by Dan Trammel

Created on: January 14, 2009   Last Updated: October 02, 2009

On April 22, 1970, New York Mets pitcher Tom Seaver struck out the final 10 batters he faced in a 2-1 victory over the San Diego Padres. The 10 consecutive strikeouts are a Major League record. In a dominant performance, Seaver yielded only 2 hits, while striking out 19 Padres. The lone run allowed was a solo homerun by leftfielder Al Ferrara, who later became the final strikeout victim of the evening.

Seaver's consecutive strikeout streak broke the record held by Hall of Famer Mickey Welch. On August 28, 1884, Welch, then of the New York Gothams, fanned the first 9 Philadelphia Quakers he faced. Welch's feat, however, still stands as the record for most consecutive strikeouts to start a game.

The modern-day record (post-1900) for consecutive strikeouts to begin a game is held by the Houston Astros' Jim Deshaies on September 23, 1986. He fanned the first 9 batters he faced on his way to his first Major League complete game, a 4-0 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. His streak ended when pinch hitter Larry See, batting for pitcher Dennis Powell, grounded out to second. Oddly, See recorded only 43 Major League at-bats in his career, recording 8 hits, but tallying 15 strikeouts.

Less than 4 months prior to Deshaies' strikeout skein, Chicago White Sox pitcher Joe Cowley punched out the first 7 Texas Rangers facing him on May 28, 1986. Cowley's streak ended when catcher Orlando Mercado flied out to left field. Unfortunately for Cowley, he didn't share the same fate as Deshaies. Cowley lasted less than 5 innings, allowed 6 runs on 6 hits, and took the loss. Nonetheless, his performance still stands as the American League record for most consecutive strikeouts to begin a game.

The American League record for most consecutive strikeouts in a game is 8 held by 4 pitchers. On July 9, 1972, Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan fanned 8 consecutive Boston Red Sox on his way to a 3-0 victory. After allowing a single to Carl Yastrzemski in the first inning, Ryan K'd the next 8 batters, before Yastrzemski flied out to left field to begin the fourth inning. Ryan is widely credited with matching his feat a year later on July 15, 1973. Play-by-play accounts do not bear this out, however. Play-by-play accounts do indicate he struck out 8 consecutive Milwaukee Brewers on August 7, 1973, beginning with George Scott in the 2nd inning, and ending when Dave May grounded out in the 5th inning. Ryan struck out 13 batters that night and recorded a 6-5 win.

On May 4, 1981, Ron Davis of the New York

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