There Will Never Be Another Nolan Ryan

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Edited by @benjamminjackson

[@mathisfun13]

The phrase "after he threw his seventh no-hitter at the age of 44" tells you all you need to know.

[@snerdterguson]

The crazy things about that are: 1: That he was really hurt, his back was in such pain, right before he took the mound to start the game, he told Bobby Valentine to get someone up because he didn't think he could get out of the first. 2: It was against the best offense in baseball. 3: By game score, it is one of the 10 greatest games ever pitched. 4: you already said it. Dude was 44 frikkin years old. As a testament to how dominant he was, from the age 40-44 he led MLB in K/9. At 45 he didn't lead the league, but averaged a strikeout every inning. His final season was his worst, but still had a respectable, especially considering he was 46, 6.2 K/9. He was a one off.

[@friday0408]

And his no hitters weren't cheap ones. He no hit champions.

[@ryanmason74]

Cal Ripken Jr, Nolan Ryan, and Orel Herschieser are my top 3 . I loved this

[@TheHauntedMansionGhost]

I think the last few he would tell the manager it was done. He went out there, feeling bad, and no hit them. Its like I don't want to know what a great day was if a no hitter is a bad one LOL

[@AdubsMMA]

Steroids

[@joshuapatrick682]

His back had already given out but he didn’t stop til he physically could not complete a throwing motion…the man is the definition of hardcore.

[@zlinedavid]

And it wasn’t his back that gave out. After 4 decades of throwing smoke and knee-buckling curves, his elbow finally gave.

[@aidenawe9359]

And not giving up

[@scottrackley4457]

@@zlinedavid I think the elbow earned the retirement.

[@michaelwolf6424]

I was a Sr in HS in 1967 when the New York Mets sent a young, wild pitcher to the little Marion, Va town I was living. It was Nolan Ryan. I got to see him throw his very first professional pitch. Marion was a small town much like his home town in Texas. He hated it. It was the Mets club in the Appalachian rookie league. Ryan was 3-6 while there before moving on. Although he was wild, everyone knew there was something special about him. He was my pitching idol. A notoble quote: When Ricky Henderson struck out against Nolan Ryan to become his 5000th K victim, Henderson took it in stride. "If you ain't struck out against Nolan Ryan, you ain't nobody.".

[@longshot7601]

I read an autobiography of an MLB umpire (Ron Luchiano) that was behind the plate when Ryan pitched. After a couple of pitches he unleashed the Ryan Express. The ball hit the glove and he hesitated in the call. He then called 'Ball! Sounded low." Both the batter and catcher were good with the call.

[@fahimp]

To be able to throw 95-100 mph for TWENTY SEVEN years is just remarkable. For damn near 3 decades he was able to throw that fastball at that velocity. If nothing else, Ryan’s durability is legendary. Truly a freak of nature

[@AverageLeagueHack]

Even more so than you think because back then they measured the speed as it crossed the plate while now they measure it as it leaves the pitcher's hand. An internet search informed me that a pitched baseball loses one mile an hour for every 8 feet traveled making Nolan's fastball about a mind melting, bat shattering 108 mph out of his hand.

[@justprivate2333]

A living, breathing cheat code. I almost enjoyed his, fall off the table, 12 to 6 curve ball as much as his heater when he rung up a hitter. The look he got from the hitter was always priceless. You know what was going through their head. "You've got to be kidding me.."

[@MrCarter4121]

He probably still can too

[@gregamerson9172]

@justprivate2333 uncle Charlie was more devastating than the heat.

[@fahimp]

@@gregamerson9172 him and Koufax had two of the best 12 to 6 curves

[@deakon071]

The fact that he never won a Cy Young is just mind-blowing

[@54raynor]

Not really. There was never a season where he was the best pitcher in the league. He was just really good for a really long time.

[@poindexterflex3528]

@@54raynor This is wrong. He never won a Cy Young because he played on teams where lack of run support cost him wins. And moreso back than than today did they consider wins when doing the Cy Young voting.

[@aidenawe9359]

@@poindexterflex3528true

[@54raynor]

@@poindexterflex3528 no, he didn’t win the Cy Young because he wasn’t as good as the other top pitchers of his era at keeping runners off base. He is the all-time and single-season leader in walks by a large margin, which resulted in an opponents’ OBP (and thereby a run average) that wasn’t particularly special for his era. Later advanced stats told a similar story. Never once did Ryan lead the league in WAR, and only once (in 1981) did he lead the league in ERA+.

[@bjchit]

@@54raynor Cool story, still doesn't change the fact that East Coast bias and win total bias is a thing that exists.

[@charleslovins7252]

This man pitched for 27 years. Think about that. He truly is the best of all time. Listen to his HOF induction speech. The baddest dude to ever throw a ball is also the most humble. Thank you sir. You made the game great again.

[@markb20]

June 14, 1974. One of the most incredible pitching days in baseball history... Facts: Nolan Ryan pitched 13 innings. Threw 235 pitches. Struck out 19 (he did that THREE times in '74). And Ryan didn't even throw the most innings that game. Starter Luis Tiant went 14 1/3 innings for the Red Sox, taking the loss in the 15th inning vs the Angels. Ryan got a no-decision. Simply mind blowing.

