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MLB Career Strikeout Leaders, 1907 to 2026

Nolan Ryan holds the MLB career strikeout record with 5,714, nearly 840 more than Randy Johnson (4,875), the closest anyone has come.

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What the data shows

  • In 2026, Nolan Ryan ranks #1 with 5,714, ahead of Randy Johnson (4,875) and Roger Clemens (4,672).
  • Back in 1907, Walter Johnson was #1 with 71.
  • The top spot changed hands twice: Steve Carlton in 1983 and Nolan Ryan in 1984.
  • Biggest climber: Randy Johnson, from #9 in 1988 to #2 in 2026.

About this chart

Nolan Ryan's 5,714 strikeouts are nearly 840 clear of second-place Randy Johnson (4,875). Ryan overtook Steve Carlton in 1984, when he reached 3,874, and finished at 5,714 in 1993. No other pitcher in the data is within 800 of that total. Before Carlton, Walter Johnson's 3,509 stood as the career record for over 50 years, until 1983.

Roger Clemens is third with 4,672 and Carlton fourth with 4,136. Bert Blyleven, Tom Seaver and Don Sutton finished between 3,574 and 3,701. Two active pitchers are close to each other: Justin Verlander (3,560) and Max Scherzer (3,557) rank eighth and ninth, just three strikeouts apart after the 2026 season. Totals are from Baseball-Reference.

The data

Source: Baseball-Reference.com, individual player Standard Pitching tables (SO), summed cumulatively by season; totals cross-checked with BR career strikeouts leaders page. Retrieved November 4, 2026. Baseball-Reference totals (MLB official totals differ slightly for a few 19th/early-20th-century players). Players keep their final total after retirement; blank = before debut. 2026 regular season included. Walter Johnson (3,509) held the record from 1921 to 1983. Justin Verlander and Scherzer both pitched in 2026.

