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  • 21 Aug, 2019

  • By, Wikipedia

List Of Major League Baseball Annual Strikeout Leaders
In baseball, the strikeout is a statistic used to evaluate pitchers. A pitcher earns a strikeout when he puts out the batter he is facing by throwing a ball through the strike zone, "defined as that area over homeplate (sic) the upper limit of which is a horizontal line at the midpoint between the top of the shoulders and the top of the uniform pants, and the lower level is a line at the hollow beneath the kneecap", which is not put in play. Strikeouts are awarded in four situations: if the batter is put out on a third strike caught by the catcher (to "strike out swinging" or "strike out looking"); if the pitcher throws a third strike which is not caught with fewer than two outs; if the batter becomes a baserunner on an uncaught third strike; or if the batter bunts the ball into foul territory with two strikes.

Major League Baseball recognizes the player or players in each league with the most strikeouts each season. Jim Devlin led the National League in its inaugural season of 1876; he threw 122 strikeouts for the Louisville Grays. The American League's first winner was Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young, who captured the American League Triple Crown in 1901 by striking out 158 batters, along with leading the league in wins and earned run average. Walter Johnson led the American League in strikeouts twelve times during his Hall of Fame career, most among all players. He is followed by Nolan Ryan, who captured eleven titles between both leagues (nine in the American League and two in the National League). Randy Johnson won nine strikeout titles, five coming with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Three players have won seven strikeout championships: Dazzy Vance, who leads the National League; Bob Feller; and Lefty Grove. Grover Cleveland Alexander and Rube Waddell led their league six times, and five-time winners include Steve Carlton, Roger Clemens, Sam McDowell, Christy Mathewson, Amos Rusie, and Tom Seaver.

There are several players with a claim to the single-season strikeout record. Among recognized major leagues, Matt Kilroy accumulated the highest single-season total, with 513 strikeouts for the Baltimore Orioles of the American Association in 1886. However, his name does not appear on Major League Baseball's single-season leaders list, since the American Association was independent of the constituent leagues that currently make up Major League Baseball. Several other players with high totals, including 1886 American Association runner-up Toad Ramsey (499) and 1884 Union Association leader Hugh Daily (483), do not appear either. In the National League, Charles "Old Hoss" Radbourn struck out 441 batters for the Providence Grays; however, the Providence franchise folded after the 1885 season and has no successor. Therefore, Major League Baseball recognizes his runner-up from that season, Charlie Buffinton, as the record-holder with 417 strikeouts. In the American League, Ryan leads with 383 strikeouts in 1973. The largest margin of victory for a champion is 156 strikeouts, achieved in 1883 when Tim Keefe of the American Association's New York Metropolitans posted 359 against Bobby Mathews' 203. The National League's largest margin was achieved in 1999, when Randy Johnson struck out 143 more batters than Kevin Brown. Ryan's 1973 margin of 125 strikeouts over Bert Blyleven is the best American League victory. Although ties for the championship are rare, they have occurred; Claude Passeau and Bucky Walters each struck out 137 National League batters in 1939, and Tex Hughson and Bobo Newsom tied in the American League with 113 strikeouts each in 1942. Their total is the lowest number of strikeouts accumulated to lead a league in Major League Baseball history (although Jacob deGrom only struck out 104 National League batters in 2020, the season was shortened by a pandemic to 60 game, or 37.04% of a regular season; had that season run a full 162 games, that would have been a net of 281 strikeouts).

Key

Year Links to the corresponding "year in baseball" or "Major League Baseball season" article
Leader Player with the highest number of strikeouts in the league
K Number of strikeouts
Runner-up Player with the second-best strikeout total in the league
League Denoted only for players outside of the modern major leagues
† Member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum

National League

A shoulders-up photograph of a dark-haired man with a thick mustache. He is wearing a dark suit with a dark-patterned tie.
Tommy Bond won the triple crown in 1877, leading the National League in wins, strikeouts, and earned run average.
