Strikeout

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Adam Dunn strikes out swinging to Atlanta Braves pitcher John Smoltz (not pictured). Smoltz recorded 10 strikeouts in this start, three against Dunn.

In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike out (denoted by SO or K) occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. Strikeouts are associated with dominance on the part of the pitcher, although it is recognized that the style of swing that generates home runs also leaves the batter somewhat susceptible to striking out.

Rules

The Texas Longhorns softball team gets a strikeout against Penn State to end the game, February 15, 2008.

A pitcher receives credit for (and a batter is charged with) a strikeout on any third strike, but a batter is out only if any of the following is true:

1. the third strike is pitched and caught in flight by the catcher (including foul tips);
2. on any third strike, if a baserunner is on first and there are fewer than two outs;
3. the third strike is bunted foul and is not caught by a fielder

If the third strike is not caught and there are two outs, or fewer than two outs and no baserunner on first, the batter becomes a runner. Thus, it is possible for a batter to strike out, but still reach base safely if the catcher fails or is unable to catch the third strike cleanly and cannot tag out the batter or force him out at first base (in Japan this is called furinige（振り逃げ）, i.e. swing and escape). As a result, pitchers have occasionally been able to record four strikeouts in one half-inning.

In scoring, a swinging strikeout is recorded as a K, or a K-S. A strikeout looking (where the batter does not swing at a pitch that the umpire then calls strike three) is sometimes scored with a backwards K.

The use of "K" for a strikeout was invented by Henry Chadwick, a newspaper journalist who is widely credited as the originator of the box score and the baseball scorecard. Both the box score and scorecard persist largely unchanged to this day, as the game itself is largely unchanged except for the number of balls and strikes allowed to the pitcher and batter. The letter "S" was used to coin "sacrifice" so Chadwick decided to use "K", with "K" being the last letter in "struck." Chadwick also invented many other baseball scoring abbreviations, such as using numbers to designate player positions (progressing from the battery, pitcher [1] and catcher [2], through the infield, with the shortstop counted after the basemen, at number 6, to the right fielder [9]).^[1]

That Chadwick first established the convention of using the "K" abbreviation is well-founded, with reliable and authentic primary materials surviving (see citation above). Those unaware of Chadwick's contributions have speculated that "K" was derived from the 19th century pitcher Matt Kilroy's last name. If not for the evidence supporting Chadwick's earlier use of "K", this speculation would be reasonable: Kilroy did much to raise the prominence of the strikeout, setting an all-time record of 513 strikeouts in 1886, only two years after overhand pitching was permitted. Kilroy's record, however, is forever confined to its era: the pitcher's mound during his record-setting season was only 50 feet (15 m) from the batter; it was moved to its current distance of 60'6" in 1893. The modern record (1901-) is 383 strikeouts, held by Nolan Ryan, one better than Sandy Koufax's 382.

Although some people use "K" to record pitchers' strikeouts, "SO" is the official abbreviation used by Major League Baseball^[2].

In addition, "K" is still commonly used by fans and enthusiasts for purposes other than official record-keeping. In one baseball ritual, fans at the ballpark who are seated in view of the batter (and the television cameras) attach a succession of small "K" signs to the nearest railing, one added for every strikeout notched by the home team's pitcher. As is traditional for those who keep a record of the game on paper, the "K" is placed backwards in cases where the batter strikes out looking. Virtually every televised display of a major league game in which a pitcher registers a high number of strikeouts (7 or 8) will include a shot of a fan's strikeout display, and if the pitcher continues to strike out batters, the display often will be shown following every strikeout. In the event that a known "strikeout pitcher" is on the mound, the strikeout display will be televised on from the beginning.

History

The strikeout is as old as baseball itself. Alexander Cartwright's Knickerbocker Rules, drawn up in 1845 and considered the foundation of the modern game, define the strikeout as follows:

Three balls being struck at and missed and the last one caught, is a hand-out; if not caught is considered fair, and the striker bound to run. (Rule #11)

This is essentially the same rule in use today, with the addition of the called strike (1858) and the provision that the batter is automatically out if there are fewer than two out and a runner on first. In 1880, the rules were changed to specify that a third strike had to be caught on the fly. In 1887, the number of strikes for an out was changed to four, but promptly changed back to three the next season. A foul bunt was classified as a strike in 1894, and a foul tip in 1895.

