Nolan Ryan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nolan Ryan
Ryan with the Texas Rangers in 1990
Pitcher
Born: (1947-01-31) January 31, 1947 (age 78) Refugio, Texas, U.S.
Batted: Right Threw: Right
debut
September 11, 1966, for the New York Mets
Last appearance
September 22, 1993, for the Texas Rangers
MLB statistics
Win–loss record	324–292
Earned run average	3.19
Strikeouts	5,714
Teams
New York Mets (1966, 1968–1971) California Angels (1972–1979) Houston Astros (1980–1988) Texas Rangers (1989–1993)
Career highlights and awards
8× All-Star (1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1985, 1989) World Series champion (1969) 2× NL ERA leader (1981, 1987) 11× Strikeout leader (1972–1974, 1976–1979, 1987–1990) Los Angeles Angels No. 30 retired Houston Astros No. 34 retired Texas Rangers No. 34 retired Angels Hall of Fame Houston Astros Hall of Fame Texas Rangers Hall of Fame Major League Baseball All-Century Team MLB records 5,714 career strikeouts 7 career no-hitters
Baseball Hall of Fame
Induction	1999
Vote	98.8% (first ballot)

Lynn Nolan Ryan Jr. (born January 31, 1947), known as "the Ryan Express," is a famous American former professional baseball pitcher. He also worked as a sports executive after he stopped playing. Nolan Ryan played for a record 27 years in Major League Baseball (MLB). He pitched for the New York Mets, California Angels, Houston Astros, and Texas Rangers.

After retiring in 1993, Ryan became the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Texas Rangers and an advisor for the Houston Astros. He was voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999, his first year of being eligible. Many people think he is one of the best pitchers ever.

Ryan was a right-handed power pitcher, meaning he threw the ball very fast. His pitches often went over 100 miles per hour! He kept this amazing speed throughout his career, even into his 40s. Ryan was also known for throwing a great 12–6 curveball, which is a pitch that drops sharply as it reaches the batter.

Nolan Ryan had a career record of 324 wins and 292 losses. He was chosen for the All-Star team eight times. He holds the MLB record for the most career strikeouts with 5,714. That's 839 more than the next closest pitcher! He also holds the record for the most bases on balls (walks) with 2,795. This means he walked over 50% more batters than any other pitcher in MLB history.

Ryan's opponents only hit the ball well against him about 20.4% of the time, which is another major league record. He had six seasons where he struck out 300 or more batters, which is also an MLB record. Ryan is one of only three players in baseball history to have his jersey number retired by at least three different teams.

Early Life and Baseball Beginnings

Nolan Ryan Statue – Alvin, Texas

Lynn Nolan Ryan Jr. was born on January 31, 1947, in Refugio, Texas, a small town in the southern part of the state. He was the youngest of six children. His family moved to Alvin, Texas, when he was just six weeks old.

As a young boy, Nolan loved throwing things at targets. His father thought baseball would be a better way to use his strong arm, so he encouraged Nolan to play. Nolan joined Alvin Little League Baseball when he was nine. He made the all-star team at ages 11 and 12. He even pitched his first no-hitter (a game where the other team gets no hits) a few years later.

In junior high, Nolan could throw a softball over 100 yards! After ninth grade, he decided to focus only on baseball. He played for Alvin High School and once struck out 21 batters in a seven-inning game, a school record that lasted 44 years. A scout for the New York Mets, Red Murff, saw Ryan pitch in 1963. Murff said Ryan had "the best arm I've seen in my life." In his senior year, Ryan had a 19–3 record and led his team to the Texas high school state finals.

Professional Baseball Career

Joining the Mets and Early Years

After high school, the New York Mets picked Nolan Ryan in the 12th round of the 1965 Major League Baseball draft. He started playing in the minor leagues. In 1966, he had an amazing 272 strikeouts in 183 innings for the Class A Greenville Mets. This led to him being called up to the New York Mets later that year.

When Ryan joined the Mets in 1966, he was one of the youngest players in the league. He missed much of the 1967 season due to illness and an arm injury. In 1968, he returned to the major leagues and stayed there until he retired in 1993. With star pitchers like Tom Seaver on the Mets, Ryan often pitched as a reliever or a spot starter (someone who starts a game occasionally).

In 1969, Ryan helped the Mets win the World Series. He pitched well in the playoffs, getting his first playoff win in the National League Championship Series. Then, in the 1969 World Series, he helped save Game 3 against the Baltimore Orioles. The Mets went on to win the World Series in five games, which was Ryan's only World Series appearance.