A man in a baseball cap and V-neck buttoned sweater looks to the left of the image. His sweater and his hat both display the letter "P" in block type, and he holds a baseball bat over his shoulder with both hands.
Grover Cleveland Alexander led the National League in strikeouts six times in nine seasons.
A seated man in a white baseball cap and white baseball uniform shown from the chest up. He is looking to the left of the image. He has a small mustache, and his jersey reads "NEW YORK" in dark block type, partially obscured by a short tie worn around his neck under the collar of his jersey.
Amos Rusie led the National League in strikeouts a total of five times with two different teams.
A dark-haired man wearing a black sweater and crownless baseball cap looks into the camera. His hair hangs down over his right side of his forehead, and he has a slight smirk on his face.
From 1903 to 1908, Christy Mathewson led the National League in strikeouts in five of six years.
A black-and-white photograph of a smiling man from the chest up; he is wearing a white baseball jersey and dark-colored baseball cap
Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax led the National League in strikeouts four times before retiring at the age of 30.
A man in a red baseball pullover and red baseball cap with a white "C" on the front signs a baseball with his right hand.
Aaron Harang defeated Jake Peavy for the strikeout title in 2006 by one strikeout.
A man in a white baseball jersey reading "Padres" across the chest and wearing a navy blue baseball cap throws a baseball with his right hand from a dirt mound on a grass field.
Jake Peavy's 240 strikeouts in 2007 led all National League pitchers. Peavy also won the pitching triple crown the same year.
A man in a gray baseball uniform and black baseball cap throws a baseball with his right hand from a dirt mound on a grass field.
Tim Lincecum led the National League in strikeouts in 2008, 2009 and 2010.
Year Leader K Team Runner-up K Ref
1876 Jim Devlin 122 Louisville Grays George Bradley 103
1877 Tommy Bond 170 Boston Red Caps Jim Devlin 141
1878 Tommy Bond 182 Boston Red Caps Will White 169
1879 John Montgomery Ward 239 Providence Grays Will White 232
1880 Larry Corcoran 268 Chicago White Stockings Jim McCormick 260
1881 George Derby 212 Detroit Wolverines Jim McCormick 178
1882 Charles Radbourn 201 Providence Grays Jim McCormick 200
1883 Jim Whitney 345 Boston Beaneaters Charles Radbourn 315
1884 Charles Radbourn 441 Providence Grays Charlie Buffinton 417
1885 John Clarkson 308 Chicago White Stockings Mickey Welch 258
1886 Lady Baldwin 323 Detroit Wolverines John Clarkson 313
1887 John Clarkson 237 Chicago White Stockings Tim Keefe 189
1888 Tim Keefe 335 New York Giants John Clarkson 223
1889 John Clarkson 284 Boston Beaneaters Tim Keefe 225
1890 Amos Rusie 341 New York Giants Bill Hutchison 289
1891 Amos Rusie 337 New York Giants Bill Hutchison 261
1892 Bill Hutchison 314 Chicago White Stockings
 Amos Rusie 304
1893 Amos Rusie 208 New York Giants Brickyard Kennedy 107
1894 Amos Rusie 195 New York Giants Ted Breitenstein 140
