Detroit Tigers: Top 10 Strikeout Kings

Jim Bunning spent nine seasons with the Tigers where he racked up 1406 strikeouts along the way.

After a freshman season of baseball at Xavier University, Bunning signed deal with the Tigers in 1950. He spent four years in the Tigers farm systems, until he made his MLB debut on July 20, 1955. Bunning’s time with the Tigers was fairly uneventful. Aside from becoming the tenth pitcher in MLB history nine-pitch/three-strikeout half-inning there isn’t much to note of his time with the Tigers.

As a member of the Detroit Tigers, he logged 1867.1 innings of work, striking out 1406 batters. He posted a 3.45 ERA in 251 starts. He’d then spend six seasons with the Phillies (after the Tigers traded him), two seasons with the Pirates and one final season with the Dodgers.

After his retirement from baseball Bunning would go onto serve as a Republican politician in his home state of Kentucky. In 1996 Bunning was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame via the Veterans Committee.

Bunning consistently put up excellent numbers throughout his career. In only one season he had over twenty wins and he never won a CY Young award. Despite that, he posted enough strikeouts to be sixth best strikeout king in Tigers history.

Admittedly, before I did the list I hadn’t heard of Bunning, which is surprising given how well he pitched year in and out.  The next player on our list, I haven’t heard of either but he was a member of the 1945 World Series team.

Coming in at number five on our list is Tommy Bridges.