Nolan Ryan Biography
Nolan Ryan born as Lynn Nolan Ryan Jr. is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher and a previous chief executive officer of the Texas Rangers. He is currently an executive adviser to the owner of the Houston Astros.
He was a right-handed pitcher who consistently threw pitches that were clocked above 100 miles per hour.
He maintained his velocity throughout his career, even into his 40’s. Ryan was also known to throw a devastating 12-6 curveball at exceptional velocity for a breaking ball. His autobiography is written by Mickey Herskowitz.
Nolan Ryan Age
He was born on 31st January 1947 in Refugio, south of Victoria in south Texas.
Nolan Ryan Height|Weight
The former baseball pitcher stands at a height of 6 feet 2 inches taller and he weighs 88 kilograms.
Nolan Ryan Family
Ryan was born in Refugio, Texas, a small town located just south of Victoria, Texas in south Texas. Ryan was the youngest of six children, to Lynn Nolan Ryan Sr., and the former Martha Lee Hancock. The senior Ryan operated a newspaper delivery service for the Houston Post that required him to rise in the early morning hours to prepare 1,500 newspapers for delivery over a 55-mile route.
The children were expected to help with daily tasks. Ryan’s family lived in nearby Woodsboro, Texas in Refugio County, until they moved to Alvin, Texas in Brazoria County, when Nolan was six weeks old. As a young boy, Nolan enjoyed throwing objects at any target. His father thought baseball a better usage for his arm; therefore, he encouraged Nolan to play the game.
Nolan Ryan Baseball Cards
1968 Topps Nolan Ryan RC #177 with Jerry Koosman
For anyone starting a collection of baseball’s all-time strikeouts king, a 1968 Topps Nolan Ryan rookie card is a must. During his final seasons with the Rangers, which happened to coincide with the early 90s hobby boom, raw copies were an easy sell at $1,000 and up. Prices have softened a little in recent years. Those who can afford it should aim for a graded copy if for nothing else, to help ensure their card is authentic.
Like most rookie cards from the era, Ryan is pictured alongside someone else. In this case, the honor went to Jerry Koosman. Despite this, the 1968 Topps Baseball Nolan Ryan rookie card remains one of the most iconic of the 1960s.
1968 O-Pee-Chee Nolan Ryan RC #177 with Jerry KoosmanAlthough O-Pee-Chee may not have the brand recognition that Topps does among vintage card collectors, few will deny their rarity. For those who already have the 1968 Topps version or those looking for a challenge, the 1968 O-Pee-Chee Nolan Ryan rookie is a good choice. It has virtually the same design. A pair of differences can be found on the back, though. The card stock is lighter on the O-Pee-Chee card. Also, the fine print on the bottom reads, “Ptd. in Canada.
“1968 Venezuelan Topps Nolan Ryan #177 with Jerry Koosman
Price is no object, you say? Then the 1968 Venezuelan Topps Nolan Ryan may be the card for you. Extremely rare, especially in top condition, this set was produced for the South American market. Printed on lower-quality stock, the cards are extremely fragile. A high-end vintage rarity, those looking for the 1968 Venezuelan Topps Nolan Ryan will likely have to look beyond eBay and reach out to major dealers and memorabilia brokers. The card itself has virtually the same design as the 1968 Topps Nolan Ryan. A line of white text on the back reads, “Hecho en Venezuela – C.A. Litoven.” Also, the card stock on the back looks much more gray than its American counterpart.
1969 Topps Baseball Nolan Ryan #533
The 1969 Topps Baseball Nolan Ryan is the pitcher’s first mainstream baseball card to picture him on his own. It’s also important as it’s from the year he helped the Mets win the World Series. The card features a posed photo of a very youthful Ryan in an odd pitching pose. It would have made more sense if the ball weren’t sitting in plain view inside his glove. But maybe that’s part of the charm for this classic card. Near-mint copies that have been professionally graded are moving anywhere from $300 to $400.
1970 Topps Baseball Nolan Ryan #712
Nolan Ryan is one of the few players in the hobby that commands attention no matter the card. Collectors clamor for more than just his rookies and high-end hits. Vintage is held in particular regard. Professionally graded Mint copies of the 1970 Topps Baseball Nolan Ryan can fetch more than $700. Near mint copies graded by PSA or BVG can sell for about $250 to $300.
1991 Topps Desert Shield Nolan Ryan #1
In 1991, Topps produced special cards for the troops participating in Operation Desert Shield in the Middle East. The cards were the same as the regular 1991 Topps Baseball cards except for a foil logo on the front of the card. Today, player and team collectors clamor for top-condition examples of these oddball cards. The 1991 Topps Desert Shield Nolan Ryan has a horizontal photo of the hurler in the follow-through of a pitch, presumably one of his trademark fastballs.
