Which pitcher holds the record for most career strikeouts?

Nolan Ryan holds the Major League Baseball record for most career strikeouts by a pitcher, with 5,714. He accumulated that total during a remarkable 27-year career from 1966 through 1993.

Ryan pitched for the New York Mets, California Angels, Houston Astros, and Texas Rangers. He became famous for overwhelming velocity and a devastating fastball, leading the league in strikeouts 11 times. His career total remains well ahead of Randy Johnson, who ranks second with 4,875.

Ryan’s strikeout record is especially notable because he also holds the MLB record for no-hitters, throwing seven. He reached 300 strikeouts in a season six times, including 383 in 1973, the highest total of his career. He was 46 when he made his final major-league appearance, making his longevity another defining part of his record.

A common mix-up is confusing career strikeouts by pitchers with career strikeouts by batters. Among pitchers, Ryan is first; among batters, Reggie Jackson holds the record for most times striking out. League-specific records differ too: Steve Carlton leads the National League, while Roger Clemens leads the American League.