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In baseball, a pitcher is credited with a win (or "W") when, in a game won by his team, he is the team's pitcher at the time that his team takes a lead that it does not relinquish for the remainder of the game.

An exception to this is that a pitcher who starts a game cannot be credited with a win if he does not pitch at least five innings. If his team takes a lead it does not relinquish while that pitcher is in the game, the win is awarded to the relieving pitcher who, in the judgment of the scorer, pitched the most effectively. The winning pitcher cannot, however, be a pitcher who is credited with a save in the same game.

A loss (denoted by "L") is charged to the pitcher who, in a game lost by his team, is charged with allowing the run that gives the opposing team a lead they do not relinquish for the remainder of the game. The pitcher who gives up a hit to score the "go-ahead run" does not necessarily receive the loss, it goes to the pitcher who allowed the run-scoring player to reach base.

For example, in a tie ball game, if pitcher A walks a batter and then is relieved by pitcher B who then give up a home run, the first run allowed is recorded to pitcher A and the second to pitcher B. Thus, pitcher A gave up the run that gave the opposing team the lead, and pitcher A will be credited with the loss if the other team does not relinquish the lead, even though pitcher B was on the mound when the go-ahead hit occurred.

Every game (excluding the rare tie game) has both a winning and a losing pitcher. A pitcher's total wins and losses are commonly noted together; a pitching record of 15-10 indicates 15 wins and 10 losses.

A pitcher's winning percentage, standardly expressed to three digits, is calculated by dividing their wins by their total decisions (wins plus losses), as in the formula:

W / (W + L)

1 Records

1.1 Career Wins

• Cy Young - 511
• Walter Johnson - 417
• Grover Cleveland Alexander - 373
• Christy Mathewson - 373
• Pud Galvin - 364
• Warren Spahn - 363
• Kid Nichols - 361
• Tim Keefe - 342
• Steve Carlton - 329
• John Clarkson - 328
• Roger Clemens - 328
• Eddie Plank - 326
• Nolan RyanLynn Nolan Ryan, Jr. born January 31, 1947) was a professional baseball pitcher for more than a quarter century and still holds many Major League Baseball pitching records, some of which are so far beyond any previous marks that they are likely to stand f - 324
• Don SuttonDonald Howard Sutton (born April 2, 1945 in Clio, Alabama) is a sports broadcaster and former Major League Baseball player. A right-handed pitcher, Sutton played 23 years for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Houston Astros, Milwaukee Brewers, Oakland Athletics, a - 324
• Phil NiekroPhilip Henry Niekro (born April 1, 1939 in Blaine, Ohio) is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball and member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. With 318 career victories, Niekro is one of the most successful knuckleball pitchers of all time. He was also an - 318
• Gaylord PerryGaylord Jackson Perry (born September 15, 1938 in Williamston, North Carolina) was a Major League Baseball player and member of the United States Baseball Hall of Fame. Notorious for doctoring baseballs (throwing a spitball), Perry won 314 games over a 22 - 314
• Tom SeaverGeorge Thomas Seaver (born November 17, 1944 in Fresno, California) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher for four different teams, primarily the New York Mets, from 1967 to 1986. He won the National League Rookie of the Year Award and three Cy Young - 311
• Charles RadbournGoodwin & Company baseball card (Old Judge (N172)). Charles Gardner Radbourn ( December 11, 1854 February 5, 1897), nicknamed "Old Hoss", was a Major League Baseball player prior to the turn of the 20th century. As a starting pitcher for the Providence Gr - 309
• Mickey WelchMichael Francis Welch ( July 4, 1859 July 30, 1941), also known as Mickey Welch was a 19th century Major League Baseball starting pitcher. He was the third big league pitcher to accumulate 300 career victories (after Pud Galvin and Tim Keefe). Born in Bro - 307
• Greg MadduxGregory Alan Maddux (born April 14, 1966 in San Angelo, Texas, USA) is a right-handed baseball pitcher for the Chicago Cubs. He is generally thought of as being one of the greatest pitchers in the history of Major League Baseball. He is one of only 22 pit - 305
• Lefty Grove - 300
• Early Wynn - 300