|
EVENTS
Sportsman of the Year
Heisman Trophy
Swimsuit 2001
CENTERS
Fantasy Central
Inside Game
Multimedia Central
Statitudes
Your Turn
Message Boards
Email Newsletters
Golf Guide
Cities
Work in Sports
CNNSI.com GROUP
Sports Illustrated
Life of Reilly
Television
SI Women
SI for Kids
Press Room
TBS/TNT Sports
CNN Languages
COMMERCE
SI Customer Service
SI Media Kits
Get into College
Sports Memorabilia
TeamStore
|  |
3K the fast way
Big Unit is quickest to 3,000 strikeouts
Latest: Wednesday September 20, 2000 01:23 PM
| |
Will Randy Johnson fade, like many pitchers before him, after reaching the 3,000 strikeout mark? AP |
By Jacob Luft, CNNSI.com
If Nolan Ryan is the express, then Randy Johnson is the Concorde.
Even Ryan, whose career total of 5,714 strikeouts is one of the most untouchable records in sports, could not accomplish what Johnson has done.
The Big Unit reached 3,000 strikeouts faster than any pitcher in history. Johnson struck out 14 against the Marlins on Sunday to become the 12th pitcher to compile 3,000 in a career.
Johnson reached the mark in his 362nd game (352 starts). No other pitcher has struck out 3,000 in less than 400 appearances. Even Ryan took more than 400 games; he was the starter in more than 375 of those, and made 34 relief appearances in the first nine years of his career.
Moreover, Johnson needs 15 strikeouts to become the second player to strike out 1,000 in a span of three seasons. Ryan fanned 1,079 from 1972-74.
The question is: What will Johnson be like after No. 3,000? Most of the 11 members of the 3K club faded shortly thereafter.
Will Johnson be like Ryan and go on to strike out thousands more?
Perhaps he will be more like Walter Johnson, who had two 20-win seasons and a 15-win season left in him before fading in 1927, his final year.
| 3K Club -- Before |
|---|
|
Randy Johnson is the 12th member of the 3,000-strikeout club. Here's a look at the stats for all 12 through the season they recorded strikeout No. 3,000.
|
| Pitcher |
Yrs. |
G |
IP |
BB |
W |
L |
K's |
| Randy Johnson |
1988-00 |
362 |
2,473.2 |
1,078 |
177 |
94 |
3,006 |
| Nolan Ryan |
1966-80 |
431 |
2,926 |
1,744 |
178 |
169 |
3,109 |
| Roger Clemens |
1984-98 |
450 |
3,274.2 |
1,012 |
233 |
124 |
3,153 |
| Tom Seaver |
1967-81 |
504 |
3,788 |
1,074 |
259 |
143 |
3,075 |
| Bob Gibson |
1959-74 |
526 |
3,775.1 |
1,274 |
248 |
164 |
3,057 |
| Bert Blyleven |
1970-86 |
541 |
3,981 |
1,072 |
229 |
197 |
3,090 |
| Steve Carlton |
1965-81 |
549 |
3,979 |
1,354 |
262 |
162 |
3,148 |
| Don Sutton |
1966-83 |
622 |
4,359.2 |
1,113 |
266 |
206 |
3,065 |
| Gaylord Perry |
1962-78 |
626 |
4,358.1 |
1,121 |
267 |
206 |
3,001 |
| Fergie Jenkins |
1965-82 |
631 |
4,333.1 |
951 |
278 |
217 |
3,096 |
| Walter Johnson |
1907-23 |
683 |
5,039.1 |
1,109 |
354 |
243 |
3,070 |
| Phil Niekro |
1964-84 |
771 |
4,835.1 |
1,528 |
284 |
238 |
3,048 |
| |
| 3K Club -- After |
|---|
|
How the 11 members of the 3,000-strikeout club fared after reaching the milestone:
|
| Pitcher |
Yrs. |
G |
IP |
BB |
W |
L |
K's |
| Nolan Ryan |
1981-93 |
376 |
2,919.1 |
1,051 |
146 |
123 |
2,605 |
| Steve Carlton |
1982-88 |
192 |
1,238.1 |
479 |
67 |
82 |
988 |
| Tom Seaver |
1982-86 |
152 |
994.2 |
316 |
52 |
62 |
565 |
| Don Sutton |
1984-88 |
152 |
922.2 |
230 |
58 |
50 |
509 |
| Bert Blyleven |
1987-92 |
151 |
982.1 |
250 |
58 |
53 |
611 |
| Gaylord Perry |
1979-83 |
151 |
992 |
258 |
47 |
59 |
533 |
| Walter Johnson |
1924-27 |
119 |
875 |
254 |
63 |
26 |
439 |
| Phil Niekro |
1985-87 |
93 |
569 |
281 |
34 |
36 |
294 |
| Roger Clemens |
1998- |
57 |
361 |
163 |
25 |
16 |
321 |
| Fergie Jenkins |
1983 |
33 |
167.1 |
46 |
6 |
9 |
96 |
| Bob Gibson |
1975 |
22 |
109 |
62 |
3 |
10 |
60 |
| |
|
Copyright © 2001
CNN/Sports Illustrated
An AOL Time Warner Company.
All Rights Reserved.
|
Terms under which this service is provided to you.
Read our privacy guidelines.
|
|
