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20 Strikeouts in One Game

Only five pitchers in the history of MLB have struck out 20 batters or more in one game. It's been done six times - twice by Roger Clemens. I try to collect a card that best represents each pitcher's accomplishment. In chronological order they are as follows.

The first was little-known pitcher Tom Cheney who recorded 21 strikeouts in 16 innings to defeat Baltimore 2 -1 on September 12, 1962. Cheney's career spanned from 1957 - 1966, and he finished with a lifetime record of 19-29 and a 3.77 ERA. The card shown is a 2011 Tri-Star Obak I purchased on Ebay. The other pitchers that recorded 20 strikeouts did it in 9-innings!

Clemens struck out 20 batters on April 29, 1986 in a 3-1 Boston win against the Mariners. A spectacular accomplishment -  period. But Clemens did it again a decade later on September 18, 1996 in a 4-0 Boston win over the Tigers! The card commemorating the 1986 feat is a 1987 Topps base set card (I think) and it states "86 Record Breaker." For his 96 accomplishment, all I'd like in my album is a normal-thickness card, but I couldn't find one. The "Etched in History" card shown is about 3/16" thick. It doesn't fit in a 9 sleeve plastic sheet, and it falls out of everything else I have, so it stays in a box. It's a 2015 Topps Baseball Update Series "card," which is pretty cool, but I just don't see it that often. Sorry for the poor scan.

Kerry Wood was the third person to record 20 K's in a game when his Cubs beat the Astros 2-0 on May 6, 1998. The card shown is a 98 Fleer number U5, so I guess it's an update, and it states "Season's Highlights."

Randy Johnson, the only lefty of the group, struck out 20 batters on May 8, 2001 in a game that went into extra innings. He got his 20 K's in 9-innings, but was removed from the game and didn't get a decision in a game eventually won by Arizona against Cincinnati 4-3 in 11 innings (boo). His card is a 2002 Upper Deck "2001 Year of the Record."

Max Scherzer is the most recent pitcher to record 20 K's in a game when his Nationals beat the Tigers 3-2. His card is a May 11, 2016 Topps Now card. I'd be interested to know if his feat was commemorated in a base set card.

20 or more strikeouts by one pitcher in a game has to be one of, if not THE, most rare of feats in the history of the game. Cards recognizing such must also be pretty rare. And "affordable" rare is fun to collect!

Thanks for visiting!
CinciCuse Bill
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  1. Brett AlanDecember 30, 2019 at 5:25 PM

    I can't find another card themed on Clemens' second 20-K game, which is insane given how many competing companies there were in MLB cards at the time. There are some which talk about the feat on the back, such as this one. https://www.tradingcarddb.com/ViewCard.cfm/sid/887/cid/1880695/1997-Collector's-Choice---The-Big-Show-10-Roger-Clemens

    Scherzer's feat did get a highlight card in 2016 update, although the back is just a checklist as Topps usually does now. Should be reasonably easy to find. https://www.tradingcarddb.com/ViewCard.cfm/sid/128930/cid/9142643/2016-Topps-Update-US169-Max-Scherzer

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    Replies
    1. CinciCuse BillDecember 31, 2019 at 5:43 AM

      Hey Brett, Great info and links - thank you! I'm considering both cards for upgrades!

      Delete

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