Nolan Ryan 1979 All Star game

[@mrkhatib1694]

That was golden era of baseball

[@boomshakalaka415]

Some players were taking about amphetamines and other drive as testing was still in it's premature stages, but rampant steroid use didn't take off for another couple more years (hint: Oakland)

[@querywizard]

In what way? The average player was so much worse back then. Nolan would not be so dominant in today's game.

[@Rspenesmit]

Definitely, just like Boxing and other Sports, no longer the same!

[@spirg]

SO TRUE

[@spirg]

Money destroyed pro sports . End of story

[@sailor213100]

Joe Garagiola announcing a game, timeless. Wish those times were back

[@monolithgeometry3221]

But now we have...joE bUck!

[@sailor213100]

@@monolithgeometry3221 people are down on Joe, hes a great announcer a little opinionated but thats the times we are at right now. Were not getting Vin Scully, Jow Garagiola back anymore.

[@monolithgeometry3221]

@@sailor213100 i gotta stick to my guns, JoE bUcK is trash, get someone in there enjoys talking about BASEBALL, bUcKs time has come and gone

[@dancollins8296]

Joe buck sucks

[@Whoopdido777]

@@sailor213100 Joe Buck is horrible at sport he announces. I remember the grand experiment of FOX taking over the U.S. Open golf tournament a few years back. I truly believe the man has never set foot on a golf course in his entire life.

[@richardfigueroa9498]

The Ryan express for ever my favorite pitcher of all time. What a great monster.

[@dangates4939]

For those who haven't seen the documentary "Fastball": they calculated that at his peak, Nolan Ryan's fastball reached 108 MPH (they clocked pitches differently when radar was first introduced). And he threw that hard consistently for entire games. Just freakish.

[@kevinmulloy693]

After Pete Rose established the all-time career hits record, he was asked, Who were the 3 most difficult pitchers to face, and what pitch did they throw that was hardest to hit? Rose answered instantly: "Number one was Nolan Ryan's fastball. Number two, was Fernando Valenzuela's screwball. And number 3 was Nolan Ryan's curveball when I was expecting Nolan Ryan's fastball."

[@vladimiroriveratovar6687]

Valenzuela!!

[@bobfeller604]

He couldn't hit Koufax either, especially the curve ball.

[@2012MCTG]

Rose hated to face sinker specialist Randy Jones as well.

[@PuttingItOnADime]

The way Nolan just rested his hands on his knees between some pitches was always the biggest indicator that he knew he was dominating.

[@robolds1204]

Nolan Ryan was the hardest pitcher to hit in the history of the game. On top of his 5,714 strikeouts, 7 no-hitters, and 215 games with 10+K's, he holds the single-season (1972, 5.26) and career (6.54) records for fewest hits allowed per nine innings. He also holds the single-season (.171) and career (.203) records for lowest opponent batting average allowed. Quite remarkable.

[@Sir_Leelord]

mariano rivera's stats compared to ryan's? roger clemens too

[@note2owns]

He also averaged 140+ pitches a game earlier in his career. He once pitched over 200 pitches in a game.

[@Sir_Leelord]

didn't know that...interesting

[@salaamakbar3630]

BUT NEVER WON A FUCKING CY YOUNG!!!!!

[@gh9111]

Jack Clark was once asked back in the day about who throws the hardest Dwight Gooden or Dave Stewart and his response was no one throws harder than Nolan Ryan.

[@dannywoods9700]

Nolan Ryan had two pitches: 1: Hard.......2. Harder....

[@enriqueurincho9220]

Yup, it was his Jim Cornette pitches..1. Fuck you 2. Thank you. 3. Bye

[@blahplayhard4092]

He had a tremendous curveball. I don't care how hard you throw, if you don't have a pitch that moves, you don't make it in the majors. Mariano Rivera is the only pitcher I've ever seen (other than knuckleballers) who got by on ONE pitch. But his cutter was the best ever and it moved a ton. But show me a pitcher who threw nothing but straight fastballs in MLB and made a living at it. You can't.

[@terrancethomas9792]

he once threw an 88 mph curve.

[@PongGod]

As Ryan matured a bit later in his career, he began using his curveball more often and more effectively. In his earlier years, he mostly just brought the heat.

[@wadymercedes6548]

Si sólo lanzaba rectas.

[@gtaylor9218]

That sequence with Parker was incredible. Absolute perfect pitches , with incredible power

[@Peekay9]

Amazing. The best hitters in the game knew exactly what was coming, and they still had no chance.

[@davidreynolds4684]

Parker only saw vapor trails from those fast balls. Nolan Ryan was amazing. And one of the nicest and humble guys you could ever meet.

[@davidp8627]

Dave Parker IMO had the smoothest, sweetest swing of any player ever in the game.

[@aspe7187]

@@davidp8627 It was good although if you're going over multiple generations, people usually say Griffey. Jr.'s was also great. I prefer Strawberry's. His batting stance was also the most intimidating IMO. He just looked like he was about to hit it a country mile.

