Eddie Stanky deserves some credit for my understanding of the mental side of baseball. In addition to his baseball activities, Ryan was majority owner and chairman of Express Bank of Alvin but sold his interest in 2005. There is absolutely no unique insight that you couldn't get from using an internet search engine. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999,[1] and is widely considered to be one of the best MLB pitchers of all time. He is tied with Bob Feller for the most one-hitters, with 12. Ryan stated afterwards it was the same maneuver he used on steers he had to brand on his Texas ranch. background-color:#ba3434; Today's radar guns are measuring the speed of the ball close to the release point. I couldn't find the plate, had poor velocity, and -- to make matters worse -- my curveball was flat. I threw him an inside curve, one that missed by a mile, and then retired him on a low curve that he grounded to Jeff Huson at shortstop. Is he a fastball hitter? Steve Sax was about the only one I had a good fix on: He's a fastball hitter who likes the ball up. [51], Ryan was named the DallasFort Worth's 2012 CEO of the Year by Southern Methodist University's Cox School of Business. They'll take the mound with uncertainty, get depressed by the fact that they're not throwing well, and undermine any chance of being effective. He was the first Hall of Famer inducted as a Ranger. Overall, he was 69 in 1965 with a 4.33 ERA and 150 strikeouts in 120 innings. Does he wait on the curve? Facing the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1981 NLDS, Ryan threw a complete game 2-hitter in the opener, outlasting the Dodgers' rookie sensation Fernando Valenzuela. On September 26, 1981, Ryan threw his fifth no-hitter, breaking Koufax's mark while becoming the third pitcher to throw a no-hitter in each league. Nolan Ryan was a wonder to baseball nerds today. But I've also seen umpires warn pitchers in cases that didn't warrant it, where a strategic inside pitch got away from someone who wasn't trying to hit anybody. Nolan Ryan's Pitcher's Bible tells us the secrets of Ryan's success. [76], The Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame inducted Ryan in 2010. He completed more than 5,000 innings over a span of 27 seasons with the Texas Rangers, Houston Astros, New York Mets and California Angels, proving he didn't need pitch and inning limits to keep his arm intact during Ryan's career. All of our experience with each other goes into these decisions. Top subscription boxes right to your door, 1996-2023, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates, Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt, Learn more how customers reviews work on Amazon. [75], The Texas Trail of Fame inducted Ryan in 2009. It's up to a pitcher to discover and exploit a hitter's flaws. Umpires should have the power to prevent beanball wars, ugly incidents where players get hurt and things get out of hand. He returned in Game 5, throwing 9 innings of 2-hit, 1-run, 12-strikeout ball, but one of those hits was a Darryl Strawberry home run which tied the game at 1, as Dwight Gooden matched Ryan pitch for pitch. A guy either had the skill and timing to hit the heater or he struck out. The California Angels finally made the playoffs in Ryan's eighth and final year there in 1979. BR AGG. Please try again. Ryan's lengthy career spanned generations as he struck out seven pairs of fathers and sons (for example, Bobby Bonds and Barry Bonds), another major league record. But you still have to establish that you're not afraid to pitch inside. [11], In 1963, at an Alvin High School game at Clear Creek High School in League City, Texas, Red Murff, a scout for the New York Mets, first noticed sophomore pitcher Ryan. He also limited hitters to a .298 slugging percentage. [1] Ryan had 15 or more strikeouts in a game 26 times, second only to Randy Johnson, who had 28. On July 11, 1985, Ryan struck out Danny Heep for his 4,000th career strikeout.[31]. 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With Deion at third, Sax was just trying to make contact to drive in the run, and his groundball out did just that. Nolan and Ruth attended Alvin High School together. He stressed the importance of keeping your head in the game, how you can pick up little things about a hitter just by analyzing his stance -- whether a guy is crowding the plate or backing away gives you a signal that he's making certain adjustments against you. Discover more of the authors books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more. Nolan Ryan became baseball's first pitcher to 'light up" the radar at a major league park. He has 5,714 career strikeouts, an MLB record[1] that is 839 more than runner-up Randy Johnson. This is where a lot of young pitchers run into trouble -- they're unable to adjust and end up losing their concentration as soon as things take a turn for the worse. [4] Ryan's family lived in nearby Woodsboro, Texas in Refugio County, until they moved to Alvin, Texas in Brazoria County, when Nolan was six weeks old. The guys I struggle against tend to wait back on the ball and just put it in play. Over a record 27-year playing career in Major League Baseball (MLB) spanning four decades, Ryan pitched for the New York Mets, California Angels, Houston Astros, and Texas Rangers. That's the biggest difference between the Nolan Ryan of 15-20 years ago and the Nolan Ryan of today. I honestly didn't think I'd get out of the first inning. PITCHER LUCK. Become a Stathead. I really believe in that. Hitters know how to adapt; a smart pitcher is equally perceptive. On April 27, 1983, Ryan won the race with his 3,509th whiff, against Brad Mills of the Montreal Expos. Please try again. (Carlton reached the same mark two weeks after Ryan, and Gaylord Perry did so later that season.) In a tight game, though, I'll be finer with my control and change speeds more. Ryan played in more seasons (27) than any other player in modern (since 1900) major league history (All-time he is tied with Cap Anson for #1). 