# List of Major League Baseball annual strikeout leaders

In baseball, the strikeout is a statistic used to evaluate pitchers. A pitcher earns a strikeout when he puts out the batter he is facing by throwing a ball through the strike zone, "defined as that area over homeplate (sic) the upper limit of which is a horizontal line at the midpoint between the top of the shoulders and the top of the uniform pants, and the lower level is a line at the hollow beneath the kneecap", which is not put in play. Strikeouts are awarded in four situations: if the batter is put out on a third strike caught by the catcher (to "strike out swinging" or "strike out looking"); if the pitcher throws a third strike which is not caught with fewer than two outs; if the batter becomes a baserunner on an uncaught third strike; or if the batter bunts the ball into foul territory with two strikes.
Major League Baseball recognizes the player or players in each league with the most strikeouts each season. Jim Devlin led the National League in its inaugural season of 1876; he threw 122 strikeouts for the Louisville Grays. The American League's first winner was Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young, who captured the American League Triple Crown in 1901 by striking out 158 batters, along with leading the league in wins and earned run average. Walter Johnson led the American League in strikeouts twelve times during his Hall of Fame career, most among all players. He is followed by Nolan Ryan, who captured eleven titles between both leagues (nine in the American League and two in the National League). Randy Johnson won nine strikeout titles, five coming with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Three players have won seven strikeout championships: Dazzy Vance, who leads the National League; Bob Feller; and Lefty Grove. Grover Cleveland Alexander and Rube Waddell led their league six times, and five-time winners include Steve Carlton, Roger Clemens, Sam McDowell, Christy Mathewson, Amos Rusie, and Tom Seaver.
There are several players with a claim to the single-season strikeout record. Among recognized major leagues, Matt Kilroy accumulated the highest single-season total, with 513 strikeouts for the Baltimore Orioles of the American Association in 1886. However, his name does not appear on Major League Baseball's single-season leaders list, since the American Association was independent of the constituent leagues that currently make up Major League Baseball: for the same reason, several other players with high totals, including 1886 American Association runner-up Toad Ramsey (499) and 1884 Union Association leader Hugh Daily (483) also do not appear.
In the National League, Charles "Old Hoss" Radbourn struck out 441 batters in 1884 for the Providence Grays; however, the Providence franchise folded after the 1885 season and has no successor. Accordingly, Major League Baseball recognizes the runner-up from 1884, Charlie Buffinton of the Boston Red Sox, as the record-holder with 417 strikeouts. In the American League, Ryan holds the record with 383 strikeouts in 1973.
The largest margin of victory for a champion is 156 strikeouts, achieved in 1883 when Tim Keefe of the American Association's New York Metropolitans posted 359 against Bobby Mathews' 203. The National League's largest margin was achieved in 1999, when Randy Johnson struck out 143 more batters than Kevin Brown. Ryan's 1973 margin of 125 strikeouts over Bert Blyleven is the largest American League victory. Although ties for the championship are rare, they have occurred; Claude Passeau and Bucky Walters each struck out 137 National League batters in 1939, and Tex Hughson and Bobo Newsom tied in the American League with 113 strikeouts each in 1942. Their total is the lowest number of strikeouts accumulated to lead a league in Major League Baseball history (although Jacob deGrom only struck out 104 National League batters in 2020, the season was shortened by a pandemic to 60 games, or 37.04% of a regular season; had that season run a full 162 games, that would have been a net of 281 strikeouts).

