Nolan Ryan's record 108 mph fastball. Nolan Ryan's record 108 mph fastball. For him, worrying about what somebody did the game before was a waste of energy. The No. [11] In 1963, at an Alvin High School game at Clear Creek High School in League City, Texas, Red Murff, a scout for the New York Mets, first noticed sophomore pitcher Ryan. Oscar turned to me and said, 'A good night tonight is 0-for-4 and don't get hit in the head. Despite his .333 winning percentage, Ryan tied for 5th place in the 1987 Cy Young voting. May 22, 2013. On April 12, in his second start of the season, he allowed one hit in eight innings and struck out 15. I had forgotten this, but the Seattle crowd -- over 40,000 were on hand, most of them, I suspect, to see Ryan (the teams had drawn 14,000 the night before) -- "sensing the historic moment, rose to its feet in a sustained ovation," Reeves wrote. A wave, a grim smile, and he was gone.". (And how about crazy stuff like this: Pitching 13 innings against the Boston Red Sox on June 14, 1974, Ryan threw 235 pitches, striking out 19, walki Continue Reading Sponsored by PureCare Knee Protector David Schoenfield. Nolan Ryan played for 4 teams; the New York Mets, California Angels, Houston Astros and Texas Rangers. It was impossible not to marvel at what Ryan was doing, to separate all the SportsCenter moments from the big picture, all the strikeouts from all the walks. Overall, Ryan had 307 strikeouts in 202 minor league innings in 1966, earning a late-season call-up to the New York Mets. Nolan Ryan had 5,714 career strikeouts (Top 1,000), more than any other pitcher in history (839 more than #2 all-time, Randy Johnson). Nolan Ryan and Sandy Koufax are the only two pitchers inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame who had more strikeouts than innings pitched. It was the closest he ever came in the Cy Young balloting. As far as Nolan Ryan no-hitters would go, it was a relatively pedestrian effort, with a mere 12 strikeouts, although there were no hard-hit balls against the Angels right-hander until the final couple of innings, including the final out, a fly ball to the warning track. WebRyan was a strike out pitcher who 7 no hitters (most all time), 12 one hitters (tied for 1st) and 18 2 hitters, almost 6 thousand strike outs (most in MLB history), and over 300 wins. We present them here for purely educational purposes. Javascript is required for the selection of a player. Sept. 18, 1996 at Tigers. For much of his career, however, critics dismissed Ryan as "just a .500 pitcher," back when pitchers were judged, foremost, by their win-loss record. He lead his league in strikeouts a whopping 11 times, and six times he struck out more than 300 batters in a season. "[83] He also crossed party lines in 2002 to headline a group of Republicans and Independents supporting a Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Texas. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. Good morning, Mets fans! In 1989, at age 42, Nolan Ryan averaged 127 pitches a game with a high of 164, which came five days after he threw 150. In 1989, at age 42, Nolan Ryan averaged 127 pitches a game with a high of 164, which came five days after he threw 150. [1] Ryan had 15 or more strikeouts in a game 26 times, second only to Randy Johnson, who had 28. He would need to do that for another 32 seasons to break Ryan's record. June 3, 1989, one of those one-hitters mentioned earlier (Ryan is tied with Bob Feller for the most career one-hitters with 12). "In 1974, according to beat writers in attendance, Ryan threw 259 pitches in a 12-inning win over Kansas City." Nolan Ryan became baseball's first pitcher to 'light up the radar at a major league park. I try to get them out. It was the first of two homers in Ryan's career and produced half of the six RBIs he got that year. A month later it was a three-hit shutout with 12 strikeouts and in his final start of the season, he fanned 13 in another three-hit shutout. [13] In 1967, Ryan pitched three games in relief for the Class AAA Jacksonville Suns, started one game for the Class A Winter Haven Mets and pitched eight games for the Mets team in the Florida Instructional League. He threw 114 pitches and added 10 strikeouts in the no-hitter against the Phillies. On the other hand, Ryan walked 2,795 batters in his career -- 52.5% more than Steve Carlton, the next player on the list. ANNAPOLIS, Md. He was inducted into the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame in 2003, and named the Rangers', and Astros' Hometown Hero in 2006the only player to be so named by two franchises. Other contemporaries of Ryan also have cases that they were better than him. Monday: Home run [6] In junior high school, Ryan could throw a softball over 100 yards. He writes about how when he came up with the Mets he didn't want to be like many of the teammates