1991 Upper Deck Nolan Ryan Heroes Autograph #AU2 #/2500
Classic had a certified Nolan Ryan in 1991 but it didn’t have nearly the impact as Upper Decks. The seemingly endless supply of 1991 Upper Deck Low Series Baseball challenged collectors to “Find the Nolan.” And while many tried, just 2,500 existed. Laughable by today’s standards of rarity, the 1991 Upper Deck Nolan Ryan Heroes Autograph was — and still is — hard to find. A follow-up to the 1990 Upper Deck Reggie Jackson Heroes insert set, it represented one of the hobby’s earliest high-end hits. Featuring the artwork used for the set’s checklist. It is hand-numbered to 2,500 copies.
993 Topps Finest Refractors Nolan Ryan #107
One of the hobby’s first high-end parallels, 1993 Topps Finest Refractors are a hobby classic. Despite coming at the end of his playing career, the 1993 Topps Finest Refractor Nolan Ryan is one of the set’s most valuable cards. A suspected short print, the card commands a lot of attention when it shows up. Expect to pay around $500 today.
1999 Upper Deck Century Legends Epic Signatures Nolan Ryan #NR
The 1999 Upper Deck Century Legends Epic Signatures Nolan Ryan may no longer be one of the Hall of Famer’s most valuable autograph cards, but it’s one of the most attractive. The clean design allows lots of space for Ryan’s instantly recognizable signature. The podium photograph is a touching tribute as well. The supply of these cards has long since dried up. Although they turn up for sale somewhat regularly, it will likely take a little time and patience.
2006 Topps Allen & Ginter Baseball Framed Mini Autographs Nolan Ryan #AGA-NR
It launched the brand to a modern audience and produced some high-priced hits. Although autographs aren’t particularly rare across the set’s production run, they still garner huge amounts. The 2006 Topps Allen & Ginter Framed Mini Autograph Nolan Ryan is limited to 50 copies. Because the set is so widely collected, few pop up. Should you find one, expect to pay a premium over similar autographs, even ones with lower serial numbers and enhanced by memorabilia swatches.
Nolan Ryan Wife
Ryan married his high school sweetheart, the former Ruth Holdorff, on June 25, 1967. Nolan and Ruth attended Alvin High School together. Ruth was a high school state tennis champion. They have three children, Reid, Reese, and Wendy. Reid and Reese were both pitchers for the TCU Horned Frogs. Reid also pitched briefly in the minor leagues. On May 17, 2013, Reid was announced as president of the Houston Astros.
Nolan frequently pitched in the off-seasons, with Ruth often donning catching gear and serving as his catcher. Ruth Ryan also coached her sons’ little league teams for a few summers.
Nolan Ryan resides in the Cimarron Hills community in Georgetown, a suburb of Austin.
Nolan Ryan Teams He Played For
- The Mets
- California Angels
- The Houston
- Astros
- Texas Rangers
Nolan Ryan Pitcher’s Bible
With Ryan being regarded as one of the best of all time, Tom’s information reached the masses with their joint publication “Nolan Ryan’s Pitchers Bible”; A must read at the time for any aspiring pitcher. If you want to throw hard, just lift your leg like Nolan Ryan right? I know my little league was filled with young kids imitating Ryan’s leg kick and an effort to throw harder. But, the mechanical information produced by Tom House and backed by Nolan Ryan, solidified the embodiment of their information to new heights. Coaches, players, and parents latched hold of the information and the “Bible” made its way through the game of baseball everywhere. The “Nolan Ryan’s Pitcher’s Bible” was released in 1991, three years after House and Ryan met and started working together. Tom would continue to release publications on pitching but the commencement of Modern Pitching Mechanics had been established and provided a platform for the next decade to shape how pitchers throw a baseball.
Nolan Ryan Fastball
When you’ve been around for as long as Major League Baseball has been, greats, Hall of Famers, legends, and even-once-in-a-million’s bless the game with their presence from time to time. However, there’s one tier even above that, reserved for those who you’ll never see again in your lifetime or even 10 lifetimes. Guys like Ruth, Mays, Aaron, Bonds, Williams, Koufax. Well, there’s one name you should be including on that list, and that’s Nolan Ryan.
No baseball player has ever inspired awe as Nolan Ryan has. He not only set the mold for pitchers for the last 24 years, but he also changed pitching completely forever. He blazed a trail with his fastball, and he did it longer than anyone could dream of. Not only that, he was as tough as they come and he showed it every time he took the mound. There has been no career longer than Nolan Ryan’s record 27 seasons spanning four different decades and unimaginable changes in the game of baseball. Only Cap Anson can match Ryan’s career length, and if that name doesn’t sound too familiar that’s because he played between 1871 and 1897.
