After throwing 235 pitches, he started on three days of rest -- and tossed six scoreless innings. [76], The Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame inducted Ryan in 2010. (This record was later tied by Max Scherzer on October 3, 2015.) Remarking on this feat, Koufax joked, "Yeah, and he also surpassed my total for bases on balls in a single season by 91. Similarly, Ryan's 2,795 bases on balls lead second-place Steve Carlton by 962 walking over 50% more hitters than any other pitcher in MLB history. I'm not saying he isn't a winner. In the fifth and final game of the series, Ryan and the Astros held a 52 lead entering the 8th inning. Absolutely. On June 14, 1974, Ryan purportedly threw 235 pitches in a start against the Red Sox. Ryans stat line from that game: 13 innings, 19 strikeouts, 10 walks, 58 batters faced, three runs allowed. It marked one of three times in his career (twice during 1974) that Ryan had 19 Ks in an extra-inning game. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Ryan Express is a nickname for Nolan Ryan. NAME SEASON TM G IP W L W% GS CG GF SHO SV H TBF R ER HR BB IBB HBP "First, the other players were somewhat in awe of Ryan. Ryan also walked 162 batters -- actually a reasonable total for him at that point in his career. He threw 114 pitches and added 10 strikeouts in the no-hitter against the Phillies. Nolan Ryan's record 108 mph fastball. "[26], Pitching 13 innings against the Boston Red Sox on June 14, 1974, Ryan threw 235 pitches, striking out 19, walking 10 and getting a no-decision. "[24] Ryan threw two no-hitters in 1973. With his injured arm, his final pitch was measured at 98 miles per hour (158km/h). 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 served on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission from 1995 to 2001. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. (Carlton reached the same mark two weeks after Ryan, and Gaylord Perry did so later that season.) A pitcher could have 17 such Gerrit Cole seasons in a row -- and he would still be 173 strikeouts short of surpassing Ryan's record. "When he was on the mound, he was a committed pitcher," Ryan wrote in "Miracle Man." [18] As of 2021[update], this was the steepest second half increase in ERA for a starting pitcher in MLB history. Ryan threw a record seven no-hitters during his major league career, three more than any other pitcher. WebNolan Ryan pitched 222 complete games in his career. (Age 46-234d) Strikeouts are only a part of his dominance, but in just 1,260 career innings, the 65 righty already has 1,161 strikeouts and is pitching no-hitters like hes Nolan Ryan. Of course, we now understand that judgment wasn't completely fair. However, the Hall of Fame recognizes the Los Angeles Angels as his primary team. [75], The Texas Trail of Fame inducted Ryan in 2009. All rights reserved. The marquee advertised: 'Nolan Ryan versus the Cleveland Indians.' "[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. 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. Monday: Home run Draft: Drafted by the New York Mets in the 12th round of the 1965 MLB June Amateur Draft from Alvin HS (Alvin, TX). Major League Baseball pitcher for 27 seasons, with the New York Mets, the California Angels, the Houston Astros and the Texas Rangers. 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. [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. [1] On July 4 of that season, at Riverfront Stadium, Ryan recorded his 3,000th career strikeout, the victim being Csar Gernimo of the Cincinnati Reds (Gernimo had also been Bob Gibson's 3,000th strikeout victim, in 1974). 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. Ryan threw out the ceremonial first pitch at a Rangers game 10 years ago. Nothing. Ryan was the youngest of six children born to Martha Lee (ne Hancock; 19131990) and Lynn Nolan Ryan Sr. On July 11, 1985, Ryan struck out Danny Heep for his 4,000th career strikeout.[31]. Ryan was immediately named as CEO while keeping the title of president. When he signed his record-setting free-agent deal with the Astros for the 1980 season, making him the first player to earn a $1 million annual salary, his career record was just 167-159. On November 19, 1979, Nolan Ryan became the first million-dollar player when he signed a four-year free-agent contract with the Houston Astros for $4.5 million (equivalent to $16.8million in 2021). "He's throwing the ball harder than any man I ever saw in my life," first baseman John Mayberry said. Join our linker program. [53] On October 17, 2013, Ryan announced that he was stepping down as Rangers CEO effective October 31, 2013. Ryan, Pedro Martnez, Randy Johnson, Trevor Hoffman, and Sandy Koufax are the only five pitchers inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame who had more strikeouts than innings pitched. 2 pitcher in the league that year averaged 7.74. Ryan also played various positions besides pitcher. 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. He maintained this velocity throughout his pitching career. Ryan would have to settle for 235 pitches in this game. Greenberg became managing general partner and CEO, while Ryan remained as team president. [15] The deal has been cited as one of the worst in Mets history but was not viewed as unreasonable at the time given Ryan's relatively unremarkable numbers as a Met and Fregosi's good career to that point.