436Terry Larkin2.43537Chief Bender*2.45538Hooks Wiltse2.47139Sam Leever2.473Lefty Leifield2.47341Hippo Vaughn2.48642Bob Ewing2.49243Cy Morgan2.50944Ray Collins2.51345Hoyt Wilhelm*2.52346Clayton Kershaw2.53447Lew Richie2.53648Noodles Hahn2.54649George Zettlein2.54750Frank Owen2.552 RankPlayerERA51Grover Cleveland Alexander*2.56052Slim Sallee2.56453Deacon Phillippe2.58654Russ Ford2.59055Frank Smith2.59256Ed Siever2.59857Bob Rhoads2.61258Cherokee Fisher2.61359Fred Glade2.61860Tim Keefe*2.627Cy Young*2.62762Vic Willis*2.62863Red Ames2.62964Barney Pelty2.63265Claude Hendrix2.64966Jack Taylor2.65367Joe McGinnity2.657Dick Rudolph2.65769Pete Schneider2.66370Nick Altrock2.669Carl Weilman2.66972Charlie Ferguson2.67473Charles Radbourn*2.67874Johnny Lush2.68075Cy Falkenberg2.68276Jack Chesbro*2.68477Fred Toney2.68978Bill Donovan2.69079Larry Cheney2.69880Vean Gregg2.70181Dick McBride2.70682Mickey Welch*2.71283Ned Garvin2.71884Bob Wicker2.72685Jacob deGrom2.72886Fred Goldsmith2.72987Bill Foster*2.73288Nick Cullop2.73389Harry Howell2.738Bullet Rogan*2.73891Whitey Ford*2.74592Dummy Taylor2.74793Howie Camnitz2.749Roy Patterson2.74995Babe Adams2.75596Dutch Leonard2.75997Dan Quisenberry2.76098Sandy Koufax*2.76199Jeff Pfeffer2.774100Al Demaree2.775Earl Moore2.775
See also Baseball statistics List of Major League Baseball annual ERA leaders
Notes
References
External links