Nolan Ryan

Nolan Ryan is an American former professional baseball player, born on January 31, 1947, in Refugio, Texas. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest pitchers of all time. Ryan began his professional career with the New York Mets before moving to the California Angels in 1972, where he became one of the most dominant pitchers in the game.

Ryan is known for his incredible fastball, endurance, strikeout ability, and longevity. He has won numerous individual awards, including eight All-Star selections, and holds multiple records, such as the most career strikeouts and no-hitters.

Off the field, Ryan is also recognized for his business and philanthropy work, owning the Texas Rangers and founding the Nolan Ryan Foundation.

New York Mets

• Early Career: Ryan was drafted by the Mets in 1965 and made his debut in 1966. He was part of the team that won the World Series in 1969.

California Angels

• Emergence as a Star: After being traded to the Angels in 1972, Ryan emerged as one of the best pitchers in baseball, leading the league in strikeouts seven times and throwing four no-hitters.

Houston Astros

• Continued Success: Ryan signed with the Astros in 1980, becoming the first player to earn $1 million per year. During his time in Houston, he threw his fifth no-hitter and reached the 4,000 strikeout mark.

Texas Rangers

• Final Years: Ryan finished his career with the Rangers, where he threw his sixth and seventh no-hitters and surpassed 5,000 strikeouts. He retired in 1993.

Major League Baseball

• Ryan represented the United States in Major League Baseball throughout his career.
• He was selected to the All-Star team eight times and won the World Series in 1969.

• Position: Primarily a pitcher, known for his right-handed fastball.
• Skills: Known for his incredible arm strength, endurance, and strikeout ability. Ryan is celebrated for his longevity, toughness, and competitiveness.

• Family: Ryan is married to Ruth Holdorff. They have three children.
• Philanthropy: Ryan is involved in various charitable activities through the Nolan Ryan Foundation, which supports youth, education, and community development initiatives.

• Nolan Ryan is celebrated not only for his extraordinary talent and numerous records but also for his work ethic, determination, and longevity in professional baseball. His impact on the sport and his status as an icon extend beyond the pitch, inspiring millions of fans around the world.

Most Career Strikeouts:

• Over 5,700 strikeouts

Most Career No-Hitters:

• Seven no-hitters

Most Seasons Played:

• 27 seasons in Major League Baseball

Books

• Ryan, N., & Jenkins, J. (1990). Throwing Heat: The Autobiography of Nolan Ryan. New York: Doubleday.
• Price, T. (1992). Nolan Ryan: The Road to Cooperstown. Champaign, IL: Sports Publishing LLC.

Websites

• MLB: Information about Nolan Ryan’s career and achievements. Available at: https://www.mlb.com
• Baseball-Reference: Detailed statistics of Ryan’s career. Available at: https://www.baseball-reference.com

Articles

• ESPN: Nolan Ryan: Career in numbers. Available at: https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/1746/nolan-ryan

Interviews and Documentaries

• Fastball (2016): Directed by Jonathan Hock. This documentary features Nolan Ryan and explores the history of the fastball pitch.
• ESPN Interviews: Various interviews and features on Nolan Ryan, covering different aspects of his career. Available at: https://www.espn.com