[21][22][23]. January 31, 1947 I'm not sure how he would function in the modern world of analytics. Nolan Ryan of the California Angels threw 235 pitches but was not involved in the decision in the Angels 4-3, 15-inning victory over the Boston Red Sox. "He'd do whatever it took to win. Mark Vientos demolishes a breaking ball off the batter's eye in center field for a massive 469-foot three-run home run. His earned run average for the first half of the 1971 season was 2.24; in the second half, it was 7.74. Oh, Ryan also pitched the entire game with a sore on his middle finger that cracked open as he warmed up in the bullpen. Thursday: Defensive plays Home. In the fifth and final game of the series, Ryan left trailing 30 and took the loss. Ryan had five of the 14 highest game scores of the season, a one-person highlight reel. Oliver's father Bob had also been a teammate of Ryan's, with the Angels from 1972 to 1974.) 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. The final game of Ryan's career. ", Alan Ashby: "The funniest line I ever heard about Nolan was said by Oscar Gamble. After finding a legitimate piece of lumber to use, Cash popped out and Ryan had the no-hitter. "In the face of overwhelming criticism," Kornheiser wrote, "he persists: His way is the right way." He appeared as a TV spokesman for Advil for several years, promoting the pain medication he recommended for his own arm. The final cash bid to purchase the franchise was $385 million. Sam Miller . [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. He has 5,714 career strikeouts, nearly a thousand more than the next closest pitcher (Randy Johnson). Ryan pitched well for the Mets in the 1969 postseason. Copy. 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. The Mets later drafted Ryan. From the beginning of his career to the end, a Nolan Ryan game featured strikeouts, walks, and very few hits.". "[25] With a regulation bat in hand, Cash did finally make contact, but popped out to end the game. His brain might explode. 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. To put that in perspective, Barry Bonds would have needed to hit 885 home runs to break Hank Aaron's record by 17.2%. [74], The Nolan Ryan Foundation is a Texas nonprofit organization that supports youth, education, and community development and is headquartered in Round Rock, Texas. No Gavin Lux -- big problem. The California Angels retired the number 30 on June 16, 1992; the Texas Rangers retired his number 34 on September 15, 1996; and the Houston Astros retired number 34 on September 29, 1996. Ryan had a shaky start in Game 2, taking the loss. WebNot that he never had any injuries; he did. In 1974 he twice struck out 19 batters, tying Tom Seaver and Steve Carlton for the single-game record for a nine-inning game. One of a kind? "Check his bat!" 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. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. The Houston bullpen allowed the Phillies to take a 75 lead, and only a game-tying Astro rally permitted Ryan to escape the loss. [17], Ryan's performance declined sharply in the second half of his final season with the Mets. [77], Ryan married his high school sweetheart, the former Ruth Holdorff, on June 25, 1967. 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. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? On Aug. 20, 1974, in a game against the Detroit Tigers, then Angels pitcher Nolan Ryan pitched an 11-inning complete game 1-0 loss. Ryan was scheduled to pitch Game 5, but the Angels were eliminated in four. Sept. 22, 1993. 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 Ryan struck out 17 in his no-hitter on July 15, 1973, versus Detroit and walked eight in his subsequent no-hitter against Minnesota, both respective highs for his no-hitters. His likeness was used in the "Nolan Ryan Fitness Guide", published by The President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports in 1994. vs. ATL 2.0 IP, 1 H, 3 SO, 1 BB, 1 ER, Last Game: us. WebDid Nolan Ryan throw 108 mph? Ryan got a no-decision as his Astros lost in 12 innings. Oscar turned to me and said, 'A good night tonight is 0-for-4 and don't get hit in the head. Total Zone Rating and initial framework for Wins above Replacement calculations provided by Sean Smith. Maybe the Kornheiser piece best figures out Ryan. Nolan Ryan. "Well, I don't believe it'll be his last.". He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999,[1] and is widely considered to be one of the greatest MLB pitchers of all time. 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. No. Angels manager Bobby Winkles wanted to take Ryan out. Ryan's log of spectacular accomplishments is as thick as Bill Clinton's little black book; his list of flaws and failures is lengthy but dry, and will never make for good reading. [65], Ryan and Frank Robinson are the only two major league players to have their number retired by three teams on which they played. The greatest ever? He did not have a reputation as a headhunter, said retired MLB umpire Larry Young. [8][9] Ryan held the school's single game strikeout record for 44 years, striking out 21 hitters in a 7-inning game. He had been determined to be more aggressive after coming out on the wrong side of an altercation with Dave Winfield in 1980. Then the sixth no-hitter of his career on June 11, striking out 14. Ryan got his third taste of postseason play in 1980, but the Astros were stopped one game short of the World Series. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. Much of the play-by-play, game results, and transaction information both shown and used to create certain data sets was obtained free of charge from and is copyrighted by RetroSheet. If you're going to lose, it's sure great to strike out 380 guys. Despite his .333 winning percentage, Ryan tied for 5th place in the 1987 Cy Young voting. Ryan's title was changed simply to CEO, but he remained operating head of the franchise; both Daniels and George reported to him. Despite this, he never pitched a perfect game, nor did he ever win a Cy Young Award; both were largely attributed to his high walk rate. Opposing hitters hit only .204 against Ryan during his career, although they had a .309 on-base percentage against him. In 1986, Ryan's Astros faced the New York Mets in the National League Championship Series. 