Who Threw 27 Strikeouts In A Game? Unpacking Baseball's Ultimate Pitching Feat

To strike out every single batter in a regulation nine-inning game, that's 27 outs, all coming from a swing and a miss, or maybe a called third strike. It's a vision of total control, a pitcher so locked in that no one can even make contact. We're talking about a level of mastery that, quite frankly, seems almost mythical, pushing the boundaries of what's even possible in a sport known for its unpredictable bounces and sudden turns.

But, you know, as we look into this incredible idea, we'll discover the truth behind this ultimate pitching dream. We'll explore just how close pitchers have come to this seemingly impossible feat in Major League Baseball history, and, you know, what makes such a performance so incredibly rare. So, basically, let's get into the details of baseball's most elusive pitching achievement.

• Missy Peregrym Height

Table of Contents

• The Myth and Reality of Baseball's Perfect Strikeout Game
• Major League Baseball's Strikeout Kings: The Closest Anyone Has Come
  • Tom Cheney's Unbreakable Record
  • The Elite 20-Strikeout Club
  • Recent Pitching Dominance (2023 Highlights)
• Beyond the Majors: Other Notable Strikeout Feats
  • College World Series History
• Why is 27 Strikeouts So Elusive?
• Frequently Asked Questions About Pitching Records
  • Has anyone ever struck out all 27 batters in a game?
  • Who has pitched the most strikeouts in a single MLB game?
  • Who has the most career strikeouts in Major League Baseball?

The Myth and Reality of Baseball's Perfect Strikeout Game

The idea of a pitcher striking out every single batter they face in a nine-inning game, getting all 27 outs by way of a strikeout, is something that, you know, really gets baseball fans talking. It’s a vision of complete dominance, where the defense doesn't even need to lift a finger because the pitcher is just that good. But, as a matter of fact, despite over 150 years of Major League Baseball history and literally hundreds of thousands of games played, this incredible feat has never actually happened.

Think about it: every single out, a strikeout. That means no walks, no errors, no hits, and absolutely no balls put into play. While we've seen perfect games, where a pitcher retires all 27 batters without anyone reaching base, those perfect games don't necessarily involve striking out every single person. For instance, Lee Richmond pitched the first perfect game in major league history, but his performance didn't involve 27 strikeouts. A perfect game is amazing on its own, but a 27-strikeout game? That's, like, a whole different level of extraordinary, something that's just never been seen.

So, to answer the big question directly, no pitcher has ever thrown 27 strikeouts in a regulation Major League Baseball game. It's a truly mind-boggling thought, but it just hasn't occurred. This record, you know, remains the ultimate, untouched peak for pitchers, a testament to just how challenging and unpredictable the game of baseball can be, even for the very best throwers of the ball.

• What Was Wheelers Fastball Velocity

Major League Baseball's Strikeout Kings: The Closest Anyone Has Come

While the 27-strikeout game remains an elusive dream, there have been some absolutely breathtaking pitching performances where hurlers came remarkably close to that kind of strikeout dominance. These are the games where pitchers really seemed to be on another planet, just mowing down hitters one after another. It’s pretty amazing to consider, actually, how many batters they managed to fan.

Tom Cheney's Unbreakable Record

When we talk about the most strikeouts thrown in a single Major League Baseball game, the name Tom Cheney comes up right away. On September 12, 1962, pitching for the Washington Senators, Cheney put on a show that, you know, still stands as the official record. He fanned an incredible 21 hitters against the Baltimore Orioles. Now, this was in a 16-inning game, so it wasn't a standard nine-inning outing, but still, 21 strikeouts is a truly monumental achievement, showing just how much force he could put behind the ball.

His performance that day was, you know, a display of sheer grit and endurance. Threw is the past tense of the verb throw, which means to launch something into the air with your hand, and Cheney certainly launched a lot of pitches that day. It's a record that has stood for decades, and it really highlights the kind of sustained brilliance a pitcher needs to rack up such high numbers. You can imagine the energy, the focus, the sheer determination required for something like that.

The Elite 20-Strikeout Club

While Cheney holds the overall single-game strikeout record, three pitchers are tied for the most strikeouts in a standard nine-inning game, with 20 punchouts each. This is, like, the gold standard for a regulation game. These are performances that are just incredibly rare and, you know, truly special. It's a very exclusive group, really.

Roger Clemens, Kerry Wood, Max Scherzer, and Randy Johnson have all achieved this remarkable feat. Each of these outings was a masterpiece, showcasing their ability to overpower even the best hitters in the game. To get 20 strikeouts in nine innings, that's more than two strikeouts per inning, on average. It requires not just great stuff, but also incredible control and, you know, a bit of luck to keep getting those swings and misses. It's a testament to their skill, honestly.

Recent Pitching Dominance (2023 Highlights)

Even in recent times, pitchers continue to show flashes of this strikeout prowess, though none have approached the very top records. In 2023, for example, Lance Lynn struck out the most hitters in a single game, with 16 strikeouts against the Mariners on June 18, 2023. That's a really strong showing, actually, and it shows the kind of power pitching that's still very much alive in the game.

