In
baseballBaseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The goal is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot square, or diamond...
or
softballSoftball is a team sport popular especially in the United States. It is a direct descendant of baseball. Some key differences between softball and baseball are that softballs are larger than baseballs, and pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand. Softball was invented by George Hancock...
, a
strikeout or
strike out (denoted by
SO or
K) occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time
at batIn baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both
pitcherIn baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter who attempts to either make contact with it or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the pitcher is...
s and
battersIn baseball, batting is the act of facing the opposing pitcher and trying to produce offense for one's team. A batter or hitter is a person whose turn it is to face the pitcher...
. Pitchers with a greater number of strikeouts are often praised, while batters with a greater number of strikeouts are generally frowned upon. While strikeouts are associated with dominance on the part of the pitcher, it is recognized that the style of swing that generates
home runIn baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to circle all the bases, ending at home plate and scoring runs for himself and each runner who was already on base, with no errors by the defensive team on the play...
s also leaves the batter somewhat susceptible to striking out. Some of the greatest home run hitters of all time— such as
Reggie JacksonReginald Martinez "Reggie" Jackson , nicknamed "Mr. October" for his clutch hitting in the postseason, is a former American Major League Baseball right fielder who played for five different teams from to and currently serves as a special advisor to the New York Yankees...
and
Sammy SosaSamuel Peralta Sosa is a retired Major League Baseball right fielder.Sosa's Major League career began when he broke in with the Texas Rangers in . After a stint with the Chicago White Sox, Sosa became a member of the Chicago Cubs in 1992 and subsequently became one of the league's best hitters...
— were notorious for striking out.
Rules
A pitcher receives credit for (and a batter is charged with) a strikeout on any third strike, but a batter is
outIn baseball, an out occurs when the defensive, or fielding, team effects any of a number of different events, and the umpire rules a batter or baserunner out. When a player is called out, he is said to be retired...
only if any of the following is true:
- the third strike is pitched and caught in flight by the catcher (including foul tip
In baseball, a foul tip is a batted ball that goes directly from the bat to the catcher’s hands and is legally caught. It is not a foul tip unless caught and any foul tip that is caught is a strike, and the ball is in play...
s);
- on any third strike, if a baserunner is on first and there are fewer than two outs;
- the third strike is bunted foul and is not caught by a fielder
If the third strike is not caught and there are two outs, or fewer than two outs and no baserunner on first, the batter becomes a runner (except in a foul bunt situation). Thus, it is possible for a batter to strike out, but still reach base safely if the
catcherCatcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order...
fails or is unable to catch the third strike cleanly and cannot tag out the batter or force him out at first base (in Japan this is called
furinige（）, i.e. swing and escape). In MLB, Major League Baseball, it is called a drop third strikeout. As a result, pitchers have occasionally been able to record four strikeouts in one half-
inningInning is a municipality in the district of Erding in Bavaria in Germany....
.
In
baseball scorekeepingBaseball scorekeeping is the practice of recording the details of a baseball game as it unfolds. Professional baseball leagues hire official scorers to keep an official record of each game , but many fans keep score as well for their own enjoyment...
, a swinging strikeout is recorded as a K, or a
K-S. A strikeout looking (where the batter does not swing at a pitch that the umpire then calls strike three) is sometimes scored with a backwards K.
The use of "K" for a strikeout was invented by Henry Chadwick, a newspaper journalist who is widely credited as the originator of the
box scoreIn competitive sports, games or matches are often summarized in a box score. The box score lists the game score as well as individual and team achievements in the game.Among the sports in which box scores are common are baseball and basketball.- Basketball :...
and the
baseball scorecardBaseball scorekeeping is the practice of recording the details of a baseball game as it unfolds. Professional baseball leagues hire official scorers to keep an official record of each game , but many fans keep score as well for their own enjoyment...
. Both the box score and scorecard persist largely unchanged to this day, as the game itself is largely unchanged except for the number of balls and strikes allowed to the pitcher and batter. The letter "S" was used to coin "sacrifice" so Chadwick decided to use "K", with "K" being the last letter in "struck." Chadwick also invented many other baseball scoring abbreviations, such as using numbers to designate player positions (progressing from the batter, pitcher [1] and catcher [2], through the infield, with the shortstop counted after the basemen, at number 6, to the right fielder [9]).
That Chadwick first established the convention of using the "K" abbreviation is well-founded, with reliable and authentic primary materials surviving (see citation above). Those unaware of Chadwick's contributions have speculated that "K" was derived from the 19th century pitcher
Matt KilroyMatthew Aloysius Kilroy was an American left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.-Rookie season:...
's last name. If not for the evidence supporting Chadwick's earlier use of "K", this speculation would be reasonable: Kilroy did much to raise the prominence of the strikeout, setting an all-time record of 513 strikeouts in 1886, only two years after overhand pitching was permitted. Kilroy's record, however, is forever confined to its era: the pitcher's mound during his record-setting season was only from the batter; it was moved to its current distance of 60'6" in 1893. The modern record (1901-) is 383 strikeouts, held by Nolan Ryan, one better than Sandy Koufax's 382.
Although some people use "K" to record pitchers' strikeouts, "SO" is the official abbreviation used by Major League Baseball.
