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'{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2015}} {{Infobox baseball biography |image= Nolan Ryan Tiger Stadium 1990 CROP.jpg |caption= Ryan with the Texas Rangers in 1990 |name=aj is the colder than devin |position= [[Pitcher]] |bats= Right |throws= Right |birth_date= {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1947|1|31}} |birth_place= [[Refugio, Texas]] |debutleague = MLB |debutdate= September 11 |debutyear= 1966 |debutteam= New York Mets |finalleague = MLB |finaldate= September 22 |finalyear= 1993 |finalteam= Texas Rangers |statleague = MLB |stat1label= [[Win–loss record (pitching)|Win–loss record]] |stat1value= 324–292 |stat2label= [[Earned run average]] |stat2value= 3.19 |stat3label= [[Strikeout]]s |stat3value= 5,714 |teams= * [[New York Mets]] ({{mlby|1966}}, {{mlby|1968}}–{{mlby|1971}}) * [[California Angels]] ({{mlby|1972}}–{{mlby|1979}}) * [[Houston Astros]] ({{mlby|1980}}–{{mlby|1988}}) * [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]] ({{mlby|1989}}–{{mlby|1993}}) |highlights= * 8× [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] ([[1972 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1972]], [[1973 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1973]], [[1975 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1975]], [[1977 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1977]], [[1979 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1979]], [[1981 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1981]], [[1985 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1985]], [[1989 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1989]]) * [[World Series]] champion ({{wsy|1969}}) * 2× [[List of Major League Baseball annual ERA leaders|NL ERA leader]] (1981, 1987) * 11× [[List of Major League Baseball annual strikeout leaders|Strikeout leader]] (1972–1974, 1976–1979, 1987–1990) * [[Los Angeles Angels#Retired numbers|Los Angeles Angels #30]] retired * [[Houston Astros#Retired numbers|Houston Astros #34]] retired * [[Texas Rangers (baseball)#Retired numbers|Texas Rangers #34]] retired * [[Angels Hall of Fame]] * [[Texas Rangers Hall of Fame]] * [[Major League Baseball All-Century Team]] '''MLB records''' * 5,714 career strikeouts * 7 career [[no-hitter]]s |hoflink = National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum |hoftype = National |hofdate= [[Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, 1999|1999]] |hofvote= 98.8% (first ballot) }} '''Lynn Nolan Ryan Jr.''' (born January 31, 1947), nicknamed '''The Ryan Express''', is a former [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) [[pitcher]] and a previous [[chief executive officer]] (CEO) of the [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]]. He is currently an executive adviser to the owner of the [[Houston Astros]]. Ryan enjoyed a major league record 27-year baseball career that spanned four decades: [[1966 New York Mets season|1966]], [[1968 New York Mets season|1968]]{{ndash}}[[1993 Texas Rangers season|1993]]. He pitched for four different teams: the [[New York Mets]], [[California Angels]], [[Houston Astros]], and [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]]. He was inducted into the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|Baseball Hall of Fame]] in 1999.<ref name=data>Pitching Splits and Daily Pitching Logs at [http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/R/Pryann001.htm Retrosheet] and [https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/ryanno01.shtml Baseball-Reference.com].</ref> Ryan, a hard-throwing, [[Handedness|right-handed]] pitcher, threw pitches that were regularly clocked above 100 miles per hour (161&nbsp;km/h). He maintained this velocity throughout his career, even into his 40s. Ryan was also known to throw a devastating [[12–6 curveball]] at exceptional velocity for a breaking ball.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Neyer/James Guide to Pitchers|year=2004|publisher=Fireside|location=New York|isbn=0-7432-6158-5|pages=382–383|author=Bill James|author2=Rob Neyer }}</ref> Ryan had a lifetime winning percentage of .526, and he was an eight-time MLB All-Star. His 5,714 career strikeouts is an MLB record by a significant margin and will be difficult for any future pitcher to surpass.<ref name=data/> He leads the runner-up, [[Randy Johnson]], by 839 strikeouts. 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. Ryan, [[Pedro Martínez]], [[Randy Johnson]], and [[Sandy Koufax]] are the only four pitchers inducted into the [[Baseball Hall of Fame]] who had more strikeouts than innings pitched. Besides [[Jackie Robinson]] (whose number was retired by Major League Baseball) and [[Frank Robinson]] (3 teams), Ryan is the only other major league baseball player to have his number retired by at least three different teams: the Angels, Astros, and Rangers. Ryan is the all-time leader in [[no-hitter]]s with seven, three more than any other pitcher. He is tied with [[Bob Feller]] for the most one-hitters, with 12. Ryan also pitched 18 two-hitters. Despite the seven no-hitters, he was never the winning pitcher of a [[perfect game]], nor did he ever win a [[Cy Young Award]]. Ryan is one of only 29 players in baseball history to have [[List of Major League Baseball players who played in four decades|appeared in Major League baseball games in four decades]] and the only pitcher to have struck out seven pairs of fathers and sons. ==Early life== Ryan was born in [[Refugio, Texas|Refugio]], south of [[Victoria, Texas|Victoria]] in south [[Texas]], the youngest of six children,<ref>{{cite book |title=Throwing Heat: The Autobiography of Nolan Ryan|last=Ryan|first=Nolan|first2=Harvey|last2=Frommer|year=1988|publisher=Doubleday|location=New York|isbn=0-385-24438-X}}</ref> to Lynn Nolan Ryan Sr. (1907–1970), and the former Martha Lee Hancock (1913–1990).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Ryan&GSfn=Lynn&GSmn=Nolan&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSob=n&GRid=16337975&df=all&|title=Lynn Nolan Ryan Sr.|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=January 4, 2017}}</ref><ref>The senior Lynn Ryans are interred at Confederate Cemetery in [[Alvin, Texas|Alvin]], [[Texas]].</ref> The senior Ryan operated a newspaper delivery service for the ''[[Houston Post]]'' that required him to rise in the early morning hours to prepare 1,500 [[newspaper]]s for delivery over a 55-mile route. The children were expected to help with the daily tasks.