Texas Rangers' Nolan Ryan Earns Final MLB Win

On August 15, 1993, Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan, earns win 324, his final victory as the Rangers beat the Indians 4-1.

Ryan, who enjoyed the best years of his career with the California Angels, where he threw four of his MLB record seven no-hitters. The seven are three more than any other pitcher. He is tied with Bob Feller for most one-hitters, with 12. Ryan also pitched 18 two-hitters. Despite the seven no-hitters, he never threw a perfect game, nor did he ever win a Cy Young Award. 

Only Ryan, Sandy Koufax (four), Cy Young (three), Bob Feller (three), and Larry Corcoran (three) have pitched more than two no-hitters. Corcoran was the first pitcher to throw a second no-hitter in a career (in 1882), as well as the first to throw a third (in 1884).

Ryan is one of only 29 players in baseball history to have appeared in Major League baseball games in four decades and the only pitcher to have struck out seven pairs of fathers and sons. While his lifetime winning percentage was .526, Ryan was an eight-time MLB All-Star, with 324 wins and 292 losses. With a career 3.19 earned run average.

Ryan would finish his career with 5,714 career strikeouts, which rank first in major league baseball history by a significant margin. He leads the runner-up, Randy Johnson, by 839 strikeouts. Similarly, Ryan's 2,795 bases on balls lead second-place Steve Carlton by 962; walking over 50 percent more hitters than any other pitcher in Major League history. 

The list of current 3000 strikeout pitchers includes in this order from most to least, Nolan Ryan, 5,714, Randy Johnson, 4,875, Roger Clemens, 4,672, Steve Carlton, 4,136, Bert Blyleven, 3,701, Tom Seaver, 3,640, Don Sutton, 3,574, Gaylord Perry, 3,534, Walter Johnson, 3,509, Greg Maddux, 3,371, Phil Niekro, 3,342, Ferguson Jenkins, 3,192, Pedro Martinez, 3,154, Bob Gibson, 3,117, Curt Schilling, 3,116 and John Smoltz, 3,084.

Ryan and Koufax are the only two pitchers inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame who had more strikeouts than innings pitched. Other than Jackie Robinson (whose number was retired by the entire MLB), Ryan is currently the only major league baseball player to have his number retired by at least three different teams: the Angels, Astros, and Rangers.

 

Ryan was inducted into Cooperstown Hall of Fame in 1999 with 98.79 percent of the vote on the first ballot in which he appeared.

Reggie Jackson Is Enshrined In Cooperstown

On August 1, 1993, slugger Reggie Jackson is enshrined in Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.

During his 21-season career Reggie Jackson played for the Kansas City and Oakland Athletics, Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees and the California Angels.

Jackson finished his career as a 14-time All-Star, including eight consecutive appearances from 1977-1984. He was a five time World Series Champion, including three consecutive with the Oakland Athletics from 1972-1974 and back-to-back titles with the New York Yankees in 1977-1978. He was the World Series MVP in 1973 and 1977. He won the American League MVP in 1973, and was awarded the Babe Ruth award in 1977. He was also a two-time Silver Slugger Award winner in 1980 and 1982.

Jackson was in the MVP discussion 13 times, while in the top five in voting five times.

Jackson ended his playing career with a .262 batting average with 2,584 hits with 463 doubles, 49 triples, 563 home runs, 1,375 walks with 1,702 RBIs, 1,551 runs scored and 228 steals. He struck out a major league record 2,597 times.

Jackson led the league in runs scored twice, with his highest single season total coming in 1969 when he scored 123 times. He led the league in home runs four times, although his highest single season total came in 1969 with 47 when he did not lead the league. He also led the league in RBIs once with 117 in 1973, although his highest single season total came in 1969 with 118. He did not lead the league that year.

Jackson was the first major leaguer to hit one hundred home runs for three different clubs, having hit over 100 for the Athletics, Yankees, and Angels.

Jackson is also the only player in the 500 home run club that never had consecutive 30 home run seasons in a career.