he saw: "They were in their 30s, but some looked like old guys, paunchy and out of shape. [1] Ryan was unable to crack the Mets' pitching rotation, led by Tom Seaver and Jerry Koosman. WebDid Nolan Ryan throw 108 mph? WebNolan Ryan pitched 5386 innings in his career. Ruth was a high school state tennis champion. Don't throw so many curveballs on a 3-2 count. WebDid Nolan Ryan throw 108 mph? "I hurt from the moment I got out of bed 'til the moment I walked out to the mound," Ryan said after the game. [67], Ryan was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999 in his first year of eligibility with 98.79% of the vote (491 out of 497 possible), six votes short of a unanimous election and the fifth-highest percentage in history, behind Mariano Rivera (100%, 425 out of 425 possible), Derek Jeter (99.75%, 396 out of 397 possible), Ken Griffey Jr. (99.32%, 437 out of 440 possible), and Tom Seaver (98.84%, 425 out of 430 possible). Ryan had a shaky start in Game 2, taking the loss. Exceeded rookie limits during 1968 season, View Player Bio There are times when you've won some sort of victory just hitting the ball. Then the sixth no-hitter of his career on June 11, striking out 14. Ryan has co-written six books: autobiographies Miracle Man (with Jerry Jenkins, 1992), Throwing Heat (with Harvey Frommer, 1988) and The Road to Cooperstown (with Mickey Herskowitz and T.R. That started a careerlong dedication to conditioning. In addition to his baseball activities, Ryan was majority owner and chairman of Express Bank of Alvin but sold his interest in 2005. He went to a two-ball count only twice, and he did not throw a ball in the third or fifth innings. WebDid Nolan Ryan throw 108 mph? Winkles figured he meant Tom Cheney's record of 21 strikeouts in a game. Draft: Drafted by the New York Mets in the 12th round of the 1965 MLB June Amateur Draft from Alvin HS (Alvin, TX). Signing with the Rangers in 1989 when he was 42, Ryan reeled off a string of memorable performances. Reid Ryan was demoted by the Astros after the 2019 World Series, and shortly thereafter Nolan Ryan sent a text message to a reporter indicating that he would not return to the Astros front office for the 2020 season.[59]. [58] The Astros won the 2017 World Series and won the 2019 American League pennant. The final game of Ryan's career. Unknown, and un-knowable. Maybe his niche is 383 strikeouts. "[85][86] Staples, however, lost that race to current Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick of Houston. Greenberg left the group in March 2011, reportedly due to a philosophical clash with Ryan. On May 1, 1991, he pitched perhaps the best game of his career: His seventh no-hitter, against a playoff-bound Blue Jays team, striking out 16 with two walks. Ryan joined Alvin Little League Baseball when he was nine, made the all-star team when he was 11 and 12,[5] and pitched the first no-hitter of his life a few years later. Ryan threw a record seven no-hitters during his major league career, three more than any other pitcher. In 1996 Ryan campaigned on behalf of Ron Paul in the election for Texas's 14th congressional district; his hometown of Alvin was located in the district.[84]. [77], Ryan married his high school sweetheart, the former Ruth Holdorff, on June 25, 1967. Ryan was so dominant in this game, it led to one of baseball's best-remembered pranks. Playing in only two games, his first strikeout was Pat Jarvis, and he gave up his first major league home run to Joe Torre.[1]. Born: Harold Reynolds led off the game with base hit, the only one of the game for Seattle. Other contemporaries of Ryan also have cases that they were better than him. [49] After the 2009 season, Ryan and Chuck Greenberg submitted a bid to purchase the Rangers from owner Tom Hicks. Nolan Ryan became baseball's first pitcher to 'light up the radar at a major league park. That intense focus on every pitch. Making his 40th career appearance, a 23-year-old Clemens fanned 20 of the 30 Mariners he faced and allowed one run on three hits with no walks in a complete-game win. Tom Seaver and Steve Carlton were clearly better, and Phil Niekro (who also never won a Cy Young Award) and Gaylord Perry were probably better. Pitcher Nolan Ryan played 27 seasons for 4 teams. Ryan had 324 wins, 292 losses, an earned run average of 3.19, and 5,714 strikeouts. He was selected to play in 8 All-Star Games. Ryan was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1999. Win Expectancy, Run Expectancy, and Leverage Index calculations provided by Tom Tango of InsideTheBook.com, and co-author of The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball. Before the 1993 season began, Ryan announced that he would retire as a player at the end of that season. (On April 19, 1968, he had struck out three batters on nine pitches in the second inning of a 21 win over the St.Louis Cardinals, becoming the eighth National League pitcher and the 14th pitcher in Major League history to accomplish the feat. Was he the fastest pitcher ever? Ryan had curbed some of the wildness from his Angels days, but would still throw what today looks like an ungodly number of pitches: a season high of 164, seven [46] He also owned a restaurant in Three Rivers, Texas. Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan established records with his 5,714 strikeouts and seven no-hitters during his 27-year Major League Baseball career. Ryan explained to Kornheiser, "I want to make the perfect pitch. [1] In the early 1970s, many teams used a four-man rotation and expected the starter to complete the game; thus most games Ryan started ended in a decision. [15], On April 18, 1970, Ryan tied a Mets record by striking out 15 batters in one game. (Age 19-223d, You feel like you can hear the grunting. He wasnt even a top 3 pitcher in his own era. WebHighlights of Nolan Ryan's fastest pitches. I remember buying an upper-deck seat that day and moving down to a box seat, just a few rows behind the first-base dugout. The Book: Playing the Percentages in Baseball, Salaries may not be complete (especially pre-1985) and may not include some earned bonuses, Note, this is done in an automated way, so we apologize for any errors, & please. Ryan secured the 26-year-old Ventura in a headlock with his left arm, while pummeling Ventura's head with his right fist six times before catcher Ivn Rodrguez was able to pull Ventura away from Ryan. Rick George was promoted to president of business operations. [74], The Nolan Ryan Foundation is a Texas nonprofit organization that supports youth, education, and community development and is headquartered in Round Rock, Texas. Greenberg became managing general partner and CEO, while Ryan remained as team president. Alvin head coach Jim Watson and the other players on the 65 team described Ryans senior year performance with the same term: wheel horse. But he definitely had a reputation of working inside. That season, his 1.69 ERA won the National League ERA title.[1]. Opening their 2023 In the 1980 NLCS versus the Philadelphia Phillies, Ryan pitched well in Game 2, leaving the game tied 22 in the seventh (having contributed to both Astros runs with a run scored following a walk, and a sacrifice bunt leading to a run) but again got a no-decision in a game that went extra innings. Four of his five highest strikeout rates -- percentage of batters faced whom he struck out -- came in 1987, 1989, 1990 and 1991. ", Royals shortstop Freddie Patek didn't agree with Ryan's self-assessment. He was the final active player from the 1960s to retire from Major League Baseball, outlasting Carlton Fisk (the final active position player) by three months. In the fifth and final game of the series, Ryan and the Astros held a 52 lead entering the 8th inning. "Painful goodbye to a hero," read the headline in the Star-Telegram. Nolan Ryans Final Hit Batter: August 4, 1993 By Ken Allan By Referee - August 1, 2022 I n his illustrious 27-year career, Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan hit 158 batters. His catcher for that first pitch was Jim Sundberg, a six-time Gold Glover, who had Two years later, at 44, Ryan finished fifth in the league in ERA (2.91) and third in strikeouts (203).[1]. The Texas Rangers and left-handed reliever Will Smith have agreed to a one-year, $1.5 million deal. His earned run average for the first half of the 1971 season was 2.24; in the second half, it was 7.74. Wednesday: Prospects Aerosmith drummer puts Austin-area luxury home up for sale", "The Antiwar, Anti-Abortion, Anti-Drug-Enforcement-Administration, Anti-Medicare Candidacy of Dr.Ron Paul", "PRESS RELEASE: Nolan Ryan to Serve as Statewide Chairman for Staples", American League Pitcher of the Year Award, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nolan_Ryan&oldid=1141250556, Major League Baseball players with retired numbers, American chief executives of professional sports organizations, Florida Instructional League Mets players, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2021, All articles containing potentially dated statements, Articles with incomplete citations from April 2019, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, September 11,1966,for theNew York Mets, September 22,1993,for theTexas Rangers, Lowest career batting average allowed (minimum 1,500 innings pitched): .204, 26 career 15+ strikeout games by a right-handed pitcher, 36 career 14+ strikeout games by a right-handed pitcher, 56 career 13+ strikeout games by a right-handed pitcher, 95 career 12+ strikeout games by a right-handed pitcher, 151 career 11+ strikeout games by a right-handed pitcher, 3 19+ strikeout games, single season (1974), 3 18+ strikeout games, single season (1974), 3 17+ strikeout