<ref>''Miracle Man: Nolan Ryan: The Autobiography'', with Jerry Jenkins, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1992, {{ISBN|0-8499-0945-7}}, pp. 33, 65, 66.</ref> Ryan's family lived in nearby [[Woodsboro, Texas|Woodsboro]] in [[Refugio County, Texas|Refugio County]], until they moved to [[Alvin, Texas|Alvin]] in [[Brazoria County, Texas|Brazoria County]], when Nolan was six weeks old. As a young boy, Nolan enjoyed throwing objects at any target. His father thought baseball a better usage for his arm; therefore, he encouraged Nolan to play the game. Ryan joined Alvin Little League Baseball when he was nine, made the all-star team when he was 11 and 12,<ref name="nolanryan.net">{{cite web|url=http://www.nolanryan.net/nolanryan.net/Nolan_Ryan,_The_Man/Nolan_Ryan,_The_Man.html|title=Nolan Ryan, The Man|publisher=Nolanryan.net|accessdate=September 1, 2013}}</ref> and pitched the first [[no-hitter]] of his life a few years later. Ryan also played various positions besides pitcher.<ref>{{cite book|last=Sanna|first=Ellyn|title=Nolan Ryan|year=2003|publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group|isbn=0-8239-3601-5}}</ref> Ryan played baseball for Coach Jim Watson at [[Alvin High School]] for all of his high school career.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nolanryanfoundation.org/museum.htm|title=Nolan Ryan Foundation Entry Page|publisher=Nolanryanfoundation.org|accessdate=September 1, 2013|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130917020812/http://www.nolanryanfoundation.org/museum.htm|archivedate=September 17, 2013|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Nolan_Ryan.aspx|title=Nolan Ryan infosite|publisher=Encyclopedia.com |accessdate=September 1, 2013}}</ref> Ryan held the school's single game strikeout record for 44 years, striking out 21 hitters in a 7-inning game.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://insidecorner.dmagazine.com/2009/04/08/reporters-notebook-rangers-replace-metcalf-with-german|title=D Magazine – Dallas Guide to Restaurants, Nightlife, Things to Do, Shopping, Politics, and Culture. Find all the best Dallas has to offer|publisher=Insidecorner.dmagazine.com|accessdate=September 1, 2013|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archiveperfect.org/web/20130127160043/http://insidecorner.dmagazine.com/2009/04/08/reporters-notebook-rangers-replace-metcalf-with-german/|archivedate=January 27, 2013|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The record was eventually tied by Alvin High School pitchers Aaron Stewart and Josh Land in the same week in 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.alvinbaseball.org/teams/varsity/nolan-ryan-strikeout-record-broken|title=Nolan Ryan Strikeout Record Broken! – Alvin High School Baseball|publisher=Alvinbaseball.org|date=December 7, 2011|accessdate=September 1, 2013}}</ref> In 1963, at an Alvin High School game at [[Clear Creek High School (League City, Texas)|Clear Creek High School]] in [[League City, Texas|League City]], Texas, [[Red Murff]], a scout for the New York Mets, first noticed sophomore pitcher Ryan. Coach Watson recounted to Murff that some opponents refused to bat against Ryan and how his hard pitches would sometimes break bones in his catchers' hands. In his subsequent report to the Mets, Murff stated that Ryan had "the best arm I've seen in my life." <ref name="nolanryan.net"/> ==Playing career== ===New York Mets (1966, 1968–1971)=== In 1965, after graduating from Alvin High School, Ryan was drafted by the New York Mets in the 12th round of the [[1965 Major League Baseball draft]].<ref name=data/> He was assigned the minor league [[Marion Mets]] in the [[Appalachian League]].<ref name=minors>Minor League Career Statistics at [https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=ryan--001lyn Baseball-Reference.com]</ref> When Ryan was called up to the New York club the following year, he was the second-youngest player in the league. His first strikeout was [[Pat Jarvis (baseball)|Pat Jarvis]], and he gave up his first major league home run to [[Joe Torre]], a future NL MVP and Hall of Fame big-league manager.<ref name=data/> Ryan missed much of the 1967 season due to illness, an arm injury, and service with the Army Reserve; he pitched only 7 innings for the Mets' minor league affiliate in Jacksonville.<ref name=minors/> Ryan returned to the major leagues to stay starting with the 1968 season.<ref name=data/> Ryan was unable to crack the Mets' pitching rotation, led by [[Tom Seaver]] and [[Jerry Koosman]]. Ryan was used more as a [[Relief pitcher|reliever]] and [[spot starter]] by the [[1969 New York Mets season|1969 Mets]]. To deal with frequent blisters on his throwing hand he often soaked his fingers in pickle [[brine]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baseballlibrary.com/ballplayers/player.php?name=Nolan_Ryan_1947|title=The Ballplayers – Nolan Ryan|publisher=BaseballLibrary.com|accessdate=March 12, 2011|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101223202105/http://www.baseballlibrary.com/ballplayers/player.php?name=Nolan_Ryan_1947|archivedate=December 23, 2010|df=mdy-all}}</ref> although the technique's effectiveness was questioned by Ryan's teammates and coaches. Ryan pitched well for the [[1969 New York Mets season|Miracle Mets]] in the 1969 postseason. Against the [[1969 Atlanta Braves season|Braves]] in the [[1969 National League Championship Series|NLCS]], Ryan completed a Mets sweep by throwing seven innings of relief in Game 3, getting his first playoff win (it would take him 12 years to get another). Then in the [[1969 World Series]], Ryan saved Game 3, pitching 2⅓ shutout innings against the [[1969 Baltimore Orioles season|Baltimore Orioles]]. The Game 3 victory gave the Mets a 2–1 lead in the Series, which they went on to win in five games. It would be Ryan's only [[World Series]] appearance in his career.<ref name="baseball-reference.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/ryanno01.shtml|title=Nolan Ryan Stats - Baseball-Reference.com|website=Baseball-Reference.com|accessdate=December 7, 2017}}</ref> On April 18, 1970, Ryan tied a Mets record by striking out 15 batters in one game.<ref name=data/> Four days later, Ryan's teammate, [[Tom Seaver]], topped it with a then MLB record 19 against the [[1970 San Diego Padres season|San Diego Padres]] (though Ryan would tie this record four years later).