Which pitchers have the most career strikeouts for every MLB franchise?

The Yankees' all-time strikeout leader is none other than Andy Pettitte, who even with a three-year hiatus in Houston still managed to pitch 15 seasons in the Bronx across two separate stints. With the Yankees, the southpaw earned 219 wins and pitched to a 3.94 ERA while most notably earning five World Series rings with the club. Pettitte was never known as a huge strikeout pitcher and actually never punched out more than 180 in a season. But he was incredibly durable and very rarely missed his rotation turn, which allowed him to make 438 starts for New York and rack out 2,020 strikeouts in the process. 

Right-hander Roger Clemens was a dominant ace for three American League East teams during his career, but he was arguably at his best as a member of the Red Sox. Clemens pitched 13 seasons in Boston and was named the American League Cy Young award winner in three of them. He earned 192 victories in a Red Sox uniform, won four ERA titles, and led the American League in strikeouts three times. In 2,776 total innings with Boston, Clemens blew away 2,590 hitters, which remains the Red Sox all-time record to this day. 

Arizona State alum Jim Palmer spent his entire 19-year career in Baltimore, and is hands down the most accomplished hurler in Orioles history. The righty took the mound for Baltimore 558 times and worked to a tremendous 2.86 ERA with a 1.18 WHIP. He collected 268 wins, won three Cy Youngs, two ERA titles, and led the American League in innings four times. Palmer wasn't necessarily a huge strikeout pitcher, but his longevity and consistency let him throw 3,948 innings in an O's uniform, and in the process he racked up 2,212 punchouts. 

Righty Dave Stieb was an anchor in the Blue Jays rotation for a decade and a half during the 1980s and '90s, and is the franchise's all-time leader in most pitching categories. The Santa Ana, Calif. native represented Toronto in seven All-Star Games, won an ERA title in 1985, and led the American League in innings in both 1982 and 1984. Stieb never reached the 200 strikeout plateau, but the 2,873 frames he logged in a Blue Jays uniform helped him accumulate 1,658 strikeouts which is still the benchmark in this franchise's history. 

Newhall, Calif. native James Shields enjoyed a productive 13-year major league career, the majority of which was spent in Tampa Bay as a stalwart in the middle of several good Rays rotations. In Tampa, Shields delivered a 3.89 ERA in 217 starts, firing 19 complete games, making 31 or more starts six straight times, and qualifying for the all-star team in 2011. He also piled up 1,250 strikeouts, which may not seem like a exorbitant number, but the nature of the business tends to lead the small-market Rays to not employ pitchers for extended periods of time. Guys like Chris Archer and Blake Snell could have had a chance to break Shields' record before they were traded away, and at this point this looks like a number that will be difficult to surpass. 

Hall of Famer Bob Feller made all 570 of his major league appearances in a Cleveland Indians uniform, and even nearly 70 years after his retirement is still remembered as one of the best pitchers in baseball history. The right-hander's resume is simply impeccable. He led the league in wins five times, won a Pitching Triple Crown, threw more innings than anyone else on five different occasions, and was arguably the greatest strikeout pitcher of his generation. Feller led the majors in punchouts seven times, and the 2,581 strikeouts he collected during his career is a Cleveland record that has never been threatened. 

The Twins' all-time strikeout record was actually established long before the organization headed to the Midwest, and in fact, they weren't even known as the Twins at the time. From 1901-1960, this organization called D.C. home and was known as the Washington Senators, and it was during that timeframe that one of the best hurlers in the history of the sport, Walter Johnson, was a mainstay atop the club's rotation. Johnson pitched for the Senators for 21 seasons, and earned an astounding 417 victories while pitching to an unbelievable 2.17 ERA. He won two MVP awards, three Pitching Triple Crowns, and his 110 career shutouts are still a major league record. He also collected 3,509 strikeouts, and that's a franchise record that will almost certainly never be broken. 

Southpaw Billy Pierce might not be the most recognizable name in White Sox history, but he's certainly one of the most accomplished hurlers the team has ever had. Pierce pitched for Chicago for 13 seasons, winning 186 games and delivering a strong 3.19 ERA with a 1.26 WHIP. He was an all-star seven times, won the ERA title in 1957, and helped the White Sox win the 1945 World Series. Most relevant to this list, he also compiled 1,796 strikeouts, which narrowly edge Ed Walsh for the most in team history. 

