Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, July 24, 1990 TAG: 9007240075
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: DALLAS LENGTH: Medium
Ryan hit the 5,000-strikeout plateau last year, pitched his sixth no-hitter last month and is a day away from pitching for his 300th victory.
"Five thousand and 300. Those are the only numbers that really mean something to me," Ryan said. "That, and six no-hitters, maybe."
Ryan, the all-time strikeout leader, struck out Rickey Henderson for No. 5,000 last summer and has added 202 since. His sixth no-hitter, against Oakland last month, came after several close calls since his record fifth in 1981.
On Wednesday night, Ryan goes for his 300th victory against the New York Yankees.
Ryan declined to discuss going for No. 300 until Friday night, when he beat Detroit 5-3 for No. 299.
"Now I can start thinking about it," he said. "I don't think about no-hitters until the ninth or so, I didn't think about 5,000 until I was close and I didn't think about 300 until I had 299."
Just about everyone else has been thinking about it all season. And now, Ryanmania has struck again. Even Ryan is caught up in it, agreeing to a news conference today to accommodate the hundreds of interview requests.
Unlike some 300-win pitchers, Ryan is on a hot streak as he approaches the coveted number. Despite a back problem, Ryan is 5-0 with a 2.63 earned-run average in his last six starts.
"I feel good," Ryan said. "My back won't keep me from starting Wednesday, but it's just one of those things that'll need five weeks of rest to completely heal."
Rangers manager Bobby Valentine said Ryan won't receive special treatment.
"He'll go as long as he can. I know how his back is," Valentine said.
Wednesday night's game was sold out on July 20, the earliest sellout in Rangers history, said Tanja Burgdorf in the team's public relations office.
Burgdorf said the Rangers expect about 500 reporters and photographers to chronicle Ryan's first crack at No. 300.
"We've been so busy," she said, "more so than when he got 5,000 strikeouts. I'm on my third legal sheet of out-of-town credentials, and it's not even noon."
One fan in the Dallas suburb of Plano bought six tickets to take his family to the game, then got an unexpected collectible when his wife chose not to go.
The $8.50 unused ticket would be worth at least $50 if Ryan wins, said Jim Milholland of Dick's Dugout sports collectibles shop in Dallas.
"Just the stub for the 5,000th goes to $25," he said. "A whole ticket for 300? Fifty easily, right away, and who knows what it'll appreciate to after that.
"But I think they're crazy for not going to the game if they have a ticket."
by CNB