Comments on: TK note #7: 4-K games

By: David in Toledo

David in Toledo — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 15:36:39 +0000

So then I went to the index to see what batters had been at least 500 games, with more strikeouts than games played? Of course, Bo Jackson would lead this list. And there are four others: Adam Dunn, Brad Wilkerson, Russell Branyan, and Dave Nicholson.

What about pitchers, I wondered. As batters, don’t they strike out a lot?

By: David in Toledo

David in Toledo — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 23:28:50 +0000

So the question came to mind, what players who have been in at least 1000 games have collected more career strikeouts than games played?

I put in variables for strikeouts and games played and then eyeballed the list of 214. I think there are only three players: Jose Canseco, Jim Thome, and Rob Deer. (Pete Incaviglia misses by 7 SO’s.) Several other current players are pretty close. . . .

By: Johnny Twisto

Johnny Twisto — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 15:21:17 +0000

I didn’t realize Dick Allen struck out so much. He’s before my time, but I think of Gary Sheffield as being a modern-day comp, in many ways. But Sheffield strikes out very little for a modern power hitter. Never more than 83 times in a season. One 4-K game, 19 3-K games. (Sosa has 121 3-K games, the most of anyone since 1956 and almost certainly ever.)

By: Danny Wind

Danny Wind — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 18:50:07 +0000

The list of players with the most 5-strikeout games is interesting too:

http://www.bb-ref.com/pi/shareit/wznH

Ray Lankford had three 5-K games in 1998. Sammy Sosa is the only other player since 1956 to have as many as three such games in his *career.*

By: Johnny Twisto

Johnny Twisto — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 21:36:31 +0000

Good effort by Bo Knows, in only 694 career games.

It’s unlikely that anyone prior to 1956 would make this list. Maybe Vince DiMaggio, Dolph Camilli, or Hank Greenberg? Only 7 players before 1956 had multiple 100-K seasons. 350 players have done it since then, and without checking, I’m guessing everyone on the above list has.