3,000 IP (1920 - )

Since the inception of the "Live Ball Era" in 1920, 83 Pitchers have more than 3,000 Innings Pitched in their career (The requirement being that the 3,000 IPs were thrown from 1920 on).  Within this total of 83 pitchers, there are a number of lists that can be generated to show different career achievements that have been accomplished along with surpassing the 3,000 IP mark.

Live Ball Era Career Wins (min. 3,000 IP):

All 13 pitchers whose careers started in the Live Ball Era that went on to win 300 or more games in their career pitched at least 3,000 innings to accomplish that milestone.  Note: the other 11 pitchers in the 300 Wins Club (Pitchers whose careers started pre-1920) all threw at least 4,000 innings in their careers.

Live Ball Era 300 Win Club:

1. Warren Spahn: 363 Wins
2. Greg Maddux: 355 Wins
3. Roger Clemens: 354 Wins
4. Steve Carlton: 329 Wins
5. Nolan Ryan: 324 Wins
6. Don Sutton: 324 Wins
7. Phil Niekro: 318 Wins
8. Gaylord Perry: 314 Wins
9. Tom Seaver: 311 Wins
10. Tom Glavine: 305 Wins
11. Randy Johnson: 303 Wins
12. Lefty Grove: 300 Wins (The only pitcher in the club that didn't throw at least 4,000 career innings)
13. Early Wynn: 300 Wins

Honorable Mention: After Lefty Grove, the Live Ball Era Pitcher with the most career wins that didn't throw 4,000 innings in his career is Mike Mussina, with 270 Wins in 3,562 2/3 IP (This goes for all-time as well).

Live Ball Era Career ERA < 3.00 (min. 3,000 IP)

Out of the 83 pitchers that threw at least 3,000 innings from 1920 on, only 7 had a career ERA under 3.00:

1. Whitey Ford: 2.75 Career ERA
2. Jim Palmer: 2.86 Career ERA
3. Tom Seaver: 2.86 Career ERA
4. Juan Marichal: 2.89 Career ERA
5. Bob Gibson: 2.91 Career ERA
6. Don Drysdale: 2.95 Career ERA
7. Carl Hubbell: 2.98 Career ERA

Exclusive Club: Tom Seaver is the only Live Ball Era pitcher to have at least 300 career wins (311) and a career ERA under 3.00 (2.86).  Note: the other 11 pitchers in the 300 Wins Club (Pitchers whose careers started pre-1920) all had career ERAs under 3.00 as well (An indication of why it's so important to break pitchers up by era).  Thus, not only was posting a career ERA < 3.00 (min. 3,000 IP) in the Live Ball Era incredibly rare, only 1 Pitcher also surpassed 300 career wins in doing so.

Un-Honorable Mention: The highest career ERA among the Live Ball Era Pitchers that threw at least 3,000 Innings was posted by Livan Hernandez, at 4.44.

Live Ball Era Career Shutouts (min. 3,000 IP)

10 out of the 83 Pitchers in discussion had at least 50 career Shutouts: Warren Spahn, Tom Seaver, Nolan Ryan, Bert Blyleven, Don Sutton, Bob Gibson, Steve Carlton, Jim Palmer, Gaylord Perry, and Juan Marichal.  Only 20 Pitchers ever have had 50 career SHO, but of the 16 Live Ball Era Pitchers whose careers started post-1980, only 3 eclipsed 30 career SHO: Roger Clemens (46), Randy Johnson (37), and Greg Maddux (35).  Furthermore, Andy Pettitte is the only active Pitcher that has pitched over 3,000 Innings, but ranks last on this list (83rd out of 83) of Live Ball Era Pitchers when it comes to career SHO, with only 4 (the current active leader in career SHO is Roy Halladay, with 20 in 2,721 2/3 Career IP).

Live Ball Era Career Strikeouts (min. 3,000 IP)

Only 16 Pitchers in the history of Major League Baseball have more than 3,000 career Strikeouts.  Walter Johnson was the only Pitcher whose career started pre-1920 to accomplish this feat (3,509 K's in 5,914 1/3 IP for his career).  14 of the remaining 15 Pitchers that are in the 3,000 Career Strikeout Club threw at least 3,000 innings in the Live Ball Era: Nolan Ryan, Randy Johnson, Roger Clemens, Steve Carlton, Bert Blyleven, Tom Seaver, Don Sutton, Gaylord Perry, Greg Maddux, Phil Niekro, Fergie Jenkins, Bob Gibson, Curt Schilling, and John Smoltz.

Exclusive Club: Pedro Martinez is the only Pitcher in the history of Major League Baseball to have at least 3,000 career Strikeouts (3,154 career SO) while not topping 3,000 Career IP (2,827 1/3 Career IP).

Closing Thoughts

A maximum of 4 active Pitchers may reach 3,000 IP for a career in the next 2 to 3 years: Tim Hudson, Mark Buehrle, Roy Halladay, and CC Sabathia.

Source: baseball-reference.com