3,000 Strikeout Club

In Major League Baseball (MLB), the 3,000 strikeout club is the group of pitchers who have struck out 3,000 or more batters in their careers. Walter Johnson was the first to reach 3,000, doing so in 1923, and was the only pitcher at this milestone for 50 years until Bob Gibson recorded his 3,000th strikeout in 1974. In total, 16 pitchers have reached 3,000 strikeouts with John Smoltz, the most recent club member, joining in 2008. Steve Carlton and Randy Johnson are the only left-handed pitchers in this group. Randy Johnson was also the pitcher quickest to 3,000 strikeouts, taking fewer games pitched or innings pitched than any other pitcher. César Gerónimo is the only player struck out by two different pitchers for their 3,000th strikeout, first by Gibson in 1974 and then Nolan Ryan in 1980. The Chicago Cubs are one of two franchises to see multiple pitchers record their 3,000th strikeout on their roster, first Ferguson Jenkins in 1982 and then Greg Maddux in 2005. The Minnesota Twins also had two pitchers reach the milestone with their team. Walter Johnson was the first, joining the club while the franchise was called the Washington Senators, then Bert Blyleven joined in 1986 with the team in Minnesota. Ten 3,000 strikeout pitchers are also members of the 300 win club.

Membership in the 3,000 strikeout club is often described as a guarantee of eventual entry into the Baseball Hall of Fame. All ten of the eligible members of the 3,000 strikeout club have been elected to the Hall. Eligibility requires that a player has "been retired five seasons" or deceased for at least 6 months, disqualifying six living players who have been active within the past five seasons. The next member of the club to become eligible for the Hall is Roger Clemens, who is expected to make his first appearance on the ballot in 2013; however, his election is seen as uncertain because of his alleged links to use of performance-enhancing drugs. Bert Blyleven is the most recently elected member, voted in during 2011 balloting. Seven pitchers from this club were named amongst the one hundred greatest players in MLB history as part of the All-Century Team, four of whom were eventually voted as starters for the team by fan vote.