My teams
MLB records

Lowest ERA in a season

Tim Keefe, 0.86 in 1880.

Tim Keefe posted 0.86 for the Troy Trojans in 1880, the MLB record for ERA in a season. Since 1901 it is Dutch Leonard's 0.96 for the Boston Red Sox in 1914.

In 2026: Jacob Misiorowski (Milwaukee Brewers) led MLB with 1.80, 0.84 above the modern record.

Lowest ERA in a season: the top 25

Rk
Player
ERA
Year
1
Tim KeefeTroy Trojans
0.86
1880
2
Dutch LeonardBoston Red Sox
0.96
1914
3
Satchel PaigeKansas City Monarchs
1.01
1944
4
Mordecai BrownChicago Cubs
1.04
1906
5
Bob GibsonSt. Louis Cardinals
1.12
1968
6
Christy MathewsonNew York Giants
1.14
1909
7
Walter JohnsonWashington Senators
1.14
1913
8
Jack PfiesterChicago Cubs
1.15
1907
9
Addie JossCleveland Naps
1.16
1908
10
Carl LundgrenChicago Cubs
1.17
1907
11
George WalkerKansas City Monarchs
1.21
1940
12
Grover AlexanderPhiladelphia Phillies
1.22
1915
13
George BradleySt. Louis Brown Stockings
1.23
1876
14
Roy ParnellMonroe Monarchs
1.26
1932
15
Cy YoungBoston Red Sox
1.26
1908
16
Ed WalshChicago White Sox
1.27
1910
17
Walter JohnsonWashington Senators
1.27
1918
18
Christy MathewsonNew York Giants
1.28
1905
19
Jack CoombsPhiladelphia Athletics
1.30
1910
20
Mordecai BrownChicago Cubs
1.31
1909
21
Jack TaylorChicago Orphans
1.331.295*
1902
22
Walter JohnsonWashington Senators
1.36
1910
23
George BradleyProvidence Grays
1.38
1880
24
Old Hoss RadbournProvidence Grays
1.38
1884
25
Walter JohnsonWashington Senators
1.39
1912

Since 1901

Rk
Player
ERA
Year
1
Dutch LeonardBoston Red Sox
0.96
1914
2
Satchel PaigeKansas City Monarchs
1.01
1944
3
Mordecai BrownChicago Cubs
1.04
1906
4
Bob GibsonSt. Louis Cardinals
1.12
1968
5
Christy MathewsonNew York Giants
1.14
1909
Walter JohnsonWashington Senators
1.14
1913
7
Jack PfiesterChicago Cubs
1.15
1907
8
Addie JossCleveland Naps
1.16
1908
9
Carl LundgrenChicago Cubs
1.17
1907
10
George WalkerKansas City Monarchs
1.21
1940
11
Grover AlexanderPhiladelphia Phillies
1.22
1915
12
Roy ParnellMonroe Monarchs
1.26
1932
Cy YoungBoston Red Sox
1.26
1908
14
Ed WalshChicago White Sox
1.27
1910
Walter JohnsonWashington Senators
1.27
1918
16
Christy MathewsonNew York Giants
1.28
1905
17
Jack CoombsPhiladelphia Athletics
1.30
1910
18
Mordecai BrownChicago Cubs
1.31
1909
19
Jack TaylorChicago Orphans
1.331.295*
1902
20
Walter JohnsonWashington Senators
1.36
1910
21
Walter JohnsonWashington Senators
1.39
1912
Mordecai BrownChicago Cubs
1.39
1907
Harry KrausePhiladelphia Athletics
1.39
1909
24
Ed WalshChicago White Sox
1.41
1909
25
Ed WalshChicago White Sox
1.42
1908
Ed ReulbachChicago Cubs
1.42
1905
Orval OverallChicago Cubs
1.42
1909

More than once in the top 25: Walter Johnson 4 times, George Bradley 2 times, Christy Mathewson 2 times and Mordecai Brown 2 times.

* Baseball-Reference's figure, where it differs from MLB's official one.

Every team's record

Boston Red SoxDutch Leonard, 1914
0.96
Chicago CubsMordecai Brown, 1906
1.04
St. Louis CardinalsBob Gibson, 1968
1.12
Minnesota TwinsWalter Johnson, 1913 (Washington Senators)
1.14
San Francisco GiantsChristy Mathewson, 1909 (New York Giants)
1.14
Cleveland GuardiansAddie Joss, 1908 (Cleveland Naps)
1.16
Philadelphia PhilliesGrover Alexander, 1915
1.22
Chicago White SoxEd Walsh, 1910
1.27
AthleticsJack Coombs, 1910 (Philadelphia Athletics)
1.30
New York MetsDwight Gooden, 1985
1.53
Atlanta BravesGreg Maddux, 1994
1.56
Pittsburgh PiratesHowie Camnitz, 1908
1.56
Cincinnati RedsFred Toney, 1915
1.58
Los Angeles DodgersRube Marquard, 1916 (Brooklyn Robins)
1.58
Baltimore OriolesBarney Pelty, 1906 (St. Louis Browns)
1.59
Detroit TigersEd Summers, 1908
1.64
New York YankeesSpud Chandler, 1943
1.64
Los Angeles AngelsDean Chance, 1964
1.65
Houston AstrosNolan Ryan, 1981
1.69
Milwaukee BrewersJacob Misiorowski, 2026
1.80
Miami MarlinsKevin Brown, 1996 (Florida Marlins)
1.89
Tampa Bay RaysBlake Snell, 2018
1.89
Washington NationalsPedro Martínez, 1997 (Montreal Expos)
1.90
Toronto Blue JaysRoger Clemens, 1997
2.05
Kansas City RoyalsRoger Nelson, 1972
2.08
San Diego PadresDinelson Lamet, 2020
2.09
Seattle MarinersFélix Hernández, 2014
2.14
Texas RangersMike Paul, 1972
2.17
Arizona DiamondbacksRandy Johnson, 2002
2.32
Colorado RockiesKyle Freeland, 2018
2.85

Each franchise's best season, including the years it played under another name or in another city.

Questions

What is the MLB record for ERA in a season?

0.86, by Tim Keefe of the Troy Trojans in 1880. The record since 1901 is Dutch Leonard's 0.96 (1914).

Who led MLB in ERA in 2026?

Jacob Misiorowski of the Milwaukee Brewers, with 1.80. That is 0.84 higher than the record.

Who has the most seasons among the top 25 for ERA?

Walter Johnson, 4 times (1910, 1912, 1913 and 1918).

Which team's own ERA record is the lowest?

Boston Red Sox: Dutch Leonard, 0.96 in 1914. The highest club record belongs to the Colorado Rockies, 2.85 by Kyle Freeland (2018).

Which numbers count?

MLB's official records, which since 2024 include the Negro Leagues from 1920 to 1948. Only seasons with enough innings to qualify for the ERA title count.