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Chris Sale sets Chicago White Sox single-season strikeout record

By Eric Roseberry

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During last night’s game against the Tigers, Chicago White Sox pitcher Chris Sale broke a 107-year-old record. Sale struck out James McCann in the second inning for his third strikeout of the night, bringing Sale’s total to 270 for the season. Ed Walsh was the team’s previous record holder with 269 strikeouts in 1908.

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Walsh pitched for the White Sox from 1904-1916, and then pitched one additional season for the Boston Braves. He finished his career with a 195-126 record, 1.82 ERA and 1,736 strikeouts (5.3 K/9). In 1908 and 1911 he actually led the American League in strikeouts. In back-to-back seasons he was the MVP runner-up. First to Ty Cobb in 1911, and again in 1912 he finished behind Tris Speaker. The Old Timers Committee inducted Walsh into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1946.

Sale debuted with the White Sox in 2010, and he’s started at least 26 games for the club in each season since 2012. Sale has averaged 10.31 K/9 for his career, and accomplished his record-breaking feat in 203 innings this year. For comparison, Walsh pitched 464 innings for the White Sox when he set the record. The closest Sale had come to the record prior to this season was 226 strikeouts in 2013.

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