[@kendallevans4079]

When he was younger maybe. In TX he turned into a rattlesnake and got worse and worse every year! By the time he retired from baseball (front office) completely he was a bitter old geezer!

[@Chrisuperfly1]

Unless your name is Robin Ventura.

[@kendallevans4079]

@@Chrisuperfly1LOL.....Nolan went easy on Robin, just a few nuggies and released him!

[@NashtheImmortal]

"Ryan starting this game with 3 days rest, so he should be strong." ... wtf hahaha!

[@Johnster2657]

That statement would almost be abusive in this day and age. Which is more impressive when you think about how hard he threw.

[@NashtheImmortal]

yeah too stronk

[@remonedo5225]

Today players are such wussies

[@KTF0]

If that happened today, the GM's head would explode.

[@slipnorris5882]

1979 when it was a man's game

[@DanInBranson]

Nothing flashy about Ryan, just pure speed. One of the all time greatest.

[@gregtennessee8249]

And trump Lost hahahahaha

[@BigBravesFan1331]

@@gregtennessee8249Are you stupid? Why would you bring up Trump in a video about Nolan Ryan?

[@gh9111]

Back in the day a reporter aaked Jack Clark a question. "Who theows harder Dwight Gooden or Dave Stewart" Jack replied : "No one throws harder than Nolan Ryan.

[@elvicare35]

Right on...Jack!!!!!

[@jamestiscareno4387]

Jack " The Ripper " Clark. Go GIANTS Go

[@dme1016]

I would've said to Clark, "I know that, but that's not what I asked you, mufukah".

[@fransiscoscaramanga674]

this man is a legend, the fact that he was able to achieve all of his milestones pitching for a lot of bad teams speaks volumes.... the fact that he still maintained that high velocity past the age of 45 is truly remarkable. possibly the best pitcher ever......

[@skippyyoung7872]

Nolan Ryan was a balls to wall kind of pitcher. No theatrics just pure talent..

[@airguy71]

I only saw Nolan Ryan pitch live once. He threw his 6th no hitter. Most amazing pitching performance I ever saw.

[@floydzepplin1218]

Nolan Ryan is an all time great And don’t even think about charging the mound

[@davidharrison7014]

Floyd Zepplin. Tell that to Robin Ventura.

[@shawnjones7512]

Lol. I remember that. Nolan Ryan wasn't the one to mess with

[@russmartin9549]

Yup. Ull get ur ass kicked. He wrestled bulls n shit

[@terrondt]

Dave Winfield pummeled him 1980

[@reformedgringle]

@@terrondt No he didn't . He missed his punch. Ryan stated after that he's defending himself against anyone no games after that.

[@TheRmm1976]

Dave Parker was one helluva hitter back in his PIT and CIN days. Very underrated player.

[@davidmuggle8181]

TheRmm1976 ... he was nicknamed "the cobra" ... his ability to uncoil that big body of his as he swung the bat. If I remember correctly he had a key throw to Gary Carter at home for an important out as the NL continued their winning streak

[@kevaninthe4135]

Cobra was really good.

[@davester1970]

Not only could Dave Parker hit, he was also a helluva fielder as well. Players thought two or three times before trying to score from 2nd base on a base hit.

[@panthersfan6073]

Not only could he hit and throw, but he also snorted coke like a champ.

[@straycatttt]

Parker was named MVP of this game. He went 1 for 3 with a walk and sacrifice fly. He was best known for his two assists later in the game.

[@mikem597]

There may never be another like Nolan Ryan. Unbelievable career numbers.

[@Volkl30]

There NEVER will be another Nolan Ryan! :)

[@tommyriam8320]

@@Volkl30 Certainly not with the "sabermetrics" lunatics and "pitch-count" tyrants lording over the game; their systematic dismantling of the once fine art and craft of pitching has made the rise of a figure anything even remotely like that approaching a Nolan Ryan - a near impossibility

[@felixmadison5736]

That pitch to Lopes leading off was definitely outside! I followed Ryan's entire career from when he broke in with the Mets. When he finally started throwing his curve ball for strikes the hitters were almost helpless. Nolan Ryan had a gift from God, and was definitely blessed.

[@jscottrockford]

Mike Schmidt once said the hardest pitch to hit he ever saw was a Nolan Ryan fastball.........Number 2 was a Ryan curveball lol

[@ShunyamNiketana]

I agree. It looked outside.

[@16rumpole]

his curveball was beautiful, classic 12 to 6 not one of those bullshits slurves.

[@cpetrizzi]

Framed perfectlly!

[@acornsucks2111]

It may have been outside, but Lopes and the Ump never saw it.

[@ryanferguson4624]

Such a beast!!! I love how he walks around the mound between pitches.

[@elvicare35]

When I saw him live in Seattle, one game, in particular, was a day game, his last W of the season, #12 AND #314 all-time (Tying Gaylord Perry!!!!!), I tell 'ya, it FELT like a no-hitter type of game, as he only allowed 3 weak, so to speak, singles struck out Griffey twice, and made him pop up at the plate, well, anyway, when he had the first/third baseman and catcher come out, Gino Petralli, etc., I was thinking as he walked around the mound, that was cool, and JUST the way that he walked around the mound, it was like...John Wayne!!!!!!! P.S.-I probably got that feeling at his other games that I saw, but THAT one especially, SO cool!!!!!

