Repost: A Very Dubious Milestone

This post is originally from 2011:It's a little dated but it's worth reposting to a new audience plus the original posting was butchered somehow



It was May 13th 1983, Anaheim Stadium. The ballpark the late great Ned Martin once referred to as "The House That Remy Built". The California Angels were in an extra inning battle with the Minnesota Twins. The Twins had taken the lead in the top of the 11th inning.With one out and Minnesota hurler Len Whitehouse on the mound, Angels DH Reggie Jackson came to the plate.

It was then that history was made. With almost certainly a fraction of the 29,469 of the paid attendance still at hand Reggie accomplished what no other player had done in the history of the game. It was at this moment that Jackson had struck out for the 2,000^th time in his career.

Jackson had already accomplished the all-time record for career strikeouts the previous year, passing Pittsburgh’s Willie Stargell while Willie was still active no less.1982 was Stargell’s last year and was nothing more than a gate attraction while Jackson was whiffing sometimes 2 and 3 times a night. By the time Jackson called it a career he had struck out 2,597 times and was still the sole member of what I would like to refer to as the 2KK club.

Andres Galarraga reached the dubious plateau in 2003 followed by Sammy Sosa in 2004.In 2007 Jim Thome became the 4th member of this growing club and if he plays through 2012 he will most certainly relieve Jackson as club president. I thought it might be interesting to look further into this renaissance of strikeouts.

Aside from Thome there are 3 players who although won’t make it to 2,000 this year, will be in the top 10 at years end.

Mike Cameron (BOS) #10 1,842

Alex Rodriguez (NYY) #11 1,836

Manny Ramirez (TB) #13 1,809

Single Season records have been set as well with Adam Dunn of Cincinnati setting it in 2004 with 195. Ryan Howard of Philadelphia surpassed that in 2007 with 199. In 2008 Mark Reynolds of Arizona became the first player to strike out more than 200 times in a season. He’s done it 3 times (223 in ’09 and 211 in ’10)

Any feedback as to why so many are whiffing at a record pace would be welcome but it will be interesting to see if this trend continues.

Looking back from 2017 only A-Rod made it to 2000 with 2287 along with Adam Dunn at 2379. Reggie is still safely on top of the heap.

Mark Reynolds is no longer in a class by himself. While no one else has whiffed 200 times in a season 3 times, Chris Davis of Baltimore(2015,2016) and Chris Carter (2013,2016) now of the Yankees have each done it twice.
Drew Stubbs (2011) and Adam Dunn (2012) have each done it once.

I have been told the stigma of striking out is no longer the presence it once was.

I was right about one thing though, it has become more commonplace.