10 winningest pitchers, all-time Cy Young (1890-1911) ... 511 Walter Johnson (1907-1927) ... 417 Pete Alexander (1911-1930) ... 373 Christy Mathewson (1900-1916) ... 373 Warren Spahn (1942-1965) ... 363 Pud Galvin (1879-1892) ... 361 Kid Nichols (1890-1906) ... 360 Roger Clemens (1984-2007) ... 354 Greg Maddux (1986-present) ... 353 Tim Keefe (1879-1893) ... 342 10 winningest pitchers, since WWII Warren Spahn ... 363 Roger Clemens ... 354 Greg Maddux ... 353 Steve Carlton ... 329 Nolan Ryan ... 324 Don Sutton ... 324 Phil Niekro ... 318 Gaylord Perry ... 314 Tom Seaver ... 311 Tom Glavine ... 305

That is the number of wins Warren Spahn had during his major league career. The number was significant for several reasons.

Spahn first reached the major leagues in 1942 as a 21-year-old. But shortly after his debut, he missed three seasons while a member of the Armed Forces in World War II.

Spahn didn't win his first game in the major leagues until he was 25 in 1946. But at the age of 42, Spahn was a 23-game winner.

Amazing man, Warren Spahn.

And in my mind, he is the legitimate holder of the record for most games won in the major leagues. Four other pitchers won more.

Cy Young won 511 games. Walter Johnson won 417. Both Grover Cleveland Alexander and Christy Mathewson won 373.

But none of the four pitchers ahead of Spahn pitched past 1930. The careers of Young (1890-1911) and Mathewson (1900-16) were over before the Dead Ball Era ended. Young made more than 50 starts in five different seasons.

And Johnson (1907-27) and Alexander (1911-30) pitched the majority of their careers during the Dead Ball Era.

Which brings us to Spahn . . . and Greg Maddux.

Maddux is only one win from catching Roger Clemens for No. 8 on the all-time list at 354. Between Clemens and Spahn are two pitchers – Pud Galvin (361) and Kid Nichols (360) – who pitched in the 19th century.

Not only would I love to see Maddux, who has never been the subject of questions about how he prepared himself, eclipse Clemens, I'd like to see him stay around at least one more season and pass Spahn to become the winningest pitcher of the past eight decades – the winningest pitcher since the color barrier fell and mounds were lowered.

And I'm not alone.

“Not that he would ask me, but if Greg did, I say yes, go for it,” Padres manager Bud black said when asked about Spahn's record. “I'd love to see him play again, preferably here. But I don't know what he thinks about history.”

Of course, this isn't about what Maddux thinks of history. It's about what I – and many other fans of Maddux – would like to see.

“I see no reason for Greg to retire,” Jake Peavy said. “It's been an absolute honor to play with him. And I think with all that's happened with Clemens, and you know how I feel about Roger, Greg would be regarded as the greatest of all time. I'd love to be a part of it. I think that honor would be in good hands.”

“The bottom line is that he's still a very good major league pitcher,” Chris Young said of Maddux. “He has given so much to the game, meant so much to the game and given so much to the game. I'd love to see him regarded as No. 1.”

“There's no doubt in my mind that he's capable of at least one more good year,” Padres pitching coach Darren Balsley said. “Actually, he's thrown the ball better this year, his command has been sharper.”

Go for 364, Greg. On second thought, just keep going.

Bill Center: (619) 293-1851; bill.center@uniontrib.com