Kerry Wood's 20 Strikeout Game 

I was a delivery driver in Michigan and my boss was a huge Cubs fan. I was able to get WGN radio in my truck while driving around, but my boss couldn't pick it up on the radio in our building. We didn't have cell phones yet, just two way radios. When it got to 12 strikeouts I started calling out to my boss and counting up the strikeouts as they happened. I pulled into the parking lot just as he got to number 20 and I walked in the door and found my boss and yelled, "20!!!" and we both started jumping around and yelling. I wasn't even a Cubs fan, but it was just a cool moment and a cool way to experience it.

I have watched this game over and over and over and over and over last 20 years......but cannot get sick of it

Best day I ever skipped in high school.

They finally put up the Chicago announcers! Now all they need to put up is Pat Hughes' radio broadcast

I remember ESPN talking about this game non stop for days. Pretty amazing.

7:16 First batter To Craig Biggio Struck out Swinging 1st inning #1 9:03 Derek Bell - Struck Out swinging 1st Inning #2 10:31 Jeff Bagwell - Struck out Looking 1st inning #3 18:23 Jack Howell - Struck out Swinging 2nd inning #4 19:59 Moises Alou - Struck out Swining 2nd inning #5 21:14 Dave Clark - Flied out 2nd inning 29:50 Ricky Gutierrez - Base Hit 3rd inning 31:32 Brad Ausmus -Struck out Swininging 3rd inning #6 34:28 Shane Reynolds -Sacrifice Bunt 3rd inning 35:21 Craig Biggio -Ground Out 3rd inning 50:17 Derek Bell - Flied out 4th Inning 52:08 Jeff Bagwell - Struck out Looking 4th Inning #7 54:00 Jack Howell - Struck Out Looking 4th Inning #8 1:02:40 Moises Alou - Struck Out Looking 5th Inning #9 1:03:40 Dave Clark - Struck Out Looking 5th Inning #10 1:04:41 Ricky Gutierrez - Struck Out Looking 5th Inning #11 1:12:36 Brad Ausmus - Ground out 6th Inning 1:14:06 Shane Reynolds - Strike Out Looking 6th Inning #12 1:15:20 Craig Biggio - Hit by Pitch 6th Inning 1:17:55 Derek Bell - Foul Popfly 6th Inning 1:24:01 Jeff Bagwell - Struck out Looking 7th inning #13 1:25:34 Jack Howell - Struck out Swinging 7th inning #14 1:27:33 Moises Alou - Struck out Swining 7th inning #15 1:30:18 Joe Mantegna Interview 1:36:12 Dave Clark - Struck out Swininging 8th inning #16 1:39:17 Ricky Gutierrez - Struck out Swininging 8th inning #17 1:40:22 Brad Ausmus -Struck out Looking 8th inning #18 1:52:17 Bill Spiers -Struck Out Swinging 9th Inning #19 1:55:00 Craig Biggio -Ground Out 9th Inning 1:55:55 Derek Bell -Struck Out Swinging 9th Inning #20

I remember this game. Hard to believe this was 1998 with a young Kerry Wood - it just doesn't seem that long ago. I am chomping at the bit for Cubs baseball, and I am certainly going to miss the Cubs on WGN.

So happy this is available!

It was nice being able to watch free baseball on WGN as a kid.

I am a major cubs fan and I became one after watching the 2016 world series. I am not even close to 1998 being my birth year but I still love watching this game. I watch it every time I'm going on a trip its kind of like a ritual. When I was going to Chicago in April I had to watch as much as I could because most of the time I watch ten minutes and than I have to leave but this time I got ready so fast I could watch a lot more. (My birth year is 2011 in June do the math). Go Cubs Go. W

My first ever Chicago Cubs game was on April 21, 1998. I was 15 days short from witnessing history!!😭

I remember being at my store working at the time of this game, I had it on the radio and had several customer's telling me to change it but I said not today. I had a feeling about this kid that day. Near the end of the game my store's front area was loaded with people as we listened to the last 2 innings of the game and hearing the final strike out called giving Kerry 20 we all cheered. He holds the rookie record for strikeouts in a game, the National league record for most strikeouts in a game and shares the Major League record for most strikeouts in a game. He did that on this day, and even now 25 years later he still has them. I was lucky to have heard this game, I just wish I could have been there for it.

Wow, they should make a documentary about this game

One of the great baseball games, ever.

"HERE COMES THE HOOK!"

Man I wish I was around to watch this

I was there! It was also Wood's first professional complete game.

Amazing watching this unfold live, what a game!

26 years later and still a gem of a game! #flytheW #playthedamnsong

7:18 Kerry Wood breaks the home plate umpire

It’s so crazy rewatching these games as a 34 year old, oppose to watching them live as a 10 year old. Back then all the ball players were adults. Kerry was only 20?!! A KID!!! Wow.