## Key

| Year | Links to the corresponding "year in baseball" or "Major League Baseball season" article |
| Leader | Player with the highest number of strikeouts in the league |
| K | Number of strikeouts |
| Runner-up | Player with the second-best strikeout total in the league |
| League | Denoted only for players outside of the modern major leagues |
| † | Member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum |

## National League

| Year | Leader | K | Team | Runner-up | K |
| 1876 | Jim Devlin | 122 | Louisville Grays | George Bradley | 103 |
| 1877 | Tommy Bond | 170 | Boston Red Caps | Jim Devlin | 141 |
| 1878 | Tommy Bond | 182 | Boston Red Caps | Will White | 169 |
| 1879 | John Montgomery Ward$^†$ | 239 | Providence Grays | Will White | 232 |
| 1880 | Larry Corcoran | 268 | Chicago White Stockings | Jim McCormick | 260 |
| 1881 | George Derby | 212 | Detroit Wolverines | Jim McCormick | 178 |
| 1882 | Charles Radbourn$^†$ | 201 | Providence Grays | Jim McCormick | 200 |
| 1883 | Jim Whitney | 345 | Boston Beaneaters | Charles Radbourn$^†$ | 315 |
| 1884 | Charles Radbourn$^†$ | 441 | Providence Grays | Charlie Buffinton | 417 |
| 1885 | John Clarkson$^†$ | 308 | Chicago White Stockings | Mickey Welch$^†$ | 258 |
| 1886 | Lady Baldwin | 323 | Detroit Wolverines | John Clarkson$^†$ | 313 |
| 1887 | John Clarkson$^†$ | 237 | Chicago White Stockings | Tim Keefe$^†$ | 189 |
| 1888 | Tim Keefe$^†$ | 335 | New York Giants | John Clarkson$^†$ | 223 |
| 1889 | John Clarkson$^†$ | 284 | Boston Beaneaters | Tim Keefe$^†$ | 225 |
| 1890 | Amos Rusie$^†$ | 341 | New York Giants | Bill Hutchison | 289 |
| 1891 | Amos Rusie$^†$ | 337 | New York Giants | Bill Hutchison | 261 |
| 1892 | Bill Hutchison | 314 | Chicago White Stockings | Amos Rusie$^†$ | 304 |
| 1893 | Amos Rusie$^†$ | 208 | New York Giants | Brickyard Kennedy | 107 |
| 1894 | Amos Rusie$^†$ | 195 | New York Giants | Ted Breitenstein | 140 |
| 1895 | Amos Rusie$^†$ | 201 | New York Giants | Kid Nichols$^†$ | 148 |
| 1896 | Cy Young$^†$ | 140 | Cleveland Spiders | Pink Hawley | 137 |
| 1897 | Doc McJames Cy Seymour | 156 | Washington Senators New York Giants | Joe Corbett | 149 |
| 1898 | Cy Seymour | 239 | New York Giants | Doc McJames | 178 |
| 1899 | Noodles Hahn | 145 | Cincinnati Reds | Cy Seymour | 142 |
| 1900 | Noodles Hahn | 132 | Cincinnati Reds | Rube Waddell$^†$ | 130 |
| 1901 | Noodles Hahn | 239 | Cincinnati Reds | Bill Donovan | 226 |
| 1902 | Vic Willis$^†$ | 225 | Boston Beaneaters | Doc White | 185 |
| 1903 | Christy Mathewson$^†$ | 267 | New York Giants | Joe McGinnity$^†$ | 171 |
| 1904 | Christy Mathewson$^†$ | 212 | New York Giants | Vic Willis$^†$ | 196 |
| 1905 | Christy Mathewson$^†$ | 206 | New York Giants | Red Ames | 198 |
| 1906 | Fred Beebe | 171 | Chicago Cubs St. Louis Cardinals | Francis "Big Jeff" Pfeffer | 158 |
| 1907 | Christy Mathewson$^†$ | 178 | New York Giants | Bob Ewing | 147 |
| 1908 | Christy Mathewson$^†$ | 259 | New York Giants | Nap Rucker | 199 |
| 1909 | Orval Overall | 205 | Chicago Cubs | Nap Rucker | 201 |
| 1910 | Earl Moore | 185 | Philadelphia Phillies | Christy Mathewson$^†$ | 184 |
| 1911 | Rube Marquard$^†$ | 237 | New York Giants | Grover Cleveland Alexander$^†$ | 227 |
| 1912 | Grover Cleveland Alexander$^†$ | 195 | Philadelphia Phillies | Claude Hendrix | 176 |