[@merlyworm]

Can you imagine a big league manager allowing his starting pitcher to do this nowadays? He'd be fired the next day. Just a different mindset back then

[@markb20]

@@merlyworm Right. And I remember as a kid in the 1970s going to a Yankee doubleheader vs the White Sox. The Sox starting pitcher Wilbur Wood was knocked out of the first game, and ended up starting the second game. Probably the last time that ever happened.

[@Droosie3]

HoFer's Juan Marichal and 42 y/o Warren Spahn had a 16 inning duel in 1963. Marichal threw 227 pitches to Spahns 201. Unfortunately for Spahn, his 201st pitch was a walk-off homerun to Willie Mays.

[@scottb2113]

And Ryan pitched with 3 days rest against the Yankees I believe for 6 innings.

[@euclideszoto997]

I'll never forget when he went to Oakland A's the defending champions then and no-hit the A's. The A's had a legendary lineup and the A's fans were cheering him! Incredible!

[@barrycalvillo2466]

I bet they gave him a standing ovation!

[@euclideszoto997]

@@barrycalvillo2466 Yes they did! Watched the game. It was incredible. The best hitting lineup in baseball at that time. Defending champions. Intimidated everyone. Nolan goes into their field and no hits them.

[@Bugkiller08]

My greatest moment and baseball memory was being in attendance when Ryan tied Koufax' no hitter mark in '75. Little league day. My first live baseball game. I went on later to meet Nolan at a Padres game. When I showed him some older cards, that I had him sign, he replied, "is that me?" Kind of a funny moment. Wonderful guy. It was a shame he never won a well deserved Cy Young award.

[@Real28]

Doesn't even seem possible to have his stat line and not have a Cy Young.

[@travis7211]

I met him probably 25 years ago at a signing. He was there for many hours signing autographs and taking photos. All the money went to his foundation. Great guy

[@llydrsn]

"It only hurt when I threw the ball". But his job is to throw the ball! This man really is something else. We would never see pitching dominance and numbers like he had during his career.

[@nobeardthepirate9172]

Go look at Pedro's 99 season if you want dominance.

[@imbluz]

Ryan became so popular that fan attendance would boost over 200% whenever he was playing. He was a major draw ever since he started with the Angels.

[@glevy17]

I’m only 37 and never saw Ryan pitch in his prime but as a kid I remember seeing him with the rangers. I learned real quick that he was still a great pitcher but today, after tons of others came and went you realize just how amazing he really was.

[@tastefullys]

Being born in 1998, I never got to watch him pitch but yet somehow he’s still one of my favorite pitchers of all-time

[@snerdterguson]

It was something else. You know how sports networks will break into sporting events coverage because something cool might be happening? Well it may not be the reality, but it felt like every couple weeks ESPN would be going live to whatever game Ryan was pitching. I am a Yankee fan and he's my favorite pitcher ever. Pure power and domination with the most wicked fastball that's ever been thrown. I don't care what radar guns say, Ryan threw harder than anyone ever. The sound was just different. So he would be throwing a fastball that likely should need to be registered as a deadly weapon and then he would absolutely buckle some poor dudes knees with a curve. He also had a very effective changeup. But his fastball curve combo is as devastating as anything I've ever seen in sports. It was unfair. It looked so nearly exactly like a fastball coming out of his hand, and then it drops and tails away out of nowhere. I've seen many of the best hitters in modern history be made to look like little leaguers by Ryan's curveball. That pitch doesn't get talked about enough with Ryan. Now if he had control? It would be a wrap.

[@tastefullys]

@@snerdterguson that’s awesome to hear. It looks like in his last 9 seasons he was able to start controlling his walks to under 100 while keeping his strikeouts at a high amount so I assume his control got better as he aged

[@northstarjakobs]

@@snerdterguson Hitting a fastball is already one of if not the most difficult thing in sports but going in against some of those pitchers had to be on a different level. Honestly I think it's a testament to modern baseball's safety standards that no one got a serious injury from a Nolan Ryan HBP. Honestly, if there was any other pitcher who could've killed a bird with a pitch it was probably Nolan Ryan.

[@anthonylombardo1261]

@@northstarjakobsrandy Johnson would arguably agree.

[@gregpeacock5497]

In the movie "Facing Nolan", they interviewed MANY of the players he pitched against and with. ALL of them were in complete shock that he never won a Cy Young award.

[@kennycook8212]

My granny is the biggest Rangers fan in the world. I once asked her who the best pitcher of all time was. She looked me dead in the eyes and said. "Son, I have raised you wrong if you don't already know the answer. Nolan Ryan, Kennyboy. Nolan Ryan."

[@zlinedavid]

Don’t argue with grandma on this one. She ain’t wrong.

[@jraelien5798]

Your Granny is a wise woman.

[@darrenbridges3033]

Love this!