<ref>{{cite news|title=What a Day For Tom Seaver|agency=Associated Press|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=EC9IAAAAIBAJ&sjid=awANAAAAIBAJ&pg=800,6410735|newspaper=Meriden Journal|date=April 23, 1970|accessdate=April 18, 2011}}</ref> Ryan has credited his time with Seaver and the Mets with turning him from just a flamethrower to a pitcher. Contrary to popular belief, Ryan never wanted to be traded from the Mets and felt betrayed by the team that drafted him. His views on this only calmed once he started running the Rangers and gained a better understanding of the business side of baseball.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ivieleagueproductions/2012/03/14/the-kult-of-mets-personalities-nolan-ryan-kris-benson |title=The Kult Of Mets Personalities – Nolan Ryan/Kris Benson 03/14 by Ivie League Prod|publisher=Blogtalkradio.com|date=March 14, 2012|accessdate=September 1, 2013}}</ref> ===California Angels (1972–1979)=== {{MLBBioRet |Image = AngelsRetired30.png |Name = Nolan Ryan |Number = 30 |Team = California Angels |Year = 1992 |}} On December 10, 1971, Ryan was traded to the [[California Angels]] along with pitcher [[Don Rose (baseball)|Don Rose]], catcher [[Francisco Estrada]], and outfielder [[Leroy Stanton]] for shortstop [[Jim Fregosi]] (who would later manage Ryan in Anaheim). The deal has been cited as one of the worst in Mets history but was not viewed as unreasonable at the time. <ref name="baseball-reference.com"/> In his [[1972 Major League Baseball season|first season]] with the [[1972 California Angels season|Angels]], Ryan was given a chance to pitch regularly as a starter for the first time in his career. He had a league-leading 329 strikeouts—nearly a third more than the AL runner-up, and to that point, the fourth-highest total of the 20th century. Within five seasons, the season would only be Ryan's fourth-highest strikeout total.<ref name=data/> 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,<ref name=data/> to date the second lowest in franchise history, trailing only [[Dean Chance]]'s 1.65 in 1964. Though Ryan's actual winning percentage hovered only slightly over .500, his strikeouts and no-hitters brought him media attention. Meanwhile, Fregosi failed to produce as a Met, making no significant contribution to the [[1973 New York Mets season|Mets' 1973]] pennant-winning campaign; he was sold to the [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]] mid-season.<ref name="baseball-reference.com"/> Although the Angels were a sub-.500 team and remained one for much of his time there, Ryan managed to post some winning records, notably 19–16 in 1972, 21–16 in 1973 and 22–16 in 1974 (the 22 wins tied what remains the Angels franchise record, set by [[Clyde Wright]] in 1970). He finished 2nd in the Cy Young balloting (losing to [[Jim Palmer]] 88 to 62) in 1973. It was the closest he ever came in the Cy Young balloting. Ryan also led the league in losses in 1976 with a 17–18 record (one short of the franchise record for losses).<ref name=data/> 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. [[File:Nolan Ryan 1972.jpeg|thumb|left|150px|Ryan, circa 1972]] On July 9, 1972, Ryan struck out three batters on nine pitches in the second inning of a 3–0 win over the [[1972 Boston Red Sox season|Boston Red Sox]]; he became the seventh American League pitcher to accomplish the nine-pitch/three-strikeout half-inning (known as an immaculate inning), and the first (and currently only) pitcher in Major League history to accomplish the feat in both leagues. (On April 19, 1968, he had struck out three batters on nine pitches in the second inning of a 2–1 win over the [[1968 St. Louis Cardinals season|St.&nbsp;Louis Cardinals]], becoming the eighth National League pitcher and the 14th pitcher in Major League history to accomplish the feat.) In 1973, Ryan set his first major record when he [[strikeout|struck out]] 383 batters in one season, beating [[Sandy Koufax]]'s old mark by one. Remarking on this feat, Koufax joked, "Yeah, and he also surpassed my total for bases on balls in a single season by 91. I suspect half of those guys he struck out swung rather than get hit."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eJQs7-lu-2YC&pg=PA199&lpg=PA199&dq=Yeah,+and+he+also+surpassed+my+total+for+bases+on+balls+in+a+single+season+by+91.+I+suspect+half+of+those+guys+he+struck+out+swung+rather+than+get+hit&source=bl&ots=adS9CZM8rn&sig=kcXk6mZ7S1qk_ccQZr-H0WlLZXA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiVlJHXhrLXAhVo9YMKHRXbDsYQ6AEIJzAA#v=onepage&q=Yeah,+and+he+also+surpassed+my+total+for+bases+on+balls+in+a+single+season+by+91.+I+suspect+half+of+those+guys+he+struck+out+swung+rather+than+get+hit&f=false|title=Season of Ghosts: The ’86 Mets and the Red Sox|first=Howard|last=Burman|date=December 18, 2012|publisher=McFarland|accessdate=December 7, 2017|via=Google Books}}</ref> Ryan threw two [[no-hitter]]s in 1973. In the second one, on July 15 against the [[Detroit Tigers]], he struck out 17 batters – most in a recorded no-hitter. (This record would later be tied by [[Max Scherzer]] on October 3, 2015.) Ryan was so dominant in this game, it led to one of baseball's best-remembered pranks. Tigers first baseman and cleanup hitter [[Norm Cash]] came to the plate with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, having already struck out twice, and was carrying a clubhouse table leg instead of a bat. Plate umpire [[Ron Luciano]] ordered Cash to go back and get a regulation bat, to which Cash replied, "Why, I won't hit him anyway!"<ref>{{cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCI/is_9_60/ai_76928886/ |archive-url=https://archive.is/20120708184424/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCI/is_9_60/ai_76928886/ |dead-url=yes |archive-date=July 8, 2012 |title="Tiger first baseman Norm Cash." ''Baseball Digest'', 2001 |publisher=Findarticles.com |date=July 15, 1973 |accessdate=March 12, 2011 }}</ref> With a regulation bat in hand, Cash did finally make contact, but popped out to end the game. During a September 7, 1974 game against the [[Chicago White Sox]] at [[Anaheim Stadium]], Ryan became the first Major League pitcher to have his pitch speed measured during a game. A primitive [[radar gun]] clocked a ninth inning [[fastball]] at {{convert|100.8|mph|kph}} when it was {{convert|10|ft|m}} in front of [[home plate]]. This exceeded an earlier pitch by [[Bob Feller]] which was measured at {{convert|98.6|mph|kph}} at home plate and previously thought to be the fastest pitch ever recorded.