Jackson, while a home run slugger, also was the all-time leader in strikeouts. Over the course of his career he led the league in strikeouts five times with his highest single season total coming in 1968 with 171.

Because of his post-season heroics with the New York Yankees where he hit three home runs in a single game during the 1977 World Series Jackson has been nicknamed “Mr. October.”

Jackson was inducted into the Cooperstown Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in 1993 with 93.6 percent of the vote on the first ballot in which he was on.

The Oakland Athletics retired his no. 9 jersey in 2004 and the New York Yankees retired his no. 44 jersey in 1993.

Texas Rangers' Kenny Rogers Pitches A Perfect Game

On July 28, 1994, Texas Ranger Kenny Rogers pitches the fourteenth perfect game in MLB history against the California Angels 4-0.

Rogers followed Lee Richmond, Monte Ward, Cy Young, Addie Joss, Charlie Robertson, Don Larsen, Jim Bunning, Sandy Koufax, Catfish Hunter, Len Barker, Mike Witt and Dennis Martinez in throwing perfect games.

Since Rogers’ perfect game David Wells, David Cone, and Randy Johnson, Mark Buehrle, Dallas Braden, Roy Halladay, Phillip Humber, Matt Cain and Felix Hernandez have all achieved perfect game status.

The shortest span of time between perfect games throw was just five days between Richmond’s perfect game on June 12, 1880 and Ward’s perfect game on June 17, 1880. The longest span between perfect games is just under 24 years, between Ward’s perfect game on June 17, 1880 and Young’s perfect game on May 5, 1904.

The American League has seen 14 prefect games while the National League only nine times.

No single player has ever thrown more than one perfect game.

The most perfect games for a single team is three as the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees have had perfect games pitched. However, only two of the Yankees perfect games came in the regular season, with Larsen’s perfect game coming in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers, meaning the Chicago White Sox have more regular season perfect games.

Larsen’s perfect game in the World Series was the first and last time a perfect game has been thrown in the playoffs, let alone the World Series.

The team with the most perfect games pitched against them is the Tampa Bay Rays, with three. All of them coming since 2009 with Chicago White Sox Buehrle, Oakland Athletics Braden, and Seattle Mariners Hernandez all doing the feat against the Rays.

The 2012 season saw the most perfect games in a single season as Cain, Hernandez and Humber all pitched perfect games in one season, the most since 2010 when Braden and Halladay both pitched perfect games.

Rogers would finish his career four All-Star appearances including three consecutive from 2004-2006. He was a five-time Gold Glove winner including three consecutive from 2004-2006.He was honored with a Fielding Bible Award in 2008 as the top fielding pitcher in MLB.

Oakland Athletics general manager Billy Beane stated that Rogers "Was the best fielding pitcher he ever saw. It's like having an extra infielder".

He was a World Series Champion in 1996 with the New York Yankees and was inducted into the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame in 2011.

Rogers ended his 20-season career with 219 wins and 156 losses and 28 saves in 762 games with 474 starts in 3,302.2 innings pitched. He totaled a 4.27 ERA with 1,968 strikeouts and just 1,175 walks. Rogers would throw 36 complete games, with his highest single season total coming in 1998 with the Oakland Athletics, with seven. He also had nine shutouts, with his highest single season total coming in 1994 with the Texas Rangers, he threw two that season, one being the perfect game against the California Angels.

Rogers led the league in games pitched in 1992 with 81 games, and led the game in games started in 2004 with 35.

Rogers is second all-time in pickoffs with 93 in his career. On May 9, 2008 against the New York Yankees, Rogers picked off Wilson Betemit in the second inning for his ninty-second pick-off, passing Mark Langston.

The all-time leader in pickoffs is Dodgers great Sandy Koufax, another member of the perfect game crew.

Check out the final three outs from Rogers' perfect game:

President Ronald Reagan Broadcasts MLB All-Star Game

On July 11, 1989, President Ronald Reagan sportscasts the Major League Baseball All-Star Game.

The 1989 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the sixtieth playing of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League (AL) and National League (NL), the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball.

