- In full:
- Lynn Nolan Ryan, Jr.
- Born:
- January 31, 1947, Refugio, Texas, U.S. (age 79)
- Awards And Honors:
- Baseball Hall of Fame (1999)
- Baseball Hall of Fame (inducted in 1999)
- eight-time All-Star
- 2x ERA leader
- 1 World Series championship
- Height/Weight:
- 6 ft 2 inches, 170 lb (188 cm, 77 kg)
- Batting Hand:
- right
- Throwing Hand:
- right
- Debut Date:
- September 11, 1966
- Draft:
- Drafted by the New York Mets in the 12th round of the June 1965 MLB draft.
- Last Game:
- September 22, 1993
- Jersey Number:
- 30 (1968-1971, New York Mets)
- 34 (1966-1966, New York Mets)
- 30 (1972-1979, California Angels)
- 34 (1980-1982, Houston Astros)
- 34 (1989-1993, Texas Rangers)
- 34 (1983-1988, Houston Astros)
- Position:
- pitcher
- Earned Run Average:
- 3.19
- Games Played:
- 807
- Games Started:
- 773
- Innings Pitched:
- 5,386
- Losses:
- 292
- Saves:
- 3
- Strikeouts:
- 5,714
- Walks And Hits Per Inning Pitched:
- 1.247
- Wins:
- 324
Nolan Ryan
-
Who is Nolan Ryan?
Nolan Ryan (born in Refugio, Texas, on January 31, 1947) is a right-handed American baseball pitcher. In 1983, he surpassed Walter Johnson's record of 3,508 career strikeouts, and when he retired in 1993 at age 46, he had a record 5,714 strikeouts.
Ryan pitched for the New York Mets, California Angels, Houston Astros, and Texas Rangers. He led the AL in strikeouts ten times and was the oldest pitcher to do so in 1990 at age 43. Ryan, nicknamed the "Ryan Express," pitched his seventh no-hit game in 1991, setting another record. In 1999, he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. At the end of his 27-year career, Ryan had 324 wins, 292 losses, and a 3.19 ERA.
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What position did Nolan Ryan play in baseball?
Nolan Ryan was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. Over his 27 seasons, Ryan played for the New York Mets, California Angels, Houston Astros, and Texas Rangers. Ryan, inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999, is remembered as one of baseball's most durable and accomplished pitchers.
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For which teams did Nolan Ryan play during his career?
Nolan Ryan, born in Refugio, Texas, on January 31, 1947, played for four teams during his 27-year Major League Baseball career.
The teams Nolan Ryan played for are:
* New York Mets: 1966, 1968-1971
* California Angels: 1972-1979
* Houston Astros: 1980-1988
* Texas Rangers: 1989-1993Ryan was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999. He holds the record for most strikeouts in a "live-ball era" season with 383 in 1973 and also pitched a record seven no-hitters.
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What records or achievements is Nolan Ryan famous for?
Nolan Ryan, born in Refugio, Texas, on January 31, 1947, was a right-handed baseball pitcher known for setting strikeout records. In 1983, he surpassed Walter Johnson's record of 3,508 career strikeouts and ultimately retired in 1993 with 5,714 strikeouts.
Ryan led the league in strikeouts ten times, and at age 43, he became the oldest pitcher to do so in 1990. In 1991, he pitched his seventh no-hit game, setting another record. Ryan also holds the major league record for the most games with 15 or more strikeouts in a career, with 26 such games. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999.
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What is a no-hitter, and how many did Nolan Ryan pitch?
In baseball, a no-hitter is a game where a pitcher or pitchers prevent the opposing team from getting a hit, though they may still reach base via errors, walks, or other means. A perfect game is an even rarer feat where no opposing batter reaches base at all.
Nolan Ryan pitched a record seven no-hitters during his career. He was also known as the "Ryan Express" and retired at age 46 with a record 5,714 strikeouts.
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How did Nolan Ryan impact the game of baseball and its history?
Nolan Ryan significantly impacted baseball through his exceptional pitching and longevity. He set a new standard for strikeouts, surpassing Walter Johnson's record in 1983 and retiring in 1993 with a record of 5,714 strikeouts. Ryan's durability was remarkable, remaining a leading pitcher into his early 40s and leading the league in strikeouts at age 43.
Ryan's influence extended to the Texas Rangers, where he played from 1989 to 1993 and pitched his sixth and seventh no-hitters. His career spanned 27 years, with 324 wins, a 3.19 ERA, and he is tied for seventh all-time in shutouts. Inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999, Ryan's records and achievements have cemented his place in baseball history.
3 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Nolan Ryan (born January 31, 1947, Refugio, Texas, U.S.) is an American professional right-handed baseball pitcher who in 1983 became the first pitcher to surpass Walter Johnson’s record of 3,508 career strikeouts, set in 1927. Ryan retired in 1993 at age 46 with a record 5,714 strikeouts.
Ryan was taught to play baseball by an elder brother and was a wild but fast pitcher in high school before he was signed by the National League (NL) New York Mets in 1965. He pitched for their minor league teams (1965–67), and, except for time out for military service, he pitched regularly for the Mets through the 1971 season and was then traded to the American League (AL) California Angels. Although he pitched brilliantly in relief for the Mets in 1969 when they won the pennant and the World Series, he came into his own as a pitcher with the Angels, leading the league in strikeouts seven of his first eight years with them (1972–74, 1976, 1977–79). In 1980 he moved as a free agent to the NL Houston Astros, and he moved to the Texas Rangers in 1989.
The extraordinarily durable Ryan was still a leading pitcher in his early 40s. In 1989 he struck out his 5,000th batter; he also held the record for most strikeouts in a “live-ball era” (post-1920) season (383 in 1973). He led the AL in strikeouts a total of 10 times and was the oldest pitcher ever to lead a league in strikeouts (in 1990 at age 43). In 1991 Ryan, who was nicknamed the “Ryan Express,” pitched his seventh no-hit game, establishing another record. He also held the major league record for most games with 15 or more strikeouts in a career (26). In 1993 Ryan retired from baseball, and in 1999 he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. At the end of his 27-year career in the major leagues, Ryan finished with 324 wins and 292 losses and an earned-run average of 3.19; he also finished fifth in innings pitched (5,386) and tied with former Mets teammate Tom Seaver for seventh all-time in shutouts (61).
Following his retirement from playing, Ryan continued to be active in the sport, including having an ownership interest in two minor league teams and serving as a consultant to the Houston Astros. In 2008 he became team president for the Texas Rangers. Ryan was a member of the ownership group that purchased the Rangers in 2010. In 2011 he became the CEO of the Rangers, and two years later he gave up his title of president of the team. At the end of the 2013 season, he resigned as CEO and sold his Rangers ownership stake. Ryan joined the Astros organization as an executive adviser in 2014. He helped the Astros win a World Series title in 2017, but he resigned from the team amid front-office turmoil shortly after the end of the 2019 major league season.
Ryan wrote several autobiographies, including Throwing Heat: The Autobiography of Nolan Ryan (1988), written with Harvey Frommer; Miracle Man: Nolan Ryan, the Autobiography (1992), written with Jerry Jenkins; and Nolan Ryan: The Road to Cooperstown (1999), written with T.R. Sullivan and Mickey Herskowitz. He also collaborated on instructional guides, such as Pitching & Hitting (1977) and Nolan Ryan’s Pitching Bible (1991).