Baseball 100: No. 50 Nolan Ryan

[Mike Honcho 5,072]

The Athletic has been doing a top 100 ball players of all time series, today was Ryan and they compiled some 'records' he holds, pretty crazy.

The record in the non-Nolan world for strikeouts is 4,875, held by Hall of Famer Randy Johnson.

Ryan struck out 5,714.

The record in the non-Nolan world for walks is 1,833, held by Hall of Famer Steve Carlton … just ahead of the 1,809 walks by another Hall of Famer, Phil Niekro.

Ryan walked 2,795.

The record for most no-hitters in the non-Nolan world is four, held by Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax.

Ryan pitched seven no-hitters.

The record in the non-Nolan world for stolen bases allowed is 547, held by Hall of Famer Greg Maddux.

Ryan allowed 757 stolen bases.

The pitcher over the past 100 years with the most errors in the non-Nolan world is Hall of Famer Don Drysdale, with 59.

Ryan committed 91 errors.

The record for fewest hits per nine innings in the non-Nolan world is 6.8 and is currently shared by Koufax and future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw.

Ryan allowed 6.6 hits per nine innings.

The modern record in the non-Nolan world for wild pitches is 226 and belongs to Niekro, who threw a knuckleball that would do whatever it wanted to do.

Ryan threw 277 wild pitches.

The modern record for losses in the non-Nolan world is 279 and belongs to Hall of Famer Walter Johnson.

Ryan lost 292 games.

The record for most complete games allowing two hits or fewer in the non-Nolan world is 25, held by the Big Train, Walter Johnson.

Ryan threw 37 two-hitters or better.

[TimmySmith 2,782]

Most dominant pitcher in history is 50. Top 20 IMO.

[RaiderHaters Revenge 4,235]

7 minutes ago, TimmySmith said:

Most dominant pitcher in history is 50. Top 20 IMO.

I think unit and Clemens from my lifetime were more dominant

[tanatastic 2,062]

Bump him way further up there. He’s like the Jerry Rice of pitchers. When discussing him and his peers you just automatically say “aside from him”.

[Mookz 1,337]

Wait a second, most of those were bad things.  

[lod001 1,344]

Strikeouts and no hitters will never be topped...EVER.

[vuduchile 1,945]

50 is way too low.   Best starting pitcher of all time.  

[Mike Honcho 5,072]

Just find his numbers mind-blowing, had a season when he pitched 250 innings and  gave up more walks than hits.   Lead the league in K's at the age of 43.  Pitched to the age of 46 and still has the lowest H/9IP ever.   Pretty sure Crash Davis was talking about Nolan when he said... “You got a gift. When you were a baby, the gods reached down and turned your right arm into a thunderbolt. 

[BufordT 425]

Might be the only player in history to put another player in a head lock, punch him 5 or 6 times, then not get ejected from the game 

[ZeroTolerance 584]

2 hours ago, TimmySmith said:

Most dominant pitcher in history is 50. Top 20 IMO.

Definitely not the most dominant. The most unhittable when he was on his game, no question. But you aren't the most dominant simply by how good you are on your best days.

[TimmySmith 2,782]

4 minutes ago, ZeroTolerance said:

Definitely not the most dominant. The most unhittable when he was on his game, no question. But you aren't the most dominant simply by how good you are on your best days.

He had more best days than any other pitcher and did it for the better part of 30 years.  Case closed.

[ZeroTolerance 584]

4 minutes ago, TimmySmith said:

He had more best days than any other pitcher and did it for the better part of 30 years.  Case closed.

He also had more bad days than almost any other pitcher. That tends to happen when you are inconsistent but hang around for 27 seasons. You can have Nolan in his prime, I'll take Randy Johnson, or Greg Maddux, or Sandy Koufax...Nolan is a sure Hall of Famer, but for chrissakes he averaged a walk for every 2 strikeouts.

[Mike Honcho 5,072]

1 hour ago, BufordT said:

Might be the only player in history to put another player in a head lock, punch him 5 or 6 times, then not get ejected from the game 

And he was 46!!!!

 

[vuduchile 1,945]

55 minutes ago, TimmySmith said:

He had more best days than any other pitcher and did it for the better part of 30 years.  Case closed.

Yep.  7 no hitters may never be topped.  

Randy has 2

Maddux has 0 

 

 

[RaiderHaters Revenge 4,235]

4 hours ago, vuduchile said:

Yep.  7 no hitters may never be topped.  

Randy has 2

Maddux has 0 

 

 

the no-no's will never be topped

Maddux was great, but really his full body of work is nowhere near Nolans

Maddux however was worth 21 more WAR in 4 less years

 

Randy Johnson to me is the most dominant SP of all-time, especially considering his first good year wasn't til he was 29

Johnson had the same WAR as Maddux in 1 less season

at the age of 35-38 in Arizona, Johnson put together probably the most dominant 4 season run in the history of the game, factor in it was in prime juice time, and its even crazier

 

during that same stretch though Pedro Martinez posted the craziest ERA+ numbers of all-time

 

 

[TimmySmith 2,782]

8 hours ago, vuduchile said:

Yep.  7 no hitters may never be topped.  

