What baseball milestone is more honorable?

Question

Pitchers:
Achieving 300 wins
Acheiving 3000 strikeouts

Hitters:
Acheiving 500 homeruns
Acheiving 3000 hits

Answer 1

Here are the answers for both pitching and hitting.

The 300 wins are more impressive. Until the 1980's the record of strikeouts was held by Walter Johnson. Since he was passed by Nolan Ryan, he has also been passed by Roger Clemens, Randy Johnson, Steve Carlton among others. People have just blown by Walter Johnson's record of 3508 strikeouts.

The 3000 hits are more impressive. The number of hitters that have attained this goal has been spread fairly evenly since the beginning of major league baseball. The number of hitters to attain 500 homeruns has just exploded in the past 20 years as compared to the previous 100 years of history.

Answer 2

For pitchers, the wins are more dependent on the team. Clemens was pitching lights out baseball the last couple of years, but was on the wrong end of some 2-1 and 1-0 ballgames. Strikeouts is an individual accomplishment.

As for hitters, both 500 HR and 3000 H are individual accomplishments. Both are very impressive and speak to success that has stood the test of time. Considering the current era of juiced ballplayers, I am going to say that 3000 hits is a better accomplishment - there are fewer 3000 hit guys playing than 500 HR guys.

Answer 3

For Pitching, you have to go with 3000 strikeouts. Wins is all dependent on what team you're on. A very good pitcher could have a losing record just because of what team he is on. Nowadays though, it is a little different than before because now, there is a 5 man rotation. So, it is much harder for a pitcher to get both stats especially wins. But, I would still definitely go with strikeouts. It is based on only you yourself as an individual and not based on what team you're on.
As for hitting, both stats are very impressive. I do say though that for nowadays, you have to go with 3,000 hits since a lot of players who will or have gotten on the 500 list are steroid users and it is not a personal accomplishment really. Pre-1980s though I would definitely go with HR. Back then it was nearly unheard of for someone to even hit 45-50 HR in the mid 1900s and before then even less then that. It was truly impressive if someone hit that many. Now there is at least one or two guys that hit 50-55 every year. Look how long Maris's record stood for. It might be even longer if not for steroids. Dont get me wrong, 3000 hits is also an amazing accomplishment, but not every player can hit a lot of HRs during the year, but many can get a lot of hits. So I feel that 3000 strikeouts and pre-1980s- 500 HR post 1980s- 3000 hits are more deserving acomplishments. If not for steroids and etc. nowadays, I feel 500 HR is definitely more deserving.

Answer 4

For pitchers it is 300 wins. You have to make close to 500 or more starts and out of those you need 300 wins, that is hard and a lot of pitching. For, hitters it's 500 homers. Anybody fast can get 3,000 hits, just look at Ichiro. I'm not saying he isn't good but, he's fast. 500 homers is tough you have to have a lot of arm stregnth and will-power to achieve this. And I don't mean the will to use steroids Barry Bonds!

Answer 5

Pitchers without a doubt....Especially more recently, batting stats specifically homers have become tainted a little. There will be hitters in the next 5 years with over 500 homers who don't make the Hall of Fame but any pitcher with 300 wins+ is a lock.

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Answer 6

For pitchers it has to be 300 wins
For hitters it is 3000 hits

Answer 7

Pitchers - 300 wins

Hitters - 3000 hits

Answer 8

It is much harder to win 300 games than strike out 3000. In this age where starters only go 5 to six innings to conserve their arms and protect their paychecks, your team can blow a 1 to 3 run lead pretty easy and you can't get the win. Also, a typical starter only gets 30 to 35 starts a year. In a 20 year career, which is atypical assuming NO injuries you only get 600 starts. You have to win half of them and not have your team blow any of your leads. That's tough to do. Only Clemens and Maddux (and perhaps Glavine) are the only guys to do it this generation.

Answer 9

The 300 wins is probably the most honorable in the modern game. Due to longer layoffs between starts, it will take a truly exceptional pitcher to reach that milestone now.

Answer 10

Pitching 300 wins

Batting 500 Homeruns

Number of games played in thier career