<ref>{{cite AV media |people=Hock, Jonathon (Director) |date=2016 |title=Fastball |medium=Motion picture |access-date=July 18, 2017 |publisher= |ref= }}</ref> Ryan added a third no-hitter in 1974 and a fourth in 1975, tying another of Koufax's records. In 1974 he twice struck out 19 batters, tying Tom Seaver and Steve Carlton for the single-game record for a nine-inning game. [[Roger Clemens]] would become the first pitcher with a 20-strikeout game in 1986. The [[California Angels]] finally made the playoffs in Ryan's eighth and final year there in [[1979 California Angels season|1979]]. 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. Ryan was scheduled to pitch Game 5, but the Angels were eliminated in four. The season complete, Ryan became a [[free agent]]. Ryan led the American League in strikeouts seven times during his eight seasons with the Angels, but he also led the league in [[Base on balls|walks]] in six of those years, and finished second the other two seasons: 1975 and 1979.<ref name=data/> Aside from Bob Feller in 1938, Ryan is the only man since 1900 to walk 200 batters in a season, which he did twice: in 1974 and 1977. Though Ryan's strikeouts and no-hitters got him considerable media attention, he did not win over Angels general manager [[Buzzie Bavasi]], who dismissed him as a flashy .500 pitcher (Ryan was 26–27 in the last two years he was with the Angels). ===Houston Astros (1980–1988)=== {{MLBBioRet |Image = AstrosRet 34.PNG |Name = Nolan Ryan |Number = 34 |Team = Houston Astros |Year = 1996 |}} Ryan signed a lucrative free-agent contract with the [[Houston Astros]] after the 1979 season. The normally light-hitting Ryan got his Houston years started with a bang in a nationally televised game against the [[1980 Los Angeles Dodgers season|Los Angeles Dodgers]] on April 12, 1980, when he hit a three-run home run off [[Don Sutton]]. It was the first of two homers in Ryan's career and produced half of the six RBI he would get that year.<ref name=data/> On July 4 of that [[1980 Major League Baseball season|season]], at [[Riverfront Stadium]], Ryan recorded his 3,000th career strikeout, the victim being [[César Gerónimo]] of the [[1980 Cincinnati Reds season|Cincinnati Reds]] (Gerónimo had also been [[Bob Gibson]]'s 3,000th strikeout victim, in 1974). Ryan got his third taste of postseason play in 1980, but the Astros were stopped one game short of the World Series. In the [[1980 National League Championship Series|1980 NLCS]] versus the [[Philadelphia Phillies]], Ryan pitched well in Game 2, leaving the game tied 2–2 in the seventh (having contributed to both [[1980 Houston Astros season|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. In the fifth and final game of the series, Ryan and the Astros held a 5–2 lead entering the 8th inning. But Ryan allowed three consecutive singles before walking in the third run. The Houston bullpen allowed the Phillies to take a 7–5 lead, and only a game-tying Astro rally permitted Ryan to escape the loss. On September 26, 1981, Ryan threw his fifth no-hitter, breaking Koufax's mark while becoming the third pitcher to throw a no-hitter in each league. That season, his 1.69 ERA won the [[National League]] [[earned run average|ERA]] title.<ref name=data/> Facing the [[1981 Los Angeles Dodgers season|Los Angeles Dodgers]] in the [[1981 National League Division Series|1981 NLDS]], Ryan threw a complete game 2-hitter in the opener, outlasting the Dodgers' rookie sensation [[Fernando Valenzuela]]. It was Ryan's second and last career postseason win. In the fifth and final game of the series, Ryan left trailing 3–0 and took the loss. [[File:Nolan Ryan in Atlanta close-up.jpg|thumb|Ryan pitching for the Astros in 1983]] By the end of the 1982 season, both Ryan and [[Steve Carlton]] were approaching [[Walter Johnson]]'s all-time strikeout record, sometimes passing one another's career totals in successive starts. On April 27, 1983, Ryan won the race with his 3,509th whiff, against [[Brad Mills (infielder)|Brad Mills]] of the [[1983 Montreal Expos season|Montreal Expos]] (Steve Carlton would reach the same mark two weeks after Ryan). In 1986, Ryan's [[1986 Houston Astros season|Astros]] faced the [[1986 New York Mets season|New York Mets]] in the [[1986 National League Championship Series|National League Championship Series]]. Ryan had a shaky start in Game&nbsp;2, taking the loss. He returned in Game&nbsp;5, throwing 9 innings of 2-hit, 1-run, 12-strikeout ball, but one of those hits was a [[Darryl Strawberry]] home run which tied the game at 1–1, as [[Dwight Gooden]] matched Ryan pitch for pitch. Ryan got a no-decision as his Astros lost in 12 innings. In 1987, Ryan led the major leagues in both ERA (2.76) and strikeouts (270) at the age of 40—but finished 8–16 as the result of extremely poor run support. Despite his .333 winning percentage, Ryan tied for 5th place in the 1987 Cy Young voting.<ref name=data/> Ryan hit his second and last career home run in a 12-3 win on May 1, 1987, against the [[Atlanta Braves]]. ===Texas Rangers (1989–1993)=== {{MLBBioRet |Image = NolanRyanRangers.png |Name = Nolan Ryan |Number = 34 |Team = Texas Rangers (baseball) |Display = Texas Rangers |Year = 1996 |}} Ryan left Houston in a contract dispute following the 1988 season and joined the [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]]. 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. (Ryan would be joined in this category by [[Darren Oliver]], who made his major league debut as Ryan's teammate in September 1993. Oliver's father [[Bob Oliver|Bob]] had also been a teammate of Ryan's, with the Angels from 1972 to 1974.) In 1989, he went 16–10 and led the league with 301 strikeouts.<ref name=data/> Against the [[Oakland Athletics]] on August 22, Ryan struck out [[Rickey Henderson]] to become the only pitcher to record 5,000 career strikeouts. (Following the game, Henderson was quoted as saying, "If he ain't struck you out, then you ain't nobody.") His 4,999th and 5,001st strikeouts were from the same man, Athletics catcher [[Ron Hassey]]. Two years later, at 44, Ryan finished fifth in the league in ERA (2.91) and third in strikeouts (203).<ref name=data/> In 1990, Ryan threw his sixth no-hitter on June 11 against the [[1990 Oakland Athletics season|Athletics]], and earned his 300th [[win (baseball)|win]] on July 31 against the [[1990 Milwaukee Brewers season|Milwaukee Brewers]].