MLB Career Strikeout Leaders, Career pitcher strikeouts by season, 1907-2026, 1907–2026
Date🇺🇸 Nolan Ryan🇺🇸 Randy Johnson🇺🇸 Roger Clemens🇺🇸 Steve Carlton🇳🇱 Bert Blyleven🇺🇸 Tom Seaver🇺🇸 Don Sutton🇺🇸 Justin Verlander🇺🇸 Max Scherzer🇺🇸 Gaylord Perry🇺🇸 Walter Johnson
190771
1908231
1909395
1910708
1911915
19121,218
19131,461
19141,686
19151,889
19162,117
19172,305
19182,467
19192,614
19202,692
19212,835
19222,940
19233,070
19243,228
19253,336
19263,461
19273,509
19283,509
19293,509
19303,509
19313,509
19323,509
19333,509
19343,509
19353,509
19363,509
19373,509
19383,509
19393,509
19403,509
19413,509
19423,509
19433,509
19443,509
19453,509
19463,509
19473,509
19483,509
19493,509
19503,509
19513,509
19523,509
19533,509
19543,509
19553,509
19563,509
19573,509
19583,509
19593,509
19603,509
19613,509
1962203,509
1963723,509
19642273,509
1965213973,509
19666462095983,509
196762141703788283,509
19681393763755401,0013,509
19692315865837571,2343,509
19703567791358669581,4483,509
19714939513591,1551,1521,6063,509
19728221,2615871,4041,3591,8403,509
19731,2051,4848451,6551,5592,0783,509
19741,5721,7241,0941,8561,7382,2943,509
19751,7581,9161,3272,0991,9132,5273,509
19762,0852,1111,5462,3342,0742,6703,509
19772,4262,3091,7282,5302,2242,8473,509
19782,6862,4701,9102,7562,3783,0013,509
19792,9092,6832,0822,8872,5243,1413,509
19803,1092,9692,2502,9882,6523,2763,509
19813,2493,1482,3573,0752,7563,3363,509
19823,4943,4342,3763,1372,9313,4523,509
19833,6773,7092,4993,2723,0653,5343,509
19843,8741263,8722,6693,4033,2083,5343,509
19854,0832003,9202,8753,5373,3153,5343,509
19864,2774384,0403,0903,6403,4313,5343,509
19874,5476944,1313,2863,6403,5303,5343,509
19884,775259854,1363,4313,6403,5743,5343,509
19895,0761551,2154,1363,5623,6403,5743,5343,509
19905,3083491,4244,1363,6313,6403,5743,5343,509
19915,5115771,6654,1363,6313,6403,5743,5343,509
19925,6688181,8734,1363,7013,6403,5743,5343,509
19935,7141,1262,0334,1363,7013,6403,5743,5343,509
19945,7141,3302,2014,1363,7013,6403,5743,5343,509
19955,7141,6242,3334,1363,7013,6403,5743,5343,509
19965,7141,7092,5904,1363,7013,6403,5743,5343,509
19975,7142,0002,8824,1363,7013,6403,5743,5343,509
19985,7142,3293,1534,1363,7013,6403,5743,5343,509
19995,7142,6933,3164,1363,7013,6403,5743,5343,509
20005,7143,0403,5044,1363,7013,6403,5743,5343,509
20015,7143,4123,7174,1363,7013,6403,5743,5343,509
20025,7143,7463,9094,1363,7013,6403,5743,5343,509
20035,7143,8714,0994,1363,7013,6403,5743,5343,509
20045,7144,1614,3174,1363,7013,6403,5743,5343,509
20055,7144,3724,5024,1363,7013,6403,57473,5343,509
20065,7144,5444,6044,1363,7013,6403,5741313,5343,509
20075,7144,6164,6724,1363,7013,6403,5743143,5343,509
20085,7144,7894,6724,1363,7013,6403,574477663,5343,509
20095,7144,8754,6724,1363,7013,6403,5747462403,5343,509
20105,7144,8754,6724,1363,7013,6403,5749654243,5343,509
20115,7144,8754,6724,1363,7013,6403,5741,2155983,5343,509
20125,7144,8754,6724,1363,7013,6403,5741,4548293,5343,509
20135,7144,8754,6724,1363,7013,6403,5741,6711,0693,5343,509
20145,7144,8754,6724,1363,7013,6403,5741,8301,3213,5343,509
20155,7144,8754,6724,1363,7013,6403,5741,9431,5973,5343,509
20165,7144,8754,6724,1363,7013,6403,5742,1971,8813,5343,509
20175,7144,8754,6724,1363,7013,6403,5742,4162,1493,5343,509
20185,7144,8754,6724,1363,7013,6403,5742,7062,4493,5343,509
20195,7144,8754,6724,1363,7013,6403,5743,0062,6923,5343,509
20205,7144,8754,6724,1363,7013,6403,5743,0132,7843,5343,509
20215,7144,8754,6724,1363,7013,6403,5743,0133,0203,5343,509
20225,7144,8754,6724,1363,7013,6403,5743,1983,1933,5343,509
20235,7144,8754,6724,1363,7013,6403,5743,3423,3673,5343,509
20245,7144,8754,6724,1363,7013,6403,5743,4163,4073,5343,509
20255,7144,8754,6724,1363,7013,6403,5743,5533,4893,5343,509
20265,7144,8754,6724,1363,7013,6403,5743,5603,5573,5343,509

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Suggested caption: “Nolan Ryan: 5,714 strikeouts. Randy Johnson trails by 839.” Credit the source in your caption; it heads off the 'source?' comments.

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Frequently asked questions

Who has the most strikeouts in MLB history?

Nolan Ryan has the most career strikeouts in MLB history, with 5,714. Randy Johnson is second with 4,875 and Roger Clemens third with 4,672.

Who held the strikeout record before Nolan Ryan?

Steve Carlton held it briefly, leading the career list at the end of 1983 with 3,709. Walter Johnson's 3,509 had been the record from 1921 until Carlton passed him. Ryan overtook Carlton in 1984.

How many strikeouts do Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer have?

After the 2026 season Justin Verlander has 3,560 career strikeouts and Max Scherzer has 3,557, eighth and ninth all-time. Both pitched in 2026, and only three strikeouts separate them.

Where does this data come from?

Baseball-Reference.com, individual player Standard Pitching tables (SO), summed cumulatively by season; totals cross-checked with BR career strikeouts leaders page. Retrieved November 4, 2026. Baseball-Reference totals (MLB official totals differ slightly for a few 19th/early-20th-century players). Players keep their final total after retirement; blank = before debut. 2026 regular season included. Walter Johnson (3,509) held the record from 1921 to 1983. Justin Verlander and Scherzer both pitched in 2026. You can download the full table as a CSV from this page.

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