2. Find all the best Dallas has to offer", "Nolan Ryan Strikeout Record Broken! In the 1980 NLCS versus the Philadelphia Phillies, Ryan pitched well in Game 2, leaving the game tied 22 in the seventh (having contributed to both Astros runs with a run scored following a walk, and a sacrifice bunt leading to a run) but again got a no-decision in a game that went extra innings. Sullivan, 1999); Kings of the Hill (with Mickey Herskowitz, 1992), about contemporary pitchers; and instructional books Pitching and Hitting (with Joe Torre and Joel Cohen, 1977), and Nolan Ryan's Pitcher's Bible (with Tom House, 1991). You had to demonstrate early in the game that you were more than happy to pitch in to a hitter to keep him honest. By the end of the 1982 season, both Ryan and Steve Carlton were approaching Walter Johnson's all-time strikeout record, sometimes passing one another's career totals in successive starts. ", "In baseball-filled life, Ruth Ryan proud of kids", "As Texas Watches, Ryan Hurls Against Ryan", "Nolan Ryan's wife used to catch for him when he was in the majors", "Want to live like a rock star? Pressure Cooker Performs better when there are runners on base Workhorse Pitches deep into . On Nov. 19, 1979, Ryan may have been able to buy his own private jet after the Astros signed him to a four-year, $4.5 million free agent contract. Opposing hitters hit only .204 against Ryan during his career, although they had a .309 on-base percentage against him. All hitters have their distinct strengths and weaknesses. I've seen pitchers warm up and just be absolutely overpowering, only to lose their concentration once they took the field. By the end of the night I was throwing as well as I ever had. On August 6, 1992, Ryan had the only ejection of his career when he was ejected after engaging in a shouting match with Oakland Athletics outfielder Willie Wilson with two outs in the eighth inning. , ISBN-13 Control of the curve and change-up transformed me from being only a fastball thrower to more of a tactical pitcher. Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app. [1] In the early 1970s, many teams used a four-man rotation and expected the starter to complete the game; thus most games Ryan started ended in a decision. As soon as a pitcher releases a ball it immediately begins to slow down due to gravity and air resistance. Mental discipline and intense focus on what you're doing begins early in a pitcher's day. There was a problem loading your book clubs. He served on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission from 1995 to 2001. Tom Seaver and Jerry Koosman were notable exceptions; they were both blessed with incredible mental discipline. His views on this calmed only once he started running the Rangers and gained a better understanding of the business side of baseball. And lefthanders look for the ball over the middle, generally down and in. [19], Ryan did not want to be traded from the Mets, and when it happened he felt betrayed by the team that drafted him. I was 11:50 pm and he just went outside to practice something he read. He had a league-leading 329 strikeoutsnearly a third more than the AL runner-up, and to that point, the fourth-highest total of the 20th century. The original strategy of low and outside fastballs worked the fourth time around; my problem on this night was that my location wasn't up to par, forcing me to counter with a diet of low breaking balls and one change-up I lived to regret. Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required. Texas. [20], On December 10, 1971, the 25-year-old Ryan was traded to the California Angels along with pitcher Don Rose, catcher Francisco Estrada, and outfielder Leroy Stanton for shortstop Jim Fregosi (who later managed Ryan in Anaheim). Now, I can't lose confidence in my fastball just because Darryl Strawberry hit a home run off of it. To deal with frequent blisters on his throwing hand he often soaked his fingers in pickle brine,[14] although the technique's effectiveness was questioned by Ryan's teammates and coaches. Those aluminum bats make a pitcher's life even harder. Mind of a Superior Hitter: The Art, Science and Philosophy, The Mental ABCs of Pitching: A Handbook for Performance Enhancement, Pitch Like A Pro: A Guide for Young Pitchers and Their Coaches, Little League Through High School. But the one thing that remains constant is my overall mental attitude: I just focus on getting ahead in the count and maintaining my composure. ERA+ K/BB RATIO; 112. I was hoping to get it done at home, what with all my friends and family in Arlington for the occasion. It's especially important these days, what with hitters having the advantage of using aluminum bats at the college level. I suspect half of those guys he struck out swung rather than get hit. Chapter 1 was fluff about his career and Ryan's various coaches, chapter 2 was mostly fluff about mental attitude, and chapter 3 was the only instruction on how to properly throw the baseball. In a spring-training game I'm not going to have the precise control I need to apply ideal strategy to each at bat. In February 2008, the Rangers hired Ryan as team president. For one thing, a guy can fist out a hit without making solid contact; a broken-bat foul ball with wood is often a single with aluminum. Well, nothing happened in my head to make the change -- that's just a bunch of hogwash. After ninth grade, Ryan quit playing football after a tackle and fumble caused by future NFL running back Norm Bulaich made him decide to focus on baseball. In the fifth and final game of the series, Ryan left trailing 30 and took the loss. But a pitcher can outthink the hitter if he's able to put the ball where he wants it -- and he knows the batter's weak spots. Rick George was promoted to president of business operations. You should treat the art of pitching as you would a Thanks-giving dinner. You don't want a hitter leaning over the plate, anticipating that you're going to throw the ball where he wants it. Reid also pitched briefly in the minor leagues. I've played with very talented athletes who never appreciated how important the mental side of baseball is to success; not surprisingly, most of them didn't last too long, even though they had enough talent to win ball games. Certain pitches give a batter practically no chance. 3. Here's how I dealt with Sax in pursuit of my 300th win: In the first inning, with Deion Sanders at third base, I threw Sax three consecutive breaking balls. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site. Most hitters lose confidence and alter their style in a 1-2 or 0-2 situation. But enough on that; I'm an unapologetic fan.) [53] On October 17, 2013, Ryan announced that he was stepping down as Rangers CEO effective October 31, 2013. Ruth was a high school state tennis champion. You can't fret over the fact that you've fallen behind in the game, given up a key run, or made a bad pitch; what's done is done. Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web. A primitive radