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Posted By: Brian

ERA + is a better tool than ERA to compare across decades.

Here is the top 20 career ERA+

Rank Player (age) Adjusted ERA+ Throws
1. Pedro Martinez (36) 160 R
2. Lefty Grove+* 148 L
3. Walter Johnson+ 147 R
4. Dan Quisenberry 146 R
Ed Walsh+ 146 R
Hoyt Wilhelm+ 146 R
Joe Wood 146 R
8. Brandon Webb (29) 144 R
9. Roger Clemens (45) 143 R
10. Jim Devlin 142 R
Addie Joss+ 142 R
Al Spalding+ 142 R
13. Johan Santana* (29) 141 L
14. Kid Nichols+ 140 R
15. Randy Johnson* (44) 139 L
Roy Oswalt (30) 139 R
17. Mordecai Brown+ 138 R
Cy Young+ 138 R
19. John Franco* 137 L
20. Bruce Sutter+ 136 R


http://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/ERAplus_career.shtml

Definition: ERA+ - the ratio of the league's ERA (adjusted to the pitcher's ballpark) to that of the pitcher. > 100 is above average and < 100 is below average. lgERA / ERA


My top 5 is perfect (because I am an expert in my own opinion)
Pedro Martinez
Lefty Grove
Bob Gibson
Cy Young
Walter Johnson