Stats Amazin': Swing and a Myth: The Legends of the 3,000 Strikeout Club

Last time in “Stats Amazin’,” we looked at the power of the long ball — because yes, chicks dig it. But for every fan of the home run, there’s just as many who love watching a pitcher rear back and fire high heat past a slugger — power vs. power, one-on-one.

This time? We’re giving the hitters a break and shining the spotlight on the guys making bats miss and knees buckle. Welcome to the 3K Club.

Let me tell you a little secret about the 3,000 Strikeout Club: it’s harder to get into than getting your hands on a Tom Seaver commemorative bobblehead at a Mets giveaway night. This is no casual club. They don’t let you in unless you’ve made grown men swing through air with regularity — ideally from 60 feet, 6 inches away with something so nasty it could make an umpire cry uncle.

Last night, Clayton Kershaw became the 20th pitcher in Major League history to join the exclusive 3,000-strikeout club. That’s right, just 20. Fewer people than it takes to run a modern Mets bullpen in a bad year.

And here’s the “amazin’” part: five of those 20 legends wore a Mets uniform at some point , even if a few just stopped by for a cup of coffee, a Citi Field bobblehead night, or one last shot at glory. Those five ?

Tom Seaver (The Franchise himself)

Nolan Ryan (before he became the Ryan Express)

Pedro Martínez (3,000th strikeout came in a Mets uniform)

Justin Verlander (a brief stop, but it counts!)

Max Scherzer (flashed some ace magic in Queens)

Meanwhile, five others made their mark in New York wearing Yankee pinstripes:

Roger Clemens

Randy Johnson

Gaylord Perry

Phil Niekro

CC Sabathia

So half the club has graced Gotham’s baseball diamonds. Pretty good for a city that also produced the Shake Shack line at Citi Field.

The 3,000 Strikeout Club: The Full Roster

Here’s the elite list, with the pitcher’s total Ks, innings pitched, strikeouts per inning (K/IP), and when they joined the club:

Who’s Next?

Getting to 3,000 strikeouts in today’s game? It’s like trying to pitch a complete game with a manager who’s addicted to the bullpen phone.

A few current arms might have a path:

What the math tells us

Cole still owns the inside lane—he “only” needs the kind of workload a modern ace would accumulate by, say, age 38.

Darvish has the strikeout rate, but time (and a long injury rap sheet) is the enemy.

Ohtani would have to pivot from two‑way unicorn to Cal‑Ripken‑on‑the‑mound to sniff 3,000. Fun to imagine, not realistic.

Greinke is one phone call away, and a couple of six-inning specials from joining Kershaw, if that phone call also happens to convince him to come out of retirement first.

Bottom line: unless Cole’s elbow derails completely or Greinke un‑retires, the 3,000‑strikeout door probably stays shut for a while—reinforcing just how elite that “fraternity” really is.

The Kids Aren’t Alright… Yet

Let’s talk about the new generation: Paul Skenes. Tarik Skubal. Spencer Strider. These guys have stuff. Mustaches. Attitude. But do they have time?

You’d need:

200 Ks a year

For 15 seasons

Without a UCL blowout or pitch count limit turning you into a six-inning specialist.

Let’s give it a decade before we order the Cooperstown plaque.

The Verdict

Joining the 3,000 Strikeout Club takes more than a nasty slider — it takes longevity, health, and a few old-school managers willing to leave you in after the 6th.

But for Mets fans, we’ve been lucky. We watched Seaver lead the way. Pedro get 3,000 in Queens. Max and Justin put on the uniform (and sometimes even throw seven innings!). And we got Nolan Ryan before he became a legend in Texas.

Will anyone else join the club? Maybe. But don’t hold your breath — just enjoy the ride.

Because 3,000 strikeouts, like a Mets no hitter, is one of baseball’s rarest treasures.