Wood did this against the 1998 Astros, who in my opinion, was the best Astros offense during the Bagwell-Biggio Astrodome era. And add to the fact that it was a 1-0 game, truly impressive. Both of Clemens 20k games were against two bad teams, and so was Randy Johnson 20k game. This game by Woods and Pedro Martinez 17k game against the Yankees are the two most impressive performance in terms of strikeouts I have ever seen. And Wood had a chance to get 21K in this game if he had struckout the side in the 9th.
Yup I was just about to make that point. That team won 102 games and had a heck of a line-up. Three guys with over 100 RBI. Moises Alou, Jeff Bagwell, Derek Bell and Craig Biggio all had SUPERB seasons. And their pitching staff was darn solid too. Mike Hampton, Jose Lima and Shane Reynolds, who was the ace of the staff until they got Randy Johnson - who made 11 starts for them and had a 10-1 record with an ERA of 1.28 - In other words it's highly impressive what Wood was able to do to that line-up. And now that I'm watching him again, he could have been so great if the injury bug hadn't bitten him so many times. Ironically I always said Jacob DeGrom reminds me so much of Wood with that smooth delivery and explosive fastball. Historic performance.
That might have been the greatest game ever pitched. He faced just 27 batters, struck out 20, walked no one, and gave up nothing more than a single. People have pitched perfect games which weren't that dominating.
@@jasons2270 Dusty Baker pushed him too far for a young pitcher, ignoring all the signs and the research. Same for Prior. Ruined their careers. Should have sued him. He said that he didn’t “believe” the science. 🤬🤬😡😡
Yea i had no clue when i was seeing it live way back in the day, but I must agree with you now. It just seemed effortless to Wood. He's got natural movement, plus those high fireball heaters to jam the sluggers. Then he has that nasty curveball that I don't think is even possible in current baseball. You can see Bagwell and the other sluggers just shaking their heads like they think they know better than to let that kid get in their heads, but he most certainly did get in their heads. As much of a psychological achievement as it was physical.
I'm a avid Cubs fan. The 2016 world series was unbelievable. But my favorite is Kerry Woods 20 Strike outs! I was in awe. One of the greatest arms I've ever seen. Would love to meet him one day. My favorite 110%
Damn, if only he hadn't given up that ONE hit, it would have been a perfect game with 20 strikeouts. Wow... and in his rookie year and the first complete game of his career. Kerry Wood was amazing.
Checking this out after Paul Skenes recent game at Wrigley when he struck out 11 over 6 innings and didn’t allow a hit. Not quite as magical as May 1998 but still a great performance.
I was watching this live!!! This still puts a huge smile on my face-just an awesome, transcendent display of nonpareil pitching!!! 💯💯💯💯❤️❤️❤️❤️🔥🔥🔥🔥🎯🎯🎯🎯
Yea as a kid I remember watching this and rooting for more K's! I knew it was incredible, but I didn't know that it was a profound moment in history. Now damn near 30 years later I noticed very few pitchers even coming close to that performance. That was very much a once in a lifetime thing 😂
I was trying to think of who Kerry's mechanics remind me of. I'm thinking Zak Wheeler, who has a similar body frame and pitching motion, Wood being a bit more compact.
Actually it was around 16 strikeouts. 4 of those were Angel Hernandez specials. But it's ok...of all the records in Canton, OH...this one is by far is the least controversal.
Like many I didn't watch this game from the start.. One of those performances your buddies are calling you in the 5 and 6 inning saying Hey you seeing this?!? When a pitcher is that locked in, exact same arm motion fast ball vs devastating curve it gets to a point of being unfair to the hitters. That Astros lineup was formidable, and he made them look silly, many of those at bat's the hitters had no chance.
Man I remember watching this live after faking sick one day while still in middle school. I was in awe! I guess it’s just cuz most players were juiced back then, I didn’t realize how almost that whole Houston lineup was obviously on the juice, except for Bell and Alou maybe. I used to think Biggio was a little guy, he’s huge here! Same with Bagwell (such an obvious steroid user that never should have got in the hall), Ausmus, etc. If you need anymore proof, look at how baggy the jerseys are some of these guys were wearing. They tried hard to hide it, but with short sleeves you can see it in their arms and neck. This was the best pitching performance I’d ever seen live, even though the strike zone was bigger then compared to now. A lot of his strikes were just swing and miss. And yeah, the WGN broadcast was 100 times better. These Houston announcers never get excited at the history unfolding before them.
horrible broadcasters. Even if they are for the Astros they just saw history. When Hamels pitched a no-hitter, something that has become commonplace nowadays it seems, Len Kasper and Deshais still called it with some emotion at least.