[@terryogletree2128]

He knows he's the alpha male

[@aspiceronni4462]

@@terryogletree2128 Remember when 45yo Nolan Ryan pounded the shit out of 23yo Robin Ventura? Ventura got ejected and Nolan got to stay in. Lol. Umps totally respected his Alpha presence.

[@terryogletree2128]

@@aspiceronni4462 Yep

[@chriswertz1438]

Like he owns the place!!

[@TheKurgan1965]

Reggie Jackson once said you hoped you went 0 for 4 with a walk so you could say you had a good game.

[@billslocum9819]

Reggie had a lifetime record of 18 walks and just 13 hits off Ryan (in 62 ABs), so he did the most damage when he didn't swing.

[@jamieshannon9809]

That has really made me chuckle

[@robertprechter6804]

@@billslocum9819 what? So Reggie had an on base percentage of 500 against Nolan Ryan? lol he kicked Ryan's ass

[@billslocum9819]

@@robertprechter6804 It was a .383 OBP. Nolan had 22 Ks, so Reggie struck out more than he hit safely.

[@russellguercio5357]

Mark Cianfarani 86'Astros, 79'Angels, 80' Astros, 69' Mets.

[@thomasrichmond2413]

Brings back great memories watching him at Anaheim stadium back in the day

[@creepshowcrate]

Nolan also dealt out complimentary ass-whoopings for those in need.

[@chrishampton8842]

Yes he did lol

[@encinobalboa]

Talkin' 'bout you Robin Ventura.

[@markfroman738]

Just a good old farm boy

[@wilc.2095]

Best comment here!

[@slocumb1270]

And, stayed in the game and kept pitching.

[@guns2112]

Pitching on 3 days rest. He should be fine says nobody today.

[@shred5]

I saw this guy throw 100+mph pitch after pitch at the age of 46. I like how he goes and pitches in the all star game, against some of the best hitters in the game and strikes them all out.

[@marcoamedrano]

That's the point. Today the press goes gaga over pitchers that toss a few balls at 110 mph. An inning. Maybe two. Ryan could do that for nine, and even go a few more in extra innings. He only got stronger as a game progressed. A one-of-a-kind.

[@shanezenmusic]

shred5 he was definitely juicing while playing in Texas

[@davester1970]

When you faced Nolan Ryan back in the day, you didn't develop a batting eye. You had to develop a batting ear.

[@spcooper94]

I doubt that

[@deanarthaud5897]

@@shanezenmusic No he was not. You are misinformed.

[@walterwiggins8241]

How am I supposed to watch this with no superimposed strike zone???

[@Hulkhoagie1]

Strike zone would have called each pitch balls

[@bryancollins3695]

Your Sarcasmeter was off.

[@anthonyali7309]

Baseball was so good back then.

[@DawgPound86]

Koletti Pireaus guess you don’t know sarcasm when you see it

[@adrianpasillas3832]

Real man baseball kiddo...

[@antonioacevedo5200]

My child hood idle. One of the greatest athletes of all time to throw with so much velocity in the big leagues until his mid 40's.

[@domxem5551]

Antonio Acevedo Idol

[@johnnyv.5142]

I remember watching Ryan when attendance was low at the Big A, and hearing that loud pop of the catchers mitt fastball after fastball!

[@jefferylawson7072]

As a teenager when we were going to see the Braves, we always got to Fulton County Stadium early (back when you could get in to watch all of batting practice). One time the stadium was basically empty before batting practice started, and we heard the loudest explosions coming from the visiting Astro's bullpen. We thought there was some construction going on so we went to check it out. No joke, it was Nolan Ryan's warm up tosses hitting the catcher's mitt. Really unbelievable.

[@davidlafleche1142]

The Big A was such a beautiful ballpark...before the Rams moved in and ruined it! The least they could have done was keep the scoreboard where it was.

[@davidc6510]

Nolan Ryan -> one of the greatest pitchers ever. When that fast ball and curve ball were working well he was unstoppable.

[@TheRealMrLofasz]

What a stud!!! Freak of nature. No roids either.

[@jackson5116]

Justin Verlander is the same kind of freak, and now also known as a Texas pitcher.

[@richjh9]

There is no proof of steroids. But, look at his late 30s in Houston, the fastball lost some life. K/9 fell down into the 8's. Shows up in Texas, and in his early 40s, he finds velocity! K/9 pops into the mid 10's. That team was one of the most infamous steroid teams. Nolan Ryan is competitive out of his mind, he'll do anything for an edge, right? And, keep in mind, back then, steroids didn't have the same negative connotation that they do today. Guys did them, they just didn't talk about it, but I don't think they saw them as cheating the way we do now. How can it be cheating if they don't even test for them? Not saying he did them, but I wouldn't be surprised. If you look at the statistical evidence, it's not out of the question.

[@actsismmljcorrectlyobeyed6190]

FatherTomasino Freak of hard work and dedication.

