Complete Games : 1974 National League Top 25

Finding the American or National League leader in virtually every hitting & pitching statistic is easy-to-do. Finding the top 25 players during any given season is far more challenging. Baseball Almanac has taken away that difficult problem and is pleased to present the data you requested:

"Maybe I missed my routine and my game so much that I was trying to rationalize reasons for getting it back. I wanted those 162 games. I wanted all the suspense of the playoff and home run races. And I honestly didn't believe baseball would bend far enough to allow the possibility of games in November. I was wrong. And baseball was right." - Paul White in USA Today Baseball Weekly (September 14, 2001)
 

1974 Complete Games Leaders

Top 25 in the National League

Phil Niekro 18 Atlanta Braves 1
Steve Carlton 17 Philadelphia Phillies 2
Jim Lonborg 16 Philadelphia Phillies 3
Jim Rooker 15 Pittsburgh Pirates 4
Jon Matlack 14 New York Mets 5
Jerry Reuss 14 Pittsburgh Pirates  
Jerry Koosman 13 New York Mets 7
Andy Messersmith 13 Los Angeles Dodgers  
Tom Seaver 12 New York Mets 9
Jim Barr 11 San Francisco Giants 10
Buzz Capra 11 Atlanta Braves  
Steve Rogers 11 Montreal Expos  
Bill Bonham 10 Chicago Cubs 13
Ken Brett 10 Pittsburgh Pirates  
Don Gullett 10 Cincinnati Reds  
Don Sutton 10 Los Angeles Dodgers  
Dock Ellis 9 Pittsburgh Pirates 17
Bob Gibson 9 St. Louis Cardinals  
Jack Billingham 8 Cincinnati Reds 19
Tom Griffin 8 Houston Astros  
Lynn McGlothen 8 St. Louis Cardinals  
Fred Norman 8 Cincinnati Reds  
Steve Renko 8 Montreal Expos  
Rick Reuschel 8 Chicago Cubs  
Dave Roberts 8 Houston Astros  



The most recognizable Detroit Tiger to wear the number twenty-five was probably Norm Cash (who wore it from 1960 through 1974), but did you know that Hall of Famer Larry Doby also wore it during his single season with Detroit?

Jose Cruz of the Houston Astros had his number twenty-five retired on October 3, 1992, and became the first Major League player with that particular retired number.

Future Hall of Famer Sammy Sosa is best known for wearing number twenty-one; however, when the young slugger played for the Chicago White Sox (1989-1991) he only wore number twenty-five.