| 1913 | Tom Seaton | 168 | Philadelphia Phillies | Jeff Tesreau | 167 |
| 1914 | Grover Cleveland Alexander$^†$ | 214 | Philadelphia Phillies | Jeff Tesreau | 189 |
| 1915 | Grover Cleveland Alexander$^†$ | 241 | Philadelphia Phillies | Jeff Tesreau | 176 |
| 1916 | Grover Cleveland Alexander$^†$ | 167 | Philadelphia Phillies | Larry Cheney | 166 |
| 1917 | Grover Cleveland Alexander$^†$ | 200 | Philadelphia Phillies | Hippo Vaughn | 195 |
| 1918 | Hippo Vaughn | 148 | Chicago Cubs | Wilbur Cooper | 117 |
| 1919 | Hippo Vaughn | 141 | Chicago Cubs | Hod Eller | 137 |
| 1920 | Grover Cleveland Alexander$^†$ | 173 | Chicago Cubs | Burleigh Grimes$^†$ Hippo Vaughn | 131 |
| 1921 | Burleigh Grimes | 136 | Brooklyn Robins | Wilbur Cooper | 134 |
| 1922 | Dazzy Vance$^†$ | 134 | Brooklyn Robins | Wilbur Cooper | 129 |
| 1923 | Dazzy Vance$^†$ | 197 | Brooklyn Robins | Dolf Luque | 151 |
| 1924 | Dazzy Vance$^†$ | 262 | Brooklyn Robins | Burleigh Grimes$^†$ | 135 |
| 1925 | Dazzy Vance$^†$ | 221 | Brooklyn Robins | Dolf Luque | 140 |
| 1926 | Dazzy Vance$^†$ | 140 | Brooklyn Robins | Charlie Root | 127 |
| 1927 | Dazzy Vance$^†$ | 184 | Brooklyn Robins | Charlie Root | 145 |
| 1928 | Dazzy Vance$^†$ | 200 | Brooklyn Robins | Pat Malone | 155 |
| 1929 | Pat Malone | 166 | Chicago Cubs | Watty Clark | 140 |
| 1930 | Bill Hallahan | 177 | St. Louis Cardinals | Dazzy Vance$^†$ | 173 |
| 1931 | Bill Hallahan | 159 | St. Louis Cardinals | Carl Hubbell$^†$ | 155 |
| 1932 | Dizzy Dean$^†$ | 191 | St. Louis Cardinals | Carl Hubbell$^†$ | 137 |
| 1933 | Dizzy Dean$^†$ | 199 | St. Louis Cardinals | Carl Hubbell$^†$ | 156 |
| 1934 | Dizzy Dean$^†$ | 195 | St. Louis Cardinals | Van Mungo | 184 |
| 1935 | Dizzy Dean$^†$ | 190 | St. Louis Cardinals | Carl Hubbell$^†$ | 150 |
| 1936 | Van Mungo | 238 | Brooklyn Dodgers | Dizzy Dean$^†$ | 195 |
| 1937 | Carl Hubbell$^†$ | 159 | New York Giants | Lee Grissom | 149 |
| 1938 | Clay Bryant | 135 | Chicago Cubs | Paul Derringer | 132 |
| 1939 | Passeau, Claude; Walters, BuckyClaude Passeau Bucky Walters | 137 | Cincinnati Reds Philadelphia Phillies Chicago Cubs | Mort Cooper | 130 |
| 1940 | Kirby Higbe | 137 | Philadelphia Phillies | Claude Passeau Whit Wyatt | 124 |
| 1941 | Johnny Vander Meer | 202 | Cincinnati Reds | Whit Wyatt | 176 |
| 1942 | Johnny Vander Meer | 186 | Cincinnati Reds | Mort Cooper | 152 |
| 1943 | Johnny Vander Meer | 174 | Cincinnati Reds | Mort Cooper | 141 |
| 1944 | Bill Voiselle | 161 | New York Giants | Max Lanier | 141 |
| 1945 | Preacher Roe | 148 | Pittsburgh Pirates | Hal Gregg | 139 |
| 1946 | Johnny Schmitz | 135 | Chicago Cubs | Kirby Higbe | 134 |
| 1947 | Ewell Blackwell | 193 | Cincinnati Reds | Ralph Branca | 148 |
| 1948 | Harry Brecheen | 149 | St. Louis Cardinals | Rex Barney | 138 |
| 1949 | Warren Spahn$^†$ | 151 | Boston Braves | Don Newcombe | 149 |
| 1950 | Warren Spahn$^†$ | 191 | Boston Braves | Ewell Blackwell | 188 |
| 1951 | Don Newcombe Warren Spahn$^†$ | 164 | Brooklyn Dodgers Boston Braves | Sal Maglie | 146 |
| 1952 | Warren Spahn$^†$ | 183 | Boston Braves | Bob Rush | 157 |
| 1953 | Robin Roberts$^†$ | 198 | Philadelphia Phillies | Carl Erskine | 187 |
| 1954 | Robin Roberts$^†$ | 185 | Philadelphia Phillies | Harvey Haddix | 184 |
