In baseball, a wild pitch (abbreviated WP) is charged against a pitcher when his pitch is too high, too short, or too wide of home plate for the catcher to control with ordinary effort, thereby allowing a baserunner, perhaps even the batter-runner on an uncaught third strike, to advance. A wild pitch usually passes the catcher behind home plate, often allowing runners on base an easy chance to advance while the catcher chases the ball down. Sometimes the catcher may block a pitch, and the ball may be nearby, but the catcher has trouble finding the ball, allowing runners to advance.

Tony Mullane is the all-time leader in wild pitches with 343 career. Mullane is also the only player to throw more than 300 career wild pitches.

Key Rank Rank amongst leaders in career wild pitches thrown. A blank field indicates a tie. Player Name of player. WP Total career wild pitches thrown.*Denotes elected to National Baseball Hall of Fame. BoldDenotes active player.

List

Stats updated as of 2026 season.

RankPlayer (2027 WP)WP1Tony Mullane3432Nolan Ryan*2773Mickey Welch*2744Bobby Mathews2535Tim Keefe*240Gus Weyhing2407Phil Niekro*2268Mark Baldwin221Pud Galvin*221Will White22111Charles Radbourn*214Jim Whitney21413Jack Morris*206Adonis Terry20615Matt Kilroy20316George Bradley18917Tommy John18718Steve Carlton*18319John Clarkson*18220Charlie Hough179Toad Ramsey17922Hardie Henderson17823Charlie Buffinton17424Joe Niekro17225Kid Nichols*16926A. J. Burnett161Bert Cunningham16128Jim McCormick160Gaylord Perry*16030Egyptian Healy15931Red Ames156Félix Hernández156Cy Young*15634Walter Johnson*15435Amos Rusie*15336Jersey Bakley152Silver King15238Ice Box Chamberlain149David Cone14940Ed Crane146Chick Fraser14642John Smoltz*14543John Montgomery Ward*14444Tommy Bond143Roger Clemens14346Sam McDowell14047Jack Lynch13848Ed Seward13649Jumbo McGinnis135Mike Moore135 RankPlayer (2027 WP)WP51Tim Wakefield13452John Harkins13353Chuck Finley13054Bob Caruthers12955Guy Hecker128Jim Kaat*128Bobby Witt12858Tom Seaver*12659John Lackey12560Mickey Lolich124Jim Maloney12462Bill Hutchison12363Hank O'Day*12264Orel Hershiser121Jouett Meekin12166Tom Candiotti120Jack Stivetts12068Larry Cheney119Tony Cloninger119Dave Stewart119Frank Tanana119Fernando Valenzuela11973Joe Coleman11874Al Mays11675Christy Mathewson*11576Bert Blyleven*11477Larry Corcoran11378Tom Gordon112Lindy McDaniel112Ed Morris112Don Sutton*11282Charlie Getzien11183Randy Johnson*109Hideo Nomo10985Kevin Brown108Bob Gibson*108Edwin Jackson108Clayton Kershaw10889Bob Barr107Sonny Gray (0)107Mark Gubicza107Tim Lincecum107Jerry Reuss107James Shields10795Kevin Appier10696Juan Guzmán105Mike Morgan10598Larry Dierker104Ervin Santana104Al Spalding*104

References