3,000 Strikeouts Club

The 3,000 Strikeouts Club is more of a personal plateau than an actual award given to any single pitcher. The passage of time has placed more significance on the attainment of this goal and memorabilia shows are often conducted and advertised using the term three-thousand strikeouts club member.

Baseball Almanac is pleased to present a detailed look at this truly elite club of strikeout pitchers that few belong to, and many only dream of coming near. Note: A bold faced entry denotes that the player was active during the previous Major League season.

"I don't pitch with my stomach." - Hall of Fame Pitcher and 3,000 Strikeout Club Member Gaylord Perry (answer to a reporter who asked about being an overweight pitcher)
3,000 Strikeouts Club

In Order By Most Strikeouts / Top 1,000 Strikeout Leaders All-Time

Name

T

SO

Strikeout #3,000 Details
Team Date Batter Opponent

Nolan Ryan

R

5,714

Astros

07-04-1980

Cesar Geronimo

Reds

Randy Johnson

L

4,875

Diamondbacks

09-10-2000

Mike Lowell

Marlins

Roger Clemens

R

4,672

Blue Jays

07-05-1998

Randy Winn

Devil Rays

Steve Carlton

L

4,136

Phillies

04-29-1981

Tim Wallach

Expos

Bert Blyleven

R

3,701

Twins

08-01-1986

Mike Davis

Athletics

Tom Seaver

R

3,640

Reds

04-18-1981

Keith Hernandez

Cardinals

Don Sutton

R

3,574

Brewers

06-24-1983

Alan Bannister

Indians

Gaylord Perry

R

3,534

Padres

10-01-1978

Joe Simpson

Dodgers

Walter Johnson

R

3,508

Senators

07-22-1923

Stan Coveleski

Indians

Greg Maddux R 3,371 Cubs 07-26-2005 Omar Vizquel Giants

Phil Niekro

R

3,342

Yankees

07-04-1984

Larry Parrish

Rangers

Fergie Jenkins

R

3,192

Cubs

05-25-1982

Garry Templeton

Padres

Pedro Martinez R 3,154 Mets 09-03-2007 Aaron Harang Reds

Bob Gibson

R

3,117

Cardinals

07-17-1974

Cesar Geronimo

Reds

Curt Schilling

R

3,116

Red Sox

08-30-2006

Nick Swisher

Athletics

John Smoltz

R

3,084

Braves

04-22-2008

Felipe Lopez

Nationals

Name

T

SO

Team Date Batter Opponent
Strikeout #3,000 Details

3,000 Strikeouts Club | Bold = Active Player



Walter Johnson was the first member of the "3,000 Strikeouts Club" and the only member who is deceased — imagine having his signature on a sweet spot with all the remaining members on a signed ball!

Did you know that Steve Carlton and Randy Johnson are the only left-handed pitchers in Major League history with over three-thousand strikeouts? The other fourteen strikeout kings are all right-handed hurlers.

Gaylord Perry, Don Sutton and Greg Maddux each belong to this elite group of three-thousand whiff pitchers, yet none of the three ever led their league in strikeouts even once during their entire Major League career.

     

Baseball Almanac on Facebook