[@leakyjeep5.9]

+Richard Hernandez Exactly, no way Ryan was clean after 40. No way in hell.

[@2AForever-wi8yj]

Hernandez FAHQ

[@allenhonaker4107]

I once read a book that compared pitchers throughout history. Each pitcher had 2 or 3 paragraphs on their career. Pitching style games won records held etc. But when you came to Nolan Ryan it only had 3 words. " The Greatest Ever". I think that still holds true today.

[@robertredmon5409]

I think Walter Johnson has a legit claim to be in the conversation for greatest ever.

[@joeski734]

Nah.

[@jasonlindsay6681]

“Ryan starting this game with three days rest so he should be strong.” How the game of baseball has changed!!

[@stoneyj1a1]

And Nolan pitched until he was 46

[@DonTrump-sv1si]

Advil

[@stoneyj1a1]

Lol, I remember those commercials. I must be old@@DonTrump-sv1si

[@tommyriam8320]

.. _for the worse_

[@franklee875]

He was the best of all time. Absolutely perfect technique and mechanics. He could wring every possible micron of power out of every pitch with no wasted motion or energy. that's why he was able to pitch at top level for so long.

[@Slickmickyoyo97]

"Ryan starting this game with three days rest." "Parker swinging a 37 ounce bat." Back when players had a little more hair on their balls. Damn straight.

[@DanOne1513]

MP Agreed... Parker and Ryan would tear apart these mock "pros" today....really no comparison...glad for those of us who watched superior players like these.

[@duewhit310]

Bat? That's an oak tree he's holding

[@favrerules04]

LMAO! I'm pretty confident Ryan's numbers will stand until MLB either lets PED's become 100% legal or they allow androids to start playing.

[@dontworrybehappy8080]

A freaking trunk right? Lol. Better off using a fungo in hindsight.

[@bmorebamma]

Here come the old timers talkin bout the good ole days. He kid get off my lawn.

[@cityofchamps66]

The guy once threw 235 pitches in a 13 inning game in 1974, safe to say, no one will ever do that again, my opinion, the greatest pitcher of the modern era

[@deniswilson8152]

cityofchamps66 he also struck out 19 batters in that same game

[@mkane33]

He can still throw in the 80s

[@deniswilson8152]

A Cincinnati reds pitcher holds the record of 74 COMPLETE games

[@deniswilson8152]

@Dann Myers lmaooooo that was in one season.... plus underhanded pitching doesn't count.... baseball didn't have a relief corps as part of the REGULAR roster.... most pitchers completed alot of their games

[@depaola63]

NO DOUBT !!

[@martinishot]

If you ever have a chance to watch this entire All-Star Game do it. Nolan Ryan one by one was shutting down not just a lineup of All Stars, but a lineup of future Hall of Famers. Maybe the most amazing feat I'd ever seen by a pitcher.

[@markuyehara7880]

I prefer Pedro striking out five in two innings in 1999 against a roided up NL roster.

[@Calbenmike]

1999 Pedro is the greatest pitching in an All-Star game, ever.

[@syourke3]

martinishot Remember the hitters here had probably never faced him before. That gives a him a big advantage. The more often you face a pitcher the better chance you have of hitting him. Ryan was something special.

[@wildcat31772]

it's nolan ryan. lol the scouting report says "fastball" and maybe in fine print "and a nasty ass curveball you probably won't make it long enough to see"

[@kylejohansen689]

Ryan gave up three runs in two innings and only struck out two.

[@cvn6555]

Loved watching him and Steve Carlton compete for the strikeout title every year and then the career record.

[@juanlopez-ug2yy]

I watch this game with my mother when I move to PR. Little black and white TV, with a hanger for a antenna. Thank you for taking me into memory lane of life.

[@upsdbardave]

As a kid , an Angel fan when Nolan pitched you could go and sit behind home for $5. He was so exciting to watch! That wind up and leg drive was so powerful!

[@99SpidermanFan]

Nolan Ryan was THE power strike-out pitcher of the 70s-80s and early 90s. So strange that he was about 35 games above .500 Some of the most dominating pitching performances that I ever saw where Nolan's... Some of his records will never be broken.

[@TheRealMrLofasz]

He played on some real bad teams. One year he led the NL in ERA and had a losing record. Angels, Astros, and Rangers were not good.

[@99SpidermanFan]

Exactly right, and opposing teams would arrange to have their ace face Nolan.

[@elmaenoausente]

If he had played with the Red Machine in the 70's probably he'd won 400 games instead of 300

[@seabrook1976]

Gabriel Gomez could not agree more.

[@seabrook1976]

snag66 I tried to make this point with someone else and they tried convincing me that Ryan was just a stat accumulator. Please.

[@gatorflight74]

I was behind home plate at Tiger Stadium when Texas came to Detroit to play a 3 game series. I caught the game where Nolan Ryan was pitching....holy christ he had a sizzling fast fastball. He had 11K's that night and I was just amazed by his power.

[@pvybe]

I used to sit there. Right behind Tom Monahan. 3rd row. WRIF tickets. No other way to see a ball game. Would have loved to see Ryan from that perspective. Although, I do have to say that $2 Bleacher Creature seats were pretty epic...

[@richiemorii260]

Ryan later stated in 1991 that his conditioning on his legs over the years made him durable longer than most power pitchers.

[@michaelsmulkowski5088]

Also, he said he did not throw a slider because he thought it was bad for his arm.

[@jackson5116]

curves are supposed to be the worst for your arm (elbow precisely), fastballs are typically more natural.

[@davester1970]

Most pitchers that specializes in slide pieces always seem to all need Tommy John surgery at some point in their lives.

[@JohnDoe-kj6wp]

richie morii and plenty of juice. I think the new bread of players would crush his fastball

[@deniswilson8152]

@@JohnDoe-kj6wp meth pipe down son

[@procopiojrpalacios9702]

Remembering being up in Oakland in the '80s when general admission tickets sat you about 10 rows up from the dugout. The Angels' Ryan was throwing beebees, and you could hear every grunt on every pitch. Once, on a pitch high and inside, Reggie Jackson bent way back, then straightened up, letting out a huge, "Wooo!" You can't hit what you can't see!

[@mh-ct7oc]

Not only a great athlete but a true gentleman. Rarely found in today’s sports.

[@brucewayne3602]

absolutely !!!

[@transitny]

Can you picture this guy playing on the 74-75-76 Reds, early 70s A's, 77-78 Yankees, or any of the KC teams from late 70s-early 80s?

[@davester1970]

He would probably have over 400 wins easy. Nolan Ryan pitched many years on some pretty mediocre teams in his career. If the JR Richards didn't have his stroke, then 1980 Houston Astros would have won the World Series instead of the Phillies.

[@pauljohnson3340]

Agreed. J.R. Richard was a filthy monster on the mound.

[@davester1970]

Up until JR Richards suffered his tragic stroke, nobody was hitting his stuff. The Astros could have won 3 World Series (1980, 1981 and 1986) if they had Nolan Ryan and JR Richard in the rotation together. In 1980, Nolan Ryan wasn't the big winner in their rotation. Joe Niekro was. Even without Richards, that Astros team had a pretty solid pitching rotation with Ken Forsch and Vern Ruhle behind Ryan and Niekro. Had JR Richard been healthy for the 1980 NLCS, the Phillies and Royals wouldn't have stood a chance.

[@furfamilysue]

I wonder how he would have done with the Orioles and George Bamberger. Orioles always had good pitching in the 1960's-1970's.

[@gary6754]

@@davester1970 bull, you're discredited the Phillies who had a great team during that era. They lost the NLCS in 76,77, and 78. It was their turn to win in 80. Then in 80 they lost the division round to Montreal but they were playing great before the strike. They were the best team in baseball before the strike. Then the strike broke all their momentum. And 83 they lost the WS to Baltimore. The Phillies had a great run from 76-83, they deserved a WS victory.

[@theereverandreaper6466]

I was at Ryans last game in Seattle . I grew up there and a die hard Seattle fan. but Nolan was my favorite player. the man was still throwing gas even that day. I feel he was the most dominate pitchers ever. if he could have been on better teams and got some rings he would no doubt have been the greatest ever in everyone's mind.

[@luvfreedom1470]

He did win a ring with the Mets in '69.

[@SimpleManGuitars1973]

Didn't his last pitch of his career register at or a little above 100mph?

[@wildcat31772]

I was there too. He was my idol growing up and playing little league ball.

[@Cryolemon]

@@SimpleManGuitars1973 I think officially it was 98mph. Although this was after he said that he felt something go in his elbow earlier in the inning.

[@patrickcox2459]

I saw him pitch his second to last game in Anaheim, which was really his last game. Took a 1-1 tie into the seventh. The last start he had his arm was hurt and he only faced a few hitters with no strike outs. I named my oldest son Ryan.

[@lucasdefalco2612]

"Ryan starting this game with three days' rest, so he should be strong." And I will bet a week's pay the last game was a full nine innings with about 150 fastballs.

[@course-in-semantics-KU]

You can count the pitches if you want, but he threw a 9-inning 1-hitter against the Yankees. Faced 33 batters, and struck out 9 of them. www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CAL/CAL197907130.shtml

[@kibitznec700]

Yeah, not like todays bubblegum "workhorse pitchers" who pitch every 5th day and just go 5 or 6 innings max. They are just made of miao.

[@andytihonow3676]

37 ounce bat against Nolan Ryan? U def have to rethink that strategy

[@DanOne1513]

Andy Tihonow LOL...two great players from an era of far better grit and players.

[@BradSchmor]

Not if you're a beast like Dave Parker. Look at that final swing - he whipped that thing around so hard it's unbelievable. Possibly the physically strongest player since Babe Ruth, until the steroid era.

[@jasonmichael3676]

@John Wilkerson Babe Ruth swung the bat twice as hard as players of today.

[@guitarsANDcars39]

@John Wilkerson Babe Ruth played in an era of a taller pitchers mound. It gave pitchers a huge velocity advantage. Don't disrespect the roots of the game.