[@marchatesyou1]

Ryan brought the heat and your granny brought the truth

[@scottrackley4457]

Granny knows who brings the heat

[@Varzaak]

Was my favorite player. Watched him at the end of his Angels stint, all through his Astro days, and when I could during his Rangers days. I remember as a kid delivering papers I couldn't wait to look at the box scores to see how many Ks he got for the game. Not only a phenomenal talent, but a good person. Never bragged on himself. Always respectful to people. In fact, I don't know of one person who hated the guy. A good role model for kids. Can't say that about today's athletes.

[@bzq122]

my fav all time pitcher. his longevity/dominance is unmatched

[@suyahatesntr]

I just watched his pitch as an old man. Damn it still fast.

[@Roy-or6ev]

Nolan Ryan's final official major league pitch was "clocked", using a state-the-art radar gun, at an astounding 98.5 mph. In his early fifties, he once threw a game's opening pitch at more than 80 mph! And he was attired in everyday clothes and shoes when he performed this feet! 😮!

[@zlinedavid]

He’s 76 now, and it wouldn’t surprise me if he could still throw one good one faster than his age.

[@Efilnikufesin76]

@@zlinedavid He threw a first pitch in a game at 65 at 85 mph.

[@scottrackley4457]

Back then they clocked the pitch at home plate, now they clock it at release. Nolan threw a ball radar measured at over 100 mph as it crossed the plate, more than once. He was the epitome of "here it is, see if you can hit it"

[@Roy-or6ev]

In the '69 World Series, Ryan's catcher, Dick Groat, was amazed at the reactions of the opposing team's players as they faced Nolan. After the game, Groat said the opposing team's batters had been unable to "pick up" the baseball immediately after it left his hand. Groat went on to state that the batters had been stunned, unable to believe what Ryan was doing to them. Groat said the last batter, Paul Blair, was terrified that Ryan's strike-three pitch would be a fastball "just fixin' to kill him." But instead, it was a nasty 12-to-6-curve that caused Blair's knees "to just buckle," said Groat. Frost also said each of Ryan's fastballs was *more than 100 mph*. " I'm sure of that," Groat exclaimed. "I had to catch 'em."

[@bird401]

@@Roy-or6evGroat was a shortstop.

[@barleymepodcast2301]

I was listening to his final game on the radio (I listened to as many Mariners games as I could when I was a kid) and it was a very sad farewell for an absolute legend.

[@zlinedavid]

Actually, it’s almost fitting. He pitched until he physically couldn’t anymore. And the pitch where his UCL popped (more like died of exhaustion) was still 98 MPH…at 46 years old.

[@barleymepodcast2301]

@@zlinedavid it’s more that he was getting absolutely rocked when it happened

[@steve4158]

I met an American League rookie of the year. I was paired with him randomly for 18 holes at country club in Naples Fla. I asked him about facing Ryan. He stated it was "Scary!" He said not only that he threw hard, but Ryan would also give out a good grunt when he threw. He said nobody would show fear at the plate, but inside, players were absolutely not looking forward to facing him. Ryan threw a ceremonial first pitch at age 63, and it was clocked at 85 mph! He still had good heat at that age!

[@grantirwin8967]

One could hear that grunt way back, 20 rows back in left field of old Rangers field.

[@steve4158]

@@grantirwin8967 That must have been something to hear!!!

[@B5Blue1968]

I saw him pitch his final game against Detroit. I went and watched him warm up. He truly was remarkable. There will never ever be another pitcher like him, I think the closet it came was Randy Johnson.

[@davidclementi5434]

The man was a truly amazing athlete...to be able to produce the kind of numbers he did is unbelievable and will never be matched!!! I researched his training system & tried doing it during my collegiate pitching career and was overwhelmed... That a man of his age was able to do all that he did WE WILL NEVER SEE AGAIN! Definitely the GOAT when it comes to the mound...

[@user-uo8yh9tb8g]

I love him, I really do....but I've come to the opinion that both Koufax and (the almost forgotten 1940/50's phenom) Bob Feller were what I'd call better all-time talents.....you could even make an argument for undersized giant, Pedro Martinez....... but had Feller not missed four years of his absolute prime due to military service, who knows what he might've done.......he truly was very, very special

[@davidclementi5434]

@@user-uo8yh9tb8g Granted, i'll give you the fact that Koufax may have given him some competition, because of his shortened career, but i'm not sure about Feller. Never really heard about him till recently so i don't know much about his baseball career. But I can tell you that his dedication to the physical and mental part of the game will never be matched. NO ONE will EVER last as long and have as many no-hitters and K's as The Express....

[@susanmeinhardt5557]

@@davidclementi5434 And he's third all-time with 292 losses. He had a dedication to the physical side of the game, but not the mental. His only approach was to try and strike out every hitter.

[@davidclementi5434]

@@susanmeinhardt5557 Those 292 losses were due to the fact that he never got any run production...I mean, being th Ace with the Angels, Astros & Rangers really hurt his win/loss record-and I won't bring up his early years with the Mets, as wild as he was. But when he went to the west coast he took up the study of Pitching- both the mechanics and the Mental mindset that was necessary to be a productive asset to his team. And a lot of that came from some very good pitching coaches and advisers.