Righty Kevin Appier made just one all-star team during his 16-year major league career and he may not have been the first name you would think of to lead the Royals in strikeouts. But for 13 years he took the ball consistently in Kansas City and was quietly one of the most underrated hurlers in the American League. With the Royals, Appier earned 115 victories and worked to a plenty serviceable 3.49 ERA. He won the ERA title in the AL in 1993, and while he has only one 200+ strikeout season on his ledger, he did manage to compile 1,458 K's in 1,843.2 innings in Kansas City, a number that remains the club's all-time mark. 

Left-hander Mickey Lolich spent his first 13 seasons in the Motor City, and while he may not have been one of the absolute elite pitchers of his era, there's no denying he was an upper-echelon major league starter for well over a decade. In 459 outings for the Tigers, Lolich won 207 games and pitched to a strong 3.45 ERA with a 1.22 WHIP. He made the all-star team three times, earned a World Series ring with the team in 1968, and led the American League in both innings and strikeouts in '71. In 3,361.2 frames with Detroit, Lolich collected 2,679 strikeouts, which still stands as the team's all-time record. When Justin Verlander was traded to Houston in 2017, he was closing in on 2,400 and would undoubtedly have shattered Lolich's mark had he stayed, but he represented the last real threat, and now this record is increasingly unlikely to ever be broken. 

Nolan Ryan is Major League Baseball's all-time strikeout king, so it should come as no surprise to learn he struck out more hitters than any hurler in Angels history. The right-handed flamethrower was punching out more than a batter an inning long before such a thing became commonplace, and for eight years he was a marquee attraction in Southern California. Ryan led the majors in strikeouts in all but one of his seasons with the Angels, and the 2,416 hitters he K'd up in 2,181.2 innings with the team is a record that is unlikely to ever be broken. 

As mentioned in the last slide, Nolan Ryan is Major League Baseball as a whole's all-time strikeout leader, and he is the only pitcher that sits atop the record books for two different organizations. The Refugio, TX native signed with Houston as a free agent ahead of the 1980 season, and while he was still a masterful strikeout artist, the Astros got a much more polished overall pitcher than he'd been with the Angels. In Houston, Ryan figured out how to dramatically decrease his walk totals, which helped him earn two ERA titles in the nine years he pitched for the team. He led the league in strikeouts twice while with the Astros and finished his Houston tenure with 1,866. 

Right-handed knuckleballer Charlie Hough pitched in the big-leagues for parts of 25 seasons, and finished his career with 216 victories and a lifetime 3.75 ERA. He spent eleven years in Texas, where he enjoyed his most success, and more than 30 years after last throwing a pitch for the club he remains the team's all-time strikeout leader. With the Rangers, Hough logged 2,308 innings, earned 139 of his wins, and fired an attention-grabbing 98 complete games. He also struck out 1,452 hitters, which doesn't necessarily seen like a huge number, but it's a mark that is not in jeopardy of being broken any time soon. 

It wasn't all that long ago that right-hander Felix Hernandez was wowing fans in the Pacific Northwest, and it probably comes as no surprise to most Mariners supporters to learn that he's the team's all-time strikeout king. 'King Felix' pitched in Seattle for a decade and a half, winning 169 games and delivering a 3.42 ERA with a 1.20 WHIP across 2,729.2 innings. He won two ERA titles, was named to six all-star teams, was the 2010 American League Cy Young winner, and punched out more than 200 hitters six times. Hernandez is one of only two pitchers to strike out more than 2,000 batters in a Mariners uniform, and he edges Randy Johnson for the top spot in club history by a healthy margin. 

Lefty Eddie Plank pitched for the Athletics when the team still called the City of Brotherly Love home, and was easily one of the best pitchers of his era. In 14 seasons with the A's, Plank earned 284 victories and posted a 2.39 ERA in 3,860.2 innings. He also registered 1,985 strikeouts, which is a mark that has really never come close to being threatened by any other pitcher in the franchise's long history. 

Right-hander Tom Seaver is the most iconic player to ever wear a New York Mets uniform. The Fresno, Calif.-born hurler was dominant during his tenure in Queens, winning 198 games with a stellar 2.57 ERA to go along with a 1.07 WHIP. He won three Cy Young with the Mets, took home three ERA titles, and led the National League in strikeouts five times. In the 3,045.2 innings Seaver tossed with New York, he punched out 2,541 men, which remains easily the highest total in club history. 