[@arthroscopic9774]

The handle of Parker's 37 oz bat (at a drop 3 would be 40 inches long!!!) is probably bigger than some barrels in today's 31/32 in 28/29oz bats in use...... These guys had b@lls as big as church bells!

[@terryogletree2128]

Nolan just wasn't getting the calls one day , finally he stormed the plate and yelled " where was it ump" the umpire rather sheepishly replied " iiit sooouuunded high"

[@russs7574]

In one of his books late umpire Ron Luciano said that when Ryan was on the mound, he would routinely call pitches, "Ball, sounded outside." And one time the catcher...I think it was Jim Sundberg...looked around and said, "I don't, Ronnie. Sounded like it caught the corner."

[@wilrobles5392]

When Nolan was on, the opponents had no chance.

[@kennethlucas7473]

That's why he pitched 7 no hitters

[@Alex-gb8em]

Kenneth Lucas he also had some no hitters going into the 9th that he lost also. he was unreal

[@Tampa370]

His career ERA is better than being on 50% of the time. His career BA against was better than ANYONE else in Major league history, and he pitch well over 5,000 innings. I say he was better than 50% on.

[@Tampa370]

He was on more than he was off. Look at his 1972 year, he started 39 games and I would say 10 bad games and the other 29 weren't. He wasn't one good then one bad as you make him out to be. If he was his ERA during his Angels years would be much worse than 3.07

[@claudiacotner1638]

Like Koufax?

[@joemontano6956]

My Favorite pitcher ever! Definition of a True Workhorse. Nolan is THE MAN

[@MARKLINMAN1]

There will NEVER be another like Ryan! That is one record NO One Will break……7 NO HITTERS, played in 4 different decades! A TRUE LEGEND!

[@brucewayne3602]

unmatched unique brilliance with longevity === Ryan Express !!!

[@stoneyj1a1]

Wow, Parker swung out of his shoes! Great battle.

[@cowboysfan782008]

Saw this live, I was 10, almost 11 yrs old. 79' was the "We Are Family" Peaches & Herb yr for the Pirates and the Steelers ended up going to the SB against the Rams. I think this was the game I saw Dave Parker throw a ball from deep in the outfield all the way to the plate, and it was about 7 ft off the ground the whole length of the throw. Those stats may be off but it was the longest low line drive of a throw I'd ever seen, was awesome!

[@cowboysfan782008]

What's your point there M whatever?

[@alexsaitta4041]

The difference with Ryan and everyone else, he will be throwing that hard in the 9th inning. His 100 mph was in the top of the 9th when they were clocking him.

[@dougdavis8986]

Ya. You are lucky to get 6 innings out of the pussies these days.

[@dougdavis8986]

@@billybob042665 : show us the documentation

[@myquest666420]

@@billybob042665 it’s also documented fact that the radar was aimed at the plate and not at the point of release, which would make up for the radar being off 8 mph, as the ball slows down the closer it gets to the plate. He was still throwing 100, just not the 108 that some people believe.

[@markwest8960]

...and while he was in his 40s as well. Amazing genes and conditioning!

[@bernieudo7467]

Look at this scene, one you'll never see again. Ryan throwing heat @ 95-100 & a natural giant in Parker. Heat v. Raw Muscle. HOF for the Ages! 🇺🇸

[@davecampbell8408]

Glad there's youtube so people today can watch baseball the way it was played when I watched growing up.

[@rudeone4life]

Look how fast the game was... I cannot even watch a MLB game today because each batter takes 15 min to get settled when he walks up to the plate then another 10 min between pitches. I miss the old school baseball days.

[@gunsmoke6230]

It’s ridiculous

[@tek6423]

This is what’s killing the game. People who run the game can’t figure this out.

[@russs7574]

Fun stat. In 1959, when the Pirates' Harvey Haddix threw his 12-inning "no hitter" against the Braves (gave up a hit in the 13th and ended up losing the game), the time of the game was 2:54. If you're watching the Red Sox and Yankees playing, 2:54 gets you to the middle of the 6th inning...maybe.

[@joedebaun4547]

Glad to watch Nolan when he was with the Angels. I even saw him pitch a no-hitter live.

[@davidrice3337]

now that must have been cool

[@justinboulder2166]

I saw Nolan pitch against the West Point Cadet team in batting practice. This was about 1971 just before he was traded from the Mets to the Angels. The Mets use to play a scrimmage game against the Army team at West Point every year. On this particular day Nolan was throwing so hard I could not see it, only the puff when it hit the catchers mitt. As a New Yorker I was sad to see him traded away. Always thought they placed too much emphasis on his record when he played on many teams that just didn't come thru with run support.

[@lazysob2328]

if you watch Nolan Ryan pitch, he has perfect leverage between arm, legs and back. Too many pitchers now open up to soon and their arm lags behind, leading to injuries.

[@spiritof76forever81]

Stuart Lujan

[@joelzepeda3226]

Yup that's exactly why Kerry Wood could never stay healthy.