[@johnnieclemons2921]

I was not born yet, but he’s my all time favorite pitcher. For me he was a pitcher to be feared.

[@Mayor_Of_Eureka17]

That paperboy clip killed me. Solid timing.

[@jebulon1864]

The GOAT. A total stud, but a class act and a family man as well.

[@mrsinister8943]

In 1990 as a 10 year old i began watching sports and im glad i was able to watch the Ryan express. Baseball from 1990-1994 was just great. There were young stars every year blossoming with Griffey Jr and Frank Thomas,Piazza,Bagwell...etc then you had the old guard still around like Ryan,Ripken,Schmidt,Kirby,Gwynn....etc. Those days were the best.

[@mr.johnson460]

Reminds me of Barry Sanders. As great of a running back he was, he owns the NFL record for yards lost behind the line of scrimmage.

[@lukehewko260]

Such a good comparison, but if Sanders had played twice as long lol

[@Jay_The_Cat]

That kind of longevity is certainly unique, a combination of winning the genetic lottery and diligent self-care. It's crazy that at 46 years old he could still throw as hard as any pitcher in the leagues.

[@jayl878]

He threw over 100mph and made it look so effortless. His technique. I saw him many times pitching at the Astrodome. As you were going to your seat, you could HEAR that he was warming up. His pitches were such a loud pop and it was amazing to hear in such a massive building. I am blessed to see the TOP THREE 34's. Ryan, Campbell, and Hakeem.

[@UTNatlChamps]

Among qualified pitchers, Ryan has the third highest era-adjusted K%, the best Hits Allowed per 9 innings, and the worst Walks Allowed per 9 innings. “All-out” is the only way to describe Ryan’s approach.

[@alk158]

Also poor fielding percentage for a pitcher and he wasnt as dominant from the stretch and was easy to steal a base from.

[@sydneypythias6963]

@@alk158 This is true. He gave up hundreds up steals more than say, Gaylord Perry, who also threw well over 5000 innings. This is what Ryan fanatics don't get. The opponents still got their runs off Ryan. Maybe they had to wait for a walk, steal, hit and run, wild pitch, whatever. But they still got their runs.

[@susanmeinhardt5557]

@@sydneypythias6963 Which is why he lost 292 games, third all-time. And the most of anyone who started their career in the last 130 years.

[@brucemacdonald6285]

@@susanmeinhardt5557 he is objectively terrible. there is no argument to this

[@brucemacdonald6285]

@@sydneypythias6963 he is objectively terrible. there is no argument to this

[@JustinRoberts-dg3bm]

The greatest pitcher of all time period!

[@nmathew01]

I was born in 80 and became a "serious" baseball card collector in 89. I could tell just from the (Topps) stat block that Ryan was a beast. His 87 record and Cy Young voting is a travesty. I even reading in Beckett Magazine someone writing in asking about his ERA and W/L record for that season, for the editors to reply that he only got about 1.9 runs of support per 9 innings. In the modern era, with modern stats, he is an insane outlier.

[@bjchit]

If he was on the Yankees or Red Sox that season, he's a unanimous Cy Young winner.

[@howie9751]

@@bjchit You're assuming he would have pitched the same on those clubs. He was a .500 pitcher wherever he went, and his teammate Mike Scott won a Cy Young award with the same Houston club and had a better winning percentage the six years they played together. Walter Johnson won 20-30 games with the woeful Washington Senators of the teens and twenties, so if you can pitch you'll win anywhere.

[@bjchit]

@@howie9751 A) He's a Hall of Famer, of course he would have. Regardless, my point was about the East coast bias that exists in award voting, B) just about every team he was on was lucky to be .500 in that same time frame, they frequently had the worse offense in the Majors, C) Mike Scott led the Majors in just about every single pitching statistic in '86, and in '87 when he had an ERA half a run worse than Ryan, he had a better record because the Astro's were actually scoring runs when Scott pitched (they were only shut out once in games Scott pitched in, Ryan had it happen to him three times, plus another 8 games where they only scored 1 that same season), D) Walter Johnson pitched in an era where starters were expected to pitch in 50 games a season and to finish the game, no decisions weren't really a thing back then. The Senators also weren't that bad during the 1910's and 20's, having several seasons were they won 90 or more games.

[@bo0tsy1]

He was an enigma

[@yiguangshi8722]

It is amazing Ryan made it to his late 40s as a fast ball pitcher. Most pitchers who pitched for that long threw knuckle balls which does not strain the arm as much. He was throwing 95 MPH fast balls even late into his career.

[@allainangcao28]

He reported elbow pain in 1986, his age 39 season. He did not get it checked and continued to pitch. His UCL popped in 1993... 7 years later...

[@csr4043]

Been a Nolan fan since the 80s. Great video.

[@dkajj]

I'm blessed that I was able to watch him play, even just on t.v.. My children will never see someone like him.

[@user-zo9iw2re1r]

Thanks for posting. I still have the newspaper clipping on my wall of the day he retired. The heading was “A Hometown Hero” with an awesome pic of him delivering a pitch

[@DonBistrow1]

I heard an interview with a MLB umpire back when Ryan and Wilbur Wood, famous knuckleball pitcher, were both pitching. The umpire said doing a game from behind the plate with Wood and Ryan both pitching was very difficult. Woods knuckleball was like watching a cork floating in the ocean. Ryan's fastball could go through a car wash and not get wet. So back and forth each 1/2 inning he'd have to adjust.