I'll never forget this. Kerry was my favorite minus injuries. Great athlete..
1:23 this pitch is dirtier than a dumptruck full of soil.
12-6 curve? that was a beauty
Best single game pitching performance I've ever seen. It looked like he was throwing a whiffle ball.
@@runningwithcat6195 cant forget my mans sandy Koufax who also got 101
Wood did this against the 1998 Astros, who in my opinion, was the best Astros offense during the Bagwell-Biggio Astrodome era.
And add to the fact that it was a 1-0 game, truly impressive.
Both of Clemens 20k games were against two bad teams, and so was Randy Johnson 20k game.
This game by Woods and Pedro Martinez 17k game against the Yankees are the two most impressive performance in terms of strikeouts I have ever seen.
And Wood had a chance to get 21K in this game if he had struckout the side in the 9th.
Yup I was just about to make that point. That team won 102 games and had a heck of a line-up. Three guys with over 100 RBI. Moises Alou, Jeff Bagwell, Derek Bell and Craig Biggio all had SUPERB seasons. And their pitching staff was darn solid too. Mike Hampton, Jose Lima and Shane Reynolds, who was the ace of the staff until they got Randy Johnson - who made 11 starts for them and had a 10-1 record with an ERA of 1.28 - In other words it's highly impressive what Wood was able to do to that line-up. And now that I'm watching him again, he could have been so great if the injury bug hadn't bitten him so many times. Ironically I always said Jacob DeGrom reminds me so much of Wood with that smooth delivery and explosive fastball. Historic performance.
He did it against the killer Bs
They were better offensively the following year when Ken Caminiti came back.
It was a 2-0 game
Bagwell, Biggie era?! ...conveniently you leave out the black mans name that made up the killer bees along with em
That might have been the greatest game ever pitched. He faced just 27 batters, struck out 20, walked no one, and gave up nothing more than a single. People have pitched perfect games which weren't that dominating.
I’ve read that statistically, it was the greatest game ever pitched.
And he was like what 19 at the time? Kerry could've been the G.O.A.T if not for his damn elbow and shoulder...he was Nolan Ryan 2.0
@@jasons2270 Dusty Baker pushed him too far for a young pitcher, ignoring all the signs and the research. Same for Prior. Ruined their careers. Should have sued him. He said that he didn’t “believe” the science. 🤬🤬😡😡
Randy Johnson’s Perfect Game was pretty dominating
Threw about 120 pitches roughly 90 of em were strikes, K’d 13, and did this at 40 years old
@@davsaltegoDusty Baker was coaching San Fran lol
The greatest game ever pitched.
Yea i had no clue when i was seeing it live way back in the day, but I must agree with you now. It just seemed effortless to Wood. He's got natural movement, plus those high fireball heaters to jam the sluggers. Then he has that nasty curveball that I don't think is even possible in current baseball. You can see Bagwell and the other sluggers just shaking their heads like they think they know better than to let that kid get in their heads, but he most certainly did get in their heads. As much of a psychological achievement as it was physical.
Harvey Haddix has entered the chat.
I'm a avid Cubs fan. The 2016 world series was unbelievable. But my favorite is Kerry Woods 20 Strike outs! I was in awe. One of the greatest arms I've ever seen. Would love to meet him one day. My favorite 110%
You need to attend the Cubs Convention in Chicago; he is always one of the Alumni that attends! Great guy! He appreciates his fans!
lmao...Moises was so pissed. That hotheaded temper unfortunately came back to bite us with the Bartman incident.
Ahh mark Mark Grace as a cub... one of the all time great cubs
Unbelievable. What a performance.
Greatness. I've never seen a better performance in all of my 47 years.
Same! Although I got two more years on ya.
And 12 of them were on swinging third strikes. Fooling them all game. Marvelous.
That curveball must’ve been insane that day. Everyone was so uncomfortable up at the plate. Special game. What a performance.
Unbelievable!!!! You don’t see pitchers pitching 9 innings anymore, and none of them come close to this GREAT!!!
Literally his fifth mlb start too! So crazy
i remember watching this game live as a 12 yr old kid. Didn't fully realize the accomplishment. And he made it look so easy!
Definitely didn’t realize it was a top performance of all time.
I recently met Kerry Wood at an autograph signing. I couldn’t believe how good looking he is in person and I’m a straight guy; I hope I am! 😂
The funniest part about this game is his first pitch drilled right The umpire right in the mask. The catcher didn’t even get a glove on it.
Heat! WGN commentary with Harry is the best. This is a braves fan who grew up watching cubs and bulls in WGN of of a satellite in NE TN!
