Tom Cheney, pitching for the Washington Senators. He struck out 21 Baltimore Orioles in a 16 inning complete game victory September 12th 1962.
Since then, Roger Clemens and Kerry Wood are currently tied. Clemens struck out 20 in a game in both 1986 and 1996. Wood struck out 20 in a game in 1998. Randy Johnson struck out 20 over nine innings in a game during the 2001 season, but is not recognized as a record-holder because he was removed from the game which took 11 innings to complete.
In the Major Leagues:
As a Pitcher:
CAREER
STRIKEOUTS SO
1 Nolan Ryan 5714
2 Roger Clemens 4672
3 Randy Johnson 4616
4 Steve Carlton 4136
5 Bert Blyleven 3701
6 Tom Seaver 3640
7 Don Sutton 3574
8 Gaylord Perry 3534
9 Walter Johnson 3509
10 Phil Niekro 3342
As a Hitter:
CAREER
STRIKEOUTS SO
1 Reggie Jackson 2597
2 Sammy Sosa 2306
3 Jim Thome 2043
4 Andres Galarraga 2003
5 Jose Canseco 1942
6 Willie Stargell 1936
7 Mike Schmidt 1883
8 Fred McGriff 1882
9 Tony Perez 1867
10 Dave Kingman 1816 Mark Reynolds of the Arizona Diamondbacks holds the MLB record for striking out in a season with 204 strikeouts in 2008.
Here's the all-time list as of the start of the 2008 season:
CAREER
STRIKEOUTS SO
1 Nolan Ryan 5714
2 Roger Clemens 4672
3 Randy Johnson 4616
4 Steve Carlton 4136
5 Bert Blyleven 3701
6 Tom Seaver 3640
7 Don Sutton 3574
8 Gaylord Perry 3534
9 Walter Johnson 3509
10 Phil Niekro 3342
11 Greg Maddux 3273
12 Ferguson Jenkins 3192
13 Bob Gibson 3117
14 Curt Schilling 3116
15 Pedro Martinez 3030
16 John Smoltz 2975
17 Jim Bunning 2855
18 Mickey Lolich 2832
19 Cy Young 2802
20 Frank Tanana 2773
21 David Cone 2668
22 Mike Mussina 2663
23 Chuck Finley 2610
24 Warren Spahn 2583
25 Bob Feller 2581
26 Tom Glavine 2570
27 Jerry Koosman 2556
28 Tim Keefe 2521
29 Christy Mathewson 2502
30 Don Drysdale 2486
31 Jack Morris 2478
32 Mark Langston 2464
33 Jim Kaat 2461
34 Sam McDowell 2453
35 Luis Tiant 2416
36 Dennis Eckersley 2401
37 Kevin Brown 2397
38 Sandy Koufax 2396
39 Charlie Hough 2362
40 Robin Roberts 2357
41 Early Wynn 2334
42 Rube Waddell 2316
43 Juan Marichal 2303
44 Dwight Gooden 2293
45 Lefty Grove 2266
46 Eddie Plank 2246
47 Tommy John 2245
48 Jim Palmer 2212
49 David Wells 2201
50 Grover C Alexander 2198
51 Vida Blue 2175
52 Camilo Pascual 2167
53 Dennis Martinez 2149
54 Jamie Moyer 2125
55 Bobo Newsom 2082
56 Fernando Valenzuela 2074
57 Dazzy Vance 2045
58 Rick Reuschel 2015
59 Orel Hershiser 2014
60 Catfish Hunter 2012
61 Andy Benes 2000
62 Billy Pierce 1999
63 Kevin Appier 1994
64 Red Ruffing 1987
65 John Clarkson 1978
66 Al Leiter 1974
67 Bob Welch 1969
68 Whitey Ford 1956
69 Bobby Witt 1955
70 Danny Darwin 1942
71 Amos Rusie 1934
72 Hideo Nomo 1915
73 Jerry Reuss 1907
74 Tom Gordon 1902
75 Kenny Rogers 1886
76 Kid Nichols 1868
77 Mickey Welch 1850
T78 Andy Pettitte 1844
T78 Frank Viola 1844