[@dreuaustin]

I caught the last foul ball at Nolan's 6th no-hitter right behind 3rd base. Being at that game with my dad is an all-time favorite memory.

[@derpaderpaderpader]

There is greatness, and there is Nolan Ryan. Frequently their paths crossed.

[@Joshua-uw7wm]

He is my favorite pitcher of all time

[@ryang5469]

He was a beast!

[@ReactionShot]

My favorite pitcher of all time.

[@danielmeuler2877]

I got to see Nolan Ryans 300th Victory when I was a little kid. It just so happened in Milwaukee. One of my best childhood memories.

[@DocHoliday333]

Greatest pitcher in history. Very powerful. Plowed thru the whole line up. Pitch clocks were inaccurate & ppl think his fastball was closer 108mph. Started young, stayed late & will never be beat.

[@MatthewBaumgarten]

What I recently learned was that Nolan Ryan was a pitcher on the 1969 New York Mets World Championship team, to me that’s just as amazing as anything because it just goes to show you how long he pitched professionally in the major leagues

[@lastlogicallib]

Great video! Thank you from all of us who enjoyed it. Now… The fact that he only had 326 wins is astonishing. I mean that’s a lot but he had seven no hitters across 27 seasons. And I don’t think he hardly ever missed a start. Maybe I’m forgetting an injury but still, if he only had some run support, that career win total might have been half a hunnitt 🤯

[@zach7193]

No one can ever replicate his style.

[@michaeltaylor4271]

What amazes me about his records and Ricky Hendersons record is how did they even play enough games to get there? Same thing with Pete rose, like they say what guys would have to do to get to that point and it’s super unrealistic.. it’s crazy

[@jygb7092]

It’s almost like we are collectively getting unhealthier and unhealthier to where our bodies can’t even handle what they once could. Wonder why that is happening

[@zlinedavid]

@@jygb7092If you’re talking society in general, yes. Athletes today have evolved from being classic muscle cars into precision tuned racing machines. The dedicated track car can do more, but it’s also much easier to break, and when one thing goes wrong, it’s shut down. A classic muscle car maybe wasn’t quite as capable, but you could all but abuse it and it wouldn’t fall apart.

[@davidharrison7014]

Great point; well put.

[@Efilnikufesin76]

Longevity and fighting through being hurt. Now I am not saying playing through injuries is the best thing. It was just what was done.

[@znmckague]

​@@zlinedavidhockey is probably the last sport where the opposite is still true. Remember, Gordie's NHL games played record was just broken by Patrick Marleau, who missed like a season and a half or so due to strikes. Also played almost 1k straight games. Phil Kessel has played over 1k straight and he looks like he chugs hot dogs with Joey Chestnut. I'm just saying lol

[@MoeMuzic13]

JUST AN AWESOME, well-done video. Nolan Ryan was a must-see watch in an era where you had to watch events live, before the DVRs. He was a pitcher that always gave 100% each start, and each batter and had some career numbers that will last for many, many years.

[@jasonsabbath6996]

I grew up in Dallas and got to watch Nolan live in the final home opener of the old Arlington Stadium! Nolan was truly one of a kind and I have many memories of watching him pitch!

[@razor6272]

The real GOAT! There can never be another GOAT like him ( Pitcher )

[@chuckchambers3816]

I am fortunate I got to see him pitch all I can say is WOW he was amazing

[@Yahoo886]

The quote…”a successful day against Ryan was going 0-4 and not getting hit by a pitch” thats hilarious 😂. Also the “Texas haircut” term also pretty funny 😂

[@chriswertz1438]

Love Nolan, work ethic above all others! Mets are you watching!

[@sproutpits]

Randy Johnson credits Ryan with advice that made him who he was. What a legend.

[@justinlast2lastharder749]

Randy was both the Better Pitcher and More Intimidating Force at the end though. Even Barry Bonds at Peak Steroid Usage was afraid of Randy Johnson.

[@primrosehill24]

Yeah and Tom House said they both got in trouble for helping Johnson as he absolutely shut them down in his next start! At least wait until the series is over boys 😂

[@soaringvulture]

@@justinlast2lastharder749 Any left-handed hitter would be afraid of Randy Johnson. It's only sensible.

[@Ibhenriksen]

If you think about it, the man was actually underrated!

[@bryanduchane2371]

My favorite pitcher & always will be!!

[@LawrenceAugust_]

About 50% of his career walks came in a 9 year stretch in the 70s… he played 27 years. In fact, he never walked more than 100 batters in the last decade of his career and led the MLB in strikeouts 4 times during that span (all while in his 40s). Amazing.

[@thomaslemon3971]

I learned recently that the final pitch he ever threw (after the "pop" in his arm, mind you) was clocked at 98mph. What a badass!