In addition, "K" is still commonly used by fans and enthusiasts for purposes other than official record-keeping. In one baseball ritual, fans at the ballpark who are seated in view of the batter (and the television cameras) attach a succession of small "K" signs to the nearest railing, one added for every strikeout notched by the home team's pitcher. As is traditional for those who keep a record of the game on paper, the "K" is placed backwards in cases where the batter strikes out looking. Virtually every televised display of a major league game in which a pitcher registers a high number of strikeouts (7 or 8) will include a shot of a fan's strikeout display, and if the pitcher continues to strike out batters, the display often will be shown following every strikeout. In the event that a known "strikeout pitcher" is on the mound, the strikeout display will be televised from the beginning.
History
The strikeout is as old as baseball itself.
Alexander CartwrightAlexander Cartwright II was officially credited by the United States Congress on June 3, 1953, with inventing the modern game of baseball. Many attribute the invention to Abner Doubleday, a story considered a myth by sports historians. Cartwright was a bookseller in Manhattan, and a volunteer...
's
Knickerbocker RulesThe Knickerbocker Rules are a set of baseball rules formalized by Alexander Cartwright in 1845. They are considered to be the basis for the rules of the modern game.-The rules:...
, drawn up in 1845 and considered the foundation of the modern game, define the strikeout as follows:
Three balls being struck at and missed and the last one caught, is a hand-out; if not caught is considered fair, and the striker bound to run. (Rule #11)
This is essentially the same rule in use today, with the addition of the called strike (1858) and the provision that the batter is automatically out if there are fewer than two out and a runner on first. In 1880, the rules were changed to specify that a third strike had to be caught on the fly. In 1887, the number of strikes for an out was changed to four, but promptly changed back to three the next season. A foul bunt was classified as a strike in 1894, and a foul tip in 1895.
Keeping yearly records of strikeouts for batters was not kept regularly until
1910-Champions:*World Series: Philadelphia Athletics over Chicago Cubs -Awards and honors:*Chalmers Award**Ty Cobb, Detroit Tigers, OF**Nap Lajoie, Cleveland Naps-MLB Statistical Leaders:-American League final standings:-National League final standings:...
in the
National LeagueThe National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league...
, and
1913-Champions:*World Series: Philadelphia Athletics over New York Giants -Awards and honors:*Chalmers Award** Walter Johnson, Washington Senators, P** Jake Daubert, Brooklyn Dodgers, 1B
-MLB Statistical Leaders:...
in the
American LeagueThe American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, that eventually aspired to major league...
. Researchers, beginning in the late 1960s, have filled in that information gap.
Jargon and slang
A swinging strikeout is often called a
whiff and a batter who is struck out by a
fastballThe fastball is the most common type of pitch in baseball. Some "power pitchers," such as Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens, have thrown it at speeds of 95–104 mph and up to 107.9 mph , relying purely on speed to prevent the ball from being hit...
is often said to have been
blown away. A batter who strikes out on a swung third strike is said to have
fanned (as in a fanning motion), whereas if he takes a called third strike it is called a
punchout (describing the plate umpire's punching motion on a called third strike), but sometimes these descriptive words are used generally as synonyms for strikeouts, irrespective if they were calling or looking (e.g.
Beckett's punched out nine batters tonight or
Ryan Howard's fanned six times in this series). On a called third strike, it is said that the batter was
caught looking or that he looked at a strike. Typically, a called third strike can be somewhat more embarrassing for a batter, as it shows that he was either fooled by the pitcher, or even worse, had a moment of hesitation. For example,
Carlos BeltranCarlos Ivan Beltrán is a Major League Baseball outfielder with the New York Mets....
was caught looking at strike 3 to end the
2006 NLCSThe National League Championship Series , the second round of the 2006 National League playoffs, began on October 12 and ended on October 19; it was scheduled to begin on October 11, but was postponed a day because of inclement weather. The St...
, and the season, for the
New York MetsThe New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. The Mets are a member of the East Division of Major League Baseball's National League....
. Sports commentators have also been known to refer to it as
browsing if the batter did not move his bat at all.
A pitcher is said to
strike out the side when he retires all three batters in a half inning by striking them out. A batter that takes the third strike looking, especially on a breaking pitch, such as a slider or a curveball, that appears to be out of the strike zone but drops in before the batter can get the bat off his shoulders, can be said to have been
frozen.
In slang, when a batter strikes out three times in a game, he is said to have completed a
hat trick. If he strikes out four times, it is known as a
golden sombreroIn baseball, golden sombrero is a slang term used to describe a player's inglorious feat of striking out four times in a single game.-Origin:...
. He receives a platinum sombrero if he strikes out 5 times, also known as the
Olympic Rings. Striking out six times is a rare occurrence, which in the history of major league play has only been accomplished in
extra inningsExtra innings is the procedure by which a tie is broken in the sports of baseball and softball.Ordinarily, a baseball game consists of nine innings , each of which is divided into halves: the visiting team bats first, after which the home team takes its turn at bat...
games -
Sam HornSamuel Lee Horn is a former baseball player who spent parts of 8 seasons in MLB and is now a cable television anchor for New England Sports Network, the flagship station of Boston sports teams.-Pro career:...
is one of the distinguished few to achieve this feat.
Some pitchers who specialize in strikeouts have acquired nicknames including the letter "K".
Cincinnati RedsThe Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. They are members of the Central Division of the National League....
closerCloser may refer a noun or the comparative form of the adjective close, it may refer to:* Closer , by Patrick Marber* Closer , adaptation directed by Mike Nichols...