Keeping yearly records of strikeouts for batters was not kept regularly until 1910 in the National League, and 1913 in the American League.

Jargon and slang

A swinging strikeout is often called a whiff and a batter who is struck out by a fastball is often said to have been blown away. A batter who strikes out on a swung third strike is said to have fanned (as in a fanning motion), whereas if he takes a called third strike it is called a punchout (describing the plate umpire's punching motion on a called third strike), but sometimes these descriptive words are used generally as synonyms for strikeouts, irrespective if they were calling or looking (e.g. Sabathia's punched out nine batters tonight or Ryan Howard's fanned six times in this series). On a called third strike, it is said that the batter was caught looking or that he looked at a strike. Typically, a called third strike can be somewhat more embarrassing for a batter, as it shows that he was either fooled by the pitcher, or even worse, had a moment of hesitation. Sports commentators have also been known to refer to it as browsing if the batter did not move his bat at all.

A pitcher is said to strike out the side when he retires all three batters in a half inning by striking them out. A batter that takes the third strike looking, especially on a breaking pitch, such as a slider or a curveball, that appears to be out of the strike zone but drops in before the batter can get the bat off his shoulders, can be said to have been frozen.

In slang, when a batter strikes out three times in a game, he is said to have completed a hat trick'." If he strikes out four times, it is a sombrero. He receives the Olympic Rings or a golden sombrero' for striking out five times and the horn for striking out six times in a game - a rare occurrence, which in the history of major league play has only been accomplished in extra innings games.

Some pitchers who specialize in strikeouts have acquired nicknames including the letter "K". Cincinnati Reds closer Francisco Cordero is known as "Koko", Dwight Gooden was known as "Doctor K" (back-referencing basketball star Julius Erving a.k.a. "Dr. J"). Francisco Rodriguez is known as "K-Rod"^[3]. Roger Clemens has taken the "K" name to an extreme, naming his four sons Koby, Kory, Kacy, and Kody.

Four strikeouts in an inning

If a third strike is not caught by the catcher (and is not tipped), it is a strikeout, and the at-bat is over. However, with first base open or with two outs, the batter is not out until tagged out or forced out. On a wild pitch or passed ball the batter can often advance to first base safely. If a runner is at first base and there are less than two outs, the batter is automatically out, as with the infield fly rule. If there are two outs, another runner may be forced out as with any other ball in play. If the runner reaches first base safely, there is no out, but the pitcher is still credited with a strikeout.

It is thus possible for a pitcher to throw four (or more) strikeouts in an inning. The first major leaguer to be credited with the feat was Jon Andre of the New York Giants on October 4, 1888. Chuck Finley did it on May 12 and August 15, 1999 with the Anaheim Angels, and then for a third time on April 16, 2000 with the Cleveland Indians. Finley is the only player to pitch four strikeouts in an inning more than once. ^[4]

The feat was once quite rare, occurring only five times before 1956, but it has become less rare in recent years, occurring six times during the 1999 season alone. This increase in frequency may be due somewhat to increased use of the split-finger fastball and forkball, both pitches that end up in the dirt at the plate when effective and often are difficult to handle for catchers. In addition, individual strikeouts are more common, and the total number of innings pitched in a season has doubled as well, due to an expanded schedule and more than a dozen extra teams. The combined effects of the higher strikeout rate and expanded schedule would be expected to make the four-strikeout inning about seven times more frequent than it was fifty years ago.

With any runners advancing to leave first base open if there are less than two outs, the process can repeat, leading to a fifth strikeout (or more) in the inning. A fifth strikeout has not happened in a regulation game in the major leagues, but has occurred three times in the minor leagues, most recently by Garrett Bauer of the Rockford RiverHawks against the Windy City Thunderbolts on July 1 2008.^[5] In the major leagues, knuckleballer Joe Niekro also struck out five men in an inning during a spring exhibition game when Niekro was with the Houston Astros.^[6]

Strikeout Records

Pitchers

The top 16 Major League Baseball career strikeout leaders (active players in bold):^[7]

• (since 1901)

through September 30, 2008

1. Nolan Ryan - 5,714
2. Randy Johnson - 4,789
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
11. Phil Niekro - 3,342
12. Ferguson Jenkins - 3,192
13. Bob Gibson - 3,117
14. Pedro Martínez - 3,117
15. Curt Schilling - 3,116
16. John Smoltz - 3,011