[@Job.Well.Done_01]

We need a Nolan Ryan movie. 🍿

[@floridamaddogg]

He was my childhood hero growing up and started collecting all of his baseball cards. I got to see him in-person once at Comiskey Park. You are absolutely correct, there will NEVER be another Nolan Ryan and for any other player to share the sentence with him needs to be grateful. Most his stats are set so high, it almost seems superhuman. I watch pitchers nowadays and a lot of them can't get thru one season without requiring tommy John surgery and that's with 100 pitch limits and other stupid modem stuff. I bet Nolan Ryan averaged 150 pitches per game.

[@Douchemaster_McChest]

Ryan is my all-time favorite pitcher. I've been a Cincinnati Reds fan all my life and have many autographed baseballs and all but three of them are/were Reds. Ryan is one of the three non-Reds autographed balls I have, along with Stan Musial and Hank Aaron. Ryan was amazing with all those Ks and No-hitters/one-hitters he threw over all those years into his mid-40s. And who can forget his badassery by manhandling Robin Ventura when Robin dared to charge the mound coming after Ryan.

[@ScottieDeux]

I’m 47 and I’ve been a BIG baseball junkie well before I hit the age of 10….I saved EVERY Nolan Ryan card I’ve ever acquired and, IMHO, is THE best pitcher I’ve ever seen. Yes, some would argue the walks, but I say this….wildly effective!! I patterned my delivery and workout from him, although obviously I’ve not and never will reach his level of success.

[@69sidewinder]

As an Angels fan, he is my all time favorite player in baseball.

[@sydneypythias6963]

It must have been a shock the moment you learned that Frank Tanana outpitched him from 1974-79.

[@terrancethomas9792]

He was awesome for the Angels who most of the time couldn’t score runs for him. Sports Illustrated did a spread on how awful the team was.

[@johnspizziri1919]

I remember him as a Met. There's not many guys you watched every pitch, because you never knew where it would go. What a player!

[@8avexp]

I remember him as a Met, too. Worst trade in Met history - Ryan for Jim Fregosi.

[@Efilnikufesin76]

@@8avexp Ryan and his wife didn't like living in NY. He was a Texas boy, she was a Texas girl. This is coming from an NYer and he said it in his documentary.

[@8avexp]

@@Efilnikufesin76 Yes, they were both Texans. Ruth had relatives on Staten Island, IINM. I've seen another account that states Ryan never wanted to be traded. In any event, Gil Hodges was quoted as saying Ryan was the righthander he would miss the least. Ouch!! At least he died before those words could come back and haunt him.

[@Efilnikufesin76]

@@8avexp Tbf, he wasn't really "Nolan Ryan" yet. He threw hard but you never knew where to the ball was going. Took him a couple of more seasons to gain control.

[@8avexp]

@@Efilnikufesin76 Ryan never received any useful instruction as a Met. Plus the fact that he was fulfilling his military obligation. In mid-1971, his reserve unit was elevated to top priority, which meant he was commuting to and from Houston every other week. No wonder he couldn't get into any sort of rhythm. By the time the Mets traded him, his obligation was fulfilled and he could focus on pitching.

[@Wyattl.]

The newspaper velocity thing is a total myth, you throw papers with your left hand! He even says it in his documentary

[@cobrallama6236]

Robin Ventura got a taste of Nolan's deadly knuckler.

[@81ghale]

I’ll never forget seeing that Robin Ventura fight as a kid in Indiana, since we got the Cubs and White Sox games on WGN I think it was. But I was cheering so hard when he was thumping Robins head (I couldn’t stand him, he came off as arrogant and I hated him 😂) because Nolan was my favorite player as a kid after Pete Rose retired. That moment will live as long as his strikeout and no hitter records. Especially if they continue having “starters” pitch 5 innings or less a game because “pitch count”. I miss the old days, but I guess it boring to who is young today. Weird how that works, it wasn’t boring to us back then.

[@benkelly7499]

Not to mention Nolan’s last pitch, despite his ligament popping, was clocked at 97 mph

[@user-vd8gw6is8b]

That Texas haircut was legendary 😅

[@DipreG]

Very enjoyable video. Amazing work as always!

[@bertolwong9109]

I think the most impressive thing is how he was still a power pitcher throwing 97mph bullets in his mid 40s. Truly a gift to have watched him.

[@AZTEC-VAMPIRE-GOD1997]

Nolan Ryan is a Beast.

[@gregsmith2807]

I was a little league pitcher...I remember watching Nolan Ryan on TV trying to figure out how to pitch like him lol

[@tylermccann848]

This man threw in 4 different decades... That's insane to me.

[@rleew6740]

Like I said before, he was the best pitcher I ever saw live on tv. Just because he did not win a cy young award, does not diminish his achievements. He played on some bad Astros teams.

[@davehorton1486]

Ryan is one Tuff Dude. He should have had 10 No Hitters. He was close to a few Perfect Games. He was one of the Best in Baseball History. He Pitched Longer and with More Speed than any other Pitchers. He was Great to Watch. I actually saw him hit a Home run in the Astrodome. He won that Game. He was the Best.