Francisco CorderoFrancisco Javier Cordero is a Major League Baseball closer for the Cincinnati Reds. Cordero is frequently referred to by his nickname, CoCo, which is an alliteration of the last two letters of his first name and the first two letters of his last name.Cordero throws a hard fastball—capable of...
is known as "Koko",
Dwight GoodenDwight Eugene Gooden , also known as Doc Gooden or Dr. K, is a former major league baseball player...
was known as "Doctor K" (back-referencing basketball star
Julius ErvingJulius Winfield Erving II , commonly known by the nickname Dr. J, is a retired American basketball player who helped launch a modern style of play that emphasizes leaping and play above the rim....
a.k.a. "Dr. J").
Francisco RodriguezFrancisco José Rodriguez , nicknamed "Frankie" and "K-Rod," is a Major League Baseball closer for the New York Mets. Rodriguez previously played for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim from to , and served as their closer starting in...
is known as "K-Rod".
Roger ClemensWilliam Roger Clemens, aka "The Rocket" is a former right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher. Clemens won seven Cy Young Awards, two more than any other pitcher. He played for 13 consecutive seasons in Boston, more than half of his career. In , he signed with the Toronto Blue Jays...
has taken the "K" name to an extreme, naming his four sons
KobyKoby Aaron Clemens is the eldest son of major league pitcher Roger Clemens, and a right-handed catcher in the minor leagues.-Early life:...
, Kory, Kacy, and Kody. Hall of Fame strikeout artist
Sandy KoufaxSanford "Sandy" Koufax is an American left-handed former pitcher in Major League Baseball who played his entire career for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers, from to...
of the
Los Angeles DodgersThe Los Angeles Dodgers are a Major League Baseball team based in Los Angeles, California, USA. The team is in the Western Division of the National League. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming the Brooklyn...
coincidentally has a last name starting with "K", and in his call of Koufax's
perfect gameA perfect game is defined by Major League Baseball as a game in which a pitcher pitches a victory that lasts a minimum of nine innings and in which no opposing player reaches base. Thus, the pitcher cannot allow any hits, walks, hit batsmen, or any opposing player to reach base safely for any...
in 1965, Dodgers announcer
Vin ScullyVincent Edward Scully is an American sportscaster, known primarily as the play-by-play voice of the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team...
included a comment that Koufax's name "will always remind you of strikeouts".
Four strikeouts in an inning
If a third strike is not caught by the catcher (and is not tipped), it is a strikeout, and the at-bat is over. However, with first base open or with two outs, the batter is not out until tagged out or forced out. On a
wild pitchIn baseball, a wild pitch is charged against a pitcher when his pitch is too high, too short, or too wide of home plate for the catcher to control with ordinary effort, thereby allowing a baserunner, perhaps even the batter-runner on strike three or ball four, to advance.A wild pitch usually...
or
passed ballIn baseball, a catcher is charged with a passed ball when he fails to hold or control a legally pitched ball that, with ordinary effort, should have been maintained under his control. When, as a result of this loss of control, the batter or the runner on base advance, the catcher is thereby charged...
the batter can often advance to first base safely. If a runner is at first base and there are fewer than two outs, the batter is automatically out, as with the
infield fly ruleThe Infield Fly Rule in baseball is intended to prevent unfair gamesmanship by the fielders that would result in an easy double play or triple play.- The rule :...
. If there are two outs, another runner may be forced out as with any other ball in play. If the runner reaches first base safely, there is no out, but the pitcher is still credited with a strikeout.
It is thus possible for a pitcher to throw four (or more) strikeouts in an inning. The first major leaguer to be credited with the feat was Jonathan W. Andre of the
New York GiantsThe San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California who currently play in the National League West Division. One of the oldest baseball teams, the Giants hold the honor of having won the most games of any team in the history of baseball...
on October 4,
1888-Champions:*World Series: New York Giants 6, St. Louis Browns 4*National League: New York Giants*American Association: St. Louis Browns-National League final standings:-American Association final standings:-National League Statistical Leaders:...
.
Chuck FinleyCharles Edward "Chuck" Finley is a former left-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. He played for the California Angels from to and the Cleveland Indians and St...
did it on May 12 and August 15,
1999-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over Atlanta Braves ; Mariano Rivera, MVP*American League Championship Series MVP: Orlando Hernández**American League Division Series:*National League Championship Series MVP: Eddie Pérez...
with the
Anaheim AngelsThe Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The Angels have been based in Angel Stadium of Anaheim since 1966...
, and then for a third time on April 16,
2000-Major League Baseball:*Regular Season Champions*World Series Champion - New York Yankees*Postseason - October 3 to October 26Click on any series score to link to that series' page.
...
with the
Cleveland IndiansThe Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field . The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
. Finley is the only player to pitch four strikeouts in an inning more than once.
Pete RichertPeter Gerard Richert is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. A left-hander, Richert pitched for the Los Angeles Dodgers , Washington Senators , Baltimore Orioles , St...
is the only pitcher to strike out four batters in one inning in his Major League debut. In the third inning of an April 12, game against the
Cincinnati RedsThe Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. They are members of the Central Division of the National League....
at
Dodger StadiumDodger Stadium is a stadium in Los Angeles, California, United States. Located adjacent to Downtown Los Angeles, Dodger Stadium has been the home ballpark of Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Dodgers team since 1962. Dodger Stadium was constructed from 1959 to 1962 at a cost of $23 million paid...
, the
Los Angeles DodgerThe Los Angeles Dodgers are a Major League Baseball team based in Los Angeles, California, USA. The team is in the Western Division of the National League. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming the Brooklyn...
pitcher struck out
Frank RobinsonFrank Robinson , is a former Major League Baseball player. He was an outfielder, most notably with the Cincinnati Reds and the Baltimore Orioles...
