The Captain's Blog

Mathewson recorded 28 games with 10 or more strikeouts while pitching for the New York Giants.

Last night, Tim Lincecum established the Giants’ franchise record for most 10 strikeout games by a pitcher. By punching out 12 New York Mets, the wiry right hander established the new mark at 29, an impressive accomplishment considering he has only started 129 games.

Lincecum has led the National League in strikeouts during each of his three full seasons in the majors. At that pace, more than a few franchise and major league records are likely to fall. However, it is a little surprising that the Giants’ mark for 10-strikeout games was so low. After all, the organization boasts such legendary names as Christy Mathewson (the pitcher Lincecum surpassed), Carl Hubbell, and Juan Marichal.

A close examination of the current 10K kings for each organization mostly reveals a host of usual suspects. It should surprise no one that Nolan Ryan sits atop the leader board for three organizations, but the Express isn’t the only pitcher to wear the crown for more than one franchise. Randy Johnson and Pedro Martinez also enjoy that distinction. Seeing names like Sandy Koufax, Tom Seaver, Steve Carlton, Walter Johnson, and Bob Gibson preside over their respective team leader boards further illustrates that this particular honor is usually reserved for elite company.

Most Games with 10 Strikeouts by Franchise (click to make larger)

*The White Sox record only dates back to 1919. The season numbers of Ed Walsh strongly suggest that he is the franchise’s record holder.
#Rube Waddell recorded 70 games with 10 or more strikeouts, but the exact amount that occurred with the Athletics could not be determined. However, it is high likely that the total far surpassed the 21 games recorded by both Lefty Grove and Vida Blue.
Source: Baseball- reference.com and Baseball Digest (February 1996)

There are some exceptions, however. Bob Feller would probably be everyone’s guess to hold the Indians’ top mark, but Rapid Robert’s 51 games pale in comparison to Sudden Sam McDowell’s 74. The Yankees’ franchise mark also offers a bit of a surprise. Despite topping 200 strikeouts only two times, Ron Guidry’s 23 games with at least 10 strikeouts leads the franchise. With the possible exception (see footnote in above chart) of the White Sox, the Yankees’ leading total is the lowest among all teams entering the league before 1969 (for perspective, Nolan Ryan and Randy Johnson have had seasons with 23 games of 10 or more strikeouts).

During its 110-year history, the White Sox’ haven’t exactly had a bevy of strikeout pitchers, which is why that organization’s record (since 1919) for most games with 10 punch outs is only 15. Although Juan Pizarro certainly has a name befitting a strikeout artist, the Puerto Rican lefty never recorded more than 188 in a season. Maybe he would have been better off painting landscapes than corners?

Now that Lincecum has climbed to the top of the Giants’ leader board, the next franchise record to fall will likely come from either Milwaukee, Florida, or Colorado, where Yovani Gallardo (10), Josh Johnson (6), and Ubaldo Jiminez (10) are all in hot pursuit of the leader. Not surprisingly, that list is also a who’s who among young starters, so how far they climb seems to be only limited by their ability to remain healthy. Unfortunately, not every talented young arm is also a Freak.

Most Games with 10 Strikeouts, Total

Source: Baseball- reference.com and Baseball Digest (February 1996)