Nolan Ryan impressed and captivated MLB fans wherever he went, from the very young age of 19 until he was 46. Batters feared him and he used that to fuel his dominance on the mound for four different franchises in both leagues. He’s the greatest pitcher to never win a Cy Young award. He set the bar in so many areas, set records that will never be broken, and carried out feats we’ll only get to read about in the history books and will likely never see again.
Only four pitchers have ever thrown more innings than Nolan’s astounding total of 5,386, and only one of those men pitched after 1932. Only one pitcher has started more games in the history of baseball than Nolan Ryan, who started 773 times, and that was Cy Young with 815 starts. As impressive as Ryan’s longevity was, including having more than 30 stars in each of 16 seasons, the quality of the starts he had throughout his long career is also unmatched.
Nolan Ryan is 15th in fielding independent pitching (FIP) since the Expansion era with a 2.97. In 14 of his 27 seasons, he had a FIP under 3.0. Despite his high walk rate (which combined with his longevity to set a record in career walks allowed), Ryan kept his FIP down by limiting home runs and striking out a high percentage of batters. He has a career average of 0.54 home runs per nine innings. That’s good for the 19th best since Expansion. Of course, Nolan Ryan has the record that will certainly remain intact forever: he struck out 5,714 batters through his career. The next highest is Randy Johnson with 4,875 strikeouts. No one has more 10 strikeout games than Nolan Ryan, who has done that 215 times. Nolan also has the most strikeouts in a season since 1900 with 383, a record that will likely stand the test of time as well.
Just to put his strikeout numbers in perspective, right now Chris Sale is in the midst of an incredible season, and on pace for about 317 strikeouts if he stays healthy and starts 32 games. The sale would need 13 more repeat seasons of his current pace to catch Ryan’s record, which means Chris would have to pitch at this extraordinary level until he’s 41. All I have to say is good luck.
Not only was his FIP incredible, but Ryan was also the best at limiting base hits, with a career hits per nine rate of 6.6 and a career batting average against of .204. Only six pitchers in the history of baseball have more shutouts than Ryan’s 61, tied with Tom Seaver, both of whom are the only two of the top eight that began their careers after World War II.
Ryan faced 1,417 different batters during his career and only 232 of them didn’t strike out at least once. He faced 678 of those batters at least 10 times each and only 43 of them struck out less than two times. 62.8% of those 678 batters struck out at least 5 times when facing Ryan throughout their careers.
Nolan Ryan’s most impressive record by far is his seven no-hitters, a historic feat no one will ever come close to. You can watch the full-length game of his 7th no-hitter on the MLBClassics page on YouTube. He also took a no-hitter into the eighth inning 23 different times. Below is a list of his no-hitters and the stat line from each game.
Nolan Ryan And Robin Ventura Beatdown
Aug. 4, 1993, might have been just one day on the calendar, but for Robin Ventura, it’s a date he won’t be able to escape for the rest of his life.
It was on this fateful evening that a 26-year-old Ventura charged the mound in Arlington, Texas against 46-year-old Rangers pitcher Nolan Ryan, who proceeded to hammer Ventura with an embarrassing array of noogie shots to his head. Even if Ventura had gone on to hit the game-winning home run in a World Series, he might not have been able to top the visuals of this chaotic and surreal melee, easily one of the greatest in baseball history.
“I think there might have been 500,000 people in the stadium when that happened because everyone says they were at that game,” Ventura said about the play that has been replayed so many times, it probably belongs in the Hall of Fame along with Nolan Ryan himself.
That summer, the U.S. Junior Olympic baseball team spent two weeks training in Tyler, Texas. It was a squad comprised of players either going into their senior years in high school or recent draftees who had just graduated.
On the day of the game, the team made the two-hour bus ride to Arlington to watch the Rangers play the White Sox. They arrived early to watch batting practice. Afterward, they were led into the tunnel near the visiting clubhouse where they were introduced to the one and only Robin Ventura.
“We all had our USA garb on, and lo and behold Robin comes out because he was an ex-USA baseball player,” remembers a certain player on that team. “He gave us a little pep talk and said hello.”
This young ballplayer hoped to follow in Ventura’s footsteps. He didn’t just want to make it to the major leagues, he wanted to excel at the sport and play the game right. Ventura was a perfect example of this type of ballplayer; a model citizen who probably drank milk and called his mother every day — or at least that was the image of Ventura at the time.
Well, that was until the game started.
It was just a brief meeting, but Robin made an impression on the team, and specifically on that one player who would eventually fulfill his dream of baseball, later becoming one of the game’s biggest stars.
Who was he?
None other than Paul Konerko.