80 Old Hoss Radbourn 1830
81 Javier Vazquez 1815
82 Tony Mullane 1803
83 Pud Galvin 1799
84 Hal Newhouser 1796
85 Tim Wakefield 1790
86 Ron Guidry 1778
87 John Burkett 1766
88 Rudy May 1760
89 Jason Schmidt 1750
90 Joe Niekro 1747
91 Sid Fernandez 1743
92 Dave Stewart 1741
93 Ed Walsh 1736
94 Tom Candiotti 1735
95 Bob Friend 1734
T96 Milt Pappas 1728
T96 Joe Coleman 1728
98 Kevin Gross 1727
99 Floyd Bannister 1723
100 Bret Saberhagen 1715
101 Chief Bender 1711
102 Larry Jackson 1709
103 Jim McCormick 1704
104 Bob Veale 1703
105 Red Ames 1702
106 Charlie Buffinton 1700
107 Curt Simmons 1697
108 Bruce Hurst 1689
109 Rick Sutcliffe 1679
110 Carl Hubbell 1677
111 Tommy Bridges 1674
112 John Candelaria 1673
113 Dave Stieb 1669
114 Darryl Kile 1668
115 Mike Moore 1667
116 Gus Weyhing 1665
117 Pedro Astacio 1664
118 Vic Willis 1651
119 Rick Wise 1647
120 Jeff Fassero 1643
121 Al Downing 1639
122 Mike Cuellar 1632
123 Chris Short 1629
124 Andy Messersmith 1625
T125 Steve Rogers 1621
T125 Jack Powell 1621
127 Ray Sadecki 1614
128 Claude Osteen 1612
129 Scott Sanderson 1611
130 Hoyt Wilhelm 1610
131 Jose Rijo 1606
132 Jim Maloney 1605
133 Ken Holtzman 1601
T134 Doug Drabek 1594
T134 Jose DeLeon 1594
136 Rube Marquard 1593
137 Ron Darling 1590
T138 Todd Stottlemyre 1587
T138 Woodie Fryman 1587
140 Jim Perry 1576
T141 Harvey Haddix 1575
T141 Steve Trachsel 1575
143 Jim Whitney 1571
144 Kevin Millwood 1560
145 Adonis Terry 1555
146 Wild Bill Donovan 1552
147 Livan Hernandez 1546
T148 Greg Swindell 1542
T148 Bartolo Colon 1542
150 Jimmy Key 1538
T151 Virgil Trucks 1534
T151 Dean Chance 1534
153 Doyle Alexander 1528
154 Jon Lieber 1526
155 Juan Pizarro 1522
156 Tim Belcher 1519
157 Jon Matlack 1516
T158 Toad Ramsey 1515
T158 Bill Singer 1515
T160 Burleigh Grimes 1512
T160 Sonny Siebert 1512
T160 Dave McNally 1512
163 Chan Ho Park 1511
164 Paul Derringer 1507
165 Goose Gossage 1502
T166 Larry Dierker 1493
T166 J.R. Richard 1493
T168 Burt Hooton 1491
T168 Mike Flanagan 1491
T170 George Mullin 1482
T170 Kevin Tapani 1482
172 Ron Reed 1481
173 Woody Williams 1480
174 Mike Krukow 1478
175 Jim Lonborg 1475
176 Bob Knepper 1473
177 Red Faber 1471
178 Mike Scott 1469
179 Lefty Gomez 1468
180 Brad Radke 1467
181 Charlie Root 1459
182 Steve Renko 1455
183 Earl Wilson 1452
184 Mario Soto 1449
185 Johnny Podres 1435
186 Ramon Martinez 1427
187 Allie Reynolds 1423
188 Jim Clancy 1422
189 Gary Peters 1420
190 Rick Rhoden 1419
191 Hippo Vaughn 1416
192 Denny Neagle 1415
T193 Wilbur Wood 1411
T193 Ray Culp 1411
195 Aaron Sele 1407
196 Mike Torrez 1404
T197 Shane Reynolds 1403
T197 Earl Moore 1403
T197 Mike Morgan 1403
200 Dave Burba 1398
201 Doc White 1384
202 Johan Santana 1381
203 Gary Bell 1378
204 Sam Jones 1376
205 Three Finger Brown 1375
206 Eddie Cicotte 1374
207 Mike Witt 1373
T208 Esteban Loaiza 1372
T208 Joe Nuxhall 1372
