TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY

May 6, 1998 Kerry Wood’s 20-Strikeout Masterpiece: A Day for the Ages at Wrigley Field

Baseball’s charm lies in its unpredictability — the chance that any game might become unforgettable. That was certainly the case on a rainy May afternoon in 1998, when 20-year-old Cubs rookie Kerry Wood delivered one of the most dominant pitching performances in Major League history.

Making just his fifth career start, Wood faced the powerhouse Houston Astros — the National League’s second-highest scoring team. From the outset, he dazzled. After an errant first pitch, Wood struck out the side in the first inning, including future Hall of Famers Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell. It set the tone for a game that would leave even seasoned baseball fans awestruck.

By the end of nine innings, Wood had struck out 20 Astros, tying Roger Clemens’ MLB record for a nine-inning game. He allowed just one controversial hit — a third-inning infield single — and didn’t walk a single batter. At one point, he struck out five straight batters looking, a testament to the bite on his breaking ball and his pinpoint command.

The Astros, normally an offensive juggernaut, were rendered helpless. Only two balls left the infield all afternoon. Though Houston starter Shane Reynolds pitched admirably — allowing just one earned run over eight innings with 10 strikeouts of his own — his performance was overshadowed by Wood’s brilliance.

The Cubs won 2-0, but the final score was almost beside the point. Fans at Wrigley witnessed not just a win, but a historic display of pitching mastery. At just 20 years old, Kerry Wood had tied the major league record for strikeouts in a nine-inning game and etched his name into baseball lore.

“It felt like a game of catch out there,” Wood said afterward, unaware during the game of how many batters he had fanned. For fans, it was the kind of performance that defines why baseball is so beloved — a reminder that greatness can emerge on any given day.

Wood’s performance sets a new National League record for a nine-inning game, while tying Roger Clemens’ mark for most K’s in a nine-inning game. Roger Clemens of the Boston Red Sox had 20 strike outs twice, against the Seattle Mariners in 1986, and against the Detroit Tigers in 1996. The 20 year-old Texan breaks the National League record of 19 strikeouts in a nine-inning game shared by Steve Carlton, David Cone, and Tom Seaver and Rookie mark of 18 set by Bill Gullickson.

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May 6, 1982, Hall of Famer Gaylord Perry enters the exclusive 300-win circle by beating the New York Yankees, 7-3, at the Seattle Kingdome. The Seattle Mariners’ right-hander becomes the 15th pitcher and first pitcher to notch his 300th win since Early Wynn of the Indians in 1963.

May 6, 1915, Boston Red Sox rookie Babe Ruth hits his first major league home run. Ruth connects against Jack Warhop of the New York Yankees at the Polo Grounds. Ruth will go on to hit 714 home runs, a mark that will stand until surpassed by Hank Aaron.

May 6, 1941, the Brooklyn Dodgers acquire future Hall of Fame second baseman Billy Herman from the Chicago Cubs for outfielder Charlie Gilbert, infielder Johnny Hudson, and cash. Herman, struggling with a .194 batting average, will hit .291 for the Dodgers over the balance of the season.

May 6, 1953, St. Louis Browns pitcher Bobo Holloman, making his first big league start, twirls a 6-0 no-hitter against the Philadelphia A’s. Holloman becomes only the third pitcher in history to fire a no-hitter in his initial major league start. Holloman will win only two more games during a brief one-year career, he will also never pitch another complete game.

May 6, 1962, Rookie Jim Bouton makes his first career start, his second career appearance and fires a 7 hit shut out beating the Washington Senators 8-0 at Yankee Stadium.

May 6, 1964 -- Dave Nicholson hits a tape measure home run that lands on the back of the left field roof before bouncing out of Comiskey Park in the White Sox's 6-4 victory over Kansas City. The outfielder's monstrous shot becomes the source of a great exaggeration when unidentified team officials announce the ball traveled 573 feet, landing outside the Chicago south side ballpark.

May 6, 1968 Belated Willie Mays birthday, Houston Astros gifted him a 569 lb. birthday cake, each pound representing his home runs at that time.

May 6, 1983, The top pick in the 1980 draft makes his big league debut for the New York Mets. Darryl Strawberry goes 0-4 with three strikeouts and two walks against the Reds in a 13-inning game. He'd collect his first hit a few days later and finish the year batting .257 with 26 homers and win the Rookie of the Year Award.

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