The top five Major League Baseball career strikeout-per-nine innings leaders (since 1900):^[8] (through 2008 season, minimum 2000 IP)

1. Randy Johnson - 10.67
2. Pedro Martínez - 10.08
3. Nolan Ryan - 9.55
4. Sandy Koufax - 9.28
5. Sam McDowell - 8.86

The top 5 Major League Baseball single season strikeout-per-nine innings leaders (since 1900): (through 2008 season, minimum 1.0 IP per team game)

1. Randy Johnson, 2001 - 13.41
2. Pedro Martínez, 1999 - 13.20
3. Kerry Wood, 1998 - 12.58
4. Randy Johnson, 2000 - 12.56
5. Randy Johnson, 1995 - 12.35

The Top 10 Major League Baseball single season strikeout totals (since 1900)^[9]

Active pitchers in top 50 (as of September 30, 2008):

  2. Randy Johnson - 4,789
10. Greg Maddux - 3,371
13. Pedro Martínez - 3,117
15. Curt Schilling - 3,116
16. John Smoltz - 3,011
24. Tom Glavine - 2,607
46. Jamie Moyer - 2,248

Progression of major league strikeout record for one nine-inning game, regular season (partial listing):

• 18 - Dupee Shaw, Boston Reds (UA), July 19, 1884^[10]; and by Henry Porter, Milwaukee Brewers (UA), October 3, 1884.^[11][12]

Modern era:

• 18 - Bob Feller, October 2, 1938; matched by Sandy Koufax, August 31, 1959, and again on April 24, 1962; and by Don Wilson, July 14, 1968.
• 19 - Steve Carlton, September 15, 1969; matched by Tom Seaver, April 22, 1970; and by Nolan Ryan, August 12, 1974
• 20 - Roger Clemens, April 29, 1986 - matched by Clemens again, September 18, 1996; by Kerry Wood, May 16, 1998; and by Randy Johnson, May 8, 2001 (the first nine innings of an extra-inning game)

• Note: Tom Cheney struck out 21 batters overall, in a 16-inning game, September 12, 1962. He had 13 strikeouts through the first nine innings.

See also List of pitchers who have struck out 18 or more batters in a nine-inning MLB game

Progression of strikeout record for one game, World Series:

• 10 - 1903 (first modern Series), Game 1, Deacon Phillippe
• 11 - 1903, Game 2, Bill Dinneen
• 12 - 1906, Game 3, Ed Walsh
• 13 - 1929, Game 1, Howard Ehmke
• 14 - 1953, Game 3, Carl Erskine
• 15 - 1963, Game 1, Sandy Koufax
• 17 - 1968, Game 1, Bob Gibson

Batters

The top ten Major League Baseball career strikeout leaders (as of 2008 season):

1. Reggie Jackson - 2,597
2. Sammy Sosa - 2,306
3. Jim Thome - 2,190
4. Andrés Galarraga - 2,003
5. José Canseco - 1,942
6. Willie Stargell - 1,936
7. Mike Schmidt - 1,883
8. Fred McGriff - 1,882
9. Tony Perez - 1,867
10. Dave Kingman - 1,816

Active batters in the top 50 (as of September 30, 2008):

  3. Jim Thome - 2,190

15. Carlos Delgado - 1,725

22. Ken Griffey, Jr. - 1,682

23. Jim Edmonds - 1,669

24. Manny Ramírez - 1,667

25. Mike Cameron - 1,642

26. Alex Rodriguez - 1,641

41. Jeff Kent - 1,522

49. Andruw Jones - 1,470

Single season strikeout records (batters):

References

• Schlossberg, Dan (2007). Baseball Gold: Mining Nuggets from Our National Pastime. Chicago, Illinois: Triumph Books. ISBN 978-1-57243-958-0. 

See also related lists

• Baseball statistics
• List of Major League Baseball strikeout champions
• List of pitchers who have struck out 18 or more batters in a nine-inning baseball game
• Pitchers who have struck out three batters on nine pitches
• Top 100 Major League Baseball strikeout pitchers
• 3000 strikeout club

External links

• Four Strikeouts in 1 Inning