| 1955 | Sam Jones | 198 | Chicago Cubs | Robin Roberts$^†$ | 160 |
| 1956 | Sam Jones | 176 | Chicago Cubs | Harvey Haddix | 170 |
| 1957 | Jack Sanford | 188 | Philadelphia Phillies | Moe Drabowsky Dick Drott | 170 |
| 1958 | Sam Jones | 225 | St. Louis Cardinals | Warren Spahn$^†$ | 150 |
| 1959 | Don Drysdale$^†$ | 242 | Los Angeles Dodgers | Sam Jones | 209 |
| 1960 | Don Drysdale$^†$ | 246 | Los Angeles Dodgers | Sandy Koufax$^†$ | 197 |
| 1961 | Sandy Koufax$^†$ | 269 | Los Angeles Dodgers | Stan Williams | 205 |
| 1962 | Don Drysdale$^†$ | 232 | Los Angeles Dodgers | Sandy Koufax$^†$ | 219 |
| 1963 | Sandy Koufax$^†$ | 306 | Los Angeles Dodgers | Jim Maloney | 265 |
| 1964 | Bob Veale | 250 | Pittsburgh Pirates | Bob Gibson$^†$ | 245 |
| 1965 | Sandy Koufax$^†$ | 382 | Los Angeles Dodgers | Bob Veale | 276 |
| 1966 | Sandy Koufax$^†$ | 317 | Los Angeles Dodgers | Jim Bunning$^†$ | 252 |
| 1967 | Jim Bunning$^†$ | 253 | Philadelphia Phillies | Ferguson Jenkins$^†$ | 236 |
| 1968 | Bob Gibson$^†$ | 268 | St. Louis Cardinals | Ferguson Jenkins$^†$ | 260 |
| 1969 | Ferguson Jenkins$^†$ | 273 | Chicago Cubs | Bob Gibson$^†$ | 269 |
| 1970 | Tom Seaver$^†$ | 283 | New York Mets | Bob Gibson$^†$ Ferguson Jenkins$^†$ | 274 |
| 1971 | Tom Seaver$^†$ | 289 | New York Mets | Ferguson Jenkins$^†$ | 263 |
| 1972 | Steve Carlton$^†$ | 310 | Philadelphia Phillies | Tom Seaver$^†$ | 249 |
| 1973 | Tom Seaver$^†$ | 251 | New York Mets | Steve Carlton$^†$ | 223 |
| 1974 | Steve Carlton$^†$ | 240 | Philadelphia Phillies | Andy Messersmith | 221 |
| 1975 | Tom Seaver$^†$ | 243 | New York Mets | John Montefusco | 215 |
| 1976 | Tom Seaver$^†$ | 235 | New York Mets | J. R. Richard | 214 |
| 1977 | Phil Niekro$^†$ | 262 | Atlanta Braves | J. R. Richard | 214 |
| 1978 | J. R. Richard | 303 | Houston Astros | Phil Niekro$^†$ | 248 |
| 1979 | J. R. Richard | 313 | Houston Astros | Steve Carlton$^†$ | 213 |
| 1980 | Steve Carlton$^†$ | 286 | Philadelphia Phillies | Nolan Ryan$^†$ | 200 |
| 1981 | Fernando Valenzuela | 180 | Los Angeles Dodgers | Steve Carlton$^†$ | 179 |
| 1982 | Steve Carlton$^†$ | 286 | Philadelphia Phillies | Mario Soto | 274 |
| 1983 | Steve Carlton$^†$ | 275 | Philadelphia Phillies | Mario Soto | 242 |
| 1984 | Dwight Gooden | 276 | New York Mets | Fernando Valenzuela | 240 |
| 1985 | Dwight Gooden | 268 | New York Mets | Mario Soto | 214 |
| 1986 | Mike Scott | 306 | Houston Astros | Fernando Valenzuela | 242 |
| 1987 | Nolan Ryan$^†$ | 270 | Houston Astros | Mike Scott | 233 |
| 1988 | Nolan Ryan$^†$ | 228 | Houston Astros | David Cone | 213 |
| 1989 | José DeLeón | 201 | St. Louis Cardinals | Tim Belcher | 200 |
| 1990 | David Cone | 233 | New York Mets | Dwight Gooden Ramón Martínez | 223 |
| 1991 | David Cone | 241 | New York Mets | Greg Maddux$^†$ | 198 |
| 1992 | John Smoltz$^†$ | 215 | Atlanta Braves | David Cone | 214 |
| 1993 | José Rijo | 227 | Cincinnati Reds | John Smoltz$^†$ | 208 |
| 1994 | Andy Benes | 189 | San Diego Padres | José Rijo | 171 |
| 1995 | Hideo Nomo | 236 | Los Angeles Dodgers | John Smoltz$^†$ | 193 |
| 1996 | John Smoltz$^†$ | 276 | Atlanta Braves | Hideo Nomo | 234 |
| 1997 | Curt Schilling | 319 | Philadelphia Phillies | Pedro Martínez$^†$ | 305 |
| 1998 | Curt Schilling | 300 | Philadelphia Phillies | Kevin Brown | 257 |