1895 Amos Rusie 201 New York Giants Kid Nichols 148
1896 Cy Young 140 Cleveland Spiders Pink Hawley 137
1897 Doc McJames
Cy Seymour		 156 Washington Senators
New York Giants		 Joe Corbett 149
1898 Cy Seymour 239 New York Giants Doc McJames 178
1899 Noodles Hahn 145 Cincinnati Reds Cy Seymour 142
1900 Noodles Hahn 132 Cincinnati Reds Rube Waddell 130
1901 Noodles Hahn 239 Cincinnati Reds Bill Donovan 226
1902 Vic Willis 225 Boston Beaneaters Doc White 185
1903 Christy Mathewson 267 New York Giants Joe McGinnity 171
1904 Christy Mathewson 212 New York Giants Vic Willis 196
1905 Christy Mathewson 206 New York Giants Red Ames 198
1906 Fred Beebe 171 Chicago Cubs
St. Louis Cardinals		 Francis "Big Jeff" Pfeffer 158
1907 Christy Mathewson 178 New York Giants Bob Ewing 147
1908 Christy Mathewson 259 New York Giants Nap Rucker 199
1909 Orval Overall 205 Chicago Cubs Nap Rucker 201
1910 Earl Moore 185 Philadelphia Phillies Christy Mathewson 184
1911 Rube Marquard 237 New York Giants Grover Cleveland Alexander 227
1912 Grover Cleveland Alexander 195 Philadelphia Phillies Claude Hendrix 176
1913 Tom Seaton 168 Philadelphia Phillies Jeff Tesreau 167
1914 Grover Cleveland Alexander 214 Philadelphia Phillies Jeff Tesreau 189
1915 Grover Cleveland Alexander 241 Philadelphia Phillies Jeff Tesreau 176
1916 Grover Cleveland Alexander 167 Philadelphia Phillies Larry Cheney 166
1917 Grover Cleveland Alexander 200 Philadelphia Phillies Hippo Vaughn 195
1918 Hippo Vaughn 148 Chicago Cubs Wilbur Cooper 117
1919 Hippo Vaughn 141 Chicago Cubs Hod Eller 137
1920 Grover Cleveland Alexander 173 Chicago Cubs Burleigh Grimes
Hippo Vaughn		 131
1921 Burleigh Grimes 136 Brooklyn Robins Wilbur Cooper 134
1922 Dazzy Vance 134 Brooklyn Robins Wilbur Cooper 129
1923 Dazzy Vance 197 Brooklyn Robins Dolf Luque 151
1924 Dazzy Vance 262 Brooklyn Robins Burleigh Grimes 135
1925 Dazzy Vance 221 Brooklyn Robins Dolf Luque 140
1926 Dazzy Vance 140 Brooklyn Robins Charlie Root 127
1927 Dazzy Vance 184 Brooklyn Robins Charlie Root 145
1928 Dazzy Vance 200 Brooklyn Robins Pat Malone 155
1929 Pat Malone 166 Chicago Cubs Watty Clark 140
1930 Bill Hallahan 177 St. Louis Cardinals Dazzy Vance 173
1931 Bill Hallahan 159 St. Louis Cardinals Carl Hubbell 155
1932 Dizzy Dean 191 St. Louis Cardinals Carl Hubbell 137
1933 Dizzy Dean 199 St. Louis Cardinals Carl Hubbell 156
1934 Dizzy Dean 195 St. Louis Cardinals Van Mungo 184
1935 Dizzy Dean 190 St. Louis Cardinals Carl Hubbell 150
1936 Van Mungo 238 Brooklyn Dodgers Dizzy Dean 195
1937 Carl Hubbell 159 New York Giants Lee Grissom 149
1938 Clay Bryant 135 Chicago Cubs Paul Derringer 132
1939 Passeau, Claude; Walters, BuckyClaude Passeau
Bucky Walters		 137 Cincinnati Reds
Philadelphia Phillies
Chicago Cubs		 Mort Cooper 130
1940 Kirby Higbe 137 Philadelphia Phillies Claude Passeau
Whit Wyatt		 124
1941 Johnny Vander Meer 202 Cincinnati Reds Whit Wyatt 176
1942 Johnny Vander Meer 186 Cincinnati Reds Mort Cooper 152
1943 Johnny Vander Meer 174 Cincinnati Reds Mort Cooper 141
1944 Bill Voiselle 161 New York Giants Max Lanier 141
1945 Preacher Roe 148 Pittsburgh Pirates Hal Gregg 139