210 Mark Gubicza 1371
T211 Long Tom Hughes 1368
T211 Pete Harnisch 1368
213 Lindy McDaniel 1361
214 Bob Shawkey 1360
215 Stan Bahnsen 1359
216 Mark Baldwin 1354
T217 Eppa Rixey 1350
T217 Earl Whitehill 1350
T219 Wilson Alvarez 1330
T219 Mike Boddicker 1330
221 Jack Quinn 1329
222 Terry Mulholland 1325
T223 Kerry Wood 1323
T223 Dennis Leonard 1323
225 Mike McCormick 1321
226 Joe Bush 1319
227 Bump Hadley 1318
228 Jack McDowell 1311
229 Steve Barber 1309
T230 Denny Lemaster 1305
T230 Pedro Ramos 1305
T230 Kelvim Escobar 1305
T230 Stan Williams 1305
234 Fred Norman 1303
235 Pat Dobson 1301
236 Rollie Fingers 1299
237 Diego Segui 1298
238 Johnny Vander Meer 1294
239 Pat Hentgen 1290
240 Tim Hudson 1287
241 John Smiley 1284
242 Don Wilson 1283
243 Denny McLain 1282
244 Murry Dickson 1281
245 Bill Gullickson 1279
246 Bob Lemon 1277
247 Mike Hampton 1272
248 Bob Buhl 1268
249 Mudcat Grant 1267
250 Ed Whitson 1266
T251 Bob Turley 1265
T251 Jack Chesbro 1265
253 Mel Stottlemyre 1257
T254 Mark Gardner 1256
T254 Dizzy Trout 1256
T256 Scott Erickson 1252
T256 Alex Fernandez 1252
T256 Wilbur Cooper 1252
T256 Freddy Garcia 1252
T260 Don Robinson 1251
T260 Lee Smith 1251
262 Bob Rush 1244
263 Juan Guzman 1243
T264 Van Lingle Mungo 1242
T264 Charles Nagy 1242
266 Bill Hutchison 1232
267 Silver King 1229
T268 Herb Pennock 1227
T268 Barry Zito 1227
270 Danny Jackson 1225
T271 Jack Stivetts 1223
T271 Sad Sam Jones 1223
T273 Nap Rucker 1217
T273 Matt Clement 1217
T273 Ed Morris 1217
276 Don Cardwell 1211
277 Waite Hoyt 1206
278 Matt Morris 1205
279 Hooks Dauss 1201
280 Bobby Mathews 1199
T281 Jim Slaton 1191
T281 Shawn Estes 1191
283 Larry French 1187
284 Jack Sanford 1182
285 Ken Hill 1181
T286 Marty Pattin 1179
T286 Jesse Orosco 1179
288 Turk Farrell 1177
T289 Erik Hanson 1175
T289 Bobby Bolin 1175
T291 Andy Ashby 1173
T291 Ismael Valdes 1173
T293 Roy Oswalt 1170
T293 Matt Kilroy 1170
T293 Dutch Leonard 1170
T296 Stu Miller 1164
T296 Cy Falkenberg 1164
T296 Chris Carpenter 1164
T299 Nelson Briles 1163
T299 Dizzy Dean 1163
T301 Moe Drabowsky 1162
T301 Jeff Suppan 1162
T301 Johnny Antonelli 1162
T304 Dutch Leonard 1160
T304 Mel Harder 1160
306 Bob Groom 1159
307 Johnny Klippstein 1158
308 John Denny 1146
309 Dick Ruthven 1145
310 C.C. Sabathia 1142
T311 Jack Billingham 1141
T311 Greg Harris 1141
T313 Billy Hoeft 1140
T313 Lon Warneke 1140
T313 Dick Ellsworth 1140
T316 Ed Reulbach 1137
T316 Milt Wilcox 1137
318 Dock Ellis 1136
319 George Uhle 1135
320 Mark Portugal 1134
T321 Bob Forsch 1133
T321 Billy O'Dell 1133
T321 Elton Chamberlin 1133
324 Dolf Luque 1130
325 Don Newcombe 1129
T326 Derek Lowe 1128
T326 Bob Ojeda 1128
T326 Bill Hands 1128
329 Bill Dinneen 1127
330 Jeff Weaver 1124
331 Bill Monbouquette 1122
T332 Charlie Leibrandt 1121
T332 Russ Ortiz 1121
334 Tony Cloninger 1120
335 Mike Garcia 1117