games, single season (1974), 3 16+ strikeout games by a right-handed pitcher, single season (1972, 1974), 6 15+ strikeout games, single season (1974 - tied with, 15 12+ strikeout games, single season (1973), 18 11+ strikeout games by a right-handed pitcher, single season (1973), 23 10+ strikeout games, single season (1973 - tied with, 26 9+ strikeout games, single season (1973), 29 8+ strikeout games by a right-handed pitcher, single season (1973), 32 7+ strikeout games by a right-handed pitcher, single season (1973), 36 6+ strikeout games, single season (1974 - tied with, 6.55 hits per nine innings pitched, career, minimum 1,000 innings (next-fewest is, 5.26 single-season hits per nine innings (1972), Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 24 February 2023, at 03:23. In the second one, on July 15 against the Detroit Tigers, he struck out 17 batters the most in a recorded no-hitter. Good morning, Mets fans! The marquee advertised: 'Nolan Ryan versus the Cleveland Indians.' [1] Ryan was the first pitcher in MLB history to give up ten grand slam home runs,[61] including one to Dann Howitt, the next-to-last batter Ryan faced in his career;[62] he has since been surpassed. Bill James focuses on this dichotomy between Ryan's positive and negative statistics. He was then promoted to the Class AA Williamsport Mets of the Eastern League, where he was 02 with a 0.95 ERA, striking out 35 batters in 19 innings. Total Zone Rating and initial framework for Wins above Replacement calculations provided by Sean Smith. Ryan was immediately named as CEO while keeping the title of president. (Ryan left trailing 50, and the fourth walk was completed by a reliever after Ryan's injury, but credited to Ryan.) (19071970). Meanwhile, Fregosi failed to produce as a Met, making no significant contribution to the Mets' 1973 pennant-winning campaign; he was sold to the Texas Rangers mid-season. His brain might explode. Randy Johnson is second with 839 fewer strikeouts. [1] He also set a still-standing Major League record by allowing only 5.26 hits per nine innings, breaking Luis Tiant's 5.30 in 1968, as well as posting a 2.28 earned run average that year,[1] to date the second-lowest in franchise history, trailing only Dean Chance's 1.65 in 1964. Ryan was also known to throw a devastating 126 curveball at exceptional velocity for a breaking ball.[2]. In his eight seasons with the Angels, Ryan was 138121, a 3.07 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, with 1,302 walks and 2,416 strikeouts in 2181 innings over 288 starts and 156 complete games.[20]. Just throw it down the middle, they won't hit it anyway. "[71][72], In 1995 the Texas State Legislature declared State Highway 288, which passes near Alvin, as the Nolan Ryan Expressway. Thursday: Defensive plays WebNolan Ryanis a Hall of Famepitcher and strikeoutartist who is one of the most beloved baseball players of all time. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Subscribe to Stathead Baseball: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Baseball Reference Database. The final cash bid to purchase the franchise was $385 million. Friday: Behind-the-scenes moments. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. White Sox manager Gene Lamont vehemently argued this, leading to his own ejection. "Is this his first one?" The Oakland A's are in Las Vegas this week for a preseason series, and talk of a potential move to Nevada has gained momentum, with Don Logan, president of the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators, telling ESPN, "Las Vegas offers a dynamic that no other team has.". Singer was close to no-hitter a month earlier, pitching 7 2/3 hitless innings against Atlanta on June 23. Had terrible eating habits. I'm pretty sure I could hear the grunting from there. The no-hitters spanned three decades of pitching. [82], Ryan wrote in his 1992 autobiography "Miracle Man" that he voted for Jimmy Carter over Gerald R. Ford Jr. in 1976, but since then has generally identified as a Republican, though he does not automatically vote this way and looks at individual candidates, mentioning disgust at one particular election in which the two major parties were forcing a choice between "the racist or the criminal. 1:48:32 Tiant who, mind you, is in a jam in the sixth inning is at 117 pitches. After the home run, Ryan threw three more pitches to Dave Magadan, but with a 2-1 count he summoned trainer Danny Wheat, handed Wheat the ball and walked off the mound. Fantasy baseball: Which prospects have fantasy value in 2023? After throwing 235 pitches, he started on three days of rest -- and tossed six scoreless innings. