The Untouchable Truth About Nolan Ryan's Legendary Career

Illustration by George Newman

All Aboard The Ryan Express

When you think about Texas, you probably think of big cities like Dallas and Houston. You’ve probably never even heard of Refugio. With a population of under 3,000, Refugio is tucked into the southeastern corner of Texas—and you don’t pass through it by accident. Its residents are known to support local sports immensely. In the 1950s, those who lived there witnessed something—or rather, someone—who would grow to become a legend in Major League Baseball. That someone was Nolan Ryan.

Early Career

In 1965, the New York Mets drafted Ryan in the 12th round. Four teams and 27 years later, the fireballing right-hander would hang up his cleats—but not before cementing his legacy as one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball history. In 1966, he started just one game, pitched poorly, and finished with a 15.00 ERA. No worries—this was no sign of things to come. Two years later, he posted six wins and 133 strikeouts in just 134 innings. That was the Nolan Ryan we’d all come to know.

Domination

Ryan was an intimidating presence on the mound, routinely hitting 100 mph on the radar gun. In one All-Star Game, he reportedly threw a pitch that may have reached 108 mph—that’s Ferrari Testarossa speed. His arsenal also featured a devastating curveball that would drop off the table and buckle knees. Hitters had to guess—fastball or curve—and they were often wrong.

He wasn’t afraid to pitch high and tight. His “chin music” became infamous—fabled, even. At 6’2” and standing on a mound 10 inches higher than the batter’s box, Ryan loomed like a giant. By the time he threw his final pitch, he had racked up 324 wins, a 3.19 ERA, and 5,714 strikeouts—a number unlikely to ever be touched. Oh, and he threw seven no-hitters—the most in MLB history.

Want to be truly amazed? Ryan had 24 no-hitters broken up after the 7th inning. The next closest? Randy Johnson—with just 11.

Toughness Redefined

Back to some more of the numbers in a bit, but it’s time to talk toughness. As mentioned, Ryan hails from Texas, a state known for cowboys, bull riders, and overall toughness and grit. The fastball phenom exhibited those traits to a tee. In one game, Ryan threw 235 pitches and struck out 19 batters in 13 innings pitched. Just three days later, he tossed six shutout innings against the New York Yankees. Put that in perspective…the average pitch count for starters in 2025 is just 95 pitches.

Tough? Surely. How about this– On September 8, 1990, at age 43, Ryan took a one-hopper in the face, rendering him bloody.

He looked more like a hockey player than a pitcher. Did he leave the game? Of course not. He stayed in and pitched seven shutout innings, striking out seven—including Bo Jackson, who had hit the ball that bloodied him.

And just ask Robin Ventura, who was three years removed from being named college baseball’s player of the decade for the 1980s. Ryan plunked the cocky kid, who was 20 years his junior. Ventura did not like it, and decided it was time to teach the old man a lesson. It was one of the worst and most humiliating moments of Ventura’s life. Watch and enjoy.

Ventura was ejected from the game for charging the mound, but Ryan was allowed to stay in. What did he promptly do? He retired 12 of the following 13 hitters he faced after he kicked Ventura’s ass.

What the Greats Said

Reggie Jackson, a postseason icon known as “Mr. October,” once said:

“Ryan is the only guy who puts fear in me—not because he can get you out, but because he can kill you.”

Jose Canseco, one of baseball’s most feared sluggers, said:

“He pitched to me in eight games. I struck out eight times.”

Former player Rance Mulliniks added:

“My hope for Nolan Ryan after he hangs up his spikes is to go to Harvard Medical School. Not to study—to be studied.”

Gawking Info & Legacy

Ryan’s longevity, and dominance throughout said longevity, can be summed up like this:

• He had a lower ERA when Nirvana’s Nevermind came out (1991) than when The Beatles released The White Album (1968).

• Seven players struck out by Ryan had sons who also struck out against him.

• In 1987, he led the league in ERA and strikeouts… and went 8–16.

• He had 198 career quality starts that didn’t result in wins. His ERA in those? 2.27. His record? 0–107.

  
  

Ryan’s win total was hampered by the fact that he played on some teams that were clearly anemic offensively. It’s conceivable to think that if he had suited up for some clubs that could push runners across the plate, he may have found himself with 400 wins. Still, 324 wins are nothing to sneeze at, his all-time record of seven no-hitters is flabbergasting, and his enshrinement into baseball’s Hall of Fame, undoubtedly place him in the pantheon of the game’s most elite pitchers to ever toe the rubber.