Kerry wood strikeouts 8:36 Biggio strikes out swinging 10:05 Bell strikes out swinging 11:36 Bagwell strikes out looking 19:28 Howell Strikes out swinging 20:46 Alou strikes out swinging 33:58 Ausmus strikes out swinging 53:28 Bagwell caught looking 55:05 Howell caught looking 1:03:10 Alou strikes out looking 1:04:16 Clark punched out looking 1:06:00 Gutierrez caught looking 1:14:38 Reynolds caught looking 1:25:05 Bagwell strikes out swinging foul tip 1:27:00 Howell strikes out swinging 1:28:23 Alou check swing strikeout 1:38:40 Clark check swing strikeout 1:39:50 Gutierrez strikes out swinging 1:41:10 Ausmus caught looking 1:54:22 Spiers strikes out swinging 1:57:03 Bell strikes out swinging to end the game

The dulcet tones of the legend Steve Stone never gets old.

Kerry Wood is 9th all time in MLB history in strikeouts per 9 innings with 10.32. Wood had 1,582 strikeouts in 1,380 innings pitched in his career. He would have been a member of the 3,000 strikeout club if it weren't for all of the injuries he endured.

Mets fan here: 1998 was truly a magical year for the Cubs. If a team was on cinderella-mode in 1998, it was the Cubs, even more than the Yankees. It hurts me that Cubs couldnt win a title with Sosa and Wood on the team. They had chances in 1998, 2001, 2003, and 2004, but yeah

I stayed home that day cuz I had homework to get caught up. I listened mostly but started watching about the 7th inning because of all the excitement.

26 years ago today…. Where has the time gone?

That Steve Stone sweater tho...

There are few games that are as good re-played as they were live. This was one of them.

Wayne Messmer starting it out. Great feelings. Watched this game with my Mom. Unforgettable!

"Jerry Meals might be a key guy in this ball game." lol you ain't kidding Chip!

LOVE this. Thank you for posting!!!

It's crazy to now see the "fist pump" at the end knowing now that he did it because he had no walks in a complete game, and the fact that this is the point where he felt pain in his elbow which would become a big problem for him.

This game shredded his elbow

Statistically, the best game ever pitched.

I've watched this game maybe 50+ times. The Houston broadcast with JD and Brownie is fun too.

Amazing…watch his thumb shaking as he holds the earpiece in his ear. Just a good kid with lightning in his arm that night.

Nice to see this with the WGN telecast.

Prophetic words - "The way Kerry Wood is throwing, they don't need many runs today"

Early but I'm objectively late by 22 years

I remember being with my college friends driving around the ballpark that day. I was drop off and I heard the special day Kerry struck out 20 Astros.

Hell yeah, now i can watch it in great quality, Cheers

Shane Reynolds Strikeouts 14:13 Brown Strikes Out 15:33 Moradini Strikes Out Looking foul tip 17:43 Sosa Strikes out swinging 29:05 Orie strikes out swinging 38:25 Wood strikes out looking 41:46 Moradini strikes out swinging 49:40 Rodriguez strikes out looking 1:00:31 Orie strikes out looking 1:12:18 Sosa strikes out swinging 1:21:47 Rodriguez strikes out swinging foul tip

I watched this game live as a young kid also playing little league baseball at the time. So many great teams to watch in this era of baseball. But the cubbies were my hometown team. What a game… still a nail biter after all these years. Both pitchers were neck and neck through the 6th inning.

I can close my eyes and it takes me to the day my dad and I watched this game.

THIS IS THE BEST. CONGRATS KERRY

What a game! What a performance. Amazing!!

Not a perfect game in the statistical sense, but a perfect game to re-watch regularly. Opens with a reminder that the young #34 still has a lot of learning to do, the national anthem by the timeless voice of Wayne Messmer, old sponsorship advertisements, then nothing but magic. Everything about this game is magical.

My dad went to high school with Kerry wood yup Grand Prairie high school I’m pretty sure it was north but man I love his pitching I look up to him so much he’s my favorite player I’m going to chagrin my number to 34 when I get the chance.

Ty for posting.

I remember watching this game on WGN in STL. Kerry Wood’s stuff was insanely nasty. Disappearing corkscrew fastball and knockout slider and curve that he could throw with impunity. His fastball just exploded out of his hand, and every batter was like a full second behind it that day

Stat that really illustrates the level of dominance in this performance: In a complete 9-inning baseball game, the Houston Astros put 8 balls in play. And since one of them was a foul pop-up, they only put 7 in fair territory.

Yay finally after 30 years someone put baseball where I can watch it 🥳🥳 This game is definitely making a great first impression LoL

I remember watching this at the time! Crazy day!

