As part of our celebration of America 250, MLB's content team has created 25 top 10 lists that capture the plays, people, rituals and moments that make baseball America’s game. We’ll be revealing five lists per week over the course of five weeks.
If you read this list of iconic pitching performances and wonder where all the perfect games and no-hitters are, never fear. We've ranked those separately right here.
1. Bob Gibson's 17-strikeout World Series gem
Game 1 of the 1968 World Series
Bob Gibson's 17-strikeout performance in Game 1 of the 1968 World Series was the marquee outing in the Year of the Pitcher. Among the many dominant pitching performances that led MLB to raise the mounds the following season, Gibson's all-time outing on the biggest stage stands alone. The Cardinals' ace set a still-standing World Series record with 17 strikeouts against the Tigers.
2. Kerry Wood strikes out 20 as a rookie
May 6, 1998
Kerry Wood's 20-strikeout outing as a rookie at Wrigley Field in 1998 is synonymous with pure pitching dominance. Three years after he was selected with the fourth overall pick, Wood lived up to the hype in this memorable outing against the Astros, when he tied an MLB record with 20 strikeouts in a nine-inning outing, didn’t allow a walk and allowed just one hit.
3. Tom Seaver punches out 19
April 22, 1970
They don't call Tom Seaver "The Franchise" for nothing. Tom Terrific helped lead the Miracle Mets to the 1969 World Series title and embarking on one of the most dominant stretches by a pitcher in baseball history. On this April day in 1970, Seaver punched out a Mets-record 19 batters, which included 10 straight strikeouts to end his outing.
4. Harvey Haddix carries perfect game for 12 innings
May 26, 1959
Harvey Haddix’s performance is the stuff of legends. He carried a perfect game for TWELVE innings, yet still lost the outing. Joe Adcock’s walk-off hit in the 13th inning capped one of the crazier games in baseball history, but it certainly doesn’t take away from the excellence Haddix displayed on this day in 1959.
5. Pedro Martínez dazzles in the Bronx
Sept. 10, 1999
Pedro Martínez had many memorable moments at Yankee Stadium. On this September day in 1999, Martínez and the Yankees were both at the height of their powers. In the midst of a dominant run that included three Cy Young awards in four seasons, Martínez struck out 17 Yankees, who were also in the middle of a World Series three-peat from 1998-2000.
6. Roger Clemens becomes first to 20 K's
April 29, 1986
Roger Clemens became the first pitcher to record 20 strikeouts in a nine-inning game on this day in 1986 … and had the second such performance a decade later. Clemens was downright dominant in ‘86, a year that resulted in the first of an MLB-record seven Cy Young awards. On this April day, Clemens struck out 20 Mariners hitters in a complete-game win.
7. Greg Maddux tosses one of many "Madduxes"
Sept. 7, 2000
Greg Maddux, of course, is the king of the “Maddux” -- complete-game shutouts thrown with fewer than 100 pitches. He threw 13 of them, which is the most since pitch counts were first tracked in 1988. That included this one in September 2000, when he needed just 89 pitches to blank the D-backs.
8. Stephen Strasburg lives up to the hype in debut
June 8, 2010
Stephen Strasburg was one of the most heralded prospects in baseball history when he was selected first overall in the 2009 Draft by the Nationals. Within a year, Strasburg was living up to the hype in his debut, when he struck out 14 Pirates hitters across seven innings of two-run ball. It was a sign of things to come, as Strasburg was one of the best pitchers in the 2010s.
9. The Miz strikes out 15 and faces the minimum
June 12, 2026
Jacob Misiorowski took the baseball world by storm in 2026, flashing the type of stuff and velocity we’ve never seen from a starting pitcher. He was at his best on this June day in Milwaukee, when he struck out 15 Phillies hitters, including the likes of Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber, and faced the minimum 27 batters. He allowed just one hit and didn’t issue any walks in his shutout vs. Philly.
10. Beckett silences Yankees for the title
Game 6 of the 2003 World Series
After taking a hard-luck loss in Game 3 despite 7 1/3 innings of two-run ball, Beckett left nothing to chance in Game 6, going the distance on just three days' rest against a fearsome Yankees lineup in a five-hit shutout. He struck out nine and fielded the final out himself to secure the Marlins' second World Series title en route to being named series MVP.
Honorable Mentions
Armando Galarraga's near-perfect game: Watch >
Carl Hubbell strikes out five straight future HOFers at the 1933 ASG
Mark "The Bird" Fidrych dominates the Yankees in a complete game: Watch >
Chris Carpenter sends Cards to 2011 NLCS with one-hit shutout: Watch >
Tom Glavine earns 1995 World Series MVP after dazzling in clincher: Watch >
Randy Johnson notches 20 strikeouts against the Reds: Watch >
Max Scherzer punches out 20 for Nats vs. former team: Watch >
Jim Palmer outduels Sandy Koufax with 1966 World Series shutout: Watch >
Sandy Koufax clinches 1965 World Series with shutout on short rest: Watch >
Lew Burdette throws three complete games in 1957 World Series: Watch >
Howard Ehmke sets record with 13 K's in 1929 World Series Game 1
Kevin Brown outduels Randy Johnson, K's 16 in 1998 NLDS Game 1: Watch >