California Angels: Strikeouts and No-Hitters

Nolan Ryan's number 30 was retired by the California Angels in 1992.

In December 1971, Ryan was traded to the California Angels. This trade gave him a chance to be a regular starting pitcher. In his first season with the Angels, he led the league with 329 strikeouts. He also set a record by allowing only 5.26 hits per nine innings, which means batters had a very hard time getting hits off him.

Ryan, circa 1972

Even though the Angels weren't always a winning team, Ryan had some great seasons. He won 19 games in 1972, 21 in 1973, and 22 in 1974. The 22 wins in 1974 are still an Angels team record. In 1973, he finished second in the voting for the Cy Young Award, which is given to the best pitcher in each league. This was the closest he ever came to winning that award.

On July 9, 1972, Ryan achieved an "immaculate inning" by striking out three batters on just nine pitches. He was the first pitcher in MLB history to do this in both the American League and National League.

Ryan threw his first no-hitter on May 15, 1973, against the Kansas City Royals. He threw his second no-hitter on July 15 against the Detroit Tigers, striking out 17 batters in that game. This led to a funny moment when Tigers player Norm Cash came to bat with a table leg instead of a bat, joking that he wouldn't hit Ryan anyway!

In 1973, Ryan set a major record by striking out 383 batters in one season, breaking Sandy Koufax's old record. On September 7, 1974, Ryan became the first MLB pitcher to have his pitch speed measured during a game. A radar gun clocked his fastball at 100.8 miles per hour!

He added a third no-hitter in 1974 and a fourth in 1975, tying another of Koufax's records. In his eight seasons with the Angels, Ryan led the American League in strikeouts seven times. However, he also led the league in walks six times.

Houston Astros: A Million-Dollar Arm

Nolan Ryan's number 34 was retired by the Houston Astros in 1996.

In 1979, Ryan signed a four-year contract with the Houston Astros for $4.5 million. This made him the first million-dollar player in MLB history! On July 4, 1980, Ryan recorded his 3,000th career strikeout.

On September 26, 1981, Ryan threw his fifth no-hitter, breaking Sandy Koufax's record. He also became only the third pitcher to throw a no-hitter in both the American and National Leagues. That season, his 1.69 ERA (which measures how many earned runs a pitcher gives up per nine innings) was the best in the National League.

Ryan pitching for the Astros in 1983

On April 27, 1983, Ryan set a new all-time strikeout record with his 3,509th strikeout. On July 11, 1985, he reached 4,000 career strikeouts. In 1987, at age 40, Ryan led the major leagues in both ERA (2.76) and strikeouts (270). Even though he pitched great, his team didn't score many runs for him, so he only won 8 games and lost 16 that year.

Texas Rangers: Final Years and More Records

Nolan Ryan's number 34 was retired by the Texas Rangers in 1996.

After the 1988 season, Ryan left the Astros and signed with the Texas Rangers at age 42. He became the first player to play for all four original MLB expansion teams. In 1989, he led the league with 301 strikeouts. On August 22, he struck out Rickey Henderson, becoming the only pitcher to reach 5,000 career strikeouts.

In 1990, Ryan threw his sixth no-hitter on June 11. On July 31, he earned his 300th career win. On May 1, 1991, at age 44, Ryan threw his seventh and final no-hitter, striking out Roberto Alomar for the last out.

Before the 1993 season, Ryan announced he would retire at the end of the year. On August 4, 1993, a famous moment happened when Ryan hit Robin Ventura of the Chicago White Sox with a pitch. Ventura charged the mound to fight Ryan, who was 20 years older. Ryan quickly put Ventura in a headlock and punched him several times before others broke it up. Ryan was allowed to stay in the game.

Ryan on the mound during a 1992 home game at Arlington Stadium

Ryan's career ended on September 22, 1993, when he tore a ligament in his pitching arm. He was 46 years old. His last game was tough, as he gave up a grand slam (a home run with the bases loaded) without getting an out. Nolan Ryan played in the major leagues for a record 27 seasons.

Career Statistics

Nolan Ryan's Seven No-Hitters

Nolan Ryan holds the record for the most no-hitters in Major League Baseball history with seven. That's three more than any other pitcher! These no-hitters happened across three different decades of his career. In these seven games, Ryan had 94 strikeouts and 26 walks.

