[BostonCard]

Only Nolan Ryan could do that and go deep into games.  A physical freak.

Amazing pitcher.  Holds three career records (strikeouts, bases on balls, fewest hits per nine innings).  Only led the league in lowest ERA twice, and one of those he was 8-16 -- had his highest strikeouts per inning ratio that year too.  Only won 20 games twice, in 1973 (21) and 1974 (22).  Two years later, led the league in losses with 18.  Never had an ERA over 3.97 except for his first and last seasons, 27 years apart.  Led the league in wild pitches six times, but only led in hit batsmen once.  324 career wins, with 292 losses.  Did better in the American league.  Led the league in strikeouts 11 times, including four consecutive from ages 40 to 43.  Only led the league in pitching once.  Eight all star teams.  Led the league in lowest WHIP twice, at age 43 and 44.  Finished in top five in Cy Young voting five times, didn't make the all star team two of those times.

No bio of Ryan is complete without mentioning that he is the all-time leader in no-hitters, with 7.  That's an incredible 3 more than the next best guy, Sandy Koufax.  He is also tied for the record for one-hitters with Bob Feller (12) and has 18 two-hitters.  That's 37 games allowing two or fewer hits, which is more than a season's worth.  Add in his 31 three-hitters, and he's pitched two season's worth of games allowing three or fewer hits.

As you noted, he played well into his forties, and is one of 29 players to have appeared in four different decades.  He also has a no-hitter in three different decades, and is one of five pitchers to have two no-hitters in a single season (trivia: can you name the other four?)

BC

[BostonCard]

Only Nolan Ryan could do that and go deep into games.  A physical freak.

Amazing pitcher.  Holds three career records (strikeouts, bases on balls, fewest hits per nine innings).  Only led the league in lowest ERA twice, and one of those he was 8-16 -- had his highest strikeouts per inning ratio that year too.  Only won 20 games twice, in 1973 (21) and 1974 (22).  Two years later, led the league in losses with 18.  Never had an ERA over 3.97 except for his first and last seasons, 27 years apart.  Led the league in wild pitches six times, but only led in hit batsmen once.  324 career wins, with 292 losses.  Did better in the American league.  Led the league in strikeouts 11 times, including four consecutive from ages 40 to 43.  Only led the league in pitching once.  Eight all star teams.  Led the league in lowest WHIP twice, at age 43 and 44.  Finished in top five in Cy Young voting five times, didn't make the all star team two of those times.

No bio of Ryan is complete without mentioning that he is the all-time leader in no-hitters, with 7.  That's an incredible 3 more than the next best guy, Sandy Koufax.  He is also tied for the record for one-hitters with Bob Feller (12) and has 18 two-hitters.  That's 37 games allowing two or fewer hits, which is more than a season's worth.  Add in his 31 three-hitters, and he's pitched two season's worth of games allowing three or fewer hits.

As you noted, he played well into his forties, and is one of 29 players to have appeared in four different decades.  He also has a no-hitter in three different decades, and is one of five pitchers to have two no-hitters in a single season (trivia: can you name the other four?)

BC