The Braves have had some big-time pitchers during their history, and righty John Smoltz might not have been the first hurler you guessed would lead them in strikeouts. The Detroit, Mich. native pitched for Atlanta for 20 years, though, and the totality of all that longevity helps him take the top spot. In 708 outings for the Braves, Smoltz earned 210 wins as well as 154 saves, while pitching to a cumulative 3.26 ERA in 3,395 innings. He also struck out 3,011 hitters, which bests Phil Niekro by 99 K's for the club's all-time mark. 

If Steve Carlton is not the best left-handed pitcher in baseball history, he's certainly in the discussion. And for 15 years the Phillies were lucky enough to have him on their side. In 499 starts for Philadelphia, Carlton earned 241 victories and worked to an excellent 3.09 ERA across 3,697.1 innings. He won four Cy Young awards, took home the ERA title in 1972, and most pertinent to this gallery, punched out 3,031 hitters in a Phillies uniform to establish a record that quite possibly will never be broken. 

For a team that has not been around all that long across the span of the sport's history, the Miami Marlins have employed several high-profile, big-name starting pitchers. And if this were a trivia question, how many of you reading this would have guessed that right-hander Ricky Nolasco is the team's all-time strikeout leader? The Corona, Calif. native was a plenty serviceable starter for Miami for eight years, pitching to a 4.44 ERA in 1,225.2 innings with the club. But he was never considered an ace, and never made an all-star team. He is, however, the only Marlins hurler to register more than 1,000 strikeouts, and thus, sits atop the club's all-time list. Were it not for Jose Fernandez' tragic death in 2016, he would assuredly hold this mark by now. 

The Nationals' all-time strikeout list is tighter at the top than most other organizations, with Stephen Strasburg, Steve Rogers, and Max Scherzer all separated by only 113 K's. But it's the right-handed Strasburg who takes the honors, though his career has unfortunately turned into a tragic case of 'what could have been'. Washington took the Arizona State product first overall in the 2009 draft and he lived up to the hype almost immediately. Strasburg made three all-star teams, was arguably the biggest reason the Nats won the World Series in 2019, and was a fan favorite in D.C. for over a decade. He also had his career completely derailed by injuries following Washington's magical run in '19, and at this point seems all but finished. Prior to getting hurt, however, he was able to rack up 1,718 punchouts, and at this point this is a record that should be safe for a while. 

Righty Bob Gibson spent his entire 17-year career in St. Louis with the Cardinals, and is still remembered today as one of the all-time best starting pitchers in the sport's history. In 528 career outings, Gibson earned 251 victories and pitched to a stellar 2.91 ERA with a 1.18 WHIP in 3,884.1 innings. He won two Cy Young awards, was the MVP of the National League in 1968, and helped lead the Redbirds to two World Series championships. Gibson won one ERA title and led the league in strikeouts once, but he was truly a model of consistency who continued to pitch at a high level well into his late 30's. At the time of his retirement he had accumulated 3,117 career strikeouts to establish a Cardinals record that has never even come close to being threatened. 

Fergie Jenkins was a difference-making starting pitcher for several different teams, but the majority of his career was spent in the Windy City, where he served as the Cubs' ace for a decade. In 401 games with Chicago, Jenkins earned 167 wins and worked to a 3.20 ERA. He was selected to a trio of All-Star Games, was named the NL Cy Young award winner in 1971, and at various points in his career led the National League in wins, starts, complete games, innings, and strikeouts. Speaking of strikeouts, the righty punched out 2,038 batters while wearing a Cubs uniform, establishing a record that has stood the test of time for more than 40 years. 

Righty Jim Maloney spent 11 seasons with the Reds mostly during the 1960s, and for most of that time was one of the most underrated starting pitchers in the National League. In 289 outings with Cincinnati, Maloney earned 134 wins and pitched to a fantastic 3.16 ERA while tossing more than 200 innings five times. He never led the league in any statistical category —other than wild pitches — but was a model of consistency and reliability. In a Reds uniform, the University of California alum piled up 1,592 strikeouts, which to this day remains the most in franchise history. 

