1983
Born February 20, 1983
Manakin Sabot, VA, USA
Justin Verlander Marquee
b. February 20, 1983 · Detroit Tigers 2005–2017, Houston Astros 2017–2020, 2022–2024, New York Mets 2023, San Francisco Giants 2025
He went 24-5 in 2011 with a 2.40 earned run average, led the American League in wins and strikeouts, and was named both Cy Young and Most Valuable Player. He won the Cy Young Award again in 2019 and in 2022, was Rookie of the Year in 2006, and has been chosen for nine All-Star teams.
His no-hitters came against Milwaukee in June 2007, Toronto in May 2011 and Toronto again on September 1, 2019. Only Nolan Ryan, with seven, has thrown more; Sandy Koufax and Bob Feller also have three. Across twenty seasons he has started 555 games, completed 26, and posted a 3.32 earned run average over 3,567 innings.
He pitched one game in 2020 and none in 2021. He returned in 2022 at 39, went 18-4 with a 1.75 earned run average, and won a third Cy Young Award. He has 3,553 strikeouts and 266 wins, more of each than any other pitcher who appeared in a game in 2025, the year he spent with San Francisco, his fourth club.
Honors
| Award | Times | Years |
|---|---|---|
| All-Star selection | 9 | 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2018, 2019, 2022 |
| Player of the Week | 7 | 2006, 2007, 2011, 2012, 2018, 2019, 2023 |
| Pitcher of the Month | 5 | 2009, 2011, 2012, 2016, 2018 |
| Cy Young Award | 3 | 2011, 2019, 2022 |
| MLB Players Choice Outstanding Pitcher | 3 | 2011, 2019, 2022 |
| The Sporting News Pitcher of the Year | 3 | 2011, 2012, 2022 |
| All-MLB Team - First Team | 2 | 2019, 2022 |
| ALCS MVP | 1 | 2017 |
| Babe Ruth Award | 1 | 2017 |
| Bob Feller Act of Valor Award - MLB Player | 1 | 2013 |
| Comeback Player of the Year | 1 | 2022 |
| MLB Players Choice Comeback Player | 1 | 2022 |
| MLB Players Choice Outstanding Rookie | 1 | 2006 |
| MLB Players Choice Player of the Year | 1 | 2011 |
| Most Valuable Player | 1 | 2011 |
| Triple Crown (pitching) | 1 | 2011 |
| Rookie of the Month | 1 | 2006 |
| Rookie of the Year | 1 | 2006 |
| This Year in Baseball Best Major Leaguer - Postseason | 1 | 2017 |
| This Year in Baseball Starter of the Year | 1 | 2011 |
| The Sporting News All-Star | 1 | 2022 |
| The Sporting News Comeback Player of the Year | 1 | 2022 |
| The Sporting News Major League Player of the Year | 1 | 2011 |
| The Sporting News Rookie of the Year | 1 | 2006 |
Batting, season by season
| Year | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | DET | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2006 | DET | 30 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| 2007 | DET | 32 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | .000 |
| 2008 | DET | 33 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | .000 |
| 2009 | DET | 35 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 |
| 2010 | DET | 33 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | .000 |
| 2011 | DET | 34 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | .000 |
| 2012 | DET | 33 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 |
| 2013 | DET | 34 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 |
| 2014 | DET | 32 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .333 |
| 2015 | DET | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2016 | DET | 34 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | .200 |
| 2017 | DET/HOU | 33 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | .167 |
| 2018 | HOU | 34 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | .200 |
| 2019 | HOU | 34 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 |
| 2020 | HOU | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2022 | HOU | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2023 | HOU/NYM | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2024 | HOU | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2025 | SFG | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Career | — | 555 | 50 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 24 | 0 | .100 |
Pitching, season by season
| Year | Team | W | L | G | GS | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | DET | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 11.1 | 15 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 7.15 |
| 2006 | DET | 17 | 9 | 30 | 30 | 0 | 186.0 | 187 | 75 | 60 | 124 | 3.63 |
| 2007 | DET | 18 | 6 | 32 | 32 | 0 | 201.2 | 181 | 82 | 67 | 183 | 3.66 |
| 2008 | DET | 11 | 17 | 33 | 33 | 0 | 201.0 | 195 | 108 | 87 | 163 | 4.84 |
| 2009 | DET | 19 | 9 | 35 | 35 | 0 | 240.0 | 219 | 92 | 63 | 269 | 3.45 |
| 2010 | DET | 18 | 9 | 33 | 33 | 0 | 224.1 | 190 | 84 | 71 | 219 | 3.37 |
| 2011 | DET | 24 | 5 | 34 | 34 | 0 | 251.0 | 174 | 67 | 57 | 250 | 2.40 |
| 2012 | DET | 17 | 8 | 33 | 33 | 0 | 238.1 | 192 | 70 | 60 | 239 | 2.64 |
| 2013 | DET | 13 | 12 | 34 | 34 | 0 | 218.1 | 212 | 84 | 75 | 217 | 3.46 |
| 2014 | DET | 15 | 12 | 32 | 32 | 0 | 206.0 | 223 | 104 | 65 | 159 | 4.54 |
| 2015 | DET | 5 | 8 | 20 | 20 | 0 | 133.1 | 113 | 50 | 32 | 113 | 3.38 |
| 2016 | DET | 16 | 9 | 34 | 34 | 0 | 227.2 | 171 | 77 | 57 | 254 | 3.04 |
| 2017 | DET/HOU | 15 | 8 | 33 | 33 | 0 | 206.0 | 170 | 77 | 72 | 219 | 3.36 |
| 2018 | HOU | 16 | 9 | 34 | 34 | 0 | 214.0 | 156 | 60 | 37 | 290 | 2.52 |
| 2019 | HOU | 21 | 6 | 34 | 34 | 0 | 223.0 | 137 | 64 | 42 | 300 | 2.58 |
| 2020 | HOU | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6.0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 3.00 |
| 2022 | HOU | 18 | 4 | 28 | 28 | 0 | 175.0 | 116 | 34 | 29 | 185 | 1.75 |
| 2023 | HOU/NYM | 13 | 8 | 27 | 27 | 0 | 162.1 | 139 | 58 | 45 | 144 | 3.22 |
| 2024 | HOU | 5 | 6 | 17 | 17 | 0 | 90.1 | 98 | 55 | 27 | 74 | 5.48 |
| 2025 | SFG | 4 | 11 | 29 | 29 | 0 | 152.0 | 155 | 65 | 52 | 137 | 3.85 |
| Career | — | 266 | 158 | 555 | 555 | 0 | 3567.2 | 3046 | 1317 | 1004 | 3553 | 3.32 |
On this day & linked events
2005
Major-league debut: Justin Verlander
Justin Verlander made a major-league debut on July 4, 2005.
2007
Justin Verlander's No-Hitter
Justin Verlander threw a no-hitter for the Detroit Tigers against the Milwaukee Brewers on June 12, 2007, winning 4–0.
2011
Justin Verlander's No-Hitter
Justin Verlander threw a no-hitter for the Detroit Tigers against the Toronto Blue Jays on May 7, 2011, winning 9–0.
2013
Henderson Álvarez's No-Hitter
Henderson Álvarez threw a no-hitter for the Miami Marlins against the Detroit Tigers on September 29, 2013, winning 1–0.
2019
Justin Verlander's No-Hitter
Justin Verlander threw a no-hitter for the Houston Astros against the Toronto Blue Jays on September 1, 2019, winning 2–0.
Image: Public domain