Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, September 24, 1993 TAG: 9309240137
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: ARLINGTON, TEXAS LENGTH: Medium
The end didn't turn out the way Nolan Ryan wanted. Back in April, at the start of his 27th and final season, the cool spring air was filled with hope.
"I want to stay healthy, get 30 starts and 200 innings," Ryan said. "Of course, I'd like to bring a pennant to Arlington Stadium. And I'd like to look back on this season and say, `Yeah, I could have gone one more.' "
They seemed like modest goals for baseball's career leader in strikeouts and no-hitters. But his glorious career ended abruptly Wednesday night in Seattle, two starts from the end, when a ligament in his right elbow "popped like a rubber band."
Going out with a flourish seemed like a possibility in the spring. He had one of his best spring trainings after compiling a 0.99 ERA during his final four starts in 1992. At 46, he still was smoking the radar guns at 96 mph. He wanted to make at least 30 starts on his farewell tour.
But age finally caught up and his body broke down. He missed 22 days after surgery on his left knee, 72 days because of a strained hip muscle and 21 days because of a strained ribcage muscle.
"The whole year's been frustrating," he said after Texas lost to Seattle 7-4 Wednesday night. "It's been a real struggle all year physically."
Doctors say Ryan probably has a torn ligament in his right elbow and would need 12 months of rehabilitation, 12 months he won't give himself. He finished his final season with a 5-5 record in just 13 starts, a career-high 4.88 ERA, 46 strikeouts and 40 walks.
"All I've done really is rehab," he said. "I've been real frustrated because I haven't been able to help the ballclub in the pennant race. And they certainly could have used me."
Ryan met with the Rangers' orthopedist, Dr. John Conway, in Arlington on Thursday, but his elbow was so sore and swollen that Conway decided to examine him Tuesday.
Conway said discussions with Ryan and Seattle team physician Larry Pedegana indicated Ryan has "a history and exam compatible with a torn ulnar collateral ligament" and confirmed that Ryan won't pitch again.
Ryan said his elbow had been sore since a seven-inning no-decision Friday night at Anaheim, where, in the fifth inning, California's Greg Myers struck out for Ryan's 5,714th and final strikeout.
Ryan's last road start was over while fans were still filing into the Kingdome. For only the third time in 773 career starts, he failed to retire a batter.
"Everyone has visions of things turning out different than they really do," Ryan said. "But I can't really say I ever sat around and fantasized about how I would have liked to have ended my career. But I think if I had, it certainly would have been with a strong performance in a pennant race. I guess by striking out the last hitter."
by CNB