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. The hitters were in awe of him because they couldn't hit him; the pitchers were in awe of him because they understood how difficult it was to do what he did. [64] In another column, Neyer, while stating that Ryan belonged in the Hall of Fame, pointed to Ryan's record-breaking walks total and noted that his .309 on-base percentage against "wasn't even close to being in the top 100". He developed a changeup. Two starts later he pitched a one-hitter with 12 strikeouts. "He's like a child prodigy. ESPN writer Rob Neyer stated in a 2003 column that while Ryan was among the 20 best pitchers since World WarII, he "often had trouble throwing strikes, [and] he wasn't any good at fielding his position". During that 32-game season in the spring of 1965, Ryan pitched in 27 games, starting 20, and finished with 12 complete games, 211 strikeouts, and only 61 walks. That spilled over into the sportswriting of the day as well. The most meme-worthy moments ever for all 30 MLB teams. After Ryan hit Robin Ventura of the Chicago White Sox with a pitch, Ventura charged the mound in order to fight Ryan, who was 20 years his senior. He's the only guy I go against that makes me go to bed before midnight. Ryan threw out the ceremonial first pitch at a Rangers game 10 years ago. "In a move that seems both bizarre and yet totally typical, Ryan stepped back out for a curtain call. Debut: He appeared as a TV spokesman for Advil for several years, promoting the pain medication he recommended for his own arm. Ryan pitched a hitless ball game the rest of the way. Sept. 22, 1993. "When he was on the mound, he was a committed pitcher," Ryan wrote in "Miracle Man." Ryan then takes his own jab at Palmer: "Don't tell me that Jim Palmer says he wouldn't throw a 3-2 curveball if he could throw 98; he wouldn't throw it down the middle if he could he throw 98 -- and anyway, he wouldn't know what it's like because he can't throw 98. [7], In 1965, after graduating from Alvin, Ryan was drafted by the New York Mets in the 12th round of the 1965 Major League Baseball draft, with the 295th overall pick. Nolan Ryan became baseball's first pitcher to 'light up the radar at a major league park. In his subsequent report to the Mets, Murff stated that Ryan had "the best arm I've seen in my life." He wasnt even a top 3 pitcher in his own era. As a young boy, Nolan enjoyed throwing objects at any target. WebDid Nolan Ryan throw 108 mph? He needed every ounce of stamina -- physical and mental -- to concentrate on every pitch of every start. from the SABR BioProject, More Nolan Ryan Pages at Baseball Reference. To put that in perspective, Barry Bonds would have needed to hit 885 home runs to break Hank Aaron's record by 17.2%. The opposing Royals, however, understood this was no ordinary no-hitter from an ordinary pitcher. He never did anything to enhance himself physically. There will never be another pitcher like Nolan Ryan, The greatest lineups ever? Nolan Ryan's Fastest Fastball was 106.07 Miles per hour. [73], The Alvin Independent School District opened Nolan Ryan Junior High School, located at 11500 Shadow Creek Parkway (FM 2234) in Pearland, Texas, just a few hundred yards away from the Nolan Ryan Expressway. In particular, how many pitches did Nolan Ryan throw in his major league career. "Ryan tried to throw unhittable pitches, one after another, even to weak hitters, even when he was behind in the count," James wrote. From the beginning of his career to the end, a Nolan Ryan game featured strikeouts, walks, and very few hits.". Sam Miller . How fast he threw depends on who Niekro and Ryan both reach exclusive 3,000-strikeout club on Americas birthday Four [33] On May 1, 1991, at age 44, Ryan extended his record by throwing the seventh no-hitter of his career,[34] striking out Roberto Alomar of the Toronto Blue Jays for the final out. Ryan added a third no-hitter in 1974 and a fourth in 1975, tying another of Koufax's records. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Many of the pitchers were all 15 to 20 pounds overweight and it affected their effectiveness. A primitive radar gun clocked a ninth-inning fastball at 100.8 miles per hour (162.2km/h) when it was 10 feet (3.0m) in front of home plate. Ryan himself seemed rather unimpressed with the whole affair, saying his biggest thrill in baseball remained pitching in the World Series for the Mets in 1969. Ryans stat line from that game: 13 innings, 19 strikeouts, 10 walks, 58 batters ", Dave Duncan: "A guy like Ryan doesn't just get you out. [13], When Ryan was called up by the New York Mets in 1966, he was the second-youngest player in the league. Ryan, pitching for the Rangers in his 27th and final major league season at age 46, was a living legend. ANNAPOLIS, Md. View Nolan Ryan's Page at the Baseball Hall of Fame (plaque, photos, videos). He had a league-leading 329 strikeoutsnearly a third more than the AL runner-up, and to that point, the fourth-highest total of the 20th century. At midnight on August 5, 2010, the Ryan/Greenberg