Tom Cheney (1962) and Roger Clemens (1986) After Their Record Strikeout Games

Trick question. Who struck out the most batters in a single baseball game?

Roger Clemens was the first to record 20 strikeouts, and that was in 1986, his pre-alleged-steroids days. Clemens did it again, ten years later. Kerry Wood and Randy Johnson are the only other pitchers to fan 20 in a game.

But they are not the answer to the question.

It’s Tom Cheney. He struck out 21 for the Washington Senators in September of 1962. Thing is, that was in 16 innings.

Today’s list, courtesy baseball-reference.com, takes a look at the top 20 pitchers with the most strikeouts in a game, regardless of number of innings pitched. But for those who were able to do it in nine innings (* or like Randy Johnson in 1992, eight), there is a separate ranking in parentheses.

Johnson has had a hyper-strikeout game four times and Clemens, three.

The Ryan Express – Nolan Ryan, probably the greatest strikeout pitcher of all time, is on the list five times, including a 13-inning outing and two other extra-inning starts.

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Photo: bleacherreport.com / nytimes.com