Strikeouts : 1954 National League Top 25

Finding the American or National League leader in virtually every hitting & pitching statistic is easy-to-do. Finding the top 25 players during any given season is far more challenging. Baseball Almanac has taken away that difficult problem and is pleased to present the data you requested:

"I don't think I stayed for a complete game that first year (in Arizona). But something happened. During the second year, I started watching more intently, listening to the broadcasters talk about strategy. I started getting it. Suddenly, a 162-game season didn't seem ridiculously long anymore." - Richard Ruelas in The Arizona Republic (11-07-2001)
 

1954 Strikeouts Leaders

Top 25 in the National League

Robin Roberts 185 Philadelphia Phillies 1
Harvey Haddix 184 St. Louis Cardinals 2
Carl Erskine 166 Brooklyn Dodgers 3
Johnny Antonelli 152 New York Giants 4
Warren Spahn 136 Milwaukee Braves 5
Curt Simmons 125 Philadelphia Phillies 6
Bob Rush 124 Chicago Cubs 7
Sal Maglie 117 New York Giants 8
Gene Conley 113 Milwaukee Braves 9
Ruben Gomez 106 New York Giants 10
Billy Loes 97 Brooklyn Dodgers 11
Art Fowler 93 Cincinnati Redlegs 12
Dick Littlefield 92 Pittsburgh Pirates 13
Joe Nuxhall 85 Cincinnati Redlegs 14
Don Newcombe 82 Brooklyn Dodgers 15
Warren Hacker 80 Chicago Cubs 16
Lew Burdette 79 Milwaukee Braves 17
Paul Minner 79 Chicago Cubs  
Johnny Podres 79 Brooklyn Dodgers  
Max Surkont 78 Pittsburgh Pirates 20
Bob Friend 73 Pittsburgh Pirates 21
Vic Raschi 73 St. Louis Cardinals  
Corky Valentine 73 Cincinnati Redlegs  
Brooks Lawrence 72 St. Louis Cardinals 24
Russ Meyer 70 Brooklyn Dodgers 25



The most recognizable Detroit Tiger to wear the number twenty-five was probably Norm Cash (who wore it from 1960 through 1974), but did you know that Hall of Famer Larry Doby also wore it during his single season with Detroit?

Jose Cruz of the Houston Astros had his number twenty-five retired on October 3, 1992, and became the first Major League player with that particular retired number.

Jim Thome wore number twenty-five since he first came up with the Cleveland Indians making him the franchise record holder for that particular number (Mike Garcia is second).