1946 Johnny Schmitz 135 Chicago Cubs Kirby Higbe 134
1947 Ewell Blackwell 193 Cincinnati Reds Ralph Branca 148
1948 Harry Brecheen 149 St. Louis Cardinals Rex Barney 138
1949 Warren Spahn 151 Boston Braves Don Newcombe 149
1950 Warren Spahn 191 Boston Braves Ewell Blackwell 188
1951 Don Newcombe
Warren Spahn		 164 Brooklyn Dodgers
Boston Braves		 Sal Maglie 146
1952 Warren Spahn 183 Boston Braves Bob Rush 157
1953 Robin Roberts 198 Philadelphia Phillies Carl Erskine 187
1954 Robin Roberts 185 Philadelphia Phillies Harvey Haddix 184
1955 Sam Jones 198 Chicago Cubs Robin Roberts 160
1956 Sam Jones 176 Chicago Cubs Harvey Haddix 170
1957 Jack Sanford 188 Philadelphia Phillies Moe Drabowsky
Dick Drott		 170
1958 Sam Jones 225 St. Louis Cardinals Warren Spahn 150
1959 Don Drysdale 242 Los Angeles Dodgers Sam Jones 209
1960 Don Drysdale 246 Los Angeles Dodgers Sandy Koufax 197
1961 Sandy Koufax 269 Los Angeles Dodgers Stan Williams 205
1962 Don Drysdale 232 Los Angeles Dodgers Sandy Koufax 219
1963 Sandy Koufax 306 Los Angeles Dodgers Jim Maloney 265
1964 Bob Veale 250 Pittsburgh Pirates Bob Gibson 245
1965 Sandy Koufax 382 Los Angeles Dodgers Bob Veale 276
1966 Sandy Koufax 317 Los Angeles Dodgers Jim Bunning 252
1967 Jim Bunning 253 Philadelphia Phillies Ferguson Jenkins 236
1968 Bob Gibson 268 St. Louis Cardinals Ferguson Jenkins 260
1969 Ferguson Jenkins 273 Chicago Cubs Bob Gibson 269
1970 Tom Seaver 283 New York Mets Bob Gibson
Ferguson Jenkins		 274
1971 Tom Seaver 289 New York Mets Ferguson Jenkins 263
1972 Steve Carlton 310 Philadelphia Phillies Tom Seaver 249
1973 Tom Seaver 251 New York Mets Steve Carlton 223
1974 Steve Carlton 240 Philadelphia Phillies Andy Messersmith 221
1975 Tom Seaver 243 New York Mets John Montefusco 215
1976 Tom Seaver 235 New York Mets J. R. Richard 214
1977 Phil Niekro 262 Atlanta Braves J. R. Richard 214
1978 J. R. Richard 303 Houston Astros Phil Niekro 248
1979 J. R. Richard 313 Houston Astros Steve Carlton 213
1980 Steve Carlton 286 Philadelphia Phillies Nolan Ryan 200
1981 Fernando Valenzuela 180 Los Angeles Dodgers Steve Carlton 179
1982 Steve Carlton 286 Philadelphia Phillies Mario Soto 274
1983 Steve Carlton 275 Philadelphia Phillies Mario Soto 242
1984 Dwight Gooden 276 New York Mets Fernando Valenzuela 240
1985 Dwight Gooden 268 New York Mets Mario Soto 214
1986 Mike Scott 306 Houston Astros Fernando Valenzuela 242
1987 Nolan Ryan 270 Houston Astros Mike Scott 233
1988 Nolan Ryan 228 Houston Astros David Cone 213
1989 José DeLeón 201 St. Louis Cardinals Tim Belcher 200
1990 David Cone 233 New York Mets Dwight Gooden
Ramón Martínez		 223
1991 David Cone 241 New York Mets Greg Maddux 198
1992 John Smoltz 215 Atlanta Braves David Cone 214
1993 José Rijo 227 Cincinnati Reds John Smoltz 208
1994 Andy Benes 189 San Diego Padres José Rijo 171
1995 Hideo Nomo 236 Los Angeles Dodgers John Smoltz 193
1996 John Smoltz 276 Atlanta Braves Hideo Nomo 234
1997 Curt Schilling 319 Philadelphia Phillies Pedro Martínez 305
1998 Curt Schilling 300 Philadelphia Phillies Kevin Brown 257
1999 Randy Johnson 364 Arizona Diamondbacks Kevin Brown 221
