SEPTEMBER 9, 1987 | HOUSTON, TEXAS – If you needed a strikeout who would you want on the mound? Nolan Ryan wouldn’t be a bad choice. On this date in 1987 the Houston Astros’ right-hander struck out 16 in a 4-2 win over the San Francisco Giants in the Astrodome. When Ryan struck out Mike Aldrete in the 7th he became the first pitcher to reach 4,500 strikeouts in a career. Only Roger Clemens and Randy Johnson have since reached that mark.
Nolan Ryan is to strikeouts what Cy Young is to wins. Ryan has almost a thousand more Ks than number 2 on the list – Roger Clemens. Cy Young had 511 career wins. Number 2 is Walter Johnson with 417.
Here, according to BASEBALL-REFERENCE, are the top 10 career strikeout leaders:
1. Nolan Ryan – 5,714
2. Randy Johnson – 4,875
3. Roger Clemens – 4,672
4. Steve Carlton – 4,136
5. Bert Blyleven – 3,701
6. Tom Seaver – 3,640
7. Don Sutton – 3,574
8. Gaylord Perry – 3,534
9. Walter Johnson – 3,509
10. Greg Maddux – 3,371
CONTRIBUTING SOURCES:
Most strikeouts
September 9, 1987 box score/play-by-play