[@andaimhineach4131]

I saw him win his 300th at old Milwaukee County Stadium when the Brewers were still in the A.L. I also have his 1968 and 1969 cards.

[@texasturner2313]

In addition to being screwed out of at least 1 Cy Young Award, here are a few very remarkable records held by Nolan Ryan. Ryan set the all-time MLB records with 5,714 strikeouts and seven no-hitters. Nolan Ryan also walked more batters than any other pitcher, 2,795, which many people refer to and point out as a flaw in his record. But that stat shouldn’t diminish his long list of amazing achievements: Ryan pitched 807 games; more than Carlton, Maddux, and Warren Spahn, He threw 222 complete games He threw 61 shutouts. His 5,714 career strikeouts came in 5,386 innings…more than one an inning. Ryan holds the all-time record for the lowest number of hits allowed-6.6-per nine innings pitched (1,000 innings minimum). Right behind him? Sandy Koufax. He is also tops in the Majors in “opponents batting average” at .204 (that’s what all batters hit against him). The runner up? Mr. Koufax. Ryan won 324 games, which is the milestone that not all Hall of Fame pitchers reach. Only Carlton, Clemens, Maddux and Spahn from the modern era won more than Ryan. You could win a bet with this one: Ryan won almost twice as many games as Sandy Koufax (165). Nolan Ryan had the most games pitched when striking out 10+ batters, with 215 games. Probably the hardest to hit pitcher of all time and his win/loss record doesn’t reflect how good he really was imo.

[@snerdterguson]

Straight facts. Wins/losses are a worthless stat to judge a pitcher by. Ryan led the League's in ERA, Strikeouts, k/9, h/9, FIP, ERA+ and went 8-16. I think, if I remember the stats, he lost 3 games where he went 9 innings and gave up 1 run.

[@MetFanMac]

His astronomical walk rate is more than just a trifling blemish that can be airily brushed aside since it directly contributed to his distinctly ordinary 3.19 ERA. Ryan may have been the most overpowering pitcher of all time but when it comes to run prevention -- the most crucial part of any pitcher's job -- he was extremely mortal.

[@snerdterguson]

@@MetFanMac there’s like 20 guys ahead of him in era when you remove guys who pitched in the dead ball era, relievers and players with under 10 years playing. Ryan pitched for 27 seasons. He had a sub 3 era for many. A 1.69 era in one. How many guys you know in the modern era can say that?

[@texasturner2313]

@@snerdterguson Yes, and to add to your point, he pitched 800 more games than Maddux, Carlton, and Spahn ! That’s incredible. Not to mention his 222 complete games.

[@MetFanMac]

​@@snerdterguson I'm not just speaking in terms of absolute ERA but also adjusted ERA. In terms of ERA+, Ryan scores 112 for his career, or just 12% better than league average. 50 of the 87 pitchers in the Hall had a better ERA+ than that, most of them *significantly* better -- and you can't make an argument about dead ball vs. lively ball era because adjusted ERA accounts for that. And that's without even counting the dozens upon dozens of non-HOF pitchers. (I ran a check using ERA- and there have been exactly 100 starting pitchers since 1920 with at least 2,000 innings pitched and a better ERA- than his 90.) There's a reason why he averaged out to a mere 3.5 bWAR per season; indeed, by the standard of 5+ bWAR equating to an All-Star season, Ryan reached that plateau a grand total of seven times -- or one less than the actual number of All-Star teams he got voted onto. None of this, of course, is to say that he wasn't deserving of being a first-ballot Hall of Famer -- you'd have to be insane to argue that -- but his greatness had a serious flaw that, in my estimation, takes him out of the GOAT debate.

[@corydriver7634]

I remember that game where he pummeled Robbin Ventura. This old man out there on the mound not backing down to some young punk, puts him in a headlock and just starts wailing. 😂Awesome.

[@edgonzalez186]

He should've run for President. The 6th and 7th no-hitters were against helluva of line ups... A's and the Jays

[@AaronB8288]

Ryan holds 51 total MLB records, including: 5,714 career strikeouts (next-most is Randy Johnson with 4,875) 7 career no-hitters (next-most is Sandy Koufax with 4) Lowest career batting average allowed (minimum 1,500 innings pitched): .204 12 career 1-hitters, tied with Bob Feller 18 career 2-hitters 31 career 3-hitters 15 200-strikeout seasons 6 300-strikeout seasons 4 career 19+ strikeout games 5 career 18+ strikeout games 8 career 17+ strikeout games 16 career 16+ strikeout games 26 career 15+ strikeout games by a right-handed pitcher 36 career 14+ strikeout games by a right-handed pitcher 56 career 13+ strikeout games by a right-handed pitcher 95 career 12+ strikeout games by a right-handed pitcher 151 career 11+ strikeout games by a right-handed pitcher 215 career 10+ strikeout games 282 career 9+ strikeout games 358 career 8+ strikeout games 447 career 7+ strikeout games 517 career 6+ strikeout games 596 career 5+ strikeout games 654 career 4+ strikeout games 710 career 3+ strikeout games 752 career 2+ strikeouts games 3 19+ strikeout games, single season (1974) 3 18+ strikeout games, single season (1974) 3 17+ strikeout games, single season (1974) 3 16+ strikeout games by a right-handed pitcher, single season (1972, 1974) 6 15+ strikeout games, single season (1974 - tied with Pedro Martinez) 15 12+ strikeout games, single season (1973) 18 11+ strikeout games by a right-handed pitcher, single season (1973) 23 10+ strikeout games, single season (1973 - tied with Randy Johnson) 26 9+ strikeout games, single season (1973) 29 8+ strikeout games by a right-handed pitcher, single season (1973) 32 7+ strikeout games by a right-handed pitcher, single season (1973) 36 6+ strikeout games, single season (1974 - tied with Sandy Koufax) 6.55 hits per nine innings pitched, career, minimum 1,000 innings (next-fewest is Sandy Koufax at 6.79) 5.26 single-season hits per nine innings (1972) 26 seasons with at least one win

