Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 13, 1990 TAG: 9006130031
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: From Associated Press and New York Times reports
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
On Monday night, Texas Rangers right-hander Nolan Ryan pitched his sixth no-hitter - extending one of his records - to defeat the Oakland Athletics 5-0.
During his 23-plus years in the major leagues, Ryan has pitched 12 one-hitters and 19 two-hitters, but this one was especially sweet.
"It comes so late in my career that it makes it extra special," he said.
At 43, Ryan became the oldest pitcher to throw a no-hitter. Cy Young was 41 when he threw one against the Yankees in 1908.
"He's 43 years old and he's throwing 93, 94 mph in the eighth and ninth inning," said Carney Lansford, Oakland's third baseman.
Willie Randolph, who made the last out, said: "It was Nolan as pretty much Nolan. He's a Hall of Famer."
Ryan is the first pitcher to throw no-hitters for three teams and the first to toss a no-hitter in three decades.
"I haven't gotten bored with no-hitters, yet," said Ryan, the envy of middle-age men and weekend athletes everywhere. "I don't know how many more chances I'm going to get, but the way I've been throwing, it's certainly not out of the question that I'll get another shot."
Along with his no-hitters, Ryan has struck out more batters than any pitcher in major-league history.
Near the field, Ryan's animal growl could be heard on every pitch. The soft-spoken, unfailingly polite Texan absolutely snarls on the mound.
"One thing is true across the board," said Tom House, the Rangers' pitching coach. "His whole life is arranged around competition.
"He doesn't need the money. What other record could he possibly want? What he likes to do is go head-to-head with somebody like [Oakland All-Star] Jose Canseco."
When Walter Johnson ended his career with 3,508 strikeouts in 1927, it seemed like a record that would last forever. Ryan fanned 14 A's Monday night to increase his record to 5,152. He has more than 2,000 strikeouts in each league.
Last season, Ryan led the major leagues with 301 strikeouts. He also was the oldest pitcher to fan 300 batters in a season and it was the 21st time he struck out 100 or more in a season. Ryan's 14 strikeouts extended his record to 201 games with 10 or more. Among his strikeout victims are 44 hitters who have been named Most Valuable Player, 19 Hall of Famers and six father-son combinations.
by CNB