| 1999 | Randy Johnson$^†$ | 364 | Arizona Diamondbacks | Kevin Brown | 221 |
| 2000 | Randy Johnson$^†$ | 347 | Arizona Diamondbacks | Chan Ho Park | 217 |
| 2001 | Randy Johnson$^†$ | 372 | Arizona Diamondbacks | Curt Schilling | 293 |
| 2002 | Randy Johnson$^†$ | 334 | Arizona Diamondbacks | Curt Schilling | 316 |
| 2003 | Kerry Wood | 266 | Chicago Cubs | Mark Prior | 245 |
| 2004 | Randy Johnson$^†$ | 290 | Arizona Diamondbacks | Ben Sheets | 264 |
| 2005 | Jake Peavy | 216 | San Diego Padres | Chris Carpenter | 213 |
| 2006 | Aaron Harang | 216 | Cincinnati Reds | Jake Peavy | 215 |
| 2007 | Jake Peavy | 240 | San Diego Padres | Aaron Harang | 218 |
| 2008 | Tim Lincecum | 265 | San Francisco Giants | Dan Haren Johan Santana Edinson Vólquez | 206 |
| 2009 | Tim Lincecum | 261 | San Francisco Giants | Javier Vázquez | 238 |
| 2010 | Tim Lincecum | 231 | San Francisco Giants | Roy Halladay$^†$ | 219 |
| 2011 | Clayton Kershaw | 248 | Los Angeles Dodgers | Cliff Lee | 238 |
| 2012 | R. A. Dickey | 230 | New York Mets | Clayton Kershaw | 229 |
| 2013 | Clayton Kershaw | 232 | Los Angeles Dodgers | Cliff Lee | 222 |
| 2014 | Johnny Cueto Stephen Strasburg | 242 | Cincinnati Reds Washington Nationals | Clayton Kershaw | 239 |
| 2015 | Clayton Kershaw | 301 | Los Angeles Dodgers | Max Scherzer | 276 |
| 2016 | Max Scherzer | 284 | Washington Nationals | José Fernández | 253 |
| 2017 | Max Scherzer | 268 | Washington Nationals | Jacob deGrom | 239 |
| 2018 | Max Scherzer | 300 | Washington Nationals | Jacob deGrom | 269 |
| 2019 | Jacob deGrom | 255 | New York Mets | Stephen Strasburg | 251 |
| 2020 | Jacob deGrom | 104 | New York Mets | Trevor Bauer | 100 |
| 2021 | Zack Wheeler | 247 | Philadelphia Phillies | Max Scherzer | 236 |
| 2022 | Corbin Burnes | 238 | Milwaukee Brewers | Carlos Rodon | 237 |
| 2023 | Spencer Strider | 281 | Atlanta Braves | Blake Snell | 234 |
| 2024 | Chris Sale | 225 | Atlanta Braves | Dylan Cease Zack Wheeler | 224 |

## American League

| Year | Leader | K | Team | Runner-up | K |
| 1901 | Cy Young$^†$ | 158 | Boston Americans | Roy Patterson | 127 |
| 1902 | Rube Waddell$^†$ | 210 | Philadelphia Athletics | Cy Young$^†$ | 160 |
| 1903 | Rube Waddell$^†$ | 302 | Philadelphia Athletics | Bill Donovan | 187 |
| 1904 | Rube Waddell$^†$ | 349 | Philadelphia Athletics | Jack Chesbro$^†$ | 239 |
| 1905 | Rube Waddell$^†$ | 287 | Philadelphia Athletics | Eddie Plank$^†$ Cy Young$^†$ | 210 |
| 1906 | Rube Waddell$^†$ | 196 | Philadelphia Athletics | Cy Falkenberg | 178 |
| 1907 | Rube Waddell$^†$ | 232 | Philadelphia Athletics | Ed Walsh$^†$ | 206 |
| 1908 | Ed Walsh$^†$ | 269 | Chicago White Sox | Rube Waddell$^†$ | 232 |
| 1909 | Frank Smith | 177 | Chicago White Sox | Walter Johnson$^†$ | 164 |
| 1910 | Walter Johnson$^†$ | 313 | Washington Senators | Ed Walsh$^†$ | 258 |
| 1911 | Ed Walsh$^†$ | 255 | Chicago White Sox | Joe Wood | 231 |
| 1912 | Walter Johnson$^†$ | 303 | Washington Senators | Joe Wood | 258 |
| 1913 | Walter Johnson$^†$ | 243 | Washington Senators | Cy Falkenberg Vean Gregg | 166 |
| 1914 | Walter Johnson$^†$ | 225 | Washington Senators | Willie Mitchell | 179 |
| 1915 | Walter Johnson$^†$ | 203 | Washington Senators | Red Faber$^†$ | 182 |
| 1916 | Walter Johnson$^†$ | 228 | Washington Senators | Elmer Myers | 182 |
