3000 Strikeout Tickets populations and grading

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by AustinMike

I don't collect 3K strikeout games, although it would be interesting. But if I were ever to start thinking about it, I'd probably go the easy route and collect 5k strikeout games instead. That should be a pretty easy set to complete.

I've got an extra season ticket stub to Nolan's 5,000thK game with your name written all over it if you ever decide to go there.

[mcgwirecom]

I get a kick out of reading PSA's population reports and Ticket Set Registries. Like Doug said I know several collectors who could blow those numbers out of the water if they cared to get their tickets graded.

As to the original post, I actually owned a Walter Johnson 3000th K stub from a season ticket book. It was graded a 4. I don't own many graded stubs but I purchased it this way. Ironically I got it cheap because the owner and PSA weren't aware that it was his 3000th K stub! Anyway its gone now. I consigned to an auction and they lost it! Along with my Roger Clemens debut stub. We settled on a price but I wasn't really happy with it. At the time I needed to get cash so I didn't haggle too much. If anyone sees this stub let me know how you got it. They thought it went into the trash somehow. Also there is a bit of a descrepancy on the actual date of his 3000th K. The consensus is July 22nd but there are two other dates around then that get tossed around.

As for the other tickets, the Blyleven is very tough. I owned a stub but sold it. I have not seen another. The Gibson I own a stub. Its pretty tough to find. I also sold the sister seat to it. The Sutton is tough and the Niekro is real tough. For the modern ones the Sabathia isn't so easy as Arizona has a limited season ticket base.

I would list the toughest tickets as:

1: Walter Johnson
2: Bert Blyleven
3: Phil Niekro
4: Bob Gibson
5: Fergie Jenkins

2-3-4 could probably go any order.

[ghooper33]

Originally Posted by mcgwirecom

I would list the toughest tickets as:

1: Walter Johnson
2: Bert Blyleven
3: Phil Niekro
4: Bob Gibson
5: Fergie Jenkins

2-3-4 could probably go any order.

Thanks for the picture of the Walter. I have never seen it before.

I like you list above - I am short the Walter, Fergie, Sutton, and Blyleven. I have had theses guys in my saved eBay searches for a couple of years now and have never come across these.

[mcgwirecom]

Originally Posted by ghooper33

Thanks for the picture of the Walter. I have never seen it before.

I like you list above - I am short the Walter, Fergie, Sutton, and Blyleven. I have had theses guys in my saved eBay searches for a couple of years now and have never come across these.

I thought you started the post because you got the Fergie!

[ghooper33]

Originally Posted by mcgwirecom

I thought you started the post because you got the Fergie!

Nope I am not the OP, but hopefully this is a sign of me finding one soon!

[Hankphenom]

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.

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by Hankphenom

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.

Absolutely, Hank!
Hitters back in WaJo's era mostly attempted to meet & square up the ball and hit to all fields.
Today, every hitter uppercuts in an attempt to elevate the ball and hit the HR, even though striking out is occurring at a ridiculous rate.

[AustinMike]

Originally Posted by Scott Garner

I've got an extra season ticket stub to Nolan's 5,000thK game with your name written all over it if you ever decide to go there.

If my name is written on it, it must be pretty cheap.

I almost had ticket stubs to Ryan's 300th win. Early in the 1990 season I plotted out when he might be going for number 300 and bought tickets for myself and a friend for 2 games at Arlington. Luckily, the first game happened to be his first shot at 300. So we drove the 3-1/2 hours to see the nightgame on a work day. Unfortunately it was against my favorite team, the Yankees. For the first and only time in my life I was rooting against the Yankees. But, they roughed Ryan up pretty good and he left the game in the 8th inning down by 4. "Well, at least the Yankees are going to win", I thought. No. The Rangers scored 1 in the 8th and 3 in the 9th to tie it. The Rangers eventually won in the 11th. No Ryan 300 win and no Yankees victory. Not my favorite baseball memory.

Then Ryan got #300 in Milwaukee so we had to decide whether we wanted to drive back up to Arlington for his next start. We did hoping to see his 301st win. But, he lost to Toronto. It's funny because I remember him being hit really hard by Toronto but in looking at Baseball Reference, it wasn't nearly as bad as I remember. I guess my jaundiced view has clouded my memory.