This thread alerted me to the fact that of the 19 3,000 strikeout pitchers, WaJo is the only one not still alive. I can remember always taking note when he would drop down another notch on the list as he was passed by another pitcher, but that hasn't happened for almost 20 years. Interesting trivia, but it also does make something of a statement about trends in pitching and hitting over the years. I remember reading a long time ago that if batters of his era struck out at the rate of those in Nolan Ryan's era, Walter would have ended up with somewhere around 7,000 strikeouts. I'm sure SABR guys could come up with ameliorating factors that would have adjusted that fantasy total downward, but the 3,000 strikeout list and the dates of their achievements does contain some interesting clues as to changes in the style of play over the years.
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