We also saw Domingo Germán retire all 27 batters in a perfect game, which is incredibly rare and, you know, a huge accomplishment. He did this with 9 strikeouts on 99 pitches. So, while it wasn't a 27-strikeout game, it was a perfect outing in terms of getting every single batter out, which is pretty amazing. It's a different kind of perfection, but still, very impressive. Also, Shohei Ohtani, as a pitcher in 2023, had 2 strikeouts six different times, which, you know, is a bit of an interesting statistic in itself, showing his dual-threat nature.

Beyond the Majors: Other Notable Strikeout Feats

While the focus often stays on Major League Baseball, remarkable strikeout performances happen at all levels of the game, sometimes even pushing boundaries that seem impossible. These outings, you know, really highlight the incredible talent and determination found throughout baseball, not just at the very top.

College World Series History

One such performance that recently made history took place in the College World Series. Gage Wood, playing for Arkansas in an elimination game against Murray State, made headlines. He delivered an incredibly impressive outing, actually, striking out 19 batters in that single College World Series game. This mark became the most in a single CWS game in history, and it was also a career high for him.

Talk about an incredibly impressive outing, you know? It shows that even at the collegiate level, pitchers can reach truly dominant heights. Wood's performance was a reminder that the ability to throw the ball past hitters, to cause something to move through the air with such force, is a skill that transcends professional leagues. It was a moment that, you know, really had everyone talking about his power on the mound.

Why is 27 Strikeouts So Elusive?

So, if pitchers can strike out 20 or even 21 batters, why has no one, you know, ever reached the magical 27? It's a very good question, and the answer lies in the sheer difficulty and the many variables that come into play during a baseball game. It's not just about throwing fast, you know, or having a great curveball; it's much more complex than that.

First off, think about the quality of hitters in Major League Baseball. Every single player stepping up to the plate is, basically, among the best in the world at what they do. They're trying to hit the ball, obviously, and they're incredibly skilled at making contact, even against the fastest pitches. To strike out 27 different professional hitters in a row, without a single one putting the ball in play, is an astronomical challenge. It's just so hard to do, honestly.

Then there's the pitch count. To strike out 27 batters, a pitcher would need a minimum of 81 pitches (three strikes per batter). But, in reality, it would be much, much higher, as very few batters strike out on just three pitches. Pitchers would likely throw well over 100 or even 150 pitches, which leads to fatigue. Maintaining peak velocity and control for that many pitches, you know, is nearly impossible over nine innings. Jimmy likes to throw the ball as fast as it can go, but even for him, that would be a lot of throws.

Also, baseball involves a bit of luck. A pitcher could throw a perfect pitch, and a batter might just foul it off, extending the at-bat. Or, a batter might make weak contact that somehow finds a hole for a single. The ball, you know, just has a way of finding gaps. Even the best pitchers rely on their defense for some outs. To not need your defense for a single out, to get every single one yourself, is a truly rare thing. It's why, in a way, it remains the ultimate, untouched record, a testament to the game's inherent unpredictability and the incredible talent on both sides of the ball.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pitching Records

Has anyone ever struck out all 27 batters in a game?

No, actually, no pitcher in Major League Baseball history has ever struck out all 27 batters in a regulation nine-inning game. It's a question that has been on every baseball fan's mind, and it remains the ultimate, unachieved pitching feat. While perfect games have occurred, where no batter reaches base, those games don't involve every out coming via a strikeout. It's a very, very tough thing to do.

Who has pitched the most strikeouts in a single MLB game?

The record for the most strikeouts thrown in a single Major League Baseball game belongs to Tom Cheney, who fanned 21 hitters on September 12, 1962, in a 16-inning game. For a standard nine-inning game, three pitchers are tied for the record with 20 strikeouts: Roger Clemens (twice), Kerry Wood, Max Scherzer, and Randy Johnson. These are truly incredible performances, honestly, showcasing immense skill.

Who has the most career strikeouts in Major League Baseball?

When it comes to career strikeouts in Major League Baseball, Nolan Ryan holds the top spot. He has the most career strikeouts in major league baseball history, a testament to his incredible longevity, power, and consistency over many, many seasons. His career was, you know, just phenomenal in terms of striking batters out, really.

As we've explored, the idea of a pitcher throwing 27 strikeouts in a game is, well, something that lives in the realm of baseball dreams. It's a testament to the incredible skill and power that pitchers possess, but also to the inherent difficulty and unpredictability of the game itself. While no one has reached that ultimate peak, the pursuit of pitching excellence continues to captivate fans, showcasing moments of absolute dominance that leave us all in awe. To learn more about baseball's amazing history on our site, and to check out more pitching statistics, you might like this page . The journey to the mound, the battle between pitcher and batter, it's a story that, you know, keeps unfolding with every pitch, every game, every season.