,
Gordy ColemanGordon Calvin Coleman was a Major League first baseman with the Cleveland Indians and the Cincinnati Reds ....
(who reached base on a
Johnny RoseboroJohn Junior Roseboro was a Major League Baseball catcher and coach. He was born in Ashland, Ohio.-Career:A left-handed-hitter, Roseboro had a lifetime .249 batting average with 104 home runs and 548 RBI in 1585 games played with the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers , Minnesota Twins and...
passed ball),
Wally PostWalter Charles Post was a right fielder in Major League Baseball. From 1949 through 1964, Post played for the Cincinnati Reds & Redlegs , Philadelphia Phillies , Minnesota Twins and Cleveland Indians...
and Johnny Edwards.
http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1962/B04120LAN1962.htm
The feat was once quite rare, occurring only five times before 1956, but it has become less rare in recent years, occurring six times during the 1999 season alone. This increase in frequency may be due somewhat to increased use of the
split-finger fastballA split-finger fastball or splitter is a pitch in baseball and a variant of the straight fastball. It is named after the technique of putting the index and middle finger on different sides of the ball, or "splitting" them...
and
forkballThe forkball is a type of pitch in baseball. Related to the split-fingered fastball, the forkball is held between the first two fingers and thrown hard snapping the wrist....
, both pitches that end up in the dirt at the plate when effective and often are difficult to handle for catchers. In addition, individual strikeouts are more common, and the total number of innings pitched in a season has doubled as well, due to an expanded schedule and more than a dozen extra teams. The combined effects of the higher strikeout rate and expanded schedule would be expected to make the four-strikeout inning about seven times more frequent than it was fifty years ago.
With any runners advancing to leave first base open if there are fewer than two outs, the process can repeat, leading to a fifth strikeout (or more) in the inning. A fifth strikeout has not happened in a regulation game in the major leagues, but has occurred three times in the minor leagues, most recently by Garrett Bauer of the
Rockford RiverHawksThe Rockford RiverHawks are a professional baseball team based in the Rockford, Illinois suburb of Loves Park, in the United States. Currently the RiverHawks are a member of the Northern League. The ownership has announced that they would no longer be a part of the Frontier League, following the...
against the
Windy City ThunderboltsThe Windy City ThunderBolts are a professional baseball team based in the Chicago suburb of Crestwood, Illinois, in the United States. The ThunderBolts are a member of the West Division of the Frontier League, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
on July 1
2008-Major League Baseball:*Regular Season Champions*World Series Champions - Philadelphia Phillies**American League Champions - Tampa Bay Rays**National League Champions - Philadelphia Phillies*Postseason - October 1 to October 29...
. In the major leagues, knuckleballer
Joe NiekroJoseph Franklin Niekro was an American starting pitcher in Major League Baseball, the younger brother of pitcher Phil Niekro, and the father of first baseman Lance Niekro. A native of Blaine, Ohio, Niekro attended Bridgeport High School in Bridgeport, Ohio. He batted and threw right-handed...
also struck out five men in an inning during a spring exhibition game when Niekro was with the
Houston AstrosThe Houston Astros is a major league baseball team located in Houston, Texas. The Astros are a member of the Central Division. From 2000 to the present, the Astros have played their home games at Minute Maid Park . The Astros joined MLB under the name Colt .45s along with the New York Mets in...
. The last pitchers to throw four strikeouts in an inning were
Ryan DempsterRyan Scott Dempster is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Chicago Cubs.Dempster bats and throws right-handed...
and
Luke GregersonLuke Gregerson is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the San Diego Padres. Gregerson was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 28th round of the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft out of Saint Xavier University.-St...
on October 4, 2009, the last day of the season. Dempster's feat was against the
Arizona DiamondbacksThe Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
and the last strikeout of the inning was
Mark ReynoldsMark Reynolds is a Scottish footballer currently playing for Motherwell in the Scottish Premier League.-Club career:...
, who advanced his single-season record for strikeouts to 223.
Pitchers
The top 20
Major League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of play in North American professional baseball. Specifically, Major League Baseball refers to the organization that operates the National League and the American League, by means of a joint organizational structure that has developed gradually between...
career strikeout leaders (active players in
bold):
through July 15,
2009-Major League Baseball:*October 28: 2009 World Series begins, city of American League champion*October TBA: Hank Aaron Award winners announcedNovember...
- Nolan Ryan
Lynn Nolan Ryan, Jr. is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher and current president of the Texas Rangers....
- 5,714
- Randy Johnson - 4,869
- Roger Clemens
William Roger Clemens, aka "The Rocket" is a former right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher. Clemens won seven Cy Young Awards, two more than any other pitcher. He played for 13 consecutive seasons in Boston, more than half of his career. In , he signed with the Toronto Blue Jays...
- 4,672
- Steve Carlton
Steven Norman Carlton is a former left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball, from to . He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in . He was affectionately known to Philadelphia fans as "Lefty". He played the greatest number of years for the Philadelphia Phillies, receiving his greatest...
- 4,136
- Bert Blyleven
Rik Aalbert "Bert" Blyleven is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played from to , and was best known for his curveball. He currently resides in Ft...
- 3,701
- Tom Seaver
George Thomas "Tom" Seaver is a former right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher who broke into the major leagues in and retired in . He played for four different teams in his career, but is remembered primarily for his time with the New York Mets...