Randy has 2

Maddux has 0 

Most no-nos never topped.

Most 1 hitters never topped.

Most 2 hitters never topped.

Most 3 hitters never topped.

He set these marks basically playing for marginal teams. 

[cbfalcon 825]

If you wanted a reliable 13-12 innings eater that would mix in a highlight reel performance every third year, there was nobody better 

[TimmySmith 2,782]

12 minutes ago, cbfalcon said:

If you wanted a reliable 13-12 innings eater that would mix in a highlight reel performance every third year, there was nobody better 

2020 definition of innings eater is someone who can go 7 every 3rd start. Ryan may have more lifetime no nos than todays guys have lifetime CGs.

[edjr 6,578]

Nolan Ryan threw 235 pitches in one game. Struck out 19 in 15 innings.  MANS GAME!

[cbfalcon 825]

17 minutes ago, TimmySmith said:

2020 definition of innings eater is someone who can go 7 every 3rd start. Ryan may have more lifetime no nos than todays guys have lifetime CGs.

He played for almost 30 years....and you can use your fingers to count up the number of seasons he was even in the debate for best pitcher in baseball with zero hands. 

[edjr 6,578]

15 minutes ago, cbfalcon said:

He played for almost 30 years....and you can use your fingers to count up the number of seasons he was even in the debate for best pitcher in baseball with zero hands. 

One of the all time overrated players in the history of sports.

[vuduchile 1,945]

Some of you guys have no concept of how hard it is to throw a no hitter in MLB, much less 7.  Now factor in that he threw his last one at age 44.  
 

He was the first player to clock a 100 mph fastball and he kept throwing them well into his 40’s as a STARTER.  
 

He wasn’t a set up guy or a closer who pitches a couple innings per week   

It’s impossible to overrate him.   

[edjr 6,578]

6 minutes ago, vuduchile said:

Some of you guys have no concept of how hard it is to throw a no hitter in MLB, much less 7.  Now factor in that he threw his last one at age 44.  
 

He was the first player to clock a 100 mph fastball and he kept throwing them well into his 40’s as a STARTER.  
 

He wasn’t a set up guy or a closer who pitches a couple innings per week   

It’s impossible to overrate him.   

How many no hitters in the playoffs?

[Mike Honcho 5,072]

Didn't mean for this to turn into a fight...I was just  at the collection of numbers he posted in his career.   

FWIW---the writer had him basically at 50 because of the walks, wild pitches and slow delivery.  Nolan went out there to do it his way, throwing as hard as possible, and if that meant he was wild, led to stolen bases, walks, he didn't care---he didn't change to be more accurate, shorten his delivery with guys on base.  So while he was a legend, and a guy gifted with possibly the greatest arm to play the game---it didn't make him the best of the best, just the average of the best.     

Whatever, he was a personality bigger than the game, a legend and a once in a 100 years type of player.  

[ZeroTolerance 584]

4 minutes ago, Mike Honcho said:

Didn't mean for this to turn into a fight...I was just  at the collection of numbers he posted in his career.   

FWIW---the writer had him basically at 50 because of the walks, wild pitches and slow delivery.  Nolan went out there to do it his way, throwing as hard as possible, and if that meant he was wild, led to stolen bases, walks, he didn't care---he didn't change to be more accurate, shorten his delivery with guys on base.  So while he was a legend, and a guy gifted with possibly the greatest arm to play the game---it didn't make him the best of the best, just the average of the best.     

Whatever, he was a personality bigger than the game, a legend and a once in a 100 years type of player.  

I'm not even trying to call him overrated, just pointing out why he isn't THE greatest of all-time. He was my favorite player growing up and definetly the most exciting pitcher to watch.

[Cruzer 1,995]

Ryan pitched 27 seasons, and still was able to maintain a lifetime 3.19 era - that's insane.

Couple this with his records - 50 is way too low.

[vuduchile 1,945]

54 minutes ago, edjr said:

How many no hitters in the playoffs?

0.

Same as the rest of these guys:

Player	Career fWAR	Postseason IP	Postseason ERA	Postseason K-BB	Team Record in Games started
Roger Clemens	133.7	199	3.75	173-70	17-17
Greg Maddux	116.7	198	3.27	125-51	13-17
Randy Johnson	110.6	121	3.50	132-32	6-10
Nolan Ryan	107.2	58.2	3.07	63-14	2-5
Bert Blyleven	103.3	47.1	2.47	36-8	5-1
Gaylord Perry	100.5	14.2	6.14	11-3	1-1
Steve Carlton	96.9	99.1	3.26	84-51	8-6
Tom Seaver	92.7	61.2	2.77	51-16	3-5
Don Sutton	85.9	100.1	3.68	61-16	7-7
Pedro Martinez	84.5	96.1	3.46	96-30	6-8

[TimmySmith 2,782]

1 hour ago, cbfalcon said:

He played for almost 30 years....and you can use your fingers to count up the number of seasons he was even in the debate for best pitcher in baseball with zero hands. 