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/08/02/sports/ryan-savors-his-milestone-with-a-feeling-of-relief.html|work=The New York Times|first=Malcolm|last=Moran|title=Ryan Savors His Milestone With a Feeling of Relief|date=August 2, 1990}}</ref> On May 1, 1991, he set a record by throwing the seventh no-hitter of his career, striking out [[Roberto Alomar]] of the [[1991 Toronto Blue Jays season|Toronto Blue Jays]] for the final out. On August 6, 1992, Ryan had the first and only ejection of his career when he was ejected after engaging in a shouting match with [[Oakland Athletics]] outfielder [[Willie Wilson (baseball)|Willie Wilson]] with 2 outs in the 9th inning. Before the 1993 season began, Ryan announced that he would retire as a player at the end of that season. On August 4, just before the end, Ryan had yet another high-profile moment—this time an on-the-mound fight. After Ryan hit [[Robin Ventura]] of the [[1993 Chicago White Sox season|Chicago White Sox]] with a pitch, Ventura charged the mound in order to fight Ryan, who was 20 years his senior. 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 [[Iván Rodríguez]] was able to pull Ventura away from Ryan. Ryan stated afterwards it was the same maneuver he used on steers he had to brand on his Texas ranch. Videos of the incident were played that evening throughout the country. While Ventura was ejected, Ryan–who had barely moved from his spot on the mound in the fracas–was allowed to remain in the game. White Sox manager [[Gene Lamont]] vehemently argued this, leading to his own ejection. Ryan pitched a hitless ball game the rest of the way. He had determined to be more aggressive after coming out on the wrong side of an altercation with [[Dave Winfield]] in 1980.<ref>{{cite news|last=Freeman|first=Denne H.|title=Raging Ryan Strikes Ventura|work=[[Austin American-Statesman]]|date=August 5, 1993|page=C1}}</ref> [[Image:Arlington Stadium 1992 - 2.jpg|thumb|right|Ryan on the mound during a 1992 home game at [[Arlington Stadium]]]] Ryan's arm finally gave out in Seattle on September 22, 1993, when he tore a [[ligament]]. The injury ended his career two starts earlier than planned. Ryan briefly attempted to pitch past the injury, and he threw one additional pitch after tearing his ligament. With his injured arm, his final pitch was measured at 98 miles per hour. Ryan's last start was his career worst; he allowed a single, four walks, and a [[grand slam (baseball)|grand slam]] in the top of the first without recording an out. It was his record-setting 10th grand slam given up of his career. (Ryan left trailing 5–0, and the fourth walk was completed by a reliever after Ryan's injury, but credited to Ryan.) Greg Myers of the California Angels was the last strikeout victim of Nolan Ryan's career, on September 17, 1993.<ref>''Baseball's Top 100: The Game's Greatest Records'', p.32, Kerry Banks, 2010, Greystone Books, Vancouver, BC, {{ISBN|978-1-55365-507-7}}</ref> Ryan finished his career having played in a major league record 27 seasons. 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. ===No-hitters=== Ryan threw a record seven no-hitters during his major league career, three more than any other pitcher. The no-hitters spanned three decades of pitching. In those seven games, Ryan accumulated a total of 94 strikeouts and 26 walks; a ratio of 3.6 strikeouts per walk (his career K:BB was 2.0). 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. {|class="wikitable sortable" |- !Date !! class=unsortable|Result !! Venue !! Attendance !! Time !! Catcher !! Home plate<br>umpire !! style="width:1px;" class="unsortable"|Box score |- | {{dts|May 15, 1973}} || [[California Angels]] 3<br>at [[Kansas City Royals]] 0|| [[Royals Stadium]] || 12,205 || 2:20 || {{sortname|Jeff|Torborg}} || {{sortname|Jim|Evans|dab=umpire}} || <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/KCA/KCA197305150.shtml |title=May 15, 1973 California Angels at Kansas City Royals Box Score and Play by Play |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |date=May 15, 1973 |accessdate=September 1, 2013}}</ref> |- | {{dts|July 15, 1973}} || [[California Angels]] 6<br>at [[Detroit Tigers]] 0 || [[Tiger Stadium (Detroit)|Tiger Stadium]] || 41,411 || 2:21|| {{sortname|Art|Kusnyer}} || {{sortname|Ron|Luciano}} || <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/DET/DET197307150.shtml |title=July 15, 1973 California Angels at Detroit Tigers Box Score and Play by Play |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |date=July 15, 1973 |accessdate=September 1, 2013}}</ref> |- | {{dts|September 28, 1974}} || [[Minnesota Twins]] 0<br>at [[California Angels]] 4|| [[Anaheim Stadium]]|| 10,872 || 2:22 ||{{sortname|Tom|Egan}}|| {{sortname|Art|Frantz}}||<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CAL/CAL197409280.shtml |title=September 28, 1974 Minnesota Twins at California Angels Play by Play and Box Score |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |date=September 28, 1974 |accessdate=September 1, 2013}}</ref> |- | {{dts|June 1, 1975}} || [[Baltimore Orioles]] 0<br>at [[California Angels]] 1|| [[Anaheim Stadium]]|| 18,492 || 2:01|| {{sortname|Ellie|Rodríguez}}|| {{sortname|Hank|Morgenweck}}||<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CAL/CAL197506010.shtml |title=June 1, 1975 Baltimore Orioles at California Angels Box Score and Play by Play |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |date=June 1, 1975 |accessdate=September 1, 2013}}</ref> |- | {{dts|September 26, 1981}}||[[Los Angeles Dodgers]] 0<br>at [[Houston Astros]] 5|| [[Astrodome]]|| 32,115 ||2:46|| {{sortname|Alan|Ashby}}|| {{sortname|Bruce|Froemming}}||<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU198109260.shtml |title=September 26, 1981 Los Angeles Dodgers at Houston Astros Box Score and Play by Play |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |date=September 26, 1981 |accessdate=September 1, 2013}}</ref> |- | {{dts|June 11, 1990}} ||[[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]] 5<br>at [[Oakland Athletics]] 0|| [[Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum]]||33,436||2:49||{{sortname|John|Russell|dab=catcher}}||{{sortname|Don|Denkinger}}||<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/OAK/OAK199006110.shtml |title=June 11, 1990 Texas Rangers at Oakland Athletics Play by Play and Box Score |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |date=June 11, 1990 |accessdate=September 1, 2013}}</ref> |- | {{dts|May 1, 1991}} ||[[Toronto Blue Jays]] 0<br>at [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]] 3||[[Arlington Stadium]]||33,439||2:25||{{sortname|Mike|Stanley}}||{{sortname|Tim|Tschida}}||<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/TEX/TEX199105010.shtml |title=May 1, 1991 Toronto Blue Jays at Texas Rangers Box Score and Play by Play |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |date=May 1, 1991 |accessdate=September 1, 2013}}</ref> |} ==Later activity== Nolan Ryan's post-retirement business interests include ownership of two [[Minor League Baseball|minor