- 3,640
- Don Sutton
Donald Howard Sutton is a former Major League Baseball player and current television sportscaster. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1998.-Biography:...
- 3,574
- Gaylord Perry
Gaylord Jackson Perry is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991, Perry won 314 games over a 22-year career starting in ....
- 3,534
- Walter Johnson
Walter Perry Johnson , nicknamed "The Big Train," was a right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball between 1907 and 1927...
- 3,509
- Greg Maddux
Gregory Alan "Greg" Maddux is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He was the first pitcher in major league history to win the Cy Young Award for four consecutive years , a feat matched only by Randy Johnson...
- 3,371
- Phil Niekro
Philip Henry Niekro is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997....
- 3,342
- Ferguson Jenkins
Ferguson Arthur "Fergie" Jenkins, CM, is a former Canadian right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. He was a three-time All-Star, winner of the 1971 Cy Young Award, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991.Jenkins spent the majority of his career playing for the Chicago Cubs...
- 3,192
- Bob Gibson
Pack Robert "Bob" Gibson is a former right-handed baseball pitcher, having played for the St. Louis Cardinals from to...
- 3,117
- Pedro Martínez
Pedro Jaime Martínez is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies. He is a three time Cy Young Award winner. At the time of his 200th win in April , Martínez had the highest winning percentage of any 200-game winner in modern baseball history...
- 3,154
- Curt Schilling
Curtis Montague Schilling is a former American Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher. He helped lead the Philadelphia Phillies to the World Series in and has won World Series championships in with the Arizona Diamondbacks and in and with the Boston Red Sox...
- 3,116
- John Smoltz
John Andrew Smoltz is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals. He is best known for his prolific career of more than two decades with the Atlanta Braves, in which he garnered eight All-Star selections and received the Cy Young Award in...
- 3,028
- Jim Bunning
James Paul David "Jim" Bunning is an American politician and former pitcher in Major League Baseball.Bunning pitched in the Major Leagues for 17 seasons, most notably with the Detroit Tigers and the Philadelphia Phillies. When he retired, he had the second-highest total of career strikeouts in...
- 2,855
- Mickey Lolich
Michael Stephen Lolich is a former Major League Baseball pitcher from 1962 until 1979, playing the majority of his career with the Detroit Tigers....
- 2,832
- Mike Mussina
Michael Cole Mussina , nicknamed Moose, is a former Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher. He played for the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Yankees ....
- 2,813
- Cy Young
Denton True "Cy" Young was an American baseball player who pitched for five different major league teams from 1890 to 1911....
- 2,803
The top five
Major League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of play in North American professional baseball. Specifically, Major League Baseball refers to the organization that operates the National League and the American League, by means of a joint organizational structure that has developed gradually between...
career
strikeout-per-nine inningsIn baseball statistics, strikeouts per 9 innings pitched is the mean of strikeouts, by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by multiplying the number of strikeouts by nine and dividing by the number of innings pitched.The all-time leader in this statistic is active San Francisco...
leaders (since 1900):
(through games of July 15, 2009, minimum 2,000
IPIn baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
)
- Randy Johnson
Randall David Johnson , nicknamed "The Big Unit", is a left-handed Major League Baseball starting pitcher. Over a 21-year career, Johnson has played for 6 different teams, and currently pitches for the San Francisco Giants....
- 10.61
- Pedro Martínez
Pedro Jaime Martínez is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies. He is a three time Cy Young Award winner. At the time of his 200th win in April , Martínez had the highest winning percentage of any 200-game winner in modern baseball history...
- 10.08
- Nolan Ryan
Lynn Nolan Ryan, Jr. is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher and current president of the Texas Rangers....
- 9.55
- Sandy Koufax
Sanford "Sandy" Koufax is an American left-handed former pitcher in Major League Baseball who played his entire career for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers, from to...
- 9.28
- Sam McDowell
Samuel Edward Thomas "Sam" McDowell , is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball, playing his first 11 seasons for the Cleveland Indians before a trade to the San Francisco Giants and subsequent stints with the New York Yankees and Pittsburgh Pirates...
- 8.86
The top 5
Major League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of play in North American professional baseball. Specifically, Major League Baseball refers to the organization that operates the National League and the American League, by means of a joint organizational structure that has developed gradually between...
single season strikeout-per-nine innings leaders (since 1900):
(through games of July 15, 2009, minimum 1.0
IPIn baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
per team game)
- Randy Johnson
Randall David Johnson , nicknamed "The Big Unit", is a left-handed Major League Baseball starting pitcher. Over a 21-year career, Johnson has played for 6 different teams, and currently pitches for the San Francisco Giants....
, 2001 - 13.41
- Pedro Martínez
Pedro Jaime Martínez is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies. He is a three time Cy Young Award winner. At the time of his 200th win in April , Martínez had the highest winning percentage of any 200-game winner in modern baseball history...
, 1999 - 13.20
- Kerry Wood
Kerry Lee Wood is an American Major League Baseball closer for the Cleveland Indians. Wood recorded over 200 strikeouts in each of four seasons between 1998 and 2003, with a high of 266 in ....
, 1998 - 12.58
- Randy Johnson
Randall David Johnson , nicknamed "The Big Unit", is a left-handed Major League Baseball starting pitcher. Over a 21-year career, Johnson has played for 6 different teams, and currently pitches for the San Francisco Giants....
, 2000 - 12.56
- Randy Johnson
Randall David Johnson , nicknamed "The Big Unit", is a left-handed Major League Baseball starting pitcher. Over a 21-year career, Johnson has played for 6 different teams, and currently pitches for the San Francisco Giants....
