Three Pitchers Active in 2025 Are Sure First-Ballot Hall-of-Famers

JUSTIN VERLANDER —•— MAX SCHERZER —•— CLAYTON KERSHAW

(All 2018 Topps Heritage)

BY MARK A. LARSON
Editor & Publisher

With nine Cy Young Awards between them – plus over 700 combined wins, 10,000 strikeouts and 28 All-Star game selections – Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer and Clayton Kershaw are a cinch to earn a trip to Cooperstown in their first year of eligibility in the early 2030s.

Easily, the three best pitchers of the current era, the trio’s careers are all nearing the end. Kershaw announced his retirement last summer, while Verlander and Scherzer are hoping to play for another season or two. For both, it remains to be seen how much gas is left in the tank. In any case, the Hall of Fame beckons for all three aces.

Here’s a look at each of these remarkable hurlers: 

J u s t i n • V e r l a n d e r

★★ CAREER HIGHLIGHTS ★★

★ Played for four teams (Tigers, Astros, Mets and Giants) throughout 21-year Major League career.
★ Compiled record of 266-158 (.627 pct.) … tied for 37th place all-time for wins.
★ Lifetime ERA of 3.32, 1.135 WHIP and has struck out 3,553 (8th all-time).
★ Led league in K’s and WHIP five times each.
★ Two-time 20-game winner. … Led league in wins four years.
★ Pitched three no-hitters. … Only one of six pitchers all-time with three or more No-No’s.
★ Overall, 2025 season was wanting (4-11, 3.85 ERA). However, in 14 starts after the All-Star break
he hit his stride going 4-4, with a 2.99 ERA – striking out 70 and walking only 26 in 75 innings.

★★ AWARDS ★★

★ Eight-time All-Star — Rookie of the Year — Most Valuable Player
★ Three-time Cy Young Award winner
★ Member of two World Championship Teams

★★  TRIVIAL TIDBIT ★★

Verlander’s favorite TV show as a kid was “Saved By the Bell.”

M a x • S c h e r z e r

★★ CAREER HIGHLIGHTS ★★

★ Between 2008-25, took the mound for seven teams: Diamondbacks, Tigers, Nationals, Dodgers,
Mets, Rangers and Blue Jays.
★ Lifetime record of 221-117 … .654 win pct. is 25th all-time.
★ Two-time 20-game winner. … Topped league in wins four times.
★ Career ERA of 3.22 and 1.084 WHIP … led league in WHIP five seasons.
★ 3,489 lifetime strikeouts are 11th all-time … Number One in league in whiffs three times.
★ Only walked 779 batters throughout career … 4.48 K/BB ratio is eighth all-time.
★ Threw two no-hitters – both in 2015. … One of only six pitchers to hurl a pair in same season.
★ Tough 2025: Went 5-5, with 5.19 ERA, but threw 14+ innings in playoffs and World Series, with 3.77 ERA.

★★ AWARDS ★★

★ Eight-time All-Star
★ Three-time Cy Young Award winner
★ Member of two World Championship Teams

★★ TRIVIAL TIDBIT ★★

Scherzer met his wife at the University of Missouri.
He pitched for the baseball team. She pitched for the softball team.

C l a y t o n • K e r s h a w

★★ CAREER HIGHLIGHTS ★★

★ Spent entire 18-year career with Los Angeles Dodgers (2008-25).
★ His record of 223-96 gave him a career winning pct. of .699 (2nd all-time).
★ The two-time 20-game winner, posted a sparkling lifetime ERA of 2.53 … leading the league five times.
★ He also led the league four times in WHIP (1.018 over the course of his career).
★ The Lefty’s 3,052 strikeouts are 20th all-time … topping the league three years.
★ His 4.28 K/BB ratio is 12th on the all-time list.
★ He tossed 15 shutouts during career and threw one no-hitter.
★ Came back from injuries in 2025 to go 11-2, with a 3.36 ERA.
★ Retired after ’25 season, with last appearance in the 18-inning marathon World Series contest.

★★ AWARDS ★★

★ 11-time All-Star — Most Valuable Player
★ Three-time Cy Young Award winner
★ Member of two World Championship Teams

★★ TRIVIAL TIDBIT ★★

Kershaw went to high school with NFL Super Bowl
Champion quarterback Matt Stafford in Highland Park, TX.

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