300 strikeout club

A man wearing a navy blue baseball cap and a white and orange baseball jersey with "ASTROS" on the chest in the middle of delivering a pitch.
A man in a gray baseball uniform with "ARIZONA" on the chest, a red baseball cap, and a tan baseball glove on his right hand with "51" on its side pitches a baseball with his left hand.
Nolan Ryan (left) and Randy Johnson (right) are the only pitchers to strike out 300 or more batters in a single season six times. Ryan also holds the modern MLB record of 383 strikeouts, achieved in 1973.

In Major League Baseball (MLB), the 300 strikeout club is a group of pitchers who have struck out 300 or more batters in a single season. In the modern era (post-1900), 19 different pitchers have reached the 300 strikeout mark 38 times as of the 2024 MLB season.

Since 1900, Nolan Ryan and Randy Johnson have recorded the most 300-strikeout seasons, with six each. The highest total in a 300-strikeout season is by Ryan with 383, followed by Sandy Koufax with 382. Rube Waddell was the first pitcher to record multiple 300-strikeout seasons, with two. Koufax and Curt Schilling each recorded three 300-strikeout seasons, followed by two each by Waddell, Sam McDowell, Walter Johnson, J. R. Richard, and Pedro Martínez.[1]

In the pre-modern era, with a mound closer to home plate and constant rule changes, strikeouts were more common. Between 1880 and 1900, 23 different pitchers recorded 300 strikeouts or more 31 times.[2] Six pitchers recording multiple 300-strikeout seasons; Tim Keefe and Amos Rusie each recorded three 300-strikeout seasons; Charles Radbourn, Ed Morris, John Clarkson, and Toad Ramsey each recorded two. Matt Kilroy holds the overall single-season strikeout record with 513, the only one to strike out 500 batters in a season; five other pitchers also recorded 400 or more strikeouts in a season, four of which occurred in the 1884 season.[3]

Members

Sandy Koufax was the first pitcher to record three 300-strikeout seasons, including the National League record (and then-MLB record) of 382 in 1965.
Rube Waddell's 349 strikeouts in 1904 were a modern MLB record for 62 years. He was also the first modern-era pitcher to record multiple 300-strikeout seasons, in 1903 and 1904.
Justin Verlander (top) and Gerrit Cole (bottom) are the most recent pitchers to record 300 strikeouts in a season, both doing so in 2019.
Key
Year The year the player's 300 strikeout season occurred
Player Name of the player and number of strikeout seasons they had accomplished at that point
Team The player's team for his 300 strikeout season
Ks Number of strikeouts in that season
^ Denotes single-season strikeout record progression
† Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame
‡ Player is active

Modern era

Year Player Team Ks Ref.
1903 Rube Waddell† Philadelphia Athletics 302^ [4]
1904 Rube Waddell† (2) Philadelphia Athletics 349^ [4]
1910 Walter Johnson† Washington Senators 313 [5]
1912 Walter Johnson† (2) Washington Senators 303 [5]
1946 Bob Feller† Cleveland Indians 348 [6]
1963 Sandy Koufax† Los Angeles Dodgers 306 [7]
1965 Sandy Koufax† (2) Los Angeles Dodgers 382^ [7]
1965 Sam McDowell Cleveland Indians 325 [8]
1966 Sandy Koufax† (3) Los Angeles Dodgers 317 [7]
1970 Sam McDowell (2) Cleveland Indians 304 [8]
1971 Vida Blue Oakland Athletics 301 [9]
1971 Mickey Lolich Detroit Tigers 308 [10]
1972 Steve Carlton† Philadelphia Phillies 310 [11]
1972 Nolan Ryan† California Angels 329 [12]
1973 Nolan Ryan† (2) California Angels 383^ [12]
1974 Nolan Ryan† (3) California Angels 367 [12]
1976 Nolan Ryan† (4) California Angels 327 [12]
1977 Nolan Ryan† (5) California Angels 341 [12]
1978 J. R. Richard Houston Astros 303 [13]
1979 J. R. Richard (2) Houston Astros 313 [13]
1986 Mike Scott Houston Astros 306 [14]
1989 Nolan Ryan† (6) Texas Rangers 301 [12]
1993 Randy Johnson† Seattle Mariners 308 [15]
1997 Pedro Martínez† Montreal Expos 305 [16]
1997 Curt Schilling Philadelphia Phillies 319 [17]
1998 Randy Johnson† (2) Seattle Mariners
Arizona Diamondbacks 		329 [15]
1998 Curt Schilling (2) Philadelphia Phillies 300 [17]
1999 Randy Johnson† (3) Arizona Diamondbacks 364 [15]
1999 Pedro Martínez† (2) Boston Red Sox 313 [16]
2000 Randy Johnson† (4) Arizona Diamondbacks 347 [15]
2001 Randy Johnson† (5) Arizona Diamondbacks 372 [15]
2002 Randy Johnson† (6) Arizona Diamondbacks 334 [15]
2002 Curt Schilling (3) Arizona Diamondbacks 316 [17]
2015 Clayton Kershaw‡ Los Angeles Dodgers 301 [18]
2017 Chris Sale‡ Boston Red Sox 308 [19]
2018 Max Scherzer‡ Washington Nationals 300 [20]
2019 Gerrit Cole‡ Houston Astros 326 [21]
2019 Justin Verlander‡ Houston Astros 300 [22]