, 1995 - 12.35
The Top 10
Major League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of play in North American professional baseball. Specifically, Major League Baseball refers to the organization that operates the National League and the American League, by means of a joint organizational structure that has developed gradually between...
single season strikeout totals (since 1900)
| Pitcher |
Strikeouts |
Season |
Team |
League |
Overall Rank |
| Nolan Ryan |
383 |
1973 |
California Angels |
AL |
8 |
| Sandy Koufax |
382 |
1965 |
Los Angeles Dodgers |
NL |
9 |
| Randy Johnson |
372 |
2001 |
Arizona Diamondbacks |
NL |
11 |
| Nolan Ryan |
367 |
1974 |
California Angels |
AL |
14 |
| Randy Johnson |
364 |
1999 |
Arizona Diamondbacks |
NL |
15 |
| Rube Waddell |
349 |
1904 |
Philadelphia Athletics |
AL |
18 |
| Bob Feller |
348 |
1946 |
Cleveland Indians |
AL |
19 |
| Randy Johnson |
347 |
2000 |
Arizona Diamondbacks |
NL |
20 |
| Nolan Ryan |
341 |
1977 |
California Angels |
AL |
25 |
| Randy Johnson |
334 |
2002 |
Arizona Diamondbacks |
NL |
30 |
Active pitchers in top 50 (as of July 15,
2009-Major League Baseball:*October 28: 2009 World Series begins, city of American League champion*October TBA: Hank Aaron Award winners announcedNovember...
):
2.
Randy JohnsonRandall David Johnson , nicknamed "The Big Unit", is a left-handed Major League Baseball starting pitcher. Over a 21-year career, Johnson has played for 6 different teams, and currently pitches for the San Francisco Giants....
- 4,869
13.
Pedro MartinezPedro Jaime Martínez is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies. He is a three time Cy Young Award winner. At the time of his 200th win in April , Martínez had the highest winning percentage of any 200-game winner in modern baseball history...
- 3,117
16.
John SmoltzJohn Andrew Smoltz is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals. He is best known for his prolific career of more than two decades with the Atlanta Braves, in which he garnered eight All-Star selections and received the Cy Young Award in...
- 3,028
24.
Tom GlavineThomas Michael Glavine is an American left-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who is currently a free agent....
- 2,607
46.
Jamie MoyerJamie Moyer is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies. He is currently the oldest active player in the major leagues, and has been likened to Phil Niekro....
- 2,255
Progression of major league strikeout record for one nine-inning game, regular season (partial listing):
- 18 - Dupee Shaw
Frederick Lander "Dupee" Shaw , was an American Major League Baseball player who played pitcher in the Majors from to . He would play for the Detroit Wolverines, Boston Reds, Providence Grays, and Washington Nationals...
, Boston RedsThe Boston Reds of 1884 were a member of the short-lived Union Association. One of the last teams to join the Union Association, the Reds were owned by George Wright, whose long association with professional baseball lent sorely-needed credibility to the fledgling league...
(UA), July 19, 1884; and by Henry PorterWalter Henry Porter was an American Major League Baseball player born in Vergennes, Vermont who pitched for three different teams during his six year career.-Career:...
, Milwaukee Brewers (UA)The Milwaukee Brewers served as a replacement team late in the 1884 Union Association season. Called the Cream Citys by both local papers, they had a record of 8-4. The team came to the UA from the Northwestern League, as did the St. Paul Saints, and were managed by Tom Loftus...
, October 3, 1884.
Modern era:
- 18 - Bob Feller
Robert William Andrew "Bob" Feller , nicknamed the "Heater from Van Meter", "Bullet Bob" and "Rapid Robert", is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962.-Early life:Feller was born and raised in the small town of Van Meter, Iowa, the...
, October 2, 1938; matched by Sandy KoufaxSanford "Sandy" Koufax is an American left-handed former pitcher in Major League Baseball who played his entire career for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers, from to...
, August 31, 1959, and again on April 24, 1962; and by Don WilsonDonald Edward "Don" Wilson, , was a Major League Baseball player for the Houston Astros.-Career:Wilson's professional career began after he graduated from Compton Community College in Compton, California, and was recruited by the Astros in 1966, where he played until 1974...
, July 14, 1968.
- 19 - Steve Carlton
Steven Norman Carlton is a former left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball, from to . He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in . He was affectionately known to Philadelphia fans as "Lefty". He played the greatest number of years for the Philadelphia Phillies, receiving his greatest...
, September 15, 1969; matched by Tom SeaverGeorge Thomas "Tom" Seaver is a former right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher who broke into the major leagues in and retired in . He played for four different teams in his career, but is remembered primarily for his time with the New York Mets...
, April 22, 1970; Nolan RyanLynn Nolan Ryan, Jr. is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher and current president of the Texas Rangers....
, August 12, 1974; and by David ConeDavid Brian Cone is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who pitched for the New York Mets, Toronto Blue Jays, Kansas City Royals, New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox...
, October 6, 1991.
- 20 - Roger Clemens
William Roger Clemens, aka "The Rocket" is a former right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher. Clemens won seven Cy Young Awards, two more than any other pitcher. He played for 13 consecutive seasons in Boston, more than half of his career. In , he signed with the Toronto Blue Jays...
, April 29, 1986 - matched by Clemens again, September 18, 1996; by Kerry WoodKerry Lee Wood is an American Major League Baseball closer for the Cleveland Indians. Wood recorded over 200 strikeouts in each of four seasons between 1998 and 2003, with a high of 266 in ....