Major League Baseball Records

Nolan Ryan holds many MLB records, including:

• Most career strikeouts: 5,714
• Most career no-hitters: 7
• Lowest career batting average allowed (meaning batters hit poorly against him): .204
• Tied for most career 1-hitters: 12
• Most seasons with 200 or more strikeouts: 15
• Most seasons with 300 or more strikeouts: 6
• Most career games with 10 or more strikeouts: 215
• Most hits allowed per nine innings pitched in a single season: 5.26 (in 1972)

Life After Playing Baseball

Nolan Ryan playing with some dogs

After retiring from playing, Nolan Ryan stayed involved in baseball. He became a main owner of Ryan Sanders Sports and Entertainment, which owns the Round Rock Express, a minor league baseball team.

He also co-wrote several books, including his autobiographies Miracle Man and Throwing Heat. Ryan was also the majority owner of a bank in Alvin, Texas, and owned a restaurant. He even appeared in TV commercials for Advil.

In 2000, Ryan had a heart attack and needed surgery. After that, he worked with the government to promote physical fitness.

Working for the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros

Andy Pettitte and Ryan in 2006

In February 2008, the Texas Rangers hired Ryan as their team president. In 2010, a group led by Ryan bought the Rangers team. He became the CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of the team. He was named Dallas–Fort Worth's CEO of the Year in 2012. Ryan stepped down as Rangers CEO in October 2013.

In February 2014, Ryan became an executive advisor for the Houston Astros. His son, Reid Ryan, was already the president of business operations for the Astros. The Astros won the 2017 World Series while Ryan was an advisor. He left the Astros front office in 2019.

Legacy and Honors

The Nolan Ryan Exhibit Center in Alvin, Texas

A collection of rings awarded to Nolan Ryan for appearances as an All-Star and as a member of the 1969 New York Mets World Champion team

Nolan Ryan played in more seasons (27) than any other major league player since 1900. He holds many impressive records, including most career strikeouts (5,714), fewest hits allowed per nine innings (6.56), and most no-hitters (7). He is also among the top pitchers for innings pitched, games started, and shutouts. He is tied for 14th in wins (324).

Ryan's long career meant he struck out seven pairs of fathers and sons, which is another major league record! He also played during the time of seven different U.S. Presidents.

However, Ryan also holds some "negative" records. He is first all-time in walks allowed (2,795) and wild pitches (277). He is also third in losses (292).

Nolan Ryan and Frank Robinson are the only two major league players to have their jersey numbers retired by three different teams they played for. The California Angels retired his number 30 in 1992. The Texas Rangers retired his number 34 in 1996, and the Houston Astros also retired number 34 in 1996.

Ryan was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999 with almost 99% of the votes. He chose to wear a Rangers cap on his Hall of Fame plaque because of his Texas roots and because many of his big achievements happened as a Ranger.

In 1999, The Sporting News ranked him 41st on their list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players. He was also chosen for the Major League Baseball All-Century Team. He was inducted into the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame in 2003.

In 1995, the Texas State Legislature named State Highway 288 the Nolan Ryan Expressway. The Alvin Independent School District also opened Nolan Ryan Junior High School. The Nolan Ryan Foundation is a group that helps youth, education, and community development in Texas.

Personal Life

Ryan married his high school sweetheart, Ruth Holdorff, on June 26, 1967. They went to Alvin High School together. Ruth was a state tennis champion. They have three children: Reid, Reese, and Wendy. Both Reid and Reese pitched for the TCU Horned Frogs in college. Reid also played briefly in the minor leagues and later became president of the Houston Astros.

Nolan and Ruth often practiced baseball together in the off-season, with Ruth sometimes catching his pitches. Nolan Ryan lives in Georgetown, Texas.

Political Involvement

Ryan is introduced to Margrethe II of Denmark by George H. W. Bush in 1991. His wife, Ruth, is at right.

In his 1992 book, Ryan wrote that he generally identifies as a Republican, but he looks at individual candidates when voting. He has been friends with the Bush family for many years, partly because George W. Bush was a part-owner of the Rangers when Ryan played there. In 1996, Ryan helped campaign for Ron Paul in a congressional election. In 2011, he supported Todd Staples for Lieutenant Governor of Texas.

See also

In Spanish: Nolan Ryan para niños

• Nolan Ryan's Baseball, a 1991 video game
• DHL Hometown Heroes
• Major League Baseball titles leaders
• List of Major League Baseball annual ERA leaders
• List of Major League Baseball annual strikeout leaders
• List of Major League Baseball career wins leaders
• List of Major League Baseball career hit batsmen leaders
• List of Major League Baseball career wild pitches leaders
• List of Major League Baseball career strikeout leaders
• List of Major League Baseball career bases on balls allowed leaders
• List of Major League Baseball no-hitters
• List of Major League Baseball single-game strikeout leaders
• List of Major League Baseball pitchers who have thrown an immaculate inning
• List of Major League Baseball players who played in four decades