league]] teams: the [[Corpus Christi Hooks]], which play in the Class AA [[Texas League]], and the [[Round Rock Express]], a Class AAA team in the [[Pacific Coast League]]. Both teams were affiliates of the Houston Astros, for whom Ryan also served as a special assistant to the general manager until selling his interest in the team in the off-season between 2004 and 2005. He became the president of the Texas Rangers in 2008. The Express became the Rangers' AAA affiliate beginning in 2010; the Hooks are still the Astros' AA affiliate and were purchased by the Astros in 2013 when Nolan's son, Reid Ryan, took office as President of the Houston Astros. [[File:Nolanryan 15.gif|left|thumb|upright|Ryan playing catch with a trio of dogs at his Alvin ranch]] Ryan threw out the [[ceremonial first pitch]] before Game 3 of the [[2005 World Series]] between the Astros and the White Sox, the first World Series game ever played in Texas. That game went 14 innings, equaling the longest in innings in World Series history (at 5:41, it was the longest in time). [[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. 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. Sullivan, 1999); ''Kings of the Hill'' (with Mickey Herskowitz, 1992), about contemporary pitchers; and instructional books ''Pitching and Hitting'' (with [[Joe Torre]] and Joel Cohen, 1977), and ''Nolan Ryan's Pitcher's Bible'' (with Tom House, 1991). In addition to his baseball activities, Ryan was majority owner and chairman of Express Bank of Alvin but sold his interest in 2005.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/stories/2005/10/24/daily25.html?t=printable|title=Texas United Bancshares agrees to buy Nolan Ryan family's bank|work=San Antonio Business Journal|date=October 27, 2005}}</ref> He also owned a restaurant in [[Three Rivers, Texas]]. He served on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission from 1995 to 2001. He appeared as a TV spokesman for [[Advil]] for several years, promoting the pain medication he recommended for his own arm. He also has appeared in various television commercials shown in the Texas market. After retiring from baseball, Ryan teamed up with the federal government to promote physical fitness. His likeness was used in the "Nolan Ryan Fitness Guide", published by The President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports in 1994.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fitness.gov/nolanryan.htm|title=The President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports – Publications|publisher=Fitness.gov|accessdate=March 12, 2011}}</ref> Ryan suffered a [[myocardial infarction|heart attack]] on April 25, 2000, and had to receive a double [[Coronary artery bypass surgery|coronary bypass]].<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LvcjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=7O0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4913,4996901 ''The Deseret News''] via Google News Archive Search</ref> ===Texas Rangers president and CEO=== [[File:1st pitch nolan to pettitte 03.jpg|thumb|[[Andy Pettitte]] and Ryan in 2006]] In February 2008, The Rangers hired Ryan as president of the organization.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/baseball/rangers/stories/020708dnsporangerslede.967f3c8c.html|work=Dallas Morning News|title=Nolan Ryan hired as Texas Rangers' president|date=February 6, 2008|first=Evan|last=Grant|accessdate=April 3, 2010}}</ref> After the 2009 season, Ryan and [[Chuck Greenberg (attorney)|Chuck Greenberg]] submitted a bid to purchase the Texas Rangers from owner [[Tom Hicks]]. 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. The final cash bid to purchase the franchise was $385 million. The opposing high bidder was [[Dallas Mavericks]] owner [[Mark Cuban]]. Greenberg became managing general partner and CEO, while Ryan remained as team president. Greenberg left the group in March 2011, reportedly due to a philosophical clash with Ryan. Ryan was immediately named as CEO while keeping the title of president.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sullivan |first=T.R. |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110311&content_id=16902352&vkey=news_tex&c_id=tex |title=Greenberg leaves Rangers; Ryan named CEO |publisher=[[MLB.com]] |date=March 11, 2010}}</ref> Although Texas oil magnates [[Ray Davis (businessman)|Ray Davis]] and [[Bob R. Simpson|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.<ref>{{cite web |last=Wills |first=Todd |url=http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110311&content_id=16905240&vkey=news_tex&c_id=tex |title=Ray Davis, Bob Simpson to continue as low-key counsel for Texas Rangers &#124; texasrangers.com: News |publisher=Texas.rangers.[[MLB.com|mlb.com]] |date=May 24, 2013 |accessdate=September 1, 2013}}</ref> Ryan was named the Dallas-Fort Worth's 2012 CEO of the Year by [[Southern Methodist University]]'s Cox School of Business.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dmagazine.com/publications/d-ceo/2012/december/dallas-fort-worth-ceo-of-the-year-nolan-ryan-2012/ |title=CEO of the Year: Nolan Ryan |last1=Curry|first1=Kerry|publisher=Dmagazine.com |date=December 2012|accessdate=September 1, 2013}}</ref> During the baseball owners' meetings in [[Scottsdale, Arizona]], on March 1, 2013, the Rangers announced that [[General manager (baseball)|general manager]] [[Jon Daniels]] would add president of baseball operations to his title. Rick George was promoted to president of business operations. Ryan's title was changed simply to CEO and both Daniels and George reported to him.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wilson |first=Jeff |url=http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/03/01/4654090/rangers-promote-jon-daniels-to.html |title=Rangers promote Jon Daniels to president of baseball operations |work=[[Fort Worth Star-Telegram]] |date=March 1, 2013 |accessdate=October 17, 2013}}</ref> On October 17, 2013, Ryan announced that he was stepping down as Rangers CEO effective October 31, 2013.<ref>{{cite news |last=Fraley |first=Gerry |url=http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/texas-rangers/headlines/20131017-nolan-ryan-to-retire-as-texas-rangers-ceo-on-halloween.ece |title=Nolan Ryan to retire as Texas Rangers CEO on Halloween |work=[[The Dallas Morning News]] |date=October 17, 2013 |accessdate=October 17, 2013}}</ref> ===Houston Astros special assistant=== On February 11, 2014, Ryan accepted a position as a special assistant to Astros owner Jim Crane.