Pre-modern era

Hall of Famer Tim Keefe was the first MLB pitcher to record 300 strikeouts in a single season, with 359 in 1883.
Matt Kilroy recorded 513 strikeouts in his rookie season in 1886, the all-time single season MLB record.
Year Player Team Ks Ref.
1883 Tim Keefe† New York Metropolitans 359^ [23]
1883 Jim Whitney Boston Beaneaters 345 [24]
1883 Charles Radbourne† Providence Grays 315 [25]
1884 Hugh Daily Chicago Browns
Washington Nationals 		483^ [26]
1884 Dupee Shaw Boston Reds
Providence Grays 		451 [27]
1884 Charles Radbourne† (2) Providence Grays 441 [25]
1884 Charlie Buffinton Boston Beaneaters 417 [28]
1884 Guy Hecker Louisville Eclipse 385 [29]
1884 Bill Sweeney Baltimore Monumentals 374 [30]
1884 Pud Galvin† Buffalo Bisons 369 [31]
1884 Hardie Henderson Baltimore Orioles 346 [32]
1884 Mickey Welch† New York Gothams 345 [33]
1884 Jim McCormick Cleveland Blues
Cincinnati Outlaw Reds 		343 [34]
1884 Charlie Sweeney Providence Grays
St. Louis Maroons 		337 [35]
1884 Tim Keefe† (2) New York Metropolitans 334 [23]
1884 Tony Mullane Toledo Blue Stockings 325 [36]
1884 Larry McKeon Indianapolis Hoosiers 308 [37]
1884 Ed Morris Columbus Buckeyes 302 [38]
1885 John Clarkson† Chicago White Stockings 308 [39]
1886 Matt Kilroy Baltimore Orioles 513^ [40]
1886 Toad Ramsey Louisville Colonels 499 [41]
1886 Ed Morris (2) Pittsburgh Alleghenys 326 [38]
1886 Lady Baldwin Detroit Wolverines 323 [42]
1886 John Clarkson† (2) Chicago White Stockings 313 [39]
1887 Toad Ramsey (2) Louisville Colonels 355 [41]
1888 Tim Keefe† (3) New York Giants 335 [23]
1889 Mark Baldwin Columbus Solons 368 [43]
1890 Amos Rusie† New York Giants 341 [44]
1891 Amos Rusie† (2) New York Giants 337 [44]
1892 Bill Hutchison Chicago Colts 368 [45]
1892 Amos Rusie† (3) New York Giants 304 [44]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Select few have reached 300 K's in a season". MLB.com. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  2. ^ "Pitchers with a 300 strikeout season before 1900". StatMuse. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  3. ^ "Pitchers with a 400 strikeout season". StatMuse. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Rube Waddell Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Walter Johnson Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  6. ^ "Bob Feller Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  7. ^ a b c "Sandy Koufax Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  8. ^ a b "Sam McDowell Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  9. ^ "Vida Blue Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  10. ^ "Mickey Lolich Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  11. ^ "Steve Carlton Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  12. ^ a b c d e f "Nolan Ryan Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  13. ^ a b "J. R. Richard Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  14. ^ "Mike Scott Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  15. ^ a b c d e f "Randy Johnson Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  16. ^ a b "Pedro Martínez Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  17. ^ a b c "Curt Schilling Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  18. ^ "Clayton Kershaw Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  19. ^ "Chris Sale Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  20. ^ "Max Scherzer Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  21. ^ "Gerrit Cole Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  22. ^ "Justin Verlander Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  23. ^ a b c "Tim Keefe Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  24. ^ "Jim Whitney Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  25. ^ a b "Charles Radbourn Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  26. ^ "Hugh Daily Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  27. ^ "Dupee Shaw Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  28. ^ "Charlie Buffinton Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  29. ^ "Guy Hecker Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  30. ^ "Bill Sweeney Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  31. ^ "Pud Galvin Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  32. ^ "Hardie Henderson Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  33. ^ "Mickey Welch Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  34. ^ "Jim McCormick Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  35. ^ "Charlie Sweeney Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  36. ^ "Tony Mullane Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  37. ^ "Larry McKeon Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  38. ^ a b "Ed Morris Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  39. ^ a b "John Clarkson Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  40. ^ "Matt Kilroy Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  41. ^ a b "Toad Ramsey Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  42. ^ "Lady Baldwin Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  43. ^ "Mark Baldwin Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  44. ^ a b c "Amos Rusie Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  45. ^ "Bill Hutchison Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 13, 2024.