David Clyde of Westchester (Houston) was a high school legend in the early 1970s and his resume includes a multitude of records in the National Federation of High Schools record book, including the mark for career strikeouts with 842. Except that depending on how you determine career strikeouts, Clyde is not Nos. 1 or 2 or even third or fourth.
In fact Clyde comes in behind Mississippi hurler Ronnie Richardson, a pair of Iowa pitchers in Bill Varner and Mike Boddicker, and Oklahoma leader Mark Turner. They are among the pitchers featured in the MaxPreps list of pitchers with over 500 career strikeouts.
To be fair, Clyde does hold the record for a four-year career, which is what the National Federation of High Schools recognizes. However, if a fifth year is included, Richardson moves into the top spot with 856 strikeouts.
Then, if you include pitchers from the schools in Iowa and Oklahoma that play both a summer and fall season (and in some cases a spring and summer season), then you have to include Varner, Turner and Boddicker.
Under these circumstances, Varner set the national record with 1,042 strikeouts in his four years at Decorah, graduating in 1970. He played three spring seasons to go with four summer seasons. Turner had 917 strikeouts in three fall and four spring seasons for Vanoss in Oklahoma from 1989-92.
Boddicker topped Varner for the all-time lead in Iowa, and the nation, with 1,122 strikeouts from 1972-75 while at Norway. Boddicker played three fall seasons to go with four spring seasons. The MLB All-Star also holds the record for most all-time wins with 79 (with all seasons considered). Boddicker went on to earn American League Conference Series MVP honors in 1983 en route to helping the Baltimore Orioles win the World Series.
Clyde also played professionally after being selected by the Texas Rangers with the first overall pick in 1973. Twenty days after pitching his final high school game, Clyde started for the Rangers and won his first MLB outing. Injuries marred his career, however, and he finished with 18 wins and 33 losses.
The first player to record 500 career strikeouts during a spring-only career is believed to be Francis Vidrine, who had exactly 500 while at Seligman (Ariz.) from 1955 to 1958. None other than MLB all-time strikeout leader Nolan Ryan of Alvin (Texas) became the all-time leader in 1965 with 510 strikeouts. Future California Angels teammate Lloyd Allen of Selma (Calif.) topped Ryan with 588 strikeouts upon graduation in 1968. Gene Carfrey of Westfall (Williamsport, Ohio) raised the record to 649 strikeouts in 1969 and then Clyde raised it to 842 in 1973. Richardson has held the spring record ever since 1987.
Another Mississippi pitcher, Randolph Salters of Mooreville, might have broken Clyde's records in the mid-1980s, but his career numbers are unavailable. According to former coach Rex Berryman, in an e-mail to MaxPreps, all of his records and scorebooks were inadvertently destroyed by contractors when Mooreville moved from the old gym to the new gym in 1988.
Salters holds the national record for single season strikeouts, although that total is up for dispute. Three different stories by the Clarion Ledger list Salters with 344 strikeouts, 366 strikeouts and 381 strikeouts during a 25-4 season. The 381 total is the most likely total since the Clarion Ledger ran a story about Salters on May 23, 1985, listing him with 366 and he then pitched in the championship game on May 25, striking out 15.
Salters struck out somewhere in the neighborhood of 140 batters as a junior, but exact totals are unavailable. His sophomore and freshman season are also unknown and he finished his career with a record of 53-9.
With new rules restricting the amount of batters a pitcher can face in a week (Salters once pitched 27 innings in four days in the state tournament), it's unlikely anyone will top the totals amassed by Clyde, Richardson, Varner, Turner and Boddicker. The most recent addition to the list is Bubba Gomez of Fremont Christian (Fremont, Calif.), who had 569 strikeouts between 2016 and 2019. That's still nearly 300 strikeouts away from the spring record.
Sources for the list include the NFHS record book, state association record books, coaches association record books, Iwasatthegame.com, Mississippi Baseball Record Book by John Smillie, and the Cal-Hi Sports Record by Mark and Nelson Tennis.
