On this day in 1989 Nolan Ryan became the first pitcher to strike out 5000 batters in a career. His 500oth victim was Rickey Henderson. Nolan Ryan would end his career with a record 5714 strike outs. He pitched in Major League Baseball for 27 seasons, for four different teams. Three of the teams he played for have retired his number. He also has the record for 7 no-hitters. He is tied with Bob Feller for the most one-hitters with 12. He retired in 1993. Nolan Ryan was a freak of nature. We will never see his like again. And he did things the right way-hard work.

In those 26 seasons he did make one World Series, he was a member but not a key member of the 1969 Miracle Mets. Think if the Mets hadn’t traded him to California and Ryan became what he became with the Mets. Tom Seaver and Nolan Ryan on the same team in the 1970’s.

This is something that is remarkable. In his last appearance Nolan Ryan tore a ligament in his pitching arm. He would throw one more pitch after tearing the ligament. That pitch was clocked at 98 miles per hour.