In Japan, there is no position more coveted and revered than the starting pitcher.

To them, they are the protagonists, the men who stand alone against the onslaught of hitters, and single-handedly take them on. While we know this is not exactly true, you need your catcher and the defense behind you, that hasn’t stopped that from permeating Japanese baseball culture.

There’s a reason that most of the protagonists in baseball manga and anime, dating back to the very birth of those mediums, have been starting pitchers. It’s not just convenient for storytelling.

Naturally, the best pitchers in NPB history are pretty much universally revered figures and immortals of the Japanese game. These are the Top 10 starting pitchers in NPB history.



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Playlist:    • Top 10s (2025)