 

The game was held at Anaheim Stadium in Anaheim, California, the home of the California Angels of the American League.

The game resulted in the American League defeating the National League 5-3. The game is remembered for Bo Jackson's monstrous lead-off home run to center field. Jackson was named the game's MVP.

The game also featured former U.S. President and former baseball announcer Ronald Reagan sharing the NBC broadcast booth with Vin Scully for the first inning.

The pregame ceremonies featured Disney characters joining this year's players in sprinting onto the field for the introduction of the starting lineups. Doc Severinsen later led The Tonight Show Band in the playing of the Canadian and U.S. national anthems.

Severinsen and The Tonight Show Band's performance of the U.S. National Anthem was the last non-vocal performance of the Anthem at the All-Star Game to date.

The ceremonial first pitch was thrown by longtime Angels coach Jimmie Reese.

This would not be Reagan’s first time on television as Reagan moved first to Iowa after graduating college to work as a radio broadcaster and then, in 1937, to Los Angeles where he began a career as an actor, first in films and later television.

Reagan served as President of the Screen Actors Guild and later as a spokesman for General Electric (GE); his start in politics occurred during his work for GE.

Though an early critic of television, Reagan landed fewer film roles in the late 1950s and decided to join the medium. He was hired as the host of General Electric Theater, a series of weekly dramas that became very popular.

His final work as a professional actor was as host and performer from 1964 to 1965 on the television series Death Valley Days.

Check out the video below of Ronald Reagan broadcasting the 1989 MLB All-Star Game:

Nolan Ryan Records 3,000th Strikeouts

On July 4, 1980, Hall of Famer and then Houston Astros ace Nolan Ryan becomes the fourth pitcher in Major League Baseball history to strikeout 3,000 batters.

Ryan enjoyed the best years of his career with the California Angels, where he threw four of his MLB record seven no-hitters. The seven are three more than any other pitcher. He is tied with Bob Feller for most one-hitters, with 12. Ryan also pitched 18 two-hitters. Despite the seven no-hitters, he never threw a perfect game, nor did he ever win a Cy Young Award.

Ryan is one of only 29 players in baseball history to have appeared in Major League baseball games in four decades and the only pitcher to have struck out seven pairs of fathers and sons. While his lifetime winning percentage was .526, Ryan was an eight-time MLB All-Star, with 324 wins and 292 losses. With a career 3.19 earned run average.

Ryan would finish his career with 5,714 career strikeouts, which rank first in major league baseball history by a significant margin. He leads the runner-up, Randy Johnson, by 839 strikeouts. Similarly, Ryan's 2,795 bases on balls lead second-place Steve Carlton by 962; walking over 50 percent more hitters than any other pitcher in Major League history. Ryan and Sandy Koufax are the only two pitchers inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame who had more strikeouts than innings pitched.

Other than Jackie Robinson (whose number was retired by the entire MLB), Ryan is currently the only major league baseball player to have his number retired by at least three different teams: the Los Angeles Angels, Houston Astros, and Texas Rangers.

Ryan was inducted into Cooperstown Hall of Fame in 1999 with 98.79 percent of the vote on the first ballot in which he appeared.

The list of current 3000 strikeout pitchers includes in this order from most to least, Nolan Ryan, 5,714, Randy Johnson, 4,875, Roger Clemens, 4,672, Steve Carlton, 4,136, Bert Blyleven, 3,701, Tom Seaver, 3,640, Don Sutton, 3,574, Gaylord Perry, 3,534, Walter Johnson, 3,509, Greg Maddux, 3,371, Phil Niekro, 3,342, Ferguson Jenkins, 3,192, Pedro Martinez, 3,154, Bob Gibson, 3,117, Curt Schilling, 3,116 and John Smoltz, 3,084.

Texas Rangers' Nolan Ryan Sets MLB Strikeout Record

On July 2, 1990, Texas Rangers ace Nolan Ryan strikes out batter 100 on the season, setting an MLB record of 22 seasons with at least 100 strikeouts. Ryan started the streak in 1978.

The record was previously held by Don Sutton, who had done it in 21 consecutive seasons.