| 1917 | Walter Johnson$^†$ | 188 | Washington Senators | Eddie Cicotte | 150 |
| 1918 | Walter Johnson$^†$ | 162 | Washington Senators | Jim Shaw | 129 |
| 1919 | Walter Johnson$^†$ | 147 | Washington Senators | Jim Shaw | 128 |
| 1920 | Stan Coveleski$^†$ | 133 | Cleveland Indians | Lefty Williams | 128 |
| 1921 | Walter Johnson$^†$ | 143 | Washington Senators | Urban Shocker | 132 |
| 1922 | Urban Shocker | 149 | St. Louis Browns | Red Faber$^†$ | 148 |
| 1923 | Walter Johnson$^†$ | 130 | Washington Senators | Joe Bush Bob Shawkey | 125 |
| 1924 | Walter Johnson$^†$ | 158 | Washington Senators | Howard Ehmke | 119 |
| 1925 | Lefty Grove$^†$ | 116 | Philadelphia Athletics | Walter Johnson$^†$ | 108 |
| 1926 | Lefty Grove$^†$ | 194 | Philadelphia Athletics | George Uhle | 159 |
| 1927 | Lefty Grove$^†$ | 174 | Philadelphia Athletics | Rube Walberg | 136 |
| 1928 | Lefty Grove$^†$ | 183 | Philadelphia Athletics | George Pipgras | 139 |
| 1929 | Lefty Grove$^†$ | 170 | Philadelphia Athletics | George Earnshaw | 149 |
| 1930 | Lefty Grove$^†$ | 209 | Philadelphia Athletics | George Earnshaw | 193 |
| 1931 | Lefty Grove$^†$ | 175 | Philadelphia Athletics | George Earnshaw | 152 |
| 1932 | Red Ruffing$^†$ | 190 | New York Yankees | Lefty Grove$^†$ | 188 |
| 1933 | Lefty Gomez$^†$ | 163 | New York Yankees | Bump Hadley | 149 |
| 1934 | Lefty Gomez$^†$ | 158 | New York Yankees | Tommy Bridges | 151 |
| 1935 | Tommy Bridges | 163 | Detroit Tigers | Schoolboy Rowe | 140 |
| 1936 | Tommy Bridges | 175 | Detroit Tigers | Johnny Allen | 165 |
| 1937 | Lefty Gomez$^†$ | 194 | New York Yankees | Bobo Newsom | 166 |
| 1938 | Bob Feller$^†$ | 240 | Cleveland Indians | Bobo Newsom | 226 |
| 1939 | Bob Feller$^†$ | 246 | Cleveland Indians | Bobo Newsom | 192 |
| 1940 | Bob Feller$^†$ | 261 | Cleveland Indians | Bobo Newsom | 164 |
| 1941 | Bob Feller$^†$ | 260 | Cleveland Indians | Bobo Newsom | 175 |
| 1942 | Tex Hughson Bobo Newsom | 113 | Boston Red Sox Washington Senators | Al Benton Phil Marchildon | 110 |
| 1943 | Allie Reynolds | 151 | Cleveland Indians | Hal Newhouser$^†$ | 144 |
| 1944 | Hal Newhouser$^†$ | 187 | Detroit Tigers | Dizzy Trout | 144 |
| 1945 | Hal Newhouser$^†$ | 212 | Detroit Tigers | Nels Potter | 129 |
| 1946 | Bob Feller$^†$ | 348 | Cleveland Indians | Hal Newhouser$^†$ | 275 |
| 1947 | Bob Feller$^†$ | 196 | Cleveland Indians | Hal Newhouser$^†$ | 176 |
| 1948 | Bob Feller$^†$ | 164 | Cleveland Indians | Bob Lemon$^†$ | 147 |
| 1949 | Virgil Trucks | 153 | Detroit Tigers | Hal Newhouser$^†$ | 144 |
| 1950 | Bob Lemon$^†$ | 170 | Cleveland Indians | Allie Reynolds | 160 |
| 1951 | Vic Raschi | 164 | New York Yankees | Early Wynn$^†$ | 133 |
| 1952 | Allie Reynolds | 160 | New York Yankees | Early Wynn$^†$ | 153 |
| 1953 | Billy Pierce | 186 | Chicago White Sox | Virgil Trucks | 149 |
| 1954 | Bob Turley | 185 | Baltimore Orioles | Early Wynn$^†$ | 155 |
| 1955 | Herb Score | 245 | Cleveland Indians | Bob Turley | 210 |
| 1956 | Herb Score | 263 | Cleveland Indians | Billy Pierce | 192 |
| 1957 | Early Wynn$^†$ | 184 | Cleveland Indians | Jim Bunning$^†$ | 182 |
| 1958 | Early Wynn$^†$ | 179 | Chicago White Sox | Jim Bunning$^†$ | 177 |
| 1959 | Jim Bunning$^†$ | 201 | Detroit Tigers | Camilo Pascual | 185 |
| 1960 | Jim Bunning$^†$ | 201 | Detroit Tigers | Pedro Ramos | 160 |