HAPPY NEW YEAR KERRY!

as a kid in Louisiana, the Cubs and the Braves were the only two teams i could watch with regularity. I miss WGN

Definitely one of if not the most dominant pitching performance of all time

Saw an instagram post about this and immediately looked it up

I wasn't there but i was THERE watching it on WGN in Chicago!

I am hoping to one day hear the WGN Radio broadcast of this historic game.

At 2:00 the announcers before the game are saying the 'stros are the toughest task for any starting pitcher... cubs throw Kerry to the wolves.. lol

Sandy Koufax pitched a PERFECT game against Bob Henley (1 hitter) in 1965. The announcer called it a no-hitter, a downplay!

Good Morning, Good Afternoon, and Good Night! Happy New Year!

This game never gets old lol , back a year later for some more hehehe

Happy bday best moment in history

10:04 What a NASTY Curve! If only he was still this good...

Check out the at bat around 1:20:26 ump calls a pitch well outside a strike, than one right down the middle a ball. Amazing

Good grief Charlie Brown, I love baseball and the Cubs! Sometimes it goes your way, but sometimes it don't. The facts of life.

Ryno is my fav Cub but Alou, Gracie, Kerry, and simply dozens of other men are quite close. GO CUBS GO!

Lets Go Cubs

With the score at only 1-0 into the 8th inning and Kerry Woods mowing the Astros down with regularity, one wonders whether the Astros might have been better served somewhere between the 3rd through the 8th innings by breaking Wood’s rhythm of repetitively striking out hitter after hitter with by dropping down some inside baseball bunting and really making him work on that mound and wonder what the Astros might do next. Factor into that equation, also, that the continual rain 🌧 made the playing field wet and Wood would be disadvantaged in having to field bunts. Of course, however, expecting players of this vintage to even know how to execute properly executed and hidden bunting skills would be expecting too much. Great performance by Kerry Woods and his battery mate. No thinking cap 🧢 on management of the “lead leading” Astros, however, as the strikeouts continued with metronome regularity even if the manager had awakened to the strategy.

Go look at Kerry's stats against the DBacks in Arizona in his very next start. 😲

Kerry: I couldn’t even tell you how many I had. Steve Stone: Well you had 20, did they give you the baseball at least? Kerry: Nah, not yet. Steve Stone: Make sure you get that young man, that’s one for the mantle piece.

If I’m the shortstop and I know Wood’s on the record pace, I bobble that Biggio grounder or throw a little wild to keep it alive 😉

Other things in this game. 1) Jeff Blauser. Cub killer with the braves. Cub killer with the cubs. 2) ah those Arnie Harris fan shots.

HERE COMES THE HOOK!

Do I see Pink Hat Guy in the stands?

There should have been an Earl Campbell jersey [for the University of Texas connection] and a Walter Payton jersey in the K lineup.

Why is this not on MLB's Flashbacks reel in between inning changes

Did WGN really not use a scorebug in 1998 or did that get edited out here?

Anyone decided to write a book about this series like the one they did with the cards and cubs?

POV: your from the documentary

35:16 Will Ferrell in the American flag shirt??

I just watched this whole game, not fast forwarding when the Cubbies were at bat. Wood was an absolute force that day! Amazing. He should have been a Cincinnati Reds pitcher because everyone knows the Reds are the best. />⚾️

1:24:52 whew that was close. Indeed it was

No more 🗑I'm a Braves fan way to go Chicago today

Mandela effect I CLEARLY remember the Orie missed opportunity being in the late innings and a debate on whether it was error or not.

Jesus, Stoney. That sweater would embarrass Bill Cosby.

What incredible, is that this game doesn't seem to reflect the rest of his career, as his stats are painfully average, and he only played 14 seasons.

1:33:06 "Wonderful" and "The Godfather 3" *DO NOT* belong in the same sentence together.

I am one of the people that wasn't at this game.

3 up 3 down in the first inning all by strikeout? You know it's gonna be a long day.

1:58:05 Kerry wood interview after the. 20K game

I remember watching this live and thinking this guy is the next Nolan. To bad Dusty hurt Jerry and Priors young arms. I have always been and will forever be a Brewers fan but I will always respect and love the Cubs and the fans.

What luck. I wanted to see a strikeout at random and manage to click at 51:26..... seeing the only hit of the game.

I watched w Houston announcers

I have an excuse for not being there. I wasn’t born yet.

Lolz to the announcers talking about stolen bases...

it tells you something special when this is the best singular pitching performance in baseball history...even over perfect games. no one has been better, anywhere. ever. also a real shame they didn't score that as an error. orie had poor effort and that was clearly a pretty routine, fieldable ball. almost hot dogged it. he couldn't hit and today he was the poorest defender. this should have been a no-hitter and maybe history would have looked kinder on orie as well.

E5