[@convertcd]

most wicked curve ball I ever saw (and I'm old).

[@michaelcastillo3231]

Spectacular breakdown for a spectacular pitcher.

[@user-ur3eu1nf5z]

He has always been my favorite pitcher and I'm glad to say I have all of his no hitter cards

[@BizEman20]

i rarely drop likes on vids but these mini bio-pics are killer dude, keep em coming!

[@BizEman20]

@madethecut

[@ccul8339]

Cowboy tough and my favorite pitcher

[@fgc_roofer_07]

Absolute Legend

[@jdg62269]

Amen brother. And he faced countless batters who were juicing from around 1989 through 1993, which means his realistic ERA is under 3 as opposed to the 3.17 ERA that shows in his career statline.

[@Roy-or6ev]

The late Tommy Lasorda said of Ryan: "Others will throw harder, but NO ONE will ever throw hard for as long as he did." Lasorda also raved about Ryan's curve ball, calling it almost unhittable because of it's velocity and wicked break.

[@zlinedavid]

Ryan’s curve was faster than 2/3rds of fastballs. And that break was just nasty. Bottom dropped right out.

[@soaringvulture]

Ryan's curve ball was unhittable because it wasn't his fastball.

[@Gandalf914]

Finishing 2nd in Cy Young voting to Jim Palmer is nothing to scoff at. You have to remember Palmer never threw a single Grand Slam his ENTIRE career. Both pitchers are legends.

[@Keith_E]

Greatest pitcher of all time

[@Lydia.LaMar0]

My Dad would follow Ryan's career through college. Telling me to watch this guy. It just took one time & I was hooked. Young Nolan Ryan was a new force thrust onto the baseball scene. Big tough hardened baseball players would literally shake in the batter's box. When Young Ryan would throw a pitch, nobody, not even him, would know for certain where the ball would end up. It would end up there at 100 mph. It was quite a sight...

[@Efilnikufesin76]

He got better as he got older, still had the fastball and better control. As a Mets fan in the 86 NLCS I hated watching Nolan Ryan and Mike Scott come to the mound.

[@Hello_Ladies]

My favorite pitcher growing up. Carlton was good too. I'll never forget Ryan giving it to a young Robin Ventura for charging the mound. Too young to mess with Nolan.

[@deoge3278]

I idolized Ryan growing up. I tried my best to copy his every movement. Pretty funny watching a chubby short 6 yr old try and do his wind up. I can still remember buying a pack of baseball cards, no matter the brand, and how even his cards looked somehow better than everyone elses. I got to see him pitch once. 2 yrs before he retired. My friends dads worked for WW Steel and they gave out tickets as bonuses sometimes. I didn't get to meet players or anything. But we had good seats. Good enough to hear his grunt and then the sound the ball made hitting the catchers glove. It was hypnotic almost. But he wasn't on the mound long enough. But ill never forget that sound. Dam...that was 30 yrs ago.

[@mr.christopher79]

ww in okc?

[@deoge3278]

@@mr.christopher79 are u asking if there WAS a WW Steel in OKC? If so...yes. There was...I'm not sure now. Probably not. But...about...33, maybe 34 yrs ago...there was

[@mr.christopher79]

@@deoge3278 still was as far as i knew for certain six years ago

[@michaeltaylor4271]

The picture of the cracked batting helmet was from like 1983 and it’s a LA dodgers helmet, it was still cracked by a pitch by Nolan but it was in the pros.

[@joshg.6315]

Nolan Ryan had the mindset of “pitch counts are for pussies”.

[@jonathansykes4986]

and giving out walks like they were candy.

[@leestamm3187]

I remember his entire career very well. He was a great pitcher, with blazing power, legendary endurance and lots of strikeouts. His less than impressive W-L record is partially attributable to the quality of the teams he played for during much of his career. His body came through adversities to keep him going for an amazing 27 MLB seasons, which also allowed him to pile up a lot of impressive statistics. Sadly, today's badeball, where complete games are rare, doesn't feature his kind of pitcher. Our loss.

[@TraitofSiNN727]

people have different childhood idols..mine growing up was and always will be Nolan Ryan.

[@znmckague]

I grew up in Alvin and he is still a legend there.

[@legendagem]

texas haircut had me rolling hahaha