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. On Aug. 20, 1974, in a game against the Detroit Tigers, then Angels pitcher Nolan Ryan pitched an 11-inning complete game 1-0 loss. [17], In five seasons with the Mets, 105 games and 74 starts, Ryan had a 2938 record, with a 3.58 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, with 344 walks and 493 strikeouts in 511 innings. ESPN wryly suggested the Astros might have needed to pull the 58-year-old Ryan out of retirement if the game had gone much longer. "The mystique of Nolan Ryan was based on two things," Bill James wrote in "The New Historical Baseball Abstract." Ryan had no idea. We have the numbers. In Tony Kornheiser's profile of Ryan in the inaugural edition of Inside Sports magazine heading into that season --- Ryan was the cover subject -- Jim Palmer, Ryan's contemporary, threw a pointed barb. "At the end of 12 innings I told him that's it, but he said, 'You got to let me pitch at least one more inning because I haven't set my record yet.'". He developed a changeup. How fast he threw depends on who We were teammates on Cleveland and driving past Anaheim Stadium. 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. In a sense, that was understandable. He has 5,714 career strikeouts, an MLB record[1] that is 839 more than runner-up Randy Johnson. The salary quadrupled what he had been making with the California Angels. That might not seem so impressive now, but factor in that radar guns used back then were slower than today's technology. September 22, 1993 Greg Myers of the California Angels was the last strikeout victim of Nolan Ryan's career, on September 17, 1993.[36]. These pitchers are Walter Big He became the first player to play for all four MLB original expansion teams: the Mets, Angels, Houston Colt .45s/ Astros and Washington Senators/Texas Rangers. ", "In baseball-filled life, Ruth Ryan proud of kids", "As Texas Watches, Ryan Hurls Against Ryan", "Nolan Ryan's wife used to catch for him when he was in the majors", "Want to live like a rock star? 83 percent of those 76 pitches were strikes. However, in his 1992 book Ryan expressed some criticisms of the elder Bush's (George H.W. Winkles figured he meant Tom Cheney's record of 21 strikeouts in a game. Ryan struck out 5,714 batters in his career, 17.2% more than Randy Johnson, the No. 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. [20], Ryan left Houston after a contract dispute following the 1988 season and signed with the Texas Rangers at age 42. 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. WebDid Nolan Ryan throw 108 mph? After 5,386 innings, 5,714 strikeouts and an estimated 34,500 pitches, Ryan's elbow ligament had finally snapped. [69] That year, he ranked 41st on The Sporting News list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players and was elected to the Major League Baseball All-Century Team. Incredibly, pitchers Leon Cadore and Joe Oeschger each went the distance. Ryan is quoted as saying, "Todd Staples is the top prospect for the Texas Republican Party in 2014. Overall, Ryan had 307 strikeouts in 202 minor league innings in 1966, earning a late-season call-up to the New York Mets. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. On Aug. 20, 1974, in a game against the Detroit Tigers, then Angels pitcher Nolan Ryan pitched an 11-inning complete game 1-0 loss. He had been saving it for a World Series celebration. Before the 1993 season began, Ryan announced that he would retire as a player at the end of that season. He was the first Hall of Famer inducted as a Ranger. [50] Although Texas oil magnates Ray Davis and Bob Simpson served as co-chairmen and held larger stakes, Ryan became the undisputed head of the franchise, with Davis and Simpson serving mostly as senior consultants. We do get examples of his work ethic. In the first 50 Major League games of his career, Harris has slashed .289/.323/.494 with eight homers and 28 RBI. How many strikeouts did Nolan Ryan have in his career? ), In 1973, Ryan set his first major record when he struck out 383 batters in one season, beating Sandy Koufax's old mark by one. To describe him as unique and fascinating barely paints the picture. In some way, perhaps, it was also acknowledging that gift of maybe the fastest fastball ever. Niekro and Ryan both reach exclusive 3,000-strikeout club on Americas birthday Four He is tied with Bob Feller for the most one-hitters, with 12. Ruth was a high school state tennis champion. He needed every ounce of stamina -- physical and mental -- to concentrate on every pitch of every start. [68] He chose to wear a Rangers cap for his HOF plaque to reflect his Texas heritage, as well as the fact that his 300th win, 5000th strikeout, and last two no-hitters came as a Ranger. "[32] His 4,999th and 5,001st strikeouts were against the same man, Athletics catcher Ron Hassey. This exceeded an earlier pitch by Bob Feller which was measured at 98.6 miles per hour (158.7km/h) at home plate and previously thought to be the fastest pitch ever recorded.[29]. [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. [16] Ryan has credited his time with Seaver and the Mets with turning him from just a flamethrower into a pitcher. Near the end of Ryan's career, the evaluation shifted. [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. The Texas Rangers and left-handed reliever Will Smith have agreed to a one-year, $1.5 million deal. Some defensive statistics Copyright Sports Info Solutions, 2010-2023. WebNolan Ryan of the California Angels pitching.