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://blog.chron.com/ultimateastros/2014/02/11/nolan-ryan-to-return-to-astros-as-special-assistant-to-jim-crane/|work=Houston Chronicle|title=Nolan Ryan to return to Astros as special assistant to Jim Crane|date=February 11, 2014|accessdate=February 11, 2014}}</ref> ==Legacy== {{BLP sources section|date=May 2014}} [[File:Nolan Ryan Exhibit Center.jpg|thumb|The Nolan Ryan Exhibit Center in Alvin, Texas]] [[File:Nolan Ryan rings.jpg|thumb|A collection of rings awarded to Nolan Ryan for appearances as an [[all-star]] and as a member of the [[1969 New York Mets season|1969 New York Mets World Champion team]]]] Ryan played in more seasons (27) than any other player in modern (since 1900) major league history. Ryan ranks first all-time in strikeouts (5,714), fewest hits allowed per nine innings (6.56), and no-hitters (7). He is also fifth in innings pitched (5,386), second in games started (773), seventh in shutouts (61) and is tied for 14th in wins (324). Opposing hitters hit only .204 against Ryan during his career, though they had a .309 on-base percentage against him. He also limited hitters to a .298 slugging percentage.<ref name=data/> Ryan had 15 or more strikeouts in a game 26 times, second only to [[Randy Johnson (pitcher)|Randy Johnson]], who had 28. Ryan's lengthy career spanned generations as he struck out seven pairs of fathers and sons (for example, [[Bobby Bonds]] and [[Barry Bonds]]), another major league record.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smackbomb.com/nolanryan/strikeouts.html|title=The Nolan Ryan Express &#124; The Strikeout King &#124; smackbomb.com/nolanryan|publisher=Smackbomb.com|accessdate=March 12, 2011|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716092407/http://www.smackbomb.com/nolanryan/strikeouts.html|archivedate=July 16, 2011|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Ryan also played during the administrations of seven [[U.S. Presidents]]—[[Lyndon B. Johnson]], [[Richard M. Nixon]], [[Gerald Ford]], [[Jimmy Carter]], [[Ronald Reagan]], [[George H.&nbsp;W. Bush]], and [[Bill Clinton]]—equaling a 20th-century record that had been set by [[Jim Kaat]]. Ryan also ranks high on the list for four "negative" records; he ranks first all-time in walks allowed (2,795), first in wild pitches (277), third in losses (292—most in the post-1920 [[live-ball era]]), and ninth in hit batters (158).<ref name=data/> Ryan is also one of two pitchers in MLB history to give up ten grand slam home runs, including one to [[Dann Howitt]], the next-to-last batter Ryan faced in his career. [[File:Nolan ryan signature.jpg|frame|right|Nolan Ryan's signature]] [[Bill James]] focuses on this dichotomy between Ryan's positive and negative statistics. While ranking him as the 24th best pitcher of all time, he notes, "Ryan has been retired almost ten years [in 2001], in another ten perhaps we will begin to get a little bit of perspective on him. 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."<ref>{{Cite journal|last=James|page=862|title=The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract}}</ref> Other writers have delved more into the specifics of James' general concerns. [[ESPN]] writer [[Rob Neyer]] stated in a 2003 column that while Ryan was among the 20 best pitchers since [[World War&nbsp;II]], he "often had trouble throwing strikes, [and] he wasn't any good at fielding his position".<ref>{{cite web|author=Rob NeyerESPN.com|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=1559625&type=columnist|title=No mention of Ryan brings plenty of disbelief|publisher=ESPN.com|date=May 27, 2003|accessdate=March 12, 2011}}</ref> 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".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://static.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/neyer_rob/1383697.html|title=Nolan Ryan: why he's overrated|publisher=ESPN.com|date=September 16, 1999|accessdate=March 12, 2011}}</ref> Ryan and Frank Robinson are the only two major league players to have their number retired by three different teams on which they played.<ref>[http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/tex/history/retired_numbers.jsp Texas Rangers Retired Number History on mlb.com] Retrieved May 18, 2006</ref> The California Angels (now the Los Angeles 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. His number was the first retired by the Rangers. He is also one of only nine players to have had their numbers retired by more than one MLB team, with [[Carlton Fisk]] (Red Sox and White Sox), [[Reggie Jackson]] (Athletics and Yankees), [[Rollie Fingers]] (Brewers and Athletics), [[Hank Aaron]] (Brewers and Braves), [[Greg Maddux]] (Braves and Cubs), [[Frank Robinson]] (Reds, Orioles and Indians), Rod Carew (Twins and Angels), and [[Jackie Robinson]] (All MLB) being the others. Two managers, [[Casey Stengel]] (Yankees and Mets) and [[Sparky Anderson]] (Reds and Tigers) also had their numbers retired by more than one team. Ryan was elected to the [[Baseball Hall of Fame]] in {{Bhofy|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 third highest percentage in history, behind [[Ken Griffey Jr.]] (99.32%, 437 out of 440 possible) and [[Tom Seaver]] (98.84%, 425 out of 430 possible).<ref>[http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers/detail.jsp?playerId=121597 Nolan Ryan Baseball Hall of Fame bio] Retrieved April 26, 2006 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090729053948/http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers/detail.jsp?playerId=121597 |date=July 29, 2009 }}</ref> 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. He was the first Hall of Famer inducted as a Ranger. 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]]. He was inducted into the [[Texas Rangers Hall of Fame]] in 2003, and named the Rangers', and Astros' [[DHL Hometown Heroes|Hometown Hero]] in 2006—the only player to be so named by two franchises. In 2011, he was inducted into the Irish American Baseball Hall of Fame.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20111119081659/http://www.irishbaseballhall.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=48:bios-of-the-inductees&catid=37:about-the-hall&Itemid=54 Bios Of The Inductees]. Irish American Baseball Hall of Fame website. Retrieved February 23, 2014.</ref> In 1992 the [[United States Mint]] produced a [[Modern United States commemorative coins#1992|$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. The numismatic community subsequently referred to the coin as the "Nolan Ryan dollar."