The talk that Nolan Ryan had begun to act more like a 42 year old than a kid with a blazing fastball only made the man push harder. He had missed the last part of the previous season with a hamstring injury and still seemed to be sufering, though he kept on with his rigorous training rituals and exercises. His first start in the American League in 9 years came on April 12 against the Brewers. He took a no-hitter into the 8th inning and racked up 15 strikeouts. The rest of his years with the Rangers seem almost unreal: 2 more no-hitters, 2 more seasons leading the league in strikeouts, and reaching the 300 win and 5000 strikeout plateu - something never before done in history. It was a fitting end to the most amazing career in sports history, capped off by his introduction into the Hall of Fame, on his first ballot, on Jan 5, 1999. Milestones April 6, 1989 - First Rangers' start vs Detroit @ Arlington 5IP 7H 4R 3ER 3BB 8SO No decision Mound opponent - Jeff Robinson Catcher - Jim Sundberg August 22, 1989 - Strikes out Oakland A's Rickey Henderson for career strikeout #5,000 July 12, 1989 - Pitches 2 innings in the All Star game in Aneheim and earns the victory to become the oldest pitcher to win an All Star game 1989 - Selected Texas Rangers' Pitcher of the Year 1989 - Won the American League's Joe Cronin Award for significant achievement Joins Kansas City Royals' George Brett as the only 2-time recipients June 11, 1990 - Pitches 6th no hitter July 31, 1990 - Becomes the 20th pitcher to win 300 games vs Milwaukee Brewers @ Milwaukee (11-3) 7.2IP 6H 3R 1ER 2BB 8SO Mound opponent - Chris Bosio Catcher - Gino Petralli 1990 - Receives the 22nd annual Man of the Year Award from The Sporting News 1990 - Receives Male Athelete of the Year honors from United Press International 1990 - Receives the United States Sports Academy/USA Today Pro Sportsman of the Year Award May 1, 1991 - On the same day Oakland A's Rickey Henderson breaks Lou Brock's all time stolen base record, pitches 7th no hitter August 6,1992 - Ejected for the only time in his career after hitting Oakland A's Willie Wilson with a pitch September 15, 1996 - Texas Rangers retires jersey number 34 First jersey number in team history to be retired Statistics YEAR TEAM GAMES W L S.O. H BB CG SHO E.R.A. 1989 Rangers 32 16 10 301 162 98 6 2 3.20 1990 Rangers 30 13 9 232 137 74 5 2 3.44 1991 Rangers 27 12 6 203 102 72 2 2 2.91 1992 Rangers 27 5 9 157 138 69 2 0 3.72 1993 Rangers 13 5 5 46 54 40 0 0 4.88 TOTAL 5 years 129 51 39 939 593 353 15 6 3.63 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]