Chicago, IL – On May 6, 1998, a 20-year-old Kerry Wood delivered what many analysts still call the greatest pitching performance in MLB history. Pitching for the Chicago Cubs against the Houston Astros, Wood struck out 20 batters, allowed just one infield hit, and walked none.
His Game Score that day was 105—the highest ever recorded in a nine-inning game. Yet, despite this dominance, MLB has never officially recognized the outing as a “record” in the same way it does for no-hitters or perfect games.
Why? MLB typically treats 20-strikeout games (of which there have only been five in history) as individual feats, not official “records.” That hasn’t stopped fans from praising it. Hall-of-Famer Craig Biggio, one of Wood’s strikeout victims that day, called it the best he ever faced.
For many, Kerry Wood’s 20-strikeout game remains the gold standard for dominance—even if the record books don’t give it the title it deserves.