[@kev6141]

Right.. how many “TJ” surgeries did Ryan have? Lol..

[@myway148]

By far the best pitcher of all time. May never be another quite like him !

[@davidprice9651]

I miss those days. Play ball, nothing else.

[@otbliveson1]

his numbers are ridiculous.he probably could have have won closer to 400-450 games if he had some decent teams behind him ..many a games where he was over 200 pitches..imagine that nowadays where a lousy 6 innings with 3 earned runs counts as a quality start..please !!!!!!

[@2AForever-wi8yj]

And he did that in the days of FOUR MAN ROTATIONS

[@manofiske3318]

Likely not. Ryan was so "competitive" that he saw the game(team sport) as a battle between himself and each individual batter whom he did not simply want to defeat by getting him out in any old fashion BUT by STRIKING him out. This is not conducive , in the long run to a strong winning percentage as such a misplaced emphasis detracts the long term goal. Ryan if provoked will reveal his true nature but in polite company will try to deny that he was all about destroying the hitter at any cost

[@PorkFrog]

Ryan had the poorest run support of his day, one year he won the era title yet his record was 8-16. another year he led the league in losses with 18 with a 3.36 ERA. the Angels and especially the Astros gave him nothing to work with just how crazy is that? you win the ERA title with a 2.76 and still go 8-16

[@jackson5116]

look how many BB's Ryan had. He threw hard, but he wasn't always able to locate it.

[@PorkFrog]

''3.36 was average that year'' was 18 losses average that year? the point isn't how many walks or where his ERA was compared to the league or how good the Stro's were, it's run support for Ryan specifically....if you win the ERA title and lose twice as many as you win...

[@DD-fm7xb]

Kubek: He's pitching on 3 days rest so he should be strong....Today's wouldn't even make themselves available to pitch an inning on 3 days rest !!

[@davester1970]

Any manager putting a pitcher on the mound on three days today rest would have grievances filed against him by the player's union.

[@CasiodorusRex]

Because all of our sports have become pussyfied.

[@Cryolemon]

@E W Ryan pitched until he was 44 (IIRC). Although he was pretty inhuman.

[@mikefields2243]

Teams won’t allow their “investments” to pitch on 3 day rest. Ryan had the best arm ever.

[@cranes7]

Thank you Danny! They would never. They can't even go 7 innings!

[@469dwj]

Amazing pitcher one of my favorites

[@hannover5551]

I watched warm up in the bullpen from the Fenway Park bleachers in the late 70’s. Sounded like when you step on an empty carton of milk. POP!!!! The radar guns were different back then. He was probably throwing 105 easy.

[@bajaborracho9139]

Big dave parker. What an athlete that guy was.

[@jetdr]

Ryan could play in any era of Baseball and still be great. Tough as nails!!

[@larrylindgren9484]

No. Ryan said he couldn't pitch today because if you throw a ball inside you get a warning. Ryan always said, "The inside of the plate is mine." You can't pitch inside today with some butt hurt hitter crying to the Ump about it. Which gets a warning to stop doing it. If you were hanging over the plate Ryan would knock you are your butt. Ryan would be done for a today's game in 2 innings. Plus is you throw more 90 pitches you're gone. Ryan would have never thrown a no hitter. Probably never win 1 game if he's taking out after 90 pitches:) Today pitchers are trained to be tired after 90 pitches and hey are. In Ryan's day you were trained to pitch until you were pulled. And that was after 130+ pitches.

[@TheRichmondRoadie]

When MLB was still fun to watch.

[@gregtennessee8249]

Quit Whining. And trump Lost

[@myjeanification]

Oh how I miss the great pitchers of that era, Ryan, Seaver, Gibson, Koufax etc

[@exiledking7077]

Wow came upon this randomly. I met both of these player's as a child. Both had a big impact on me. Dave gave me an autographed ball for being most improved student in the county. Good times.

[@epicgamesforyou3615]

That second pitch to Dave Parker, I would’ve put it right out of the park.

[@CDKLRK]

This makes me remember just how much I loved baseball. I absolutely hate it now. I haven’t watched a game in years.

[@joemartin1253]

Nolan Ryan in his prime!

[@elvicare35]

In 1989!!!!!

[@brianjschumer]

Tom Seaver, Nolan Ryan, Jerry Koosman, Gary Gentry..and people say 69 Mets where a fluke.

[@gh9111]

Still Amazin

[@brianreed1859]

Never heard or thought they were a fluke. Great team

[@robertkelly6282]

And the idiots traded him away

[@kenmills1611]

Couldn't really hit.

[@ucantcompare2U2]

I haven't watched baseball in 15 years. I quit via my fav, The Expos did. Oh, the pain of being a fan of theirs. I had to stop by when I saw Ryan's name there. This was beautiful. Watching baseball highlights on KZbin is probably better than watching wandering free agents every year.

[@ralphus44]

Interesting that Tom Seaver is one of the announcers covering the All-Star Game. Seaver could have easily been on the team hinself. 16 wins that year, same number as Ryan.

[@Ballajd1]

He was called “The Express” for a reason!