group, Rangers Baseball Express, was announced as the winners of the final auction to purchase the Rangers, after final approval from Major League Baseball. To describe him as unique and fascinating barely paints the picture. Of course, we now understand that judgment wasn't completely fair. [52], During the baseball owners' meetings in Scottsdale, Arizona, on March 1, 2013, the Rangers announced that general manager Jon Daniels would add president of baseball operations to his title. On Friday, Will Sammon of The Athletic released an article about Justin Verlander and how he is still attempting to introduce a changeup into his repertoire at this stage of his career. He did not have a reputation as a headhunter, said retired MLB umpire Larry Young. in Refugio, TX After Singer was sidelined early in the 1970 season due to hospitalization for hepatitis, he returned to win six of his first seven games. [47] Ryan suffered a heart attack on April 25, 2000, and had to receive a double coronary bypass.[48]. That's what Ryan did throughout his career: do things that now seem fictional. He struck out 301 batters that season, the first time he had topped 300 since 1977. In 1974 he twice struck out 19 batters, tying Tom Seaver and Steve Carlton for the single-game record for a nine-inning game. In the weeklong series focusing on a different baseball theme each day, we asked our MLB reporters to tell us the stories of the best they ever saw -- with only one rule: They had to be there to witness it in person. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Ryan did change, however, at least a little. Nolan Ryan had 5,714 strikeouts over his career. Ryan is one of only three players in history to have his number retired by at least three teams, along with Jackie Robinson (whose number was retired by Major League Baseball) and Frank Robinson. The record is 177, by Tim Wakefield. September 22, 1993 He started Game 1 of the ALCS and threw seven innings against the Orioles' Jim Palmer, but neither man was involved in the decision as Baltimore won in the 10th inning. Planes, trains and parachutes? WebNolan Ryan made history by becoming the first to throw five no-hitters, on Sept. 26, 1981. His father thought baseball a better usage for his arm; therefore, he encouraged Nolan to play the game. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. [12] Ryan signed with the Mets and immediately pitched for the Marion Mets in the Appalachian League and for the Mets team in the Florida Instructional League. Umpire Ron Luciano, after first doubling over in laughter, told Cash to get rid of it. Some of his best seasons came at the end of his Astros tenure and then with the Rangers. WebDid Nolan Ryan throw over 200 pitches in a game? Opposing hitters hit only .204 against Ryan during his career, although they had a .309 on-base percentage against him. "I never honestly felt I was the type of pitcher to pitch a no-hitter," Ryan suggested after the game. [70], In 1992, the United States Mint produced a $1 commemorative coin honoring Olympic baseball depicting a pitcher in a USA Baseball uniform, but in a pose nearly identical to Ryan's photo on his 1991 Fleer baseball card. Absolutely. When you watch highlights of him pitching, whether from his first no-hitter or his seventh one 18 years later, you see the same push off the mound, the tremendous drive with the legs, the max-effort delivery. [4] Ryan's family lived in nearby Woodsboro, Texas in Refugio County, until they moved to Alvin, Texas in Brazoria County, when Nolan was six weeks old. Ryan isn't really into much self-analysis, at least on the baseball field. Why is he still pitching? He was 63. We have the numbers. From a pitcher with nine RBIs in a game to an infielder you never heard of who went 7-for-7, here's a fun fact you probably didn't know for all 30 teams. [17], Ryan's performance declined sharply in the second half of his final season with the Mets. He has 5,714 career strikeouts, nearly a thousand more than the next closest pitcher (Randy Johnson). Would never work. He embarrasses you. Ryan played in more seasons (27) than any other player in modern (since 1900) major league history (All-time he is tied with Cap Anson for #1). Nolan Ryan was born on January 31, 1947, in Refugio, Texas, a small town located just south of Victoria in the southern part of the state. Ryan also played various positions besides pitcher. All rights reserved. [16] Ryan has credited his time with Seaver and the Mets with turning him from just a flamethrower into a pitcher. Senior captain Nate Mitchell registered a career-high seven strikeouts in the opening game of Saturday's doubleheader, but the Navy baseball team fell to Massachusetts, 4-2, in the series opener before dropping the back half of the twinbill by a 14-3 score at Terwilliger Brothers Field at Max Bishop Stadium.