The curve on K #18 might be the filthiest pitch I've ever seen
Damn, if only he hadn't given up that ONE hit, it would have been a perfect game with 20 strikeouts. Wow... and in his rookie year and the first complete game of his career. Kerry Wood was amazing.
Why can't you show the WGN broadcast?
How do you feel that it's been 7 years and you still haven't gotten your answer
@@Wyattl.😂😂😂😂
Kerry 'The Kid' Wood is a Cubs legend forever and proud to watch him strike out the Astros!!!!!!!
sublime actuacion
A rookie Kerry Woods putting a pitching performance for the ages
Kerry, this is the greatest pitching performance that I've ever seen.........
The 18th K makes me pee a little.
I always love watching this!!
That was a masterpiece
That was Shane Reynolds pitching for Houston. He wasn'ta bad hitting pitcher, either. Every clip of Moises Alou in Wrigley is him very angry lol.
Managers in 2024:
Ok, it's been 6 innings, take him out
Watching that curveball is the equivalent of getting a really nice back massage
26yrs ago
Whiffle ball: 3:08
Kerry hit Jerry Meals in the FaceMask ..1st Pitch of the Game...
Joe Mantegna sang the 7th Inning Stretch...=)
The Houston Manager was probably playing a handheld Video Game
Could've been a 20 k no hitter. Absolutely insane.
The Astros look like me in mlb the show 😅
Checking this out after Paul Skenes recent game at Wrigley when he struck out 11 over 6 innings and didn’t allow a hit. Not quite as magical as May 1998 but still a great performance.
It’s a crime that this isn’t the WGN broadcast
What a game
Should be E5.
I was watching this live!!! This still puts a huge smile on my face-just an awesome, transcendent display of nonpareil pitching!!! 💯💯💯💯❤️❤️❤️❤️🔥🔥🔥🔥🎯🎯🎯🎯
I saw that live too! it was incredible...
Yea as a kid I remember watching this and rooting for more K's! I knew it was incredible, but I didn't know that it was a profound moment in history. Now damn near 30 years later I noticed very few pitchers even coming close to that performance. That was very much a once in a lifetime thing 😂
I was trying to think of who Kerry's mechanics remind me of.
I'm thinking Zak Wheeler, who has a similar body frame and pitching motion,
Wood being a bit more compact.
25 yrs ago today
crazy thing is...if he had one more inning, he would have had 23. his juice was insane that day. legendary.
Is this the best VHS copy MLB has?
This is the pitching i like in a game he works the corners well and will get me to lock up or chase
Actually it was around 16 strikeouts. 4 of those were Angel Hernandez specials. But it's ok...of all the records in Canton, OH...this one is by far is the least controversal.
What a hook pause
Grand Prairie finest
from what i remember the WGN broadcast was better
If you go to Cubs.com you may find the clip with either the tv guys. Or maybe even pat Hughes' awesome call from the radio.
Some of those were generous
Two at the most.
Oh what could’ve been….
Like many I didn't watch this game from the start..
One of those performances your buddies are calling you in the 5 and 6 inning saying
Hey you seeing this?!?
When a pitcher is that locked in, exact same arm motion fast ball vs devastating curve it gets to a point of being unfair to the hitters. That Astros lineup was formidable, and he made them look silly, many of those at bat's the hitters had no chance.
Man I remember watching this live after faking sick one day while still in middle school. I was in awe! I guess it’s just cuz most players were juiced back then, I didn’t realize how almost that whole Houston lineup was obviously on the juice, except for Bell and Alou maybe. I used to think Biggio was a little guy, he’s huge here! Same with Bagwell (such an obvious steroid user that never should have got in the hall), Ausmus, etc. If you need anymore proof, look at how baggy the jerseys are some of these guys were wearing. They tried hard to hide it, but with short sleeves you can see it in their arms and neck. This was the best pitching performance I’d ever seen live, even though the strike zone was bigger then compared to now. A lot of his strikes were just swing and miss.
And yeah, the WGN broadcast was 100 times better. These Houston announcers never get excited at the history unfolding before them.
He painted the outside so many times .
Back when pitchers had balls and pitched 9 innings.
20 year young man strike-out 20 grown men 😅
Tough to strikeout Bagwell ehhh
horrible broadcasters. Even if they are for the Astros they just saw history. When Hamels pitched a no-hitter, something that has become commonplace nowadays it seems, Len Kasper and Deshais still called it with some emotion at least.
Joe Buck would have done better
Not hating at all but, if we had the box we have today that is shown on TV, that would have been this umps last game. And I’m anti robo ump.
Kerry = Clemons Jr. 😅
Doing something like this during the steroid era is crazy stil
I would love to meet you and shake your hand.
Imagine if the Cubs didn't ruin him.
19 and 20 were just ridiculous