Eternal Express

His velocity was unmatched. His control was unpredictable. His accomplishments were unprecedented. I’m talking about Nolan Ryan.
Nolan Ryan was drafted by the New York Mets in 1966. The 19 year old made his debut that year, fittingly at the Astrodome. He only lasted an inning, however. The young right-handed pitcher was a slow starter in the Big Apple. No one was predicting a future Hall Of Fame career nor were the Mets’ brass impressed with his lack of control on the mound. Ryan was a boy from Texas who never fit in with the New York Mets. In 1968, Gil Hodges started the flamethrower on Easter Sunday. He fared much better in this start, striking out seven of the first ten men he faced.
Even though he contributed to the 1969 Championship team and spent five years a member of their pitching staff, it was clear he was not the ace. Gary Gentry, Jerry Koosman and Tom Seaver were all more promising pitching prospects. 1969 was Ryan’s only winning season as a Metropolitan. Nolan came in during the NLCS in a relief role for Gentry to help the Mets win the pennant. In Game 3 of the World Series, he sealed the save by relieving Gentry again. He did miss a portion of the year due to recurring injuries.
The California Angels acquired Nolan in early December, 1971. In California, Ryan pitched double the innings he did in New York. This was the start of the real Ryan.
Ryan finished 1972 with a 19-16 record and led the league in strikeouts and walks. His 2.28 ERA was also among league leaders. During the 1970s, it was rare to track a pitcher’s count. Nolan probably threw close to 200 pitches during a game. Ryan tossed a no hitter against the Kansas City Royals on May 15, 1973. It was the first of his record seven no-hitters. People would swing at anything just to get out of the batter’s box. Ryan sometimes didn’t even know where is his pitches would conclude.
Standing at the plate facing Ryan in those days must have been scary. Hitters were lucky to see the ball long enough for their hands to react to the pitch. The mere fear of knowing who they were facing was enough to have a hitter clam up. Ryan could combat with any type of changeup, curveball or devastating fastball. His lack of control was the most defining and maybe most endearing quality of watching the Express roll over batter after batter. Even coming out of the dugout, players would cringe and duck in fear.
Ryan is an imposing symbol of greatness in baseball. I have more Nolan Ryan baseball cards than any other player in my small collection. I loved the guy. I think the main reason was because it was always extreme with Ryan. You had no idea where the ball was going half the time and other times he was just so on his game and focused it was brilliant to witness. Ryan fooled other players with his carefully crafted location of tosses. Pitches could literally drop out at the last minute when looking like a meatball. I can’t think of any player today to compare him to. There are not any pitchers in today’s game who would throw as many pitches or have as many complete games and innings as Ryan. The game has changed. Pitchers no longer have the fortitude to endure long stretches of consistency. I often think if Ryan pitched today, he would be pulled early in games just like today’s stars. Coaches and managers coddle young pitchers too much. What are they saving their arms for?
I remember watching a wild Nolan Ryan knock hitters down. The batter could do nothing about it and was only left confused as to whether the pitcher meant it or not. The Express threw his signature fastball at over 100 mph as if it were as routine as washing his hair everyday.
Rickey Henderson was Ryan’s 500th strikeout victim. That is remarkable in itself. It happened in 1989. He missed out on two more no hitters in the ninth inning in 1989 also. The following year, July 1990, Nolan notched his 300th win. Ryan is the strikeout leader with 5,714. Trailing far behind him is Steve Carlton with 1,578. I doubt it will ever be broken by a major league pitcher.
Lynn Nolan Ryan was well known by the time I started looking up to him. As a pitcher myself, I admired Ryan. I remember him most with the Astros and Rangers. Everybody in my elementary classes knew who Nolan Ryan was even if they hadn’t a clue why. They heard the name at least. It was wonderful watching The Express in the Astrodome. He always seemed so old to me when he took the ball for Houston and Texas. In my mind, he is this veteran pitcher who I never knew as a young player. He is a father figure in his retro Astros jersey, lifting his left leg in my 1990 Topps baseball card. His white high top cleats are new, his hat is perfectly aligned atop his head, and his glove holds his true gift to the game.
I would have loved to see Ryan’s 773 games started, but unfortunately he pitched some of his better games before my time. With 324 careers wins and 61 shutouts, it’s no wonder the Express is a legend of the game. I was rooting for the Mets in 1986 I think, but I remember the Game 2 loss at the Astrodome by Houston. Number 34 battled back in Game 5 with eight strikeouts of the first twelve he faced. The Mets won the game in the bottom of the 12th inning. By that time, Ryan had already revolutionize the game of baseball. He was delightful to see pick off base runners. Nolan was the oldest pitcher to throw a no hitter and stockpiled 24 seasons with over 100 strikeouts. He paved the way for so many of today’s pitchers.
Only now can I truly appreciate the charismatic, celebrated current coach of the Texas Rangers. Ryan played in the pre-ESPN era and most of his accomplishments went under-appreciated. Nolan had nemesis’ chasing his fastballs for three decades. Most remember him for his smoke but he also had an accurate and solid curveball too. Any boy aspiring to be a major league pitcher should watch old games where Ryan pitched.
In the ever-changing environment of baseball, The Express is enduring and eternal. He never changes because history cannot be altered.

Parting points: “Going back to Houston, do the hot dog dance, Going back to Houston to get me some pants” -Beck’s “Lord Only Knows”