2000 Randy Johnson 347 Arizona Diamondbacks Chan Ho Park 217
2001 Randy Johnson 372 Arizona Diamondbacks Curt Schilling 293
2002 Randy Johnson 334 Arizona Diamondbacks Curt Schilling 316
2003 Kerry Wood 266 Chicago Cubs Mark Prior 245
2004 Randy Johnson 290 Arizona Diamondbacks Ben Sheets 264
2005 Jake Peavy 216 San Diego Padres Chris Carpenter 213
2006 Aaron Harang 216 Cincinnati Reds Jake Peavy 215
2007 Jake Peavy 240 San Diego Padres Aaron Harang 218
2008 Tim Lincecum 265 San Francisco Giants Dan Haren
Johan Santana
Edinson Vólquez		 206
2009 Tim Lincecum 261 San Francisco Giants Javier Vázquez 238
2010 Tim Lincecum 231 San Francisco Giants Roy Halladay 219
2011 Clayton Kershaw 248 Los Angeles Dodgers Cliff Lee 238
2012 R. A. Dickey 230 New York Mets Clayton Kershaw 229
2013 Clayton Kershaw 232 Los Angeles Dodgers Cliff Lee 222
2014 Johnny Cueto
Stephen Strasburg		 242 Cincinnati Reds
Washington Nationals		 Clayton Kershaw 239
2015 Clayton Kershaw 301 Los Angeles Dodgers Max Scherzer 276
2016 Max Scherzer 284 Washington Nationals José Fernández 253
2017 Max Scherzer 268 Washington Nationals Jacob deGrom 239
2018 Max Scherzer 300 Washington Nationals Jacob deGrom 269
2019 Jacob deGrom 255 New York Mets Stephen Strasburg 251
2020 Jacob deGrom 104 New York Mets Trevor Bauer 100
2021 Zack Wheeler 247 Philadelphia Phillies Max Scherzer 236
2022 Corbin Burnes 238 Milwaukee Brewers Carlos Rodon 237
2023 Spencer Strider 281 Atlanta Braves Blake Snell 234

American League

A man in a Victorian suit and bowtie is shown from chest level up. He has dark wavy hair and is looking to the left of the image.
Rube Waddell led the American League in strikeouts for six consecutive seasons (1902–1907).
A man wearing a sweater over his right arm looks into the camera; he is wearing a light-colored baseball cap with a "C" on the front atop his head.
In 1908 and 1911, Ed Walsh was the American League strikeout champion.
A smiling young man wearing a baseball cap with an Old English "D" on the front looks to the right of the image.
In 1959 and 1960, Jim Bunning led the American League in strikeouts; he finished in second place four times.
A man in a white baseball uniform with orange and red stripes across the chest throws a baseball with his right hand from a dirt mound on a grass field.
Nolan Ryan has 5,714 career strikeouts, the most in Major League history. His 11 seasons as a strikeout leader – second only to the 12 of Walter Johnson – includes nine seasons, between 1972 and 1990, as the American League strikeout leader.
A brown-skinned man with a dark goatee and wearing a gray pinstriped baseball uniform throws a baseball from a dirt mound with his left hand.
Three-time strikeout champion Johan Santana won the American League's last pitching triple crown in 2006.
A man in a gray baseball uniform reading "Rays" across the chest throws a baseball with his left hand from a dirt mound.
Scott Kazmir's 239 strikeouts led the American League in 2007.
A man in a white baseball uniform reading "Jays" across the chest, dark baseball cap, and black baseball glove stands on a dirt mound in a grass field.