, May 16, 1998; and by Randy JohnsonRandall David Johnson , nicknamed "The Big Unit", is a left-handed Major League Baseball starting pitcher. Over a 21-year career, Johnson has played for 6 different teams, and currently pitches for the San Francisco Giants....
, May 8, 2001 (the first nine innings of an extra-inning game)
- Note: Tom Cheney struck out 21 batters overall, in a 16-inning game, September 12, 1962. He had 13 strikeouts through the first nine innings.
See also List of pitchers who have struck out 18 or more batters in a nine-inning MLB game
Progression of strikeout record for one game,
World SeriesThe World Series has been the annual championship series of the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada since 1903, concluding the postseason of Major League Baseball...
:
- 10 - 1903
The 1903 World Series, the first modern World Series to be played in Major League Baseball, matched the Boston American League club against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a best-of-nine series, with Boston prevailing five games to three, winning the last four....
(first modern Series), Game 1, Deacon PhillippeCharles Louis "Deacon" Phillippe was a turn-of-the-century pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates....
- 11 - 1903
The 1903 World Series, the first modern World Series to be played in Major League Baseball, matched the Boston American League club against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a best-of-nine series, with Boston prevailing five games to three, winning the last four....
, Game 2, Bill DinneenWilliam Henry Dinneen, alternately spelled Dineen , was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who followed his 12-year career from 1898 to 1909 with a highly regarded tenure as an American League umpire from 1909 to 1937...
- 12 - 1906
The 1906 World Series featured a crosstown matchup between the Chicago Cubs, who had posted the highest regular-season win total and winning percentage in the major leagues since the advent of the 154-game season; and the Chicago White Sox...
, Game 3, Ed WalshEdward Augustine Walsh was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He holds the record for lowest career ERA, 1.82.Born in Plains Township, Pennsylvania, Walsh had a brief though remarkable major league career. He made his major league debut in with the Chicago White Sox and pitched his first full...
- 13 - 1929
In the 1929 World Series, the Philadelphia Athletics beat the Chicago Cubs in five games.The famous "Mack Attack" occurred in 1929, named for the legendary manager of the Athletics, Connie Mack, in which the Athletics overcame an eight-run deficit by scoring ten runs in the seventh inning of Game 4...
, Game 1, Howard EhmkeHoward Jonathan Ehmke was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He is best known for being the surprise starter who won Game 1 of the 1929 World Series for the Philadelphia Athletics at the age of 35.-Playing Overview:...
- 14 - 1953
The 1953 World Series matched the four-time defending champion New York Yankees against the Brooklyn Dodgers in a rematch of the 1952 Series. The Yankees won in six games for their fifth straight title—a mark which has not been equalled—and their sixteenth overall...
, Game 3, Carl ErskineCarl Daniel Erskine is a former right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played his entire career for the Brooklyn & Los Angeles Dodgers from 1948 through 1959...
- 15 - 1963
The 1963 World Series matched the two-time defending champion New York Yankees against the Los Angeles Dodgers, with the Dodgers sweeping the Series in four games to capture their second title in five years....
, Game 1, Sandy KoufaxSanford "Sandy" Koufax is an American left-handed former pitcher in Major League Baseball who played his entire career for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers, from to...
- 17 - 1968
The 1968 World Series featured the defending champion St. Louis Cardinals against the Detroit Tigers, with the Tigers winning in seven games for their first championship since 1945, and the third in their history...
, Game 1, Bob GibsonPack Robert "Bob" Gibson is a former right-handed baseball pitcher, having played for the St. Louis Cardinals from to...
Batters
The top 10
Major League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of play in North American professional baseball. Specifically, Major League Baseball refers to the organization that operates the National League and the American League, by means of a joint organizational structure that has developed gradually between...
career strikeout leaders (as of August 24,
2009-Major League Baseball:*October 28: 2009 World Series begins, city of American League champion*October TBA: Hank Aaron Award winners announcedNovember...
):
- Reggie Jackson
Reginald Martinez "Reggie" Jackson , nicknamed "Mr. October" for his clutch hitting in the postseason, is a former American Major League Baseball right fielder who played for five different teams from to and currently serves as a special advisor to the New York Yankees...
- 2,597
- Sammy Sosa
Samuel Peralta Sosa is a retired Major League Baseball right fielder.Sosa's Major League career began when he broke in with the Texas Rangers in . After a stint with the Chicago White Sox, Sosa became a member of the Chicago Cubs in 1992 and subsequently became one of the league's best hitters...
- 2,306
- Jim Thome
James Howard "Jim" Thome is a Major League Baseball First Baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers.-Cleveland Indians:...
- 2,297
- Andrés Galarraga
Andrés José Padovani Galarraga is a former Major League Baseball first baseman who played for the Montreal Expos , St. Louis Cardinals , Colorado Rockies , Atlanta Braves , Texas Rangers , San Francisco Giants and Anaheim Angels...
- 2,003
- José Canseco
José Canseco Capas, Jr. is a former outfielder and designated hitter in Major League Baseball, and is the identical twin brother of former major league player Ozzie Canseco. After retiring from baseball he's boxed twice and fought mixed martial arts once.-Early years:Canseco and his family left...
- 1,942
- Willie Stargell
Wilver Dornell "Willie" Stargell , nicknamed "Pops" in the later years of his career, was a professional baseball player who played his entire Major League career with the Pittsburgh Pirates as an outfielder and first baseman.Over his 21-year career with the Pirates, he batted .282, with 2,232...