[@DARK24-7]

Nolan Ryan is a beast-notice i said "IS",i think he could still do ti!!!

[@JumpingJack6]

One of my all time favorite baseball players.

[@TheLeadSled]

As a child of the 70's and early 80's this was the best time for baseball. One of my memories is the 79 WS when my birds were up 3-1 over the Bucs and then fell apart.

[@charlesmessina5253]

no one could dominate batters like Ryan, he threw hard right over the plate and hitters still missed his fastball. He is my all time favorite baseball player to this day

[@carlmay9532]

“Ryan starting this game on 3 days rest so he should be strong.” How times have changed.

[@leafyutube]

You know it's a fastball coming and STILL they can't hit it! Sandy Koufax also was like that.

[@markuyehara7880]

The problem with Koufax was his combination of rising fastball and 12-6 curve. Ryan had a hammer curve as well but didn't use it to keep hitters off balance like Koufax did. It's one of the reasons Koufax was so much better.

[@AmericasChoice]

@@markuyehara7880 Koufax was the GOAT. Ryan did develop a circle change later in his career, so he had 3 solid pitches.

[@tjk9263]

@@markuyehara7880 It's really too bad Koufax had such a short career of only 8 yrs. but 8 yrs of total domination. If he had a 14 to 16 yr career he might have 5,000 strikeouts along with Ryan.

[@larrylindgren9484]

Thurman Munson the later Yankee catcher once said, "I know what's coming but it doesn't matter." He was like 3-50 with 30 strikeouts against Ryan. Munson was pretty darn good too.

[@1950Grendel]

Willie said that about Koufax when K's arm was shot.

[@eddielester3589]

I remember Ryan also playing with bad teams. California,1979,Houston 80 .....were about the best teams he played on..Never really had offensive support...

[@Texas-Chris]

Thanks for uploading this, it’s awesome !!!

[@iceman9610]

Starting on three days rest, so he should be strong. How times have changed.

[@grantchow13]

Three days rest and he should be strong ? Today they get all hot and bothered if they don't have 5 days between starts, yet no one barely pitches 200 innings per season ? In Ryan's era, some pitchers did 300 innings and started 40-50 games a season. To much micromanaging of pitchers today.

[@russs7574]

I don't recall the exact number, but during Bob Gibson's epic 1968 season, he averaged something like 8.7 innings per start.

[@CSDonohue11]

Good Morning Good Afternoon & Goodnight

[@MikeyD22]

Tremendous fastball but the no hitters came when his curveball was on. And it was a vicious curveball, just as unhittable as his fastball.

[@Flightjunkie4u]

I saw Nolan Ryan pitch against the Oakland A's (1973). I was in row 17 just third base side of home plate. I barely had a chance, a lot of times, to catch the white blur. He was WOW fast. Gave credir=t for his longevity to Mel Stottlemeyer (ex-Yankee, then pitching coach for "Those Amazing Mets". Ryan was either Rookie or second year for the World Series. He said that Mel taught him how to always rely on "the mechanics" of pitching. Ryan said he drilled it into the others (Including Tom Seaver) that "If you stick to the mechanics, you'll last longer in baseball". I think Tom Seaver was 22 years. Ryan played until he just wanted to stop playing. Seemed like forever. What a joy to have seen him work in real life!

[@larrylindgren9484]

True but Seaver lost that fastball. Ryan never did.

[@paulweston8408]

Back in my childhood the MLB All Star game was up there with my birthday and Christmas as one of the things I looked forward to the most. During the 70's all the teams (for the most part) had amazing uniforms and as a kid I loved seeing them all in the same game! I stopped watching baseball after the strike in the mid 90's. It is really sad to me that something I loved so much became something that to me was the problem with so many things, greed.

[@lancebaker1374]

Not only was Ryan throwing 100MPH, he also was regularly touching the outside of the plate. What's a hitter supposed to do about that?

[@factChecker01]

Even when Ryan was about to retire, he was probably the pitcher most likely to throw a no-hitter on any given day.

[@alansabin7487]

that is a very good point, thanks

[@carter1574]

Man, to hear Tony Kubek! What a flashback to my teen years.

[@fjhgh100]

Was always a huge fan of Mr Kubek and his legendary broadcasting , was the voice of the blue jays back in the day.

[@vinzklortho3013]

This guy was my hero growing up. This video is amazing.

[@cowboysfan782008]

My fam moved from Dallas Texas in Jan 78', and when I went back in the summer of 1980 to see my best friend, his family had moved to just outside of Houston, so I was able to see a game at the Astrodome for the 1st time, and I recently found the 1980 program for that game with a bunch of stuff in a box that my mom brought over that had been in the attic since I moved out after HS in 1986. It was actually in a big painters case for carrying artwork. In 86' I just left home, and left pretty much everything I owned and my room as it was, so along with the program were Led Zeppelin posters and tapestry's, black felt posters of Ozzy, a large RUSH and Pink Floyd giant poster from Spencers in the mall, etc etc. It was a fricken time capsule and a hell of a lot of fun to go through because I had forgot about all that stuff decades ago.