A. J. Burnett won the American League strikeout title in 2008.
A light-skinned man with a goatee and wearing a white baseball uniform looks over his left shoulder while holding his right hand inside his black baseball glove.
Justin Verlander also led the American League in wins and innings pitched in 2009.
Year Leader K Team Runner-up K Ref
1901 Cy Young 158 Boston Americans Roy Patterson 127
1902 Rube Waddell 210 Philadelphia Athletics Cy Young 160
1903 Rube Waddell 302 Philadelphia Athletics Bill Donovan 187
1904 Rube Waddell 349 Philadelphia Athletics Jack Chesbro 239
1905 Rube Waddell 287 Philadelphia Athletics Eddie Plank
Cy Young		 210
1906 Rube Waddell 196 Philadelphia Athletics Cy Falkenberg 178
1907 Rube Waddell 232 Philadelphia Athletics Ed Walsh 206
1908 Ed Walsh 269 Chicago White Sox Rube Waddell 232
1909 Frank Smith 177 Chicago White Sox Walter Johnson 164
1910 Walter Johnson 313 Washington Senators Ed Walsh 258
1911 Ed Walsh 255 Chicago White Sox Joe Wood 231
1912 Walter Johnson 303 Washington Senators Joe Wood 258
1913 Walter Johnson 243 Washington Senators Cy Falkenberg
Vean Gregg		 166
1914 Walter Johnson 225 Washington Senators Willie Mitchell 179
1915 Walter Johnson 203 Washington Senators Red Faber 182
1916 Walter Johnson 228 Washington Senators Elmer Myers 182
1917 Walter Johnson 188 Washington Senators Eddie Cicotte 150
1918 Walter Johnson 162 Washington Senators Jim Shaw 129
1919 Walter Johnson 147 Washington Senators Jim Shaw 128
1920 Stan Coveleski 133 Cleveland Indians Lefty Williams 128
1921 Walter Johnson 143 Washington Senators Urban Shocker 132
1922 Urban Shocker 149 St. Louis Browns Red Faber 148
1923 Walter Johnson 130 Washington Senators Joe Bush
Bob Shawkey		 125
1924 Walter Johnson 158 Washington Senators Howard Ehmke 119
1925 Lefty Grove 116 Philadelphia Athletics Walter Johnson 108
1926 Lefty Grove 194 Philadelphia Athletics George Uhle 159
1927 Lefty Grove 174 Philadelphia Athletics Rube Walberg 136
1928 Lefty Grove 183 Philadelphia Athletics George Pipgras 139
1929 Lefty Grove 170 Philadelphia Athletics George Earnshaw 149
1930 Lefty Grove 209 Philadelphia Athletics George Earnshaw 193
1931 Lefty Grove 175 Philadelphia Athletics George Earnshaw 152
1932 Red Ruffing 190 New York Yankees Lefty Grove 188
1933 Lefty Gomez 163 New York Yankees Bump Hadley 149
1934 Lefty Gomez 158 New York Yankees Tommy Bridges 151
1935 Tommy Bridges 163 Detroit Tigers Schoolboy Rowe 140
1936 Tommy Bridges 175 Detroit Tigers Johnny Allen 165
1937 Lefty Gomez 194 New York Yankees Bobo Newsom 166
1938 Bob Feller 240 Cleveland Indians Bobo Newsom 226
1939 Bob Feller 246 Cleveland Indians Bobo Newsom 192
1940 Bob Feller 261 Cleveland Indians Bobo Newsom 164
1941 Bob Feller 260 Cleveland Indians Bobo Newsom 175
1942 Tex Hughson
Bobo Newsom		 113 Boston Red Sox
Washington Senators		 Al Benton
Phil Marchildon		 110
1943 Allie Reynolds 151 Cleveland Indians Hal Newhouser 144
1944 Hal Newhouser 187 Detroit Tigers Dizzy Trout 144