| 1961 | Camilo Pascual | 221 | Minnesota Twins | Whitey Ford$^†$ | 209 |
| 1962 | Camilo Pascual | 206 | Minnesota Twins | Jim Bunning$^†$ | 184 |
| 1963 | Camilo Pascual | 202 | Minnesota Twins | Jim Bunning$^†$ | 196 |
| 1964 | Al Downing | 217 | New York Yankees | Camilo Pascual | 213 |
| 1965 | Sam McDowell | 325 | Cleveland Indians | Mickey Lolich | 226 |
| 1966 | Sam McDowell | 225 | Cleveland Indians | Jim Kaat$^†$ | 205 |
| 1967 | Jim Lonborg | 246 | Boston Red Sox | Sam McDowell | 236 |
| 1968 | Sam McDowell | 283 | Cleveland Indians | Denny McLain | 280 |
| 1969 | Sam McDowell | 279 | Cleveland Indians | Mickey Lolich | 271 |
| 1970 | Sam McDowell | 304 | Cleveland Indians | Mickey Lolich | 230 |
| 1971 | Mickey Lolich | 308 | Detroit Tigers | Vida Blue | 301 |
| 1972 | Nolan Ryan$^†$ | 329 | California Angels | Mickey Lolich | 250 |
| 1973 | Nolan Ryan$^†$ | 383 | California Angels | Bert Blyleven$^†$ | 258 |
| 1974 | Nolan Ryan$^†$ | 367 | California Angels | Bert Blyleven$^†$ | 249 |
| 1975 | Frank Tanana | 269 | California Angels | Bert Blyleven$^†$ Gaylord Perry$^†$ | 233 |
| 1976 | Nolan Ryan$^†$ | 327 | California Angels | Frank Tanana | 261 |
| 1977 | Nolan Ryan$^†$ | 341 | California Angels | Dennis Leonard | 244 |
| 1978 | Nolan Ryan$^†$ | 260 | California Angels | Ron Guidry | 248 |
| 1979 | Nolan Ryan$^†$ | 223 | California Angels | Ron Guidry | 201 |
| 1980 | Len Barker | 187 | Cleveland Indians | Mike Norris | 180 |
| 1981 | Len Barker | 127 | Cleveland Indians | Britt Burns | 108 |
| 1982 | Floyd Bannister | 209 | Seattle Mariners | Len Barker | 187 |
| 1983 | Jack Morris$^†$ | 232 | Detroit Tigers | Floyd Bannister | 193 |
| 1984 | Mark Langston | 204 | Seattle Mariners | Dave Stieb | 198 |
| 1985 | Bert Blyleven$^†$ | 206 | Cleveland Indians Minnesota Twins | Floyd Bannister | 198 |
| 1986 | Mark Langston | 245 | Seattle Mariners | Roger Clemens | 238 |
| 1987 | Mark Langston | 262 | Seattle Mariners | Roger Clemens | 256 |
| 1988 | Roger Clemens | 291 | Boston Red Sox | Mark Langston | 235 |
| 1989 | Nolan Ryan$^†$ | 301 | Texas Rangers | Roger Clemens | 230 |
| 1990 | Nolan Ryan$^†$ | 232 | Texas Rangers | Bobby Witt | 221 |
| 1991 | Roger Clemens | 241 | Boston Red Sox | Randy Johnson$^†$ | 228 |
| 1992 | Randy Johnson$^†$ | 241 | Seattle Mariners | Mélido Pérez | 218 |
| 1993 | Randy Johnson$^†$ | 308 | Seattle Mariners | Mark Langston | 196 |
| 1994 | Randy Johnson$^†$ | 204 | Seattle Mariners | Roger Clemens | 168 |
| 1995 | Randy Johnson$^†$ | 294 | Seattle Mariners | Todd Stottlemyre | 205 |
| 1996 | Roger Clemens | 257 | Boston Red Sox | Chuck Finley | 215 |
| 1997 | Roger Clemens | 292 | Toronto Blue Jays | Randy Johnson$^†$ | 291 |
| 1998 | Roger Clemens | 271 | Toronto Blue Jays | Pedro Martínez$^†$ | 251 |
| 1999 | Pedro Martínez$^†$ | 313 | Boston Red Sox | Chuck Finley | 200 |
| 2000 | Pedro Martínez$^†$ | 284 | Boston Red Sox | Bartolo Colón | 212 |
| 2001 | Hideo Nomo | 220 | Boston Red Sox | Mike Mussina$^†$ | 214 |
| 2002 | Pedro Martínez$^†$ | 239 | Boston Red Sox | Roger Clemens | 192 |
| 2003 | Esteban Loaiza | 207 | Chicago White Sox | Pedro Martínez$^†$ | 206 |
| 2004 | Johan Santana | 265 | Minnesota Twins | Pedro Martínez$^†$ | 227 |
| 2005 | Johan Santana | 238 | Minnesota Twins | Randy Johnson$^†$ | 211 |