Bubba Gomez, Fremont Christian
File photo by Jim Malone
1. 856 — Ronnie Richardson, Lee (Columbus, Miss.), now
Columbus (Miss.), 1983-87
2. 842 — David Clyde, Westchester (Houston), now closed, 1970-73
3. 734 — Jerry Boldt,
Woodlawn (Chicago), 1979-83
4. 729 — Allen Rath,
Highland (Riverside, Iowa), 1983-86
5. 690 — Brad Howard,
Oakdale (Tenn.), 1992-96
6. 680 — Kelly Owens,
Junction City (Ark.), 1979-82
7. 662 — Jordan Ray,
Hillcrest (Tuscaloosa, Ala.), 2005-08
8. 661 — Steve Fink,
Kee (Lansing, Iowa), 1970-73
9. 658 — Jaime Sepeda,
Sinton (Texas), 1986-89
10. 651 — Tyler Stovall,
Hokes Bluff (Ala.), 2005-08
10. 651 — Paul Morse,
Danville (Ky.), 1988-92
12. 649 — Gene Carfrey,
Westfall (Williamsport, Ohio), 1966-69
13. 646 — Craig Van Hulzen,
Apple Valley Christian (Apple Valley, Calif.), 1987-90
14. 644 — David Flattery,
St. Edmond (Fort Dodge, Iowa), 1974-77
15. 640 — David Mabe,
East Surry (Pilot Mountain, N.C.), 1981-84
16. 637 — Pat Underwood,
Kokomo (Ind.), 1971-74
17. 626 — Brian DuBois,
Reed-Custer (Braidwood, Ill.), 1982-85
18. 623 — Mike Wisniewski,
Bangor (Mich.), 1991-94
19. 612 — Tyler Sander,
Okoboji (Milford, Iowa), 2000-03
19. 612 — Jon Peters,
Brenham (Texas), 1986-89
21. 606 — Todd Neibel,
Waltonville (Ill.), 1980-83
21. 606 — Bert Neff,
Mooresville (Ind.), 1990-93
23. 598 — Will Inman,
Tunstall (Dry Fork, Va.), 2002-05
23. 598 — Manuel Mendez,
Washington Union (Fresno, Calif.), 1990-92
25. 597 — Matt Tomso,
Mt. Olive (Ill.), 1987-90
26. 593 — Steve DeRoos,
Wheeler (Valparaiso, Ind.), 1984-87
27. 590 — Gunner Baker,
Carlisle (Price, Texas), 2010-13
28. 589 — Larry Knight,
Lookout Valley (Chattanooga, Tenn.), 1978-80
29. 588 — Lloyd Allen,
Selma (Calif.), 1965-68
30. 587 — Schuyler Tripp,
Davis County (Bloomfield, Iowa), 2002-05
31. 586 — Mike Mercer, Nishna Valley (Hastings, Iowa), 1980-84
32. 585 — Cody Reed,
Ardmore (Ala.), 2011-14
33. 583 — Nate Wernette,
Morley Stanwood (Morley, Mich.), 2000-03
34. 580 — Brennen Milby,
Green County (Greensburg, Ky.), 2008-13
35. 578 — Ron Robinson,
Woodlake (Calif.), 1977-80
36. 575 — Ryno Bethel,
Willcox (Ariz.), 1998-2001
37. 572 — David Dinsmore,
Reese (Mich.), 2000-03
38. 569 — Bubba Gomez,
Fremont Christian (Fremont, Calif.), 2016-19
39. 568 — John Tolson,
Decatur Central (Indianapolis), 1998-2001
40. 566 — TJ Prunty, St. Paul Academy (Minn.), 1996-2000
40. 566 — Bob Goodyear, Lutheran (Los Angeles, Calif.), 1971-73
42. 564 — Jake Forrester,
Umpqua Valley Christian (Roseburg, Ore.), 2011-14
43. 555 — Todd Malone,
Casa Roble (Orangevale, Calif.), 1986-88
44. 553 — Tom Underwood,
Kokomo (Ind.), 1969-72
44. 553 — Kevin Waldrum,
Millsap (Texas), 1996-97
44. 553 — Steve Streater, Sylva-Webster (N.C.), now
Smoky Mountain (Sylva, N.C.) 1974-77
47. 552 — Will Jostock,
Lapeer West (Lapeer, Mich.), 2001-04
48. 551 — Ben Van Ryn,
East Noble (Kendallville, Ind.), 1987-90
49. 550 — RA Dickey,
Montgomery Bell Academy (Nashville, Tenn.), 1990-93
50. 548 — Alec Carney,
Webster Christian (Webster, N.Y.), 2002-06
50. 548 — Gregg Johnson, Moorehead (East Monona, Iowa), now
