For 56 years, Walter Johnson’s 3,508 career strikeouts towered above baseball history. But in 1983, the mark finally tumbled—three times.

On August 13, 44-year-old Gaylord Perry of the Kansas City Royals became the third pitcher that year, following Nolan Ryan and Steve Carlton, to pass “The Big Train.” Perry’s milestone came during a 5-3 win over the Red Sox at Fenway Park, cementing his place among the game’s all-time greats.