Ryan, who enjoyed the best years of his career with the California Angels, where he threw four of his MLB record seven no-hitters. Those seven no-hitters are three more than any other pitcher. He is tied with Bob Feller for most one-hitters, with 12. Ryan also pitched 18 two-hitters. Despite the seven no-hitters, he never threw a perfect game, nor did he ever win a Cy Young Award.

Only Ryan, Sandy Koufax (four), Cy Young (three), Bob Feller (three), and Larry Corcoran (three) have pitched more than two no-hitters. Corcoran was the first pitcher to throw a second no-hitter in a career (in 1882), as well as the first to throw a third (in 1884).

Thirty men in all have thrown more than one no-hitter. Randy Johnson has the longest gap between no-hitters: he threw a no-hitter as a member of the Seattle Mariners on June 2, 1990, and a perfect game as an Arizona Diamondback on May 18, 2004.

The pitcher who holds the record for the shortest time between no-hitters is Johnny Vander Meer, the only pitcher in history to throw no-hitters in consecutive starts, while playing for the Cincinnati Reds in 1938. Besides Vander Meer, Allie Reynolds (in 1951), Virgil Trucks (in 1952), and Ryan (in 1973) are the only other major leaguers to throw two no-hitters in the same regular season.

Five pitchers have thrown a no-hitter in both the American League and the National League: Cy Young, Ryan, Jim Bunning, Nomo, and Randy Johnson. Only four catchers have caught a no-hitter in each league: Gus Triandos, Jeff Torborg, Darrell Porter and Ron Hassey. Triandos caught Hoyt Wilhelm's 1958 no-hitter and Jim Bunning's perfect game, Torborg caught Koufax's perfect game and Ryan's first no-hitter, Porter caught Jim Colborn's 1977 no-hitter and Bob Forsch's second no-hitter in 1983, and Hassey caught Len Barker's and Dennis Martínez's perfect games.

 

Ryan is one of only 29 players in baseball history to have appeared in Major League baseball games in four decades and the only pitcher to have struck out seven pairs of fathers and sons. While his lifetime winning percentage was .526, Ryan was an eight-time MLB All-Star, with 324 wins and 292 losses. With a career 3.19 earned run average.

Ryan would finish his career with 5,714 career strikeouts, which rank first in major league baseball history by a significant margin. He leads the runner-up, Randy Johnson, by 839 strikeouts. Similarly, Ryan's 2,795 bases on balls lead second-place Steve Carlton by 962; walking over 50 percent more hitters than any other pitcher in Major League history. Ryan and Sandy Koufax are the only two pitchers inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame who had more strikeouts than innings pitched.

Other than Jackie Robinson (whose number was retired by the entire MLB), Ryan is currently the only major league baseball player to have his number retired by at least three different teams: the Angels, Astros, and Rangers.

Ryan was inducted into Cooperstown Hall of Fame in 1999 with 98.79 percent of the vote on the first ballot in which he appeared.

Los Angeles Dodgers Jerry Reuss' No-Hits San Francisco Giants

On June 27, 1980, the Los Angeles Dodgers Jerry Reuss' throws a no-hitter against the San Francisco Giants in an 8-0 game.

Reuss played for eight teams in his major league career; along with the Dodgers (1979–87), he played for the St. Louis Cardinals (1969–71), Houston Astros (1972–73), and Pittsburgh Pirates (1974–78). At the end of his career (1987–90), he played for the Cincinnati Reds, California Angels, Chicago White Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, and the Pirates again (Reuss is one of only two Pirates to have played for Danny Murtaugh, Chuck Tanner, and Jim Leyland, the other being John Candelaria).

 

Reuss was the third oldest active player when he retired at age 41 in 1990. He was one of only 29 players in major league history to play in four different decades. In 1988 he became the second pitcher in history, joining Milt Pappas, to win 200 career games without ever winning 20 in a single season.

He was later joined by Frank Tanana, Charlie Hough, Dennis Martínez, Chuck Finley, Mike Mussina, Kenny Rogers, and Tim Wakefield. (Mussina won 20 for the first time after recording his 200th win.)

