MLB BALK RECORDS

Major League Baseball Balk Records Set by Pitchers | Baseball Almanac

Balk records — including career balk records, single season balk records, and game related balk records. Research by Baseball Almanac.

Baseball Almanac Top Quote

"I never called a balk in my life. I didn't understand the rule." - Luciano, Ron. Major League Baseball Umpire. The Cheater's Guide to Baseball. Zumsteg, Derek. Author. Mariner Books Publishing. Page 54.

Balk Records

Major League Baseball Career Balk Records

Fewest Balks
In A Career
(Min: 3,000+ IP)
AL Stan Coveleski Philadelphia 0 1
Cleveland 1
Washington 0
New York 0
Lefty Grove Philadelphia 1
Boston 0
George Mullin Detroit 1
Mike Mussina Baltimore 1
New York 0
NL John Clarkson Worcester 0 0
Chicago 0
Boston 0
Cleveland 0
Wilbur Cooper Pittsburgh 0
Chicago 0
Bill Hutchison Chicago 0
St. Louis 0
Tim Keefe Troy 0
New York 0
Philadelphia 0
Jim McCormick Indianapolis 0
Cleveland 0
Chicago 0
Pittsburgh 0
Old Hoss Radbourn Providence 0
Boston 0
Cincinnati 0
Most Balks
In A Career
AL Charlie Hough Texas 30 32
Chicago 2
NL Steve Carlton St. Louis 2 82
Philadelphia 79
San Francisco 1
ML Steve Carlton St. Louis [NL] 2 90
Philadelphia [NL] 79
San Francisco [NL] 1
Chicago [AL] 1
Cleveland [AL] 4
Minnesota [AL] 3

Balk Records

Major League Baseball Single Season Balk Records

Fewest Balks
In A Season (300 IP)
AL Tied 131 Times n/a 0 n/a
NL Tied 406 Times n/a 0 n/a
Most Balks
In A Season
AL Dave Stewart Oakland 16 1988
NL Steve Carlton Philadelphia 11 1979

Balk Records

Major League Baseball Game & Inning Specific Balk Records

Most Balks
In A Game
[Bold = Lg Record]

(Every 4 BK Game)

AL John Dopson Boston 4 06-13-1989
Rick Honeycutt Oakland 04-13-1988
Vic Raschi New York 05-03-1950
Gene Walter Seattle 07-18-1988
Bobby Witt Texas 04-12-1988
NL Bob Shaw Milwaukee 5 05-04-1963
Bob Friend Pittsburgh 4 04-13-1963
Joe Magrane St. Louis 06-17-1988
Most Balks
In An Inning
AL Don Heinkel Detroit 3 05-03-1988
6th Inning
Milt Shoffner Cleveland 05-12-1930
3rd Inning
NL Richard Bleier Miami 3 09-27-2022
8th Inning
Jim Gott Pittsburgh 08-06-1988
8th Inning
Jim Owens Cincinnati 04-24-1963
2nd Inning
Charlie Sweeney St. Louis 04-30-1885
1st Inning
Bob Shaw Milwaukee 05-04-1963
3rd Inning
MLB Balk Records | Research by Baseball Almanac
baseball almanac flat baseball

baseball almanac fast facts

Did you know that Stu Miller was once "Blown Off The Mound" during the 1961 All-Star Game when strong winds at Candlestick Park caused him to sway and be called for a balk? Miller recalls the moment in The Union Tribune (Dubow, Josh. Staff Writer. Blowin' in the wind: Stu Miller sets the record straight. 10 July 2007.), "Just as I was ready to pitch, an extra gust of wind came along and I waved like a tree. My whole body went back and forth about 2 or 3 inches. The AL bench all hollered balk. I knew it was a balk, but the umpires didn't call it at first. I went ahead and threw the pitch and Colavito swung and missed. The umpire then took off his mask and motioned the runners to second and third."

On May 4, 1963, Bob Shaw of the Milwaukee Braves tied the record for most balks during an inning, set a new Major League record for balks in a game, AND his team became the first ever to commit six balks during a nine-inning game.

Did you know that on August 7, 1984, Joe Hesketh was called-up by the Montreal Expos and before he ever threw a single Major League pitch, umpires called a balk on him? Welcome to "the show" Joe!