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Current Record-Holder: Bret Saberhagen, 11.0 (1994)
In 1994, while pitching for the New York Mets, Bret Saberhagen put together a masterful season, winning 14 games in a strike-shortened season while striking out 143 batters in 177.1 innings.
Even more remarkable was the fact that Saberhagen walked only 13 batters all season. His 11.0 K/BB rate shattered the old mark of 7.1081 set by Ferguson Jenkins of the Chicago Cubs in 1971*.
Since that time, several pitchers have come close, most notably Cliff Lee in 2010 with a 10.2778 K/BB rate.
It’s all about control.
* Several players registered K/BB rates of 8।0 or higher before the 20th century.
Jeff Gross/Getty Images
Current Record-Holder: Curt Schilling, 4.3826
During a 20-year career that ended in 2007, Curt Schilling was all about control.
Schilling could deal, striking out 300 batters in a season three times during his career. But he was also always around the strike zone, posting a career 1.137 WHIP and averaging only slightly above 35 free passes a season.
However, that record certainly isn’t unapproachable। Ten current players have a career K/BB rate of 3.40 or higher, with Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Dan Haren perhaps having the best shot with a 4.0131 K/BB mark through nine-plus seasons.
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Current Record-Holders: Darin Erstad (2002), David Freese (2011), Marquis Grissom (1995)—25
Last season during their magical run to a World Series championship, the St. Louis Cardinals received timely hits from third baseman David Freese. Freese totaled 25 hits in all, tying the postseason mark for a single season previously shared by Darin Erstad and Marquis Grissom.
With the addition of a wild-card playoff round, that mark may not last very long।
Photo courtesy nndb.com
Current Record-Holder: Christy Mathewson, 4
One of the greatest pitchers in the history of baseball, Christy Mathewson proved he was pretty clutch in the postseason as well.
Mathewson threw four shutouts in his postseason career with the New York Giants, a mark that has stood for 99 seasons and counting.
However, with the additional playoff rounds in place, Mathewson’s mark may not be all that safe for much longer.
Currently, Boston Red Sox pitcher Josh Beckett is the closest with three career postseason shutouts।
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Current Record-Holder: Firpo Marberry: 5, Dan Quisenberry: 5, Bruce Sutter: 5, Ed Walsh: 5
Closers in baseball have become important components to every single team, that go-to guy that can shut down the opposition and ensure victory.
Four pitchers did it so successfully that they led the league in saves five times during their careers.
That record could someday be in jeopardy.
Francisco Rodriguez, Mariano Rivera and Jose Valverde have all done it three times during their careers। Atlanta Braves closer Craig Kimbrel led the National League last season and is already at the top this season as well. Considering Kimbrel is only 24 years of age, I’d give him a pretty fair shot.
Elsa/Getty Images
Current Record-Holder: Manny Ramirez, 29
It seems doubtful at this point that slugger Manny Ramirez will extend his current MLB record of 29 postseason home runs.
However, two other current players could.
Albert Pujols has 18 postseason long balls to his credit, and if he can get his Los Angeles Angels to the postseason on a regular basis during his time in Anaheim, he could threaten Ramirez’s mark.
So too could Texas Rangers right fielder Nelson Cruz, who has developed a penchant for the long ball in the month of October। Cruz has 14 homers in just two years of postseason play.
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Current Record-Holder: Barry Bonds, 762
When San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds broke the all-time home run record in 2007, many people were in awe of the number.
However, that number could be topped.
In his 11-plus years thus far, Albert Pujols has gone yard 458 times. If he averages around 30 home runs per year under his current contract with the Los Angeles Angels, he’ll topple Bonds’ mark.
New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez is certainly within reach। Currently at 642 homers, A-Rod is just 120 homers shy of Bonds’ mark as well.
Photo courtesy britannica.com
Current Record-Holder: Hank Aaron, 2,297
Another fabled career production mark could fall sometime in the next few years.
Hank Aaron drove in 2,297 runners during his 23-year career, a mark that has stood for over 35 years. It may have a chance to last a little longer, but not much longer.
New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez is closing in on Aaron’s mark as well, with 1,928 RBI through July 2.
Albert Pujols is another who clearly has a shot at breaking the mark। With 1,378 RBI through July 3, Pujols is in a tie for 75th on the all-time list. However, if Pujols can stay anywhere close to his yearly average of 120 RBI, he’ll be closing in Aaron’s record by 2020.
Photo courtesy thehappyyoungster.mlblogs.com
Current Record-Holder: Reggie Jackson, 2,597
Reggie Jackson carried a big stick during his 21-year career, walloping 563 home runs along the way. However, Jackson also struck out 2,597 times, far surpassing Mickey Mantle, who whiffed 1,710 times during his career.
Many sluggers have passed Mantle since that time, but none of them have matched Jackson. However, that won’t be the case for long.
New Baltimore Orioles designated hitter Jim Thome is only 86 strikeouts behind Jackson entering play on July 3. If he puts up a regular amount of playing time for the rest of the season, that mark could surely fall.
Alex Rodriguez is the next closest current player with 1,986 whiffs, and Chicago White Sox DH Adam Dunn is fast climbing the charts with 1,935 strikeouts in 11-plus seasons।
Jeff Gross/Getty Images
Current Record-Holder: Mark Reynolds, 223 (2009)
This is a record that could easily fall this season, and it won’t be topped by the current standard-bearer, Mark Reynolds.
Adam Dunn has already whiffed 126 times after 80 games, and assuming he stays healthy, he could easily eclipse Reynolds’ mark for futility in a single season।
Christian Petersen/Getty Images
Current Record-Holder
American League: 2010 Tampa Bay Rays, 1,292
National League: 2010 Arizona Diamondbacks, 1,529
The 2010 season was indeed a year of futility for both the Tampa Bay Rays and Arizona Diamondbacks, with both teams setting new league standards for team strikeouts in a single season.
With the uptick in strikeouts league-wide, those records could easily be in jeopardy. While the D-Backs’ NL record might not currently be threatened, at least four teams are currently on pace to break Tampa Bay’s AL record.
With just under a half-season in the books, the Oakland A’s, Baltimore Orioles, Rays and Seattle Mariners are all on pace to shatter Tampa Bay’s 2010 mark.
Doug Mead is a featured columnist with Bleacher Report. His work has been featured on the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, SF Gate, CBS Sports, the Los Angeles Times and the Houston Chronicle.
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