| 2006 | Johan Santana | 245 | Minnesota Twins | Jeremy Bonderman | 202 |
| 2007 | Scott Kazmir | 239 | Tampa Bay Devil Rays | Johan Santana | 235 |
| 2008 | A. J. Burnett | 231 | Toronto Blue Jays | Ervin Santana | 214 |
| 2009 | Justin Verlander | 269 | Detroit Tigers | Zack Greinke | 242 |
| 2010 | Jered Weaver | 233 | Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim | Félix Hernández | 232 |
| 2011 | Justin Verlander | 250 | Detroit Tigers | CC Sabathia$^†$ | 230 |
| 2012 | Justin Verlander | 239 | Detroit Tigers | Max Scherzer | 231 |
| 2013 | Yu Darvish | 277 | Texas Rangers | Max Scherzer | 240 |
| 2014 | David Price | 271 | Tampa Bay Rays Detroit Tigers | Corey Kluber | 269 |
| 2015 | Chris Sale | 274 | Chicago White Sox | Chris Archer | 252 |
| 2016 | Justin Verlander | 254 | Detroit Tigers | Chris Archer Chris Sale | 233 |
| 2017 | Chris Sale | 308 | Boston Red Sox | Corey Kluber | 265 |
| 2018 | Justin Verlander | 290 | Houston Astros | Gerrit Cole | 276 |
| 2019 | Gerrit Cole | 326 | Houston Astros | Justin Verlander | 300 |
| 2020 | Shane Bieber | 122 | Cleveland Indians | Lucas Giolito | 97 |
| 2021 | Robbie Ray | 248 | Toronto Blue Jays | Gerrit Cole | 243 |
| 2022 | Gerrit Cole | 257 | New York Yankees | Dylan Cease | 227 |
| 2023 | Kevin Gausman | 237 | Toronto Blue Jays | Pablo López | 234 |
| 2024 | Tarik Skubal | 228 | Detroit Tigers | Cole Ragans | 223 |

## Other major leagues

| Year | Leader | K | Team | League | Runner-up | K |
| 1882 | Tony Mullane | 170 | Louisville Eclipse | American Association | Harry Salisbury | 135 |
| 1883 | Tim Keefe$^†$ | 359 | New York Metropolitans | American Association | Bobby Mathews | 203 |
| 1884 | Guy Hecker | 385 | Louisville Eclipse | American Association | Hardie Henderson | 346 |
| 1884 | Hugh Daily | 483 | Chicago Browns Washington Nationals | Union Association | Bill Sweeney | 374 |
| 1885 | Ed Morris | 298 | Pittsburgh Alleghenys | American Association | Bobby Mathews | 286 |
| 1886 | Matt Kilroy | 513 | Baltimore Orioles | American Association | Toad Ramsey | 499 |
| 1887 | Toad Ramsey | 355 | Louisville Eclipse | American Association | Matt Kilroy | 217 |
| 1888 | Ed Seward | 272 | Philadelphia Athletics | American Association | Silver King | 258 |
| 1889 | Mark Baldwin | 368 | Columbus Solons | American Association | Matt Kilroy | 217 |
| 1890 | Sadie McMahon | 291 | Philadelphia Athletics Baltimore Orioles | American Association | Jack Stivetts | 289 |
| 1890 | Mark Baldwin | 206 | Chicago Pirates | Players' League | Silver King | 185 |
| 1891 | Jack Stivetts | 259 | St. Louis Browns | American Association | Phil Knell | 228 |
| 1914 | Cy Falkenberg | 236 | Indianapolis Hoosiers | Federal League | Earl Moseley | 205 |
| 1915 | Dave Davenport | 229 | St. Louis Terriers | Federal League | Al Schulz | 160 |

## Footnotes

* $^a$ Recognized "major leagues" include the current American and National Leagues and several defunct leagues—the American Association, the Federal League, the Players' League, and the Union Association.
* $^b$ In baseball scorekeeping, "K" is the traditional notation for the strikeout.
* $^c$ In 1939, Claude Passeau played the entire season for the Cincinnati Reds, while co-leader Bucky Walters was traded from the Philadelphia Phillies to the Chicago Cubs mid-season.