For my Mid-Term, my chosen topic is Lynn Nolan Ryan Jr., who is widely known as Nolan Ryan, one of the greatest pitchers in history. Nolan Ryan played in the Major League from 1967 to 1993. He was born on January 31, 1947, in Refugio, Texas, and was the youngest of six children. Growing up on Dezso Drive in Alvin, Texas, he had the responsibility of delivering The Houston Post newspaper. This route was 55 miles long, and he had to wake up at one o’clock to start delivering the papers as his father wanted him to learn responsibility. It would usually take him four hours to complete the delivery.
When he attended Alvin High School, he played baseball and basketball. During his sophomore year, he showcased his pitching skills in front of Mets Scout Red Murff, who declared that Nolan had the most impressive arm he had ever seen. In 1965, as a senior, he received the honor of being voted Most Handsome. Shortly after, he was drafted by the Mets in the eighth round, despite 294 other players being chosen before him. Nolan began his pitching career in Marion, Virginia, within the Appalachian Rookie League. The following year, he joined the Single A Western Carolinas League in Greenville, South Carolina. Eventually, he was promoted to Williamsport and concluded the season by pitching two games for the New York Mets. That same year, he was also drafted into the army while still studying at Alvin Community College.
In 1967, Nolan had a significant year. He completed his six-month service in the Army Reserve, played baseball for the AAA Jacksonville suns, though an elbow injury sidelined him for a major portion of the year, and got married to Ruth Holdorff on June 26. The following year marked his debut full season with the Mets, but it resulted in a disappointing record of 6-9. In 1969, he had limited participation and achieved a 6-3 record. However, he played a vital role in securing important victories during the playoffs and even garnered a save in the World Series.
In 1971, the Mets traded him to the California Angels where he led the American League in strikeouts with 320 and shutouts with 9. He also earned a spot on the All-Star Team.
In 1973, he had his first season with 20 wins and pitched two no-hitters. During that same year, he set a Major League record of 383 strikeouts. The following year, he reached a career high of 22 wins and pitched his third and fourth no-hitters.
In 1979, as a free agent, he signed a $1,000,000 contract with the Houston Astros. Two years later, he achieved his fifth no-hitter which became a new Major League record. Continuing his success, two years after that he broke Walter Johnson’s career strikeout record by reaching an impressive milestone of 3,509 strikeouts.
By the time it was1985 arrived ,he made history as the first pitcher to achieve 4 ,000 strikeouts . Four years later as a free agent with the Texas Rangers ,he had another remarkable season with six no-hitters throughout his career along with winning his300th game .
Finally in1991 marked his seventh and final no-hitter accomplishment.
In 1992, Nolan Ryan’s jersey number thirty (#30) was retired by the California Angels. The Rangers and the Astros also retired his jersey number thirty-four (#34) in 1996. His final season occurred in 1993, during which he achieved a total of 5,714 strikeouts and established fifty-two additional Major League records. On January 5, 1999, Ryan was elected into Baseball’s Hall of Fame and on July 25 of that same year, he was inducted into Baseball’s Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. All the information provided can be found on Nolan Ryan’s website.