It was a chance meeting that Konerko remembers vividly. Ventura…not so much.
“I don’t remember it all,” Ventura said. “I was talking to a U.S. team, an amateur team about sportsmanship. Things went a little haywire in the game.”
Did they ever.
“They probably just grabbed him and he didn’t even know what it was, and he came out said hello, said hi, good luck guys, and that kind of stuff,” said Konerko. “Two hours later, there’s a riot on the field that he caused.”
The White Sox and Rangers hadn’t been getting along at the time. Alex Fernandez plunked Texas slugger Juan Gonzalez the inning before. If Ryan wanted to retaliate (as he often did), Ventura was the logical target because his single in the first inning gave the Sox a 1-0 lead. But even before the game began (right around the time he met with the young Olympians about sportsmanship), Ventura told his teammates that if he got hit, he was going to charge the mound no matter who was out there.
Watching the brawl unfold from the left-field bleachers was a stunned Konerko.
Did seeing Ventura go after one of the best, most respected players in the game change his opinion of him?
Nope. The opposite.
“That made me think nothing less of him, only more because anybody who’s going to charge Nolan Ryan, you gotta have…”
Konerko paused for a few seconds, trying to find the right word he can use on family television. Then one popped in his head.
“You gotta have some guts, let’s just put it that way.”
Ventura fighting Ryan, as crazy as it was, made him a hero to his White Sox teammates. Now a 14-year veteran himself, its an attitude Konerko loves to see in a clubhouse.
“That gives you ultimate respect in this game if you say, ‘Hey this guy throws at me a lot or he throws at our team a lot, if he hits me, I’m gone. Be ready.’ That’s ultimate respect in the fact that he followed up on his word,” Konerko said.
Ventura was ejected, but Ryan, for some inexplicable reason, was able to stay in the game.
“And I remember for every inning after that, the whole place was chanting ‘Nolan’ for what seemed like an hour-long,” Konerko said. “It was an electric-type atmosphere after that happened.”
When the Olympic coaches thought of taking their players to a baseball game, this was not exactly the kind of experience they probably had in mind. So what kind of effect did the fight have on those young, impressionable minds?
“One guy became a major-leaguer so it must have been pretty good,” Ventura said, laughing.
And now as fate would have it, where does Ventura make his White Sox managing debut on Opening Day? Texas. And who’s the president of the Rangers? Nolan Ryan.
Somewhere out there, the person who makes out the MLB schedule is giggling profusely.
“They’ll get all hopped up on it, but I’m not playing,” Ventura said about what the fan reaction will likely be. “It’s not going to affect me as far as winning or losing the game. I’m more concerned about how we do in the game than about getting booed or somebody yelling at you. I mean, that’s been happening for years.”
It follows Ventura wherever he goes.
“He makes a joke out of it,” Konerko said. “Whenever he’s in a public setting, they have a pool going. How long is it going to take for the Ventura-Ryan fight to get brought up? He just knows that people are always going to say, What about Nolan Ryan?”
While Ventura says that 500,000 fans claim they were in attendance that night, the official number is 32,312. Paul Konerko will always be able to say that he was one of them.
“There have been a million fights in the game and all that, but with Nolan Ryan, it’s just a legendary moment in the game that will always be,” Konerko said, “so I’m happy and proud to say that I was there for it.”
When Did Nolan Ryan Retire?
After retiring from the Texas Rangers in 1993, Nolan Ryan entered into several business ventures. He became the majority owner and the chairman of the board of a bank with branches in Alvin and Danbury, Texas, the Express Bank, and opened a restaurant near Three Rivers, Texas called Nolan Ryan’s Waterfront Restaurant and Brass Inn. He also owns a string of cattle ranches in South Texas.
Ryan has also been able to keep a hand in the game he loves best. In 1997, Ryan and his son Reid, a former pitcher in the minor leagues, headed a group of investors that bought a Houston Astros affiliated minor league team based in Jackson, Mississippi called the Generals. They moved the team to Round Rock, Texas, and renamed it the Round Rock Express.
Ryan is also actively involved in several civic organizations. He is on the board of directors of the Nolan Ryan Foundation, a nonprofit organization based in Alvin, Texas dedicated to honoring Ryan’s baseball career. Ryan also serves on the boards of the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund, the Texas Water Foundation, the Natural Resources Foundation of Texas, and the Alvin Community College Baseball Fund. Ryan still lives in his hometown of Alvin, Texas, with his wife Ruth.
Nolan Ryan Net Worth
Nolan Ryan is an American professional baseball player who has an estimated net worth of $60 million dollars. Nolan Ryan was a pitcher for the New York Mets, the California Angels, the Houston Astros, and the Texas Rangers.
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