Nolan Ryan Career Strikeout Record
The Ryan Express: MLB's all-time strikeout king and no-hit master.
Nolan Ryan, nicknamed "the Ryan Express," is an American former professional baseball pitcher and sports executive. Over a record 27-year playing career in MLB, Ryan pitched for the New York Mets, California Angels, Houston Astros, and Texas Rangers. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999 in his first year of eligibility.
Quick Facts
- Player
- Nolan Ryan
- Team affiliation
- Houston Astros (1980–1993)
- Record type
- MLB Career Strikeouts
- Status
- Hall of Famer (1999)
- Jersey number
- 34
Lore & Background
Ryan is the all-time leader in no-hitters with seven, three more than any other pitcher. He is tied with Bob Feller for the most one-hitters, with 12. Ryan also pitched 18 two-hitters. Despite this, he never pitched a perfect game, nor did he ever win a Cy Young Award; both were largely attributed to his high walk rate.
Reader's Guide
Ryan had a lifetime win–loss record of 324–292 (.526) and was an eight-time All-Star. He has 5,714 career strikeouts, an MLB record that is 839 more than runner-up Randy Johnson. His 2,795 bases on balls lead second-place Steve Carlton by 962. Ryan's lifetime batting average against of .204 is also a major league record. He recorded 300 strikeouts in a season six times and 200 strikeouts in a season 15 times, both MLB records.
Did You Know?
- Ryan is one of three players in history to have his number retired by at least three teams, along with Jackie Robinson and Frank Robinson.
- Ryan is one of 31 players to have appeared in MLB games in four different decades.
- Ryan, Pedro Martínez, Johnson, Trevor Hoffman, Sandy Koufax, and Billy Wagner are the six pitchers inducted into the Hall of Fame who had more strikeouts than innings pitched.
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