It seems only fitting that a 7-time strikeout leader and owner of 4 no-hitters would become the highest paid player in the league. And in fact he was - Nolan signed baseball's first million-dollar a year contract on Nov 19, 1979. The deal - 3 years, $3.5 million. It brought Nolan closer to home to a place he thought he could finish his career. No doubt partly to the clown-like uniforms, the Astros were a team starved for respect. Nolan brought just that. He threw his record-breaking 5th no-hitter in 1981 and led the team to the division title in 1980 and 1986. He made the All-Star team in 1981 and 1985. Trouble began, though, when Nolan lost his bid for his first Cy Young award in 1987. He led the league once again in strikeouts (270) and era (2.76), but lost out to Steve Bedrosian, mostly due to his 8-16 record. That in and of itself wasn't a major problem, that is, until Astros owner John McMullen asked Ryan to take a 20% paycut, the steapest paycut allowed by MLB rules. It was an insult of the worst kind, and Nolan let him know without a word. He signed with the Texas Rangers for the 1989 season, after entertaining offers from the Yankees, A's, and Angels. Milestones April 12, 1980 - First Astros' start vs Los Angeles Dodgers @ Houston 6IP 6H 4R 4ER 5BB 3SO No decision On national television, hits first career homerun (a 3 run shot) to cap off an Astros' four run fourth inning Mound opponent - Don Sutton Catcher - Alan Ashby July 4, 1980 - Strikes out Cincinatti Reds' Cesar Geronimo for career strikeout #3,000 September 26, 1981 - Pitches 5th no hitter 1981 - Leads the league with a 1.69 ERA posting one of the best post World War II ERAs 1981 - Houston Astros' Most Valuable Player April 27, 1983 - Strikes out Montreal Expos' Brad Mills to record strikeout #3,509 breaking Walter Johnson's 56 year old record for most strikeouts July 11, 1985 - Strikes out New York Mets' Danny Heep for career strikeout #4,000 May 1, 1987 - Hits second career homerun (as his first, a three run shot) against Charlie Puleo of the Atlanta Braves 1987 - Earns the dubious distinction as the only pitcher to lead the league in strikeouts (270) and ERA (2.76) not to win the Cy Young Award October 30, 1987 - Elected to the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame September 29, 1996 - Houston Astros retires jersey number 34 First player to have a jersey number retired by three different teams First player to have a jersey number retired in both leagues Statistics YEAR TEAM GAMES W L S.O. H BB CG SHO E.R.A. 1980 Astros 35 11 10 200 205 98 4 2 3.35 1981 Astros 21 11 5 140 99 68 5 3 1.69 1982 Astros 35 16 12 245 196 109 10 3 3.16 1983 Astros 29 14 9 183 134 101 5 2 2.98 1984 Astros 30 12 11 197 143 69 5 2 3.04 1985 Astros 35 10 12 209 205 95 4 0 3.80 1986 Astros 30 12 8 194 119 82 1 0 3.34 1987 Astros 34 8 16 270 154 87 0 0 2.76 1988 Astros 33 12 11 228 186 87 4 1 3.52 TOTAL 9 years 282 106 90 1866 1441 796 38 13 3.07 Pictures click on the thumbnail to view full size [Career Statistics] [The New York Mets Years] [The California Angels Years] [The Houston Astros Years] [The Texas Rangers Years] [7 Career No-Hitters] [5,714 Career Strikeouts] [Records] [Achievements] [Cooperstown Class Of 1999] [Nolan Ryan Baseball Cards] [Quotes] [The Nolan Ryan Story] [Miscellaneous Features] [Books, Videos, & Collectibles]