RYAN, (Lynn) Nolan, Jr.

(b. 31 January 1947 in Refugio, Texas), baseball player who holds the all-time major league record for strikeouts, pitched a record seven no-hit games, and was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Ryan was the youngest of six children born to Lynn Nolan Ryan, Sr., and Martha Lee Hancock Ryan. An oil field supervisor, Ryan's father moved his family to Alvin, Texas, where his youngest son became an outstanding pitcher for Alvin High School. During his senior year, he drew the attention of major league scouts when he won twenty games. Ryan enrolled at Alvin Junior College in 1966, hoping to play baseball with the Houston Astros franchise, located only twenty miles from Alvin. The Astros failed to show much interest in Ryan, reportedly because the young pitcher was too slight and had sensitive skin, particularly on the fingertips of his pitching hand, which had been cut severely in a childhood accident. (Ryan would suffer from blisters on his pitching hand throughout his career.)

Passed over by Houston, Ryan was selected by the New York Mets in the eighth round of the 1965 free-agent draft. From 1965 to 1967 he pitched in the Mets farm system for Marion, Virginia (Appalachian League); Greenville, South Carolina (Western Carolinas League); Williamsport, Pennsylvania (Eastern League); Winter Haven, Florida (Florida State League); and Jacksonville, Florida (International League). Ryan missed a good portion of the 1967 season when he served for six months on active duty with the U.S. Army Reserve. On 26 June 1967 Ryan married his childhood sweetheart, Ruth Holdruff; they have three children.

In 1968 Ryan spent his first full season in the major leagues with the Mets, winning six games and losing nine while drawing attention with 133 strikeouts in 134 innings. Ryan saw little action during the 1969 season owing to a pulled groin muscle and another assignment on reserve duty with the army; however, he played a key role in the postseason success of the "Miracle Mets." His seven-inning relief stint in the third game of the National League East division playoffs with the Atlanta Braves propelled the Mets into the World Series. His relief appearance in the third game of the World Series preserved their victory. The Mets defeated the Baltimore Orioles four games to one, earning Ryan his only World Series ring. While Ryan established a reputation for a blazing fastball and dazzling curve, he experienced difficulty with his control. Following the 1971 season, in which he struck out 137 batters but walked 116, Ryan was traded to the California Angels for the shortstop Jim Fregosi. With the Angels, the power pitcher became one of the dominant hurlers in the American League. Ryan pitched four no-hit games in an Angels uniform (against the Kansas City Royals and Detroit Tigers in 1973, Minnesota Twins in 1974, and Baltimore Orioles in 1975). During his tenure with the Angels from 1972 to 1979, Ryan led the American League in strikeouts nine times and in walks six times. In 1973 he struck out a major league record 383 batters.

In 1980 Ryan returned to his Texas roots, signing as a free agent with the Houston Astros. He pitched with Houston from 1980 through 1988. As an Astro, Ryan pitched a no-hit game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1981, led the National League in strikeouts in 1987 and 1988, and was the earned-run champion in 1981 and 1987. His victory total for nine years in Houston was only 106 wins against 94 losses. Before the 1989 season Ryan signed a new free-agent agreement with the Texas Rangers, with whom he pitched his final two no-hitters (against the Oakland A's in 1990 and the Toronto Blue Jays in 1991). Continuing to pitch effectively into his forties, Ryan established numerous career landmarks with the Rangers. On 22 August 1989 he was the first pitcher in major league history to strike out 5,000 batters in a career, fanning Rickey Henderson of the Oakland A's. On 31 July 1990 Ryan defeated the Milwaukee Brewers, becoming the twentieth pitcher in Major League Baseball history to win 300 games. Although he led the American League in strikeouts for the 1989 and 1990 seasons, by 1992 Ryan was able to register only five wins against nine losses. He retired after the season.

In his twenty-six major league seasons, Ryan won 324 games and lost 292 while striking out a record total of 5,714 batters. His career earned-run average was an outstanding 3.19. The pitcher was selected for the All-Star game eight times. Ryan earned his nickname the "Ryan Express" with a fastball clocked at more than 100 miles per hour. Ryan's pitching exploits were recognized by his 1999 election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Major League Baseball's All-Century team. Ryan's detractors, however, often point to his modest .526 win-loss percentage, 2,795 career walks allowed, and lack of world championships. Nonetheless, it is difficult to ignore Ryan's dominating fastball and curve, strikeouts, and seven no-hit games. A fan favorite, Ryan received numerous endorsement opportunities during and following his baseball career. A successful businessman, he owns four ranches and two banks. Ryan and his wife continue to live in Alvin, Texas. Beginning in 1999 he worked as assistant to the president of the Texas Rangers.

Background information on Ryan is available in his player file at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. Autobiographical accounts focusing on Ryan's baseball career include Nolan Ryan: Fireball (1975), written with Bill Libby; Throwing Heat: The Autobiography of Nolan Ryan (1988), written with Harvey Frommer; Miracle Man: Nolan Ryan, the Autobiography (1992), written with Jerry B. Jenkins; and Nolan Ryan: Strikeout King (1993), written with Howard Reiser. For an academic perspective on Ryan, see Nick Trujillo, The Meaning of Nolan Ryan (1994). See also William Leggett, "An Angel Who Makes Turnstiles Sing," Sports Illustrated (14 May 1973); Ron Fimrite, "Speed Trap for an Angel," Sports Illustrated (16 Sept. 1974), and "A Great Hand with the Old Cowhide," Sports Illustrated (29 Sept. 1986); and Richard Hoffer, "Armed and Still Dangerous," Gentleman's Quarterly (May 1988).

Ron Briley