1945 Hal Newhouser 212 Detroit Tigers Nels Potter 129
1946 Bob Feller 348 Cleveland Indians Hal Newhouser 275
1947 Bob Feller 196 Cleveland Indians Hal Newhouser 176
1948 Bob Feller 164 Cleveland Indians Bob Lemon 147
1949 Virgil Trucks 153 Detroit Tigers Hal Newhouser 144
1950 Bob Lemon 170 Cleveland Indians Allie Reynolds 160
1951 Vic Raschi 164 New York Yankees Early Wynn 133
1952 Allie Reynolds 160 New York Yankees Early Wynn 153
1953 Billy Pierce 186 Chicago White Sox Virgil Trucks 149
1954 Bob Turley 185 Baltimore Orioles Early Wynn 155
1955 Herb Score 245 Cleveland Indians Bob Turley 210
1956 Herb Score 263 Cleveland Indians Billy Pierce 192
1957 Early Wynn 184 Cleveland Indians Jim Bunning 182
1958 Early Wynn 179 Chicago White Sox Jim Bunning 177
1959 Jim Bunning 201 Detroit Tigers Camilo Pascual 185
1960 Jim Bunning 201 Detroit Tigers Pedro Ramos 160
1961 Camilo Pascual 221 Minnesota Twins Whitey Ford 209
1962 Camilo Pascual 206 Minnesota Twins Jim Bunning 184
1963 Camilo Pascual 202 Minnesota Twins Jim Bunning 196
1964 Al Downing 217 New York Yankees Camilo Pascual 213
1965 Sam McDowell 325 Cleveland Indians Mickey Lolich 226
1966 Sam McDowell 225 Cleveland Indians Jim Kaat 205
1967 Jim Lonborg 246 Boston Red Sox Sam McDowell 236
1968 Sam McDowell 283 Cleveland Indians Denny McLain 280
1969 Sam McDowell 279 Cleveland Indians Mickey Lolich 271
1970 Sam McDowell 304 Cleveland Indians Mickey Lolich 230
1971 Mickey Lolich 308 Detroit Tigers Vida Blue 301
1972 Nolan Ryan 329 California Angels Mickey Lolich 250
1973 Nolan Ryan 383 California Angels Bert Blyleven 258
1974 Nolan Ryan 367 California Angels Bert Blyleven 249
1975 Frank Tanana 269 California Angels Bert Blyleven
Gaylord Perry		 233
1976 Nolan Ryan 327 California Angels Frank Tanana 261
1977 Nolan Ryan 341 California Angels Dennis Leonard 244
1978 Nolan Ryan 260 California Angels Ron Guidry 248
1979 Nolan Ryan 223 California Angels Ron Guidry 201
1980 Len Barker 187 Cleveland Indians Mike Norris 180
1981 Len Barker 127 Cleveland Indians Britt Burns 108
1982 Floyd Bannister 209 Seattle Mariners Len Barker 187
1983 Jack Morris 232 Detroit Tigers Floyd Bannister 193
1984 Mark Langston 204 Seattle Mariners Dave Stieb 198
1985 Bert Blyleven 206 Cleveland Indians
Minnesota Twins		 Floyd Bannister 198
1986 Mark Langston 245 Seattle Mariners Roger Clemens 238
1987 Mark Langston 262 Seattle Mariners Roger Clemens 256
1988 Roger Clemens 291 Boston Red Sox Mark Langston 235
1989 Nolan Ryan 301 Texas Rangers Roger Clemens 230
1990 Nolan Ryan 232 Texas Rangers Bobby Witt 221
1991 Roger Clemens 241 Boston Red Sox Randy Johnson 228
1992 Randy Johnson 241 Seattle Mariners Mélido Pérez 218
1993 Randy Johnson 308 Seattle Mariners Mark Langston 196
1994 Randy Johnson 204 Seattle Mariners Roger Clemens 168
1995 Randy Johnson 294 Seattle Mariners Todd Stottlemyre 205
1996 Roger Clemens 257 Boston Red Sox Chuck Finley 215
1997 Roger Clemens 292 Toronto Blue Jays Randy Johnson 291
