<P> Rany Jazayerli estimates that two thirds of young starting pitchers from 1999 on are still playing five years later, compared to one of two between 1984 and 1998, and attributes the improvement to greater emphasis on the pitch count . Some argue that pitch counts do not account for easy outings for pitchers with big leads but higher pitch counts or pitchers in constant trouble in a game with lower pitch counts . Others feel the count is a self - fulfilling prophecy, where a pitcher can feel great until learning of his pitch count . However, author Peter Morris noted that "a lot more guys hit 10 homers a season these days", and pitchers need to throw their best stuff more often . "Guys who throw 100 pitches now are working harder than guys who threw 120 pitches a generation ago ." Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Dennis Eckersley said hitters are "bigger, stronger, better, and they hit better . And parks are smaller now, let alone the steroid era ." Hitters have also become more selective (making pitchers throw more strikes) to increase their pitch count to get them out of the game earlier . Former pitcher Gene Garber says umpires are calling a smaller strike zone, making it more difficult for pitchers to throw strikes . </P> <P> Television networks and stations only displayed pitch counts occasionally, with the Boston Red Sox's NESN and New York Yankees's YES being the first to do so within their full on - screen graphics at all times in 2010 . ESPN soon followed suit, and as of Opening Day 2014, the Fox Sports regional networks, along with Fox's national package also adopted full - time pitch count displays . </P> <P> Since the 1960s, it has not been common for the starting pitcher to pitch a complete game . According to Baseball Reference pitchers have completed less than 30 percent of their starts every year since 1959 . Comparisons with the dead - ball era pre-1920 are misleading, since the pitcher's behavior was very different . Some examples of high pitch count games include a 26 - inning game on May 1, 1920 where Leon Cadore of Brooklyn and Joe Oeschger of Boston pitched an estimated 345 and 319 pitches; also, Nolan Ryan threw 164 in a 1989 game, aged 42 . Stats LLC began tracking pitch counts in 1988, and MLB keeps official data since 1999 . The highest pitch count since 1990 is 172, by Tim Wakefield for the Pittsburgh Pirates against the Atlanta Braves on April 27, 1993; however, it should be known that Wakefield's primary pitch was the knuckleball, an off - speed pitch . Off - speed pitches are less strenuous on a pitcher's arm compared to a fastball . Pitch counts above 125 are increasingly rare: </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Season </Th> <Th> PIT> 125 </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2011 </Td> <Td> 40 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> 24 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2009 </Td> <Td> 26 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2008 </Td> <Td> 19 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2007 </Td> <Td> 14 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2006 </Td> <Td> 26 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2005 </Td> <Td> 31 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> 46 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2003 </Td> <Td> 70 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2002 </Td> <Td> 69 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> 74 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2000 </Td> <Td> 160 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1999 </Td> <Td> 179 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1998 </Td> <Td> 212 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> 141 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> 195 </Td> </Tr> </Table>

Most pitches ever thrown in a mlb game