- 1,936
- Mike Schmidt
Michael Jack Schmidt is a former Major League Baseball third baseman who played his entire career for the Philadelphia Phillies....
- 1,883
- Fred McGriff
Frederick Stanley "Crime Dog" McGriff is a former left-handed Major League Baseball player who starred for several teams from the mid-1980s until the early 2000s. A power-hitting first baseman with a tall, lanky build, the five-time All-Star became, in , the first player since the dead-ball era...
- 1,882
- Tony Perez
Atanasio Pérez Rigal , more commonly known as Tony Pérez, is a former Major League Baseball player. He was also known by the nickname "Big Dog," "Big Doggie," and "Doggie."...
- 1,867
- Dave Kingman
David Arthur Kingman , nicknamed "Kong" and "Sky King," is a former Major League Baseball slugger for the San Francisco Giants , New York Mets , San Diego Padres , California Angels , New York Yankees , Chicago Cubs and Oakland Athletics .-USC Trojans:Kingman was drafted by the California Angels...
- 1,816
Active batters in the top 50 (as of August 24,
2009-Major League Baseball:*October 28: 2009 World Series begins, city of American League champion*October TBA: Hank Aaron Award winners announcedNovember...
):
- 3. Jim Thome
James Howard "Jim" Thome is a Major League Baseball First Baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers.-Cleveland Indians:...
- 2,297
- 11. Mike Cameron
Michael Terrance Cameron is an outfielder in Major League Baseball for the Milwaukee Brewers.-High school:Cameron attended LaGrange High School in LaGrange, Georgia, and was a letterman in baseball....
- 1,762
- 15. Carlos Delgado
Carlos Juan Delgado Hernández is a Puerto Rican baseball player, who plays first base with the New York Mets of Major League Baseball...
- 1,745
- 16. Ken Griffey, Jr.
George Kenneth "Ken" Griffey, Jr. is a Major League Baseball outfielder and designated hitter, for the Seattle Mariners....
- 1,741
- 18. Manny Ramírez
Manuel "Manny" Aristides Ramírez Onelcida is a Dominican-American Major League Baseball left fielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers. A nine-time Silver Slugger, and one of 25 people to have hit over 500 career home runs, he is well recognized for his strong offensive abilities...
- 1,724
- 19. Alex Rodriguez
Alexander Emmanuel Rodriguez is a Dominican and American professional baseball player. Nicknamed "Alex" or "A-Rod," he currently plays third base for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball. He previously played shortstop for the Seattle Mariners and the Texas Rangers.Rodriguez is considered...
- 1,713
- 37. Andruw Jones
Andruw Rudolf Jones is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Texas Rangers.During his first two years with the Atlanta Braves, Jones most often appeared as a right fielder. However, until 2009, he played exclusively in center field...
- 1,532
- 49. Bobby Abreu
Bob Kelly "Bobby" Abreu , nicknamed "El Comedulce" and also "La Luche", is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim....
- 1,489
Single season strikeout records (batters):
| Rank |
Player |
Strikeouts |
Year |
| 1 |
Mark Reynolds Mark Andrew Reynolds is a third baseman/first baseman in Major League Baseball who plays for the Arizona Diamondbacks. He is nicknamed "The Sheriff"....
|
223 |
2009 |
| 2 |
Mark Reynolds Mark Andrew Reynolds is a third baseman/first baseman in Major League Baseball who plays for the Arizona Diamondbacks. He is nicknamed "The Sheriff"....
|
204 |
2008 |
| 3 |
Ryan HowardRyan James Howard is a Major League Baseball first baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies. Howard is 6' 4" and 260 lbs. He bats and throws left-handed.Howard was the National League MVP...
|
199 |
2007 |
| |
Ryan HowardRyan James Howard is a Major League Baseball first baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies. Howard is 6' 4" and 260 lbs. He bats and throws left-handed.Howard was the National League MVP...
|
199 |
2008 |
| 5 |
Jack Cust John Joseph "Jack" Cust III is a designated hitter and outfielder for the Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball. Cust attended Immaculata High School in Somerville, New Jersey...
|
197 |
2008 |
| 6 |
Adam Dunn Adam Troy Dunn is a Major League Baseball first baseman and outfielder for the Washington Nationals. He bats left-handed and throws right-handed....
|
195 |
2004 |
| 7 |
Adam Dunn Adam Troy Dunn is a Major League Baseball first baseman and outfielder for the Washington Nationals. He bats left-handed and throws right-handed....
|
194 |
2006 |
| 8 |
Bobby Bonds Bobby Lee Bonds was an American right fielder in Major League Baseball from to , primarily with the San Francisco Giants...
|
189 |
1970 |
| 9 |
José Hernández José Antonio Hernández Figueroa is a former Major League Baseball infielder. Hernández has played with the Texas Rangers , Cleveland Indians , Chicago Cubs , Atlanta Braves , Milwaukee Brewers , Colorado Rockies , and Los Angeles Dodgers...
|
188 |
2002 |
| 10 |
Bobby Bonds Bobby Lee Bonds was an American right fielder in Major League Baseball from to , primarily with the San Francisco Giants...
|
187 |
1969 |
| |
Preston WilsonPreston James Richard Wilson is an outfielder for a Professional league team on the Long Island Ducks. He is both the nephew and stepson of former New York Mets star Mookie Wilson...
|
187 |
2000 |
See also related lists
External links