1998 Roger Clemens 271 Toronto Blue Jays Pedro Martínez 251
1999 Pedro Martínez 313 Boston Red Sox Chuck Finley 200
2000 Pedro Martínez 284 Boston Red Sox Bartolo Colón 212
2001 Hideo Nomo 220 Boston Red Sox Mike Mussina 214
2002 Pedro Martínez 239 Boston Red Sox Roger Clemens 192
2003 Esteban Loaiza 207 Chicago White Sox Pedro Martínez 206
2004 Johan Santana 265 Minnesota Twins Pedro Martínez 227
2005 Johan Santana 238 Minnesota Twins Randy Johnson 211
2006 Johan Santana 245 Minnesota Twins Jeremy Bonderman 202
2007 Scott Kazmir 239 Tampa Bay Devil Rays Johan Santana 235
2008 A. J. Burnett 231 Toronto Blue Jays Ervin Santana 214
2009 Justin Verlander 269 Detroit Tigers Zack Greinke 242
2010 Jered Weaver 233 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Félix Hernández 232
2011 Justin Verlander 250 Detroit Tigers CC Sabathia 230
2012 Justin Verlander 239 Detroit Tigers Max Scherzer 231
2013 Yu Darvish 277 Texas Rangers Max Scherzer 240
2014 David Price 271 Tampa Bay Rays
Detroit Tigers		 Corey Kluber 269
2015 Chris Sale 274 Chicago White Sox Chris Archer 252
2016 Justin Verlander 254 Detroit Tigers Chris Archer
Chris Sale		 233
2017 Chris Sale 308 Boston Red Sox Corey Kluber 265
2018 Justin Verlander 290 Houston Astros Gerrit Cole 276
2019 Gerrit Cole 326 Houston Astros Justin Verlander 300
2020 Shane Bieber 122 Cleveland Indians Lucas Giolito 97
2021 Robbie Ray 248 Toronto Blue Jays Gerrit Cole 243
2022 Gerrit Cole 257 New York Yankees Dylan Cease 227
2023 Kevin Gausman 237 Toronto Blue Jays Pablo López 234

Other major leagues

A baseball card of a man in a dark baseball uniform wearing a matching baseball cap and holding his hands in the air in front of his chest.
Matt Kilroy's 513 strikeouts in 1886 is the most in a single season by a pitcher among modern recognized major leagues.
Year Leader K Team League Runner-up K Ref
1882 Tony Mullane 170 Louisville Eclipse American Association Harry Salisbury 135
1883 Tim Keefe 359 New York Metropolitans American Association Bobby Mathews 203
1884 Guy Hecker 385 Louisville Eclipse American Association Hardie Henderson 346
1884 Hugh Daily 483 Chicago Browns
Washington Nationals		 Union Association Bill Sweeney 374
1885 Ed Morris 298 Pittsburgh Alleghenys American Association Bobby Mathews 286
1886 Matt Kilroy 513 Baltimore Orioles American Association Toad Ramsey 499
1887 Toad Ramsey 355 Louisville Eclipse American Association Matt Kilroy 217
1888 Ed Seward 272 Philadelphia Athletics American Association Silver King 258
1889 Mark Baldwin 368 Columbus Solons American Association Matt Kilroy 217
1890 Sadie McMahon 291 Philadelphia Athletics
Baltimore Orioles		 American Association Jack Stivetts 289
1890 Mark Baldwin 206 Chicago Pirates Players' League Silver King 185
1891 Jack Stivetts 259 St. Louis Browns American Association Phil Knell 228
1914 Cy Falkenberg 236 Indianapolis Hoosiers Federal League Earl Moseley 205
1915 Dave Davenport 229 St. Louis Terriers Federal League Al Schulz 160

Footnotes