Reuss finished his career with 220 wins and 191 losses, a 3.64 ERA and 1,907 strikeouts.

His career also saw accomplishments come in the form of two All-Star selections in 1975 and 1980, with the Pirates and Dodgers respectively. Also in 1980 Reuss was named the National League Comeback Player of the Year, after posting eighteen wins and only six losses, and leading the majors in shutouts with six.

His no-hitter against the San Francisco Giants on June 27, only saw him strike out two batters, narrowly missing a perfect game due to a throwing error in the first inning by shortstop Bill Russell.

Reuss finished second behind Steve Carlton in the running for the Cy Young Award that same year.

In 1981 Reuss was on the Dodgers World Series Championship team.

After his playing time in baseball, Reuss became a broadcaster for baseball, working nationally for ESPN from 1991 to 1993, and was also a color commentator for the California/Anaheim Angels from 1996-98.

He also served as a pitching coach with the minor league Iowa Cubs before returning to broadcasting with the Dodgers in 2006, serving as a color commentator alongside Rick Monday.

Oakland Athletics Retire Reggie Jackson's Jersey

On May 22, 2004, the Oakland Athletics retire Reggie Jackson's jersey No. 9 honoring the slugger who played his first nine Hall of Fame seasons with the A's helping the team club capture three-consecutive World Series (1972-74).

The former Athletics' right fielder, who had his number 44 retired by the Yankees in 1993, becomes the eighth player to have his number retired by two or more teams.

Jackson would start and finish his career with the Athletics, but played for the Orioles (1976), Yankees (1977-81), and California Angels (1982-1986), before returning to the Athletics in 1987 to retire.

Jackson would finish his career with 14 All-Star appearances, six on the Athletics, five World Series Championships, three with the Athletics, two silver slugger awards, one AL MVP in 1973 with the Athletics, two World Series MVP Awards, one in 1973 with the Athletics, and the Babe Ruth Award in 1977.

Jackson would be a first ballot Hall of Famer when he was inducted into Cooperstown in 1993 with 93.6 percent of the votes.

Reggie Jackson Passes Mickey Mantle

On May 14, 1986, Reggie Jackson hit career home run number 537, passing Mickey Mantle into sixth place all time in most career home runs.

Reggie Jackson with the California Angels.

Jackson would finish his career with a .262 batting average, 2,584 hits and 1,702 RBI’s to go along with his 563 career home runs.

Jackson’s career included several other special moments including winning five World Series Championships, three with the Oakland Athletics including three consecutive from 1972-1974 and two more with the Yankees in 1977 and 1978.

Reggie Jackson with the New York Yankees.

He was named the World Series MVP in 1973 and 1977.

Jackson was named the 1973 American League MVP, and in 1977 he earned the Babe Ruth award, for the most home runs hit in all of baseball.

Jackson also earned two Silver Slugger awards in 1980 and 1982.  He was also a 14-time All-Star in his 21-year career.

Reggie Jackson with the Oakland A's.

In 1993 Reggie "Mr. October" Jackson was voted into Cooperstown Baseball Hall of Fame with 93.6 percent of the vote. It was the first time he appeared on the ballot. 

The Oakland Athletics have retired Jackson's no. 9 jersey and the Yankees did the same with his no. 44 jersey.

Angels' Nolan Ryan Ties MLB Record

On April 30, 1974, then California Angels starting pitcher and current Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan strikes out 19 Red Sox to tie the Major League Baseball record for most strike outs in a single game.

Ryan’s record tying feat of 19 strike outs in a single game, was equal to four others accomplishments including in 1884 when two players did it; Providence Grays Charlie Sweeney and Chicago Browns Hugh Daily. In 1969 St. Louis Cardinals Steve Carlton reached 19 in a single game and in 1970 New York Mets Tom Seaver also reached the record.

Nolan Ryan in 1974 after he was clocked throwing a 100.4 MPH pitch.

