Nolan Ryan Nolan Ryan Lynn Nolan Ryan Jr. (born January 31, 1947), nicknamed The Ryan Express, is a former Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher and a previous chief executive officer (CEO) of the Texas Rangers. He is currently an executive adviser to the owner of the Houston Astros. Over a record 27-year baseball career that spanned four decades: 1966, 19681993, Ryan pitched for the New York Mets, California Angels, Houston Astros, and Texas Rangers. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999. Ryan, a hard-throwing, right-handed pitcher, threw pitches that were regularly clocked above 100 miles per hour (161
Nolan Ryan way. He had determined to be more aggressive after coming out on the wrong side of an altercation with Dave Winfield in 1980. Ryan's arm finally gave out in Seattle on September 22, 1993, when he tore a ligament. The injury ended his career two starts earlier than planned. Ryan briefly attempted to pitch past the injury, and he threw one additional pitch after tearing his ligament. With his injured arm, his final pitch was measured at 98 miles per hour. Ryan's last start was his career worst; he allowed a single, four walks, and a grand slam in the