T336 Brett Tomko 1113
T336 Jaime Navarro 1113
338 Dave Righetti 1112
339 Tug McGraw 1109
T340 Bucky Walters 1107
T340 Eric Milton 1107
342 Dave Goltz 1105
343 Claude Passeau 1104
T344 Dave Giusti 1103
T344 Larry Corcoran 1103
346 Frank Castillo 1101
T347 Guy Hecker 1099
T347 Frank Lary 1099
349 Chick Fraser 1098
T350 Melido Perez 1092
T350 Vern Law 1092
T350 Claude Hendrix 1092
353 Jake Peavy 1090
354 Orlando Hernandez 1086
355 Rube Walberg 1085
T356 John Montefusco 1081
T356 Roy Halladay 1081
T356 Teddy Higuera 1081
T356 Eric Plunk 1081
360 Jim Bibby 1079
361 Lew Burdette 1074
T362 Ted Lyons 1073
T362 Bruce Kison 1073
364 Bobby Shantz 1072
T365 Johnny Allen 1070
T365 Charlie Getzien 1070
367 Joe McGinnity 1068
T368 Steve Stone 1065
T368 Randy Wolf 1065
T368 Joe Horlen 1065
T368 Ray Burris 1065
T372 Lee Meadows 1063
T372 Dan Petry 1063
374 Clay Kirby 1061
375 Chris Bosio 1059
376 Rick Helling 1058
377 Paul Splittorff 1057
378 Tom Griffin 1054
379 Jack Coombs 1052
380 Frank Smith 1051
T381 Ben Sheets 1048
T381 Storm Davis 1048
T383 Ken Forsch 1047
T383 A.J. Burnett 1047
T385 Carlos Zambrano 1042
T385 Ken Johnson 1042
T387 Dan Plesac 1041
T387 Will White 1041
T389 Jim O'Toole 1039
T389 Bud Black 1039
T389 Gary Nolan 1039
T392 Jose Mesa 1038
T392 Rick Honeycutt 1038
T394 John Hiller 1036
T394 Babe Adams 1036
396 Joaquin Andujar 1032
T397 Rick Aguilera 1030
T397 Howard Ehmke 1030
399 Bryn Smith 1028
400 Pat Malone 1024
401 Glendon Rusch 1020
402 Jack Fisher 1017
403 Fritz Peterson 1015
T404 Bill Doak 1014
T404 Billy Wagner 1014
406 Zane Smith 1011
407 Trevor Hoffman 1009
T408 Mark Davis 1007
T408 Ryan Dempster 1007
410 Mike Jackson 1006
411 Ray Caldwell 1005
T412 Miguel Batista 1003
T412 Lefty Tyler 1003
T412 Kirk McCaskill 1003
T412 Don McMahon 1003
416 George Earnshaw 1002
T417 Ralph Terry 1000
T417 Tom Browning 1000
In the modern era, the leader is Nolan Ryan, who had 383 strikeouts with the California Angels in 1973.
Randy Johnson has the most strikeouts by a left handed pitcher. He also has the second most strikeouts all-time and over 300 wins.
He was a famous major league left handed pitcher. He has the second most lifetime strikeouts of any left handed pitcher.
Randy Johnson has the most career strikeouts for a left handed pitcher with 4,875 second all time behind Nolan Ryan with 5,714.
A left-handed pitcher is called a "southpaw".
Al Smith - left-handed pitcher - died in 1977.
Craig Anderson - left-handed pitcher - was born in 1980.
Al Smith - left-handed pitcher - was born in 1907.
Jim Johnson - left-handed pitcher - died on 1987-12-06.
Mike Stanton - left-handed pitcher - was born on 1967-06-02.
Jim Johnson - left-handed pitcher - was born on 1945-11-03.
Ralph Miller - left-handed pitcher - died on 1967-02-18.
Ralph Miller - left-handed pitcher - was born on 1899-01-14.