Since Ryan’s record tying performance two other pitchers have pitched 19 strikeout games including Seattle Mariners Randy Johnson twice, both during the 1997 season. The other was David Cone on the New York Mets in 1991.

But the 19 strikeout record that Ryan tied in 1974 would only last as an MLB record until 1986 when Boston Red Sox pitcher Roger Clemens would strike out 20 batters in a single game.

Clemens would again strike out 20 batters in a single game in 1996, again for the Red Sox, becoming the only person to strike out 20 batters, and doing it twice.

However, in 1998 Chicago Cubs Kerry Wood tied the record with 20 strikeouts.

Clemens and Woods hold the MLB record of strikeouts in a nine-inning game, but in September of 1962 Washington Senators starter Tom Cheney struck out 21 batters, but the game went 16 innings, in which Cheney took the mound for every one.

With the current set up of starting pitchers only going six or seven innings and having a pitch count limit them further on top of being relieved by pitchers in the bull pen it is hard to imagine a pitcher being able to get 20 strike outs in a game to tie the record.

However, just this past weekend Detroit Tigers Anibal Sanchez pitched eight innings and struck out 17 batters. He was pulled from the game due to a high pitch count of 121.

It would have been interesting to see if Tigers manager Jim Leyland would have let Sanchez go into the ninth inning if he would have been able to tie the record, or get close to it.

Jackson Joins Musial and Ruth With Rare Feat

On Sept. 18, 1986, Hall of Fame slugger Reggie Jackson or hits three home runs and collects seven RBIs in one game for the California Angels. His three homers in one game at age 40 put him into a rare group that only included Stan Musial and Babe Ruth.

This was not the first time Jackson had hit three home runs in a single game though. In 1978, in World Series clinching game six. Jackson his three home runs, each on the first pitch off of a different pitcher in each at-bat. With his home run in game five off Don Sutton it meant Jackson had hit four consecutive home runs off of four different pitchers on four swings.

Since Jackson’s historic day another former Oakland Athletic, Jason Giambi joined the club while hitting three home runs in a game for the Colorado Rockies in May of 2011.

Jackson’s career featured 563 long balls, 33 of which came after he turned 40-years of age.

Jackson was named the American League MVP in 1973, and an All-Star 14 times. He was a five time World Series Champion, three times with the Oakland Athletics in 1972, 1973, and 1974, and two times a World Series Champion with the New York Yankees, in 1977 and 1978. He was the World Series MVP in 1973 and 1978.

Jackson was nominated into Cooperstown, baseball hall of fame in 1993 on the first ballot, with over 93 percent of the vote.

Jackson Hits Home Run 500

On Sept. 17, 1984 California Angels slugger and Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson becomes just the thirteenth player in Major League Baseball history to hit 500 home runs.

Jackson joined Babe Ruth, Jimmy Foxx, Mel Ott, Ted Williams, Willie Mays, Mickey Mantles, Eddie Matthews, Hank Aaron, Ernie Banks, Harmon Killebrew, Frank Robinson and Willie McCovey in the 500 home run club.

Since Jackson hit career home 500, the club has grown in size with Mike Schmidt, Eddie Murray, Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, Rafael Palmeiro, Ken Griffey Jr., Frank Thomas, Alex Rodriguez, Jim Thome, Manny Ramirez and Gary Sheffield joining the club.

Jackson’s career included several other special moments including 563 regular season long balls, five World Series Championships, three with the Oakland Athletics including three consecutive from 1972-1974 and two with the Yankees in 1977 and 1978. Jackson was named the 1973 American League MVP, and in 1977 he earned the Babe Ruth award, for the most home runs hit in all of baseball. He also earned two Silver Slugger awards in 1980 and 1982. As well he was a 14-time All-Star in his 21-year career.

Jackson would finish his career with a .262 batting average, 2,584 hits and 1,702 RBI’s to go along with his 563 career home runs.

In 1993 Jackson was voted into Cooperstown Baseball Hall of Fame with 93.6 percent of the vote. It was the first time he appeared on the ballot. The Oakland Athletics have retired his no. 9 jersey and the Yankees his no. 44 jersey.