Dominant and best are different categories IMO.  Sometimes it's the same guy.  Ryan was a freak, never to be seen again. AND his ERA (3.19 career) wasn't terrible enough to reflect his losses.  Playing for bad teams probably cost him a shot at 400 wins.

[Cruzer 1,995]

2 minutes ago, TimmySmith said:

Playing for bad teams probably cost him a shot at 400 wins.

He played on a lot of bad teams for sure.

[vuduchile 1,945]

55 minutes ago, TimmySmith said:

Dominant and best are different categories IMO.  Sometimes it's the same guy.  Ryan was a freak, never to be seen again. AND his ERA (3.19 career) wasn't terrible enough to reflect his losses.  Playing for bad teams probably cost him a shot at 400 wins.

 

51 minutes ago, Cruzer said:

He played on a lot of bad teams for sure.

More bad than good I believe.  How many times did his teams even reach the playoffs?

 

[Vikings4ever 538]

12 minutes ago, vuduchile said:

 

More bad than good I believe.  How many times did his teams even reach the playoffs?

 

I count 5, with 1 WS win (69 Mets).

He wasn't the most dominant ever, or probably at any point in his career. But he was A dominant pitcher for a long, long, long time.

[RaiderHaters Revenge 4,235]

4 minutes ago, Vikings4ever said:

I count 5, with 1 WS win (69 Mets).

He wasn't the most dominant ever, or probably at any point in his career. But he was A dominant pitcher for a long, long, long time.

Steve Carlton won 27 games for a team that won 59 that season, the craziest stat ever imo

 

[vuduchile 1,945]

4 minutes ago, Vikings4ever said:

But he was A dominant pitcher for a long, long, long time.

Most of these b!tches would require Tommy John after playing catch in the back yard.  Ryan was a physical freak.  

[edjr 6,578]

1 hour ago, vuduchile said:

0.

Same as the rest of these guys:

Player	Career fWAR	Postseason IP	Postseason ERA	Postseason K-BB	Team Record in Games started
Roger Clemens	133.7	199	3.75	173-70	17-17
Greg Maddux	116.7	198	3.27	125-51	13-17
Randy Johnson	110.6	121	3.50	132-32	6-10
Nolan Ryan	107.2	58.2	3.07	63-14	2-5
Bert Blyleven	103.3	47.1	2.47	36-8	5-1
Gaylord Perry	100.5	14.2	6.14	11-3	1-1
Steve Carlton	96.9	99.1	3.26	84-51	8-6
Tom Seaver	92.7	61.2	2.77	51-16	3-5
Don Sutton	85.9	100.1	3.68	61-16	7-7
Pedro Martinez	84.5	96.1	3.46	96-30	6-8

I don't see anyone else using no hitters as a barometer of a pitchers greatness. Ryan wasn't that good, sorry.  Notice all the guys on that list with less than 90 playoff innings pitched? Cept Seaver, None of them should be in the HOF

[vuduchile 1,945]

7 minutes ago, edjr said:

I don't see anyone else using no hitters as a barometer of a pitchers greatness. Ryan wasn't that good, sorry.  Notice all the guys on that list with less than 90 playoff innings pitched? Cept Seaver, None of them should be in the HOF

As miraculous as 7 no hitters is, it's only part of the equation.  5700 strike outs, 6.6 hits per 9 innings, 61 shut outs and an ERA of 3.19 are some others.  

It's a good thing the weekend is coming.  You need a break.  

[TimmySmith 2,782]

16 minutes ago, RaiderHaters Revenge said:

Steve Carlton won 27 games for a team that won 59 that season, the craziest stat ever imo

 

Insane. 1972 was the year of freak stats.

Ryan had a good one in 1987.  8-16, led the league in ERA.  In games where he gave up 2 or fewer ER, he was 7-9 with 8 no decisions. So 24 games where he gave up 2 or fewer ER and got 7 wins.

[edjr 6,578]

8 minutes ago, TimmySmith said:

Insane. 1972 was the year of freak stats.

Ryan had a good one in 1987.  8-16, led the league in ERA.  In games where he gave up 2 or fewer ER, he was 7-9 with 8 no decisions. So 24 games where he gave up 2 or fewer ER and got 7 wins.

 

9 minutes ago, vuduchile said:

As miraculous as 7 no hitters is, it's only part of the equation.  5700 strike outs, 6.6 hits per 9 innings, 61 shut outs and an ERA of 3.19 are some others.  

It's a good thing the weekend is coming.  You need a break.  

Playoff wins? 1 meaningful start ever?

[Mike Honcho 5,072]

1 hour ago, edjr said:

 

Playoff wins? 1 meaningful start ever?

Playoff wins is overrated in a team game as large as baseball and football, 1 guy can't do everything.  Ask Mike Trout.

[vuduchile 1,945]

13 minutes ago, Mike Honcho said:

Playoff wins is overrated in a team game as large as baseball and football, 1 guy can't do everything.  Ask Mike Trout.

Yep

[RaiderHaters Revenge 4,235]

5 minutes ago, vuduchile said:

Yep

except ELI hes the bestestest