The Brewers' all-time strikeout leader is Yovani Gallardo, who did not pitch for them all that long ago. The right-hander debuted in '07 and spent the first eight seasons of his career in Milwaukee, posting an 89-64 record to go along with a 3.69 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. One of Gallardo's calling cards was his durability, as he gave the Brew Crew 30 or more starts in six straight years, and threw more than 180 innings in every one of his full seasons with the club. All of that work helped him accumulate 1,226 strikeouts in his 1,289.1 innings with the team, which edges Ben Sheets by 20 K's for the top spot. 

Righty Bob Friend spent the first 15 years of his career with the Pirates, and while he posted a career losing record while with Pittsburgh (191-218), don't let that distract you from the fact that he was one of the more productive starters during his era. Friend took the mound 518 times for the Bucs and delivered a career 3.55 ERA in 3,480.1 innings. He won the National League ERA title in 1955, made the all-star team four times, and made more starts than any pitcher in the league from three consecutive seasons from '56-'58. Friend was not much of a strikeout pitcher, but buoyed by all the innings he threw he was able to rack up 1,682 punchouts in a Pirates uniform which still stands as the club's all-time mark. 

Clayton Kershaw is the only pitcher on this list who is still active with his club, which is the reason for the asterisk next to his career strikeout total. The veteran southpaw was the Dodgers' first-round pick all the way back in 2006, and the resume he's already put together will have him remembered as the greatest starting pitcher of his generation. Kershaw has won three Cy Young awards, an MVP, five ERA titles, and finally captured the one thing that had evaded him — a World Series ring — in 2020. The 35-year-old passed Don Sutton for the Dodgers all-time strikeout record in last season, and when he returns he'll get back to chasing the big round number of 3,000. 

Righty Jake Peavy's peak in San Diego was relatively short lived in the grand scheme of things, but for several years in the middle of the 2000-2010 decade, he was as dominant a starting pitcher as there was in the National League. The Mobile, AL native won two ERA titles while with the Padres, was named the 2007 NL Cy Young winner, represented the club in a pair of all-star games, and led the league in strikeouts twice. Peavy punched out almost exactly a hitter/inning with the Padres---K'ing up 1,348 men in 1,342.2 frames---and coming up on 15 years since last throwing a pitch for the team he remains the franchise's all-time leader. 

The Rockies all-time strikeout list is tighter at the top than any other organization's, and, were it not for an unfortunate injury earlier this season, there would be a different leader. Lefty Jorge De La Rosa, who pitched for Colorado from 2008-2016, currently holds the top spot with 985 punchouts. The Mexican-born hurler was an important member of this pitching staff for all of his nine seasons with the club, and his 4.35 ERA in a Rockies uniform is impressive given the challenges that go into pitching in Denver. But De La Rosa was also never a star and never made an all-star team. Which leads us to German Marquez, who has been Colorado's de facto ace for the last half dozen years or so — though on a different team he'd be more of a middle-of-the-rotation starter. The right-hander reached 983 career strikeouts in his last start before hitting the injured list earlier this season, and he later required Tommy John surgery. Had he made just one more start he would likely have surpassed De La Rosa, whose record now appears safe for the time being.

Right-hander Christy Mathewson made all but one of his 636 Major League appearances in a New York Giants uniform, and to this day remains one of the best starting pitchers our sport has ever seen. With the Giants, Mathewson won 372 games and pitched to sparkling 2.12 ERA with a 1.06 WHIP. He won the Pitching Triple Crown twice, earned five ERA titles, and led the league in strikeouts on five different occasions. The 4,779.2 innings he threw for the Giants are nearly 1,200 more than any other hurler in the team's long history, so it should come as no surprise that the 2,504 punch outs he racked up are also a club record. 

Big left-hander Randy Johnson is one of the most prolific strikeout artists in baseball history, and in fact, only Nolan Ryan registered more K's in the big leagues. 'The Big Unit' led the league in strikeouts nine times during his Hall of Fame career, earned four ERA titles, and most impressively took home an incredible five Cy Young awards. He was an unbelievably intimidating and dominant pitcher for several big league teams, but was at his absolute best in Arizona. With the Diamondbacks, Johnson went 118-62 with a 2.83 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP, and helped carry the club to its first World Series championship in 2001. He struck out 2,077 hitters in an Arizona uniform which is almost double the total the team's second highest strikeout pitcher, Brandon Webb, totaled.