Who do you think is the all-time best STRIKE OUT pitcher in MLB?

Question

the Nolan Express should of course be on that list, he has the margin of over 1000 strike outs from the 2nd all time strike outs
Roger Clemence is, of course, the 2nd. Big Unit is 3rd

who do you think is the best STRIKE OUT pitcher in MLB all time?

it doesnt matter if the pitcher is starting, relief, or closer

o n also the present pitchers count too

Answer 1

Difficult question to answer. The game has changed so much over the years that I feel that you have to actually qualify your time frame. Prior to the 60's, I think that it is difficult to include any of those players. Sure people want to say Cy Young due to the fact that the Pitching award is named after him, but the numbers are skewed. I pick Nolan Ryan, Sandy Koufax, and Bob Gibson as the top 3. Randy Johnson and Roger Clemens right after that. Let's not jump the gun on Johan Santana. He has had 2 good years, but let's wait until there is a larger sample size.

Answer 2

I think Walter Johnson. He's still fairly high on the all time list a list dominated by pitchers who have been active in the 1970's or later. During Johnson's prime, batters weren't trying to hit home runs but just make contact. Still he's in the top ten all time and struck out over 3,500 batters in his career. That's seven hundred more than Young the only other pitcher in the top 20 all time who didn't pitch at least part of his career after 1970.

Answer 3

Nolan Ryan "Express"
"Rocket" Roger Clemens
Steve Carlton
Walter "Big Train" Johnson
Randy "Big Unit" Johnson
Pedro Martinez
Tom Seaver
Bob Gibson
Bert Blyleven
Fergie Jenkins
Johan Santana

Answer 4

No one has mentioned Sandy Koufax yet????? The man was probably the greatest pitcher in the last 50 years. Although arm trouble ended his career prematurely, I think he's considered the most unhittable pitcher in his prime of all-time. And he did this in an era where you didn't rely on relief pitchers, where you expected the starter to complete the game.

1) Koufax
2) Ryan
3) Randy Johnson
4) Bob Gibson
5) Clemens
6) Carlton
7) Schilling
8) Walter Johnson
9) Blyleven
10) Seaver

Answer 5

all-time best STRIKE OUT pitcher makes this a non guessing game. When you want to know who the best strike out pitcher is, you simply want to know what pitcher, when he is on the mount, has the best chance of striking the batter out.

1. R. Johnson*. He has a strike out ratio of 28.7 %, no pitcher has a higher ratio.
2. P. Martinez*. He has a strike out ratio of 28.1%.
3. J. Santana*. He has a strike out ratio of 25.8%
4. N. Ryan. He has a strike out ratio of 25%
5. R. Clemens*. He has a strike out ratio of 22.9%

* denotes active players and their ratios may change.


On a side note, and not to offend the gentlemen who picked Cy Young. Mr. Young has a striek out ratio of 9%, which doesnt have him in the top 50.


So, I think R. Johnson is the greatest strike out pitcher of all time because the facts support that answer.

Answer 6

Nolan Ryan

Answer 7

Your question is rather confusing, but, FWIW, the Cubs' closer Ryan Dempster got his 1,000 strikeout last night and he's played for the Red, Marlins and now the Cubs.

Answer 8

i'll agree with you.
1. ryan
2. rocket
3. unit

current pitchers starting
1. carlos
2. johan
3. bondo

best relief
1. zumaya
2. papelbon
3. hoffman

Answer 9

Walter johnson

Answer 10

Randy Johnson. In terms of rate of K accumulation, K/IP, Johnson stands alone. And he's done that over a long span of seasons, as his career total of 4544 indicates.