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://deecken.com/coin.html|title=1992 Olympic Baseball|website=deecken.com|accessdate=December 7, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://vbbc.forumotion.com/t1532-did-the-united-states-produce-a-nolan-ryan-dollar-coin|title=Did the United States produce a Nolan Ryan Dollar coin?|publisher=|accessdate=December 7, 2017}}</ref> In 1995 the [[Texas Legislature|Texas State Legislature]] declared [[State Highway 288 (Texas)|State Highway 288]], which passes near Alvin, as the Nolan Ryan Expressway. 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. == Personal life == Ryan married his high school sweetheart, the former Ruth Holdorff, on June 25, 1967. They have three children, [[Reid Ryan|Reid]], Reese, and Wendy. Reid and Reese were both pitchers for the [[TCU Horned Frogs]]. Reid also pitched briefly in the minor leagues.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/04/03/sports/baseball-as-texas-watches-ryan-hurls-against-ryan.html|title=As Texas Watches, Ryan Hurls Against Ryan|publisher=New York Times|first=Claire|last=Smith|date=April 3, 1991|accessdate=September 3, 2009}}</ref> On May 17, 2013, Reid was announced as president of the [[Houston Astros]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2013/05/17/nolan-ryans-oldest-son-named-astros-president/|title=Nolan Ryan's Oldest Son Named Astros President|work=[[WBBM-TV]]|date=May 17, 2013|accessdate=May 18, 2013}}</ref> Nolan Ryan resides in the Cimarron Hills community in [[Georgetown, Texas|Georgetown]], a suburb of [[Austin, Texas|Austin]]. ===Political activity=== Though he supported [[Jimmy Carter]] over [[Gerald R. Ford Jr.]] in 1976, Ryan has since been an ardent [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]. 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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/22/magazine/22Paul-t.html?ei=5124&en=22ee37525a9fc4f5&ex=1343016000&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink&pagewanted=all|work=New York Times|title=The Antiwar, Anti-Abortion, Anti-Drug-Enforcement-Administration, Anti-Medicare Candidacy of Dr.&nbsp;Ron Paul|date=July 22, 2007|first=Christopher|last=Caldwell|accessdate=September 3, 2009}}</ref> On April 7, 2011, [[Todd Staples]] announced that Nolan Ryan would be his statewide chairman for his exploratory committee for [[Lieutenant Governor of Texas|lieutenant governor]]. Ryan is quoted as saying, "Todd Staples is the top prospect for the Texas Republican Party in 2014."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.toddstaples.com/|title=Press Releases|date=April 7, 2011|accessdate=September 4, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://s3.amazonaws.com/Todd_Staples/Staples_PR_2014.pdf/|title=PRESS RELEASE: Nolan Ryan to Serve as Statewide Chairman for Staples|date=April 7, 2011|accessdate=September 4, 2013}}</ref> Staples, however, lost out in that race to current Lieutenant Governor [[Dan Patrick (politician)|Dan Patrick]] of Houston. ==See also== {{Portalbar|Biography|Houston|Dallas|Austin|Texas|Baseball|Business and Economics|Books|Politics}} {{Div col}} * [[300 win club]] * [[DHL Hometown Heroes]] * [[List of Major League Baseball annual ERA leaders]] * [[List of Major League Baseball career wins leaders]] * [[List of Major League Baseball no-hitters]] * [[List of Major League Baseball annual strikeout leaders]] * [[List of Major League Baseball players who played in four decades]] * [[List of Major League Baseball single-game strikeout leaders]] * [[List of Texas Rangers Opening Day starting pitchers]] * [[List of Major League Baseball career hit batsmen leaders]] * [[Nolan Ryan's Baseball]] * [[List of Major League Baseball pitchers who have struck out three batters on nine pitches]] * [[List of Major League Baseball career strikeout leaders]] * [[List of Major League Baseball career bases on balls allowed leaders]] {{Div col end}} ==References== {{Reflist|30em}} ===General references=== * {{Cite book|last=James|first=Bill|title=The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract|year=2001|location=New York|publisher=Free Press}} * {{Cite book|last=Pietrusza|first=David|first2=Matthew|last2=Silverman|author3=Michael Gershman|year=2000|title=Baseball: The Biographical Encyclopedia|publisher=Total/Sports Illustrated}} ==External links== {{Commons category}} {{Baseballstats |mlb=121597 |espn=741 |br=r/ryanno01 |fangraphs=1011348 |cube=17491 |brm=ryan—001lyn}} {{Bbhof|ryan-nolan}} * {{Worldcat id|lccn-n50-22017}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/19981111184406/http://www.nolanryan.com/ The Nolan Ryan Foundation] {{Navboxes|list1= {{s-start|header={{S-ach}}}} {{s-bef|before=[[Steve Busby]]<br />Nolan Ryan<br />[[Dick Bosman]]<br />Nolan Ryan<br />[[Len Barker]]<br />[[Randy Johnson]]<br />[[Dave Stieb]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[List of Major League Baseball no-hitters|No-hitter pitcher]]|years=May 15, 1973<br />July 15, 1973<br />September 28, 1974<br />June 1, 1975<br />September 26, 1981<br />June 11, 1990<br />May 1, 1991}} {{s-aft|after=Nolan Ryan<br />[[Jim Bibby]]<br />Nolan Ryan<br />[[Ed Halicki]]<br />[[Dave Righetti]]<br />[[Dave Stewart (baseball)|Dave Stewart]]<br />[[Tommy Greene]]}} {{s-bef|before=[[Jeff Cogen (baseball)|Jeff Cogen]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers President]]|years=2008–2013}} {{s-aft|after=none}} {{s-bef|before=[[Jeff Robinson (starting pitcher)|Jeff Robinson]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Hits per nine innings|AL hits per nine innings]]|years=1989–1991}} {{s-aft|after=[[Randy Johnson]]}} {{S-end}} {{MLBACT}} {{300 win club}} {{3000 strikeout club}} {{NL ERA champions}} {{AL strikeout champions}} {{NL strikeout champions}} {{Texas Rangers}} {{Texas Rangers owners}} {{1969 New York Mets}} {{Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim retired numbers}} {{Houston Astros retired numbers}} {{Texas Rangers retired numbers}} {{Texas Rangers Hall of Fame}} {{1999 Baseball HOF}} {{Baseball Hall of Fame members}} {{SN Sportsman of the Year}} {{Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Opening Day starting pitchers}} {{Houston Astros Opening Day starting pitchers}} {{Texas Rangers Opening Day starting pitchers}} {{Texas Rangers Presidents}} }} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Ryan, Nolan}} [[Category:1947 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:American League All-Stars]] [[Category:American League strikeout champions]] [[Category:California Angels players]] [[Category:Greenville 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