 Even for the era, Sewell's low strikeout numbers were remarkable.He never struck out more than 27 times in a season, and his career best was just 16 strikeouts in 451 at-bats in .Sewell held the American League record of 20 seasons as an active catcher until Carlton Fisk surpassed the record with 24 seasons as an active catcher with the Boston Red Sox (1969, 1971–80) and the Chicago White Sox (1981–93).