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Pitching in the Major Leagues is hard, even for some of the most talented arms in baseball. Accuracy, velocity, and deception are important. Hitters will make you pay for your mistakes.
Every pro pitcher has found that fact out a time or two throughout their careers. Some have been victimized more than others.
Which Pitchers Have Allowed The Most HRs In MLB History?
There are 13 MLB pitchers that have allowed at least 400 home runs in regular season games during their time in the bigs. They’ve been taken yard more than any others in the history of the league.
Many enjoyed lengthy careers, which contributed to their inclusion on this list. A few were taken advantage of at a high rate.
Here, we’ll run through those names while posting a clip of some of their most memorable (or forgettable) home runs allowed. The list kicks off at No. 13 with a highly drafted lefty that spent the majority of his career in the AL East.
David Wells
David Wells was selected in the second round of the 1982 MLB Draft. He’d spend his first eight pro seasons with the Blue Jays before later suiting up for the rival Red Sox, Orioles, and Yankees.
Throughout his career, he allowed 407 HRs. That number ranks 13th all-time in terms of long balls given up.
Twice, he allowed more than 30 home runs in a season, good for nearly one per start. On average, he surrendered 24 bombs a season during his 19-year stint.
Despite the susceptibility to be taken deep, Wells picked up two World Series titles and twice finished third in the Cy Young race.
Randy Johnson
Randy Johnson will go down as one of the greatest pitchers in MLB history. He ranks second all-time in strikeouts and 22nd in wins.
It did not shield him from the long ball. Johnson was taken yard 411 times throughout his 22-year career for an average of 23 per season.
The flamethrowing lefty twice allowed 30+ homers in a single season but pushed through the adversity to land five Cy Young titles. He also won a World Series in 2001 where he earned MVP honors with a spotless 3-0 record.
Steve Carlton
Steve Carlton was one of the most dominant arms in baseball during his 24-year MLB career. The lefty won four Cy Young awards and led the majors in strikeouts three times.
He also allowed 414 home runs, though only at a rate of about 19 per season. In the 1978 campaign, he allowed more homers than any other pitcher in the bigs. Incredibly, he still posted an ERA of just 2.84.
Longevity is the biggest reason for his inclusion on this list. It does not change the fact that only 10 other pitchers have been taken yard more.
Tim Wakefield
Tim Wakefield famously allowed Aaron Boone’s game-winning home run in Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS, helping the Yankees advance to the World Series.
It was one of 13 homers given up across 18 postseason appearances. In regular season action, he surrendered 418 long balls to rank 10th all-time.
The knuckleballer, who spent 17 of his 19 seasons with the Red Sox, led the American League in HRs allowed during the 2005 campaign. That was one of four times in which he was taken yard at least 30 times.
Those lowlights aside, he also won two World Series titles in Boston and finished third in the Cy Young voting in 1995.
Bert Blyleven
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Bert Blyleven had one of the most iconic curveballs in baseball during his 22-year MLB career. It helped the Hall of Famer amass more than 3,700 strikeouts.
He also gave up 430 bombs to opposing hitters across stints with five different organizations, a number that ranks Bottom 10 all-time.
Twice, he led the Majors in home runs allowed. Those came in back-to-back seasons with the Twins when he gave up 46 and 50 long balls, respectively. Those 96 homers came across just 73 starts.
In most other years, he was able to keep the damage to a minimum, averaging 21 home runs allowed per season throughout his career.
Warren Spahn
Warren Spahn spent 21 seasons in the bigs during a Hall of Fame career. He appeared in a ridiculous 750 games during that pro career, which includes 665 starts to rank Top 15 all-time.
Spahn allowed 434 home runs between 1942 and 1965. That number ranks eighth all-time.
With that being said, he never gave up 30 home runs in a season. His per-year average sat at 21 bombs surrendered throughout his tenure.
Spahn was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1973. He won one Cy Young and was a 17x All-Star.
Bartolo Colon
Bartolo Colon learned early the dangers of missing in the strike zone against MLB hitters. He was taken yard in his very first appearance by Gary Disarcina.
It would be the first of 439 home runs surrendered across a 21-year career.
On average, Colon gave up 27 home runs per season. That was headlined by a 38-homer campaign in 2004 with the Angels.
He’d limit the damage the following season to pick up his lone Cy Young award in 2005.
Frank Tanana
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Frank Tanana pitched in the MLB from 1973-1993. He was a three-time All-Star, leading the American League in ERA in 1977.
He was also smacked around to the tune of 448 home runs across 21 seasons. That puts him at an average of 24 bombs allowed per year.
His worst season came in 1984 with the Rangers when he gave up 30 home runs in 35 appearances, good for nearly one a game.
Don Sutton
Don Sutton was the victim of pitcher-on-pitcher violence in the 1978 NLCS, being taken yard by previously mentioned Steve Carlton during a postseason series vs. the Phillies.
In total, he allowed 472 home runs during regular season games. There were another 12 allowed during his 14 playoff starts.
Sutton pitched for 23 years in the MLB. He made four World Series, though he never got a championship. Three times, he gave up at least 30 bombs while averaging about 21 per season.
Those homers did not prevent success. Sutton was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1998. He finished Top 5 in the Cy Young voting on five occasions and led the Majors in ERA in 1980.
Phil Niekro
The second knuckleballer on our list, Phil Niekro allowed 482 home runs across 24-year pro career. That’s good for an average of 21 per campaign.
He ranks fourth in MLB history in terms of homers allowed. The large majority came with the Braves, where he played 21 seasons.
The most forgettable bomb might’ve come off the bat of his own brother, Joe. His sibling, then playing for the Astros, smacked the only home run of his career off of Niekro in 1976.
Phil Niekro would wind up having the better of the two careers, ending up in the Hall of Fame while also winning five Gold Gloves.
Fergie Jenkins
Fergie Jenkins pitched for 19 years in the MLB throughout a Hall of Fame career. The righty won a Cy Young in 1971 with the Cubs. That same season, he allowed the most home runs in the National League.
It was one of seven times he paced his league in the category, highlighted by a 40-homer campaign in 1979. In all, the gave up 484 long balls. He averaged 26 per season.
The good outweighed the bad, however, for the majority of Jenkins’ tenure. The pitcher racked up nearly 3,200 strikeouts and 284 wins, both of which rank Top 30 all-time.
Robin Roberts
Robin Roberts is our first member of the 500-home run club, surrendering 505 bombs throughout a 19-year career. The right-handed ace averaged 27 homers per season, one of the highest numbers on this list.
Roberts was prone to giving up the long ball. Nine times he allowed more than 30 homers, highlighted by three years of 40+ dingers. It’s worth noting, however, that he also led the league in complete games four of those seasons.
Home runs aside, Roberts had a noteworthy career that ended with his Hall of Fame induction in 1976.
Jamie Moyer
Jamie Moyer has been taken yard more times than any other pitcher in MLB history. The soft-throwing left-handed starter allowed 522 home runs across a 25-year career.
Three times, he gave up at least 30 bombs. He led the league in the statistic in 2004 after surrendering 44 long balls.
Moyer’s 27-home run per year average ties Robin Roberts and Bartolo Colon for tops on this list. He broke the all-time home runs allowed mark in 2010, two years before he officially retired in 2012.
If there is a silver lining surrounding the susceptibility to the long ball, it’s that Moyer was much more efficient in the postseason. He gave up just three homers across eight playoff starts while picking up a World Series title in 2008.