West Harrison (Mondamin, Iowa) 1983-85
52. 547 — Richy Harrelson, Iuka (Miss.), now
Tishomingo County (Iuka, Miss.), 1988-92
53. 546 — Josh Collmenter,
Homer (Mich.), 2001-04
54. 545 — Nick Stiles,
Bath (Mich.), 2009-12
55. 542 — Able D'Loera,
Grant (Oklahoma City, Okla.), 1998-2001
56. 541 — Del Howell,
American Christian Academy (Tuscaloosa, Ala.), 2002-06
56. 541 — Chris Schoon,
Anamosa (Iowa), 1974-77
58. 540 — Jerome Hammontree,
Sperry (Okla.), 1987-90
59. 535 — Ryan Keaffaber,
Northfield (Wabash, Ind.), 2010-13
59. 535 — Thomas Mitchell, Bladenboro (N.C.), 1997-2000
61. 531 — Sam Traver,
Potterville (Mich.), 2012-15
61. 531 — Bob Rossi, Corning West (N.Y.), 1969-72
63. 528 — Drew Henson,
Brighton (Mich.), 1995-98
64. 526 — Jeff Granger,
Orangefield (Texas), 1987-90
65. 525 — Mike Taylor,
Iowa Falls (Iowa), 1973-76
65. 525 — Logan Ehlers,
Nebraska City (Neb.), 2007-10
67. 524 — Guy Finch,
Clarksville (Ind.), 1975-78
68. 523 — Keith Creel,
Duncanville (Texas), 1974-77
68. 523 — Kirk Benda,
Decorah-North Winneshiek (Decorah, Iowa), 1980-81
70. 521 — Aron Cornett,
Concord (Ark.), 2002-04
70. 521 — Ty Henderson,
Webber (Bluford, Ill.), 2010-13
70. 521 — Steven Rice,
Crawfordsville (Ind.), 2007-10
73. 520 — Brian Bohanon,
North Shore (Houston), 1984-87
74. 519 — Drew Tanner,
Coffee (Douglas, Ga.), 1979-82
74. 519 — Justin Willoughby,
Princeton (N.C.), 1993-96
76. 518 — Ryan Ellison,
Isabella (Maplesville, Ala.), 2000-04
76. 518 — Lesley Piersall,
Hutsonville (Ill.), 1995-98
76. 518 — Tom King,
La Porte (Ind.), 1970-72
79. 517 — Tyler Howe,
Northeast (Goose Lake, Iowa), 2000-04
80. 515 — Doug Bates, J.J. Kelly (Va.), 1980-83
81. 513 — Tony Watson,
Dallas Center-Grimes (Dallas Center, Iowa), 2000-03
82. 512 — Chandler Shepherd,
Lawrence County (Louisa, Ky.), 2006-11
82. 512 — Joe Goodman,
Gilbert (Iowa), 2008-11
84. 511 — Scott Davidson,
Redondo Union (Redondo Beach, Calif.), 1986-88
85. 510 — Jim Peterson,
Sonora (La Habra, Calif.), 1971-73
85. 510 — Brian Barnes,
Roanoke Rapids (N.C.), 1982-85
85. 510 — Kevin Mann,
Jackson Center (Ohio), 2003-06
85. 510 — Nolan Ryan,
Alvin (Texas), 1963-65
89. 506 — Jon Kirby,
Estill County (Irvine, Ky.), 1999-2002
90. 505 — Tim Rogers,
Bixby (Okla.), 1975-78
91. 502 — Chad Billingsley,
Defiance (Ohio), 2000-03
92. 501 — Chase Reeves,
Hamilton (Miss.), 2007-11
93. 500 — Francis Vidrine,
Seligman (Ariz.), 1955-58
93. 500 — Harvey Marshall,
Floyd County (Floyd, Va.), 1975-79
Top 10 Fall-Spring-Summer combo strikeout leaders
1. 1,122 — Mike Boddicker, Norway (Iowa), 1972-75
2. 1,042 — Bill Varner, Decorah (Iowa), 1967-70
3. 917 — Mark Turner,
Vanoss (Ada, Okla.), 1989-92
4. 817 — Will Hunt,
Asher (Okla.), 1986-89
5. 757 — Mario Enriquez,
Davidson (Okla.), 1986-89
6. 743 — Cal Eldred, Urbana (Iowa), 1983-86
7. 735 — Brett Case,
Preston (Okla.), 2000-03
8. 732 — Larry Frakes, Goldfield (Iowa), 1968-72
9. 723 — Kevin Lomon,
Cameron (Okla.), 1987-90
10. 687 — Cale Elam,
Oktaha (Okla.), 2006-10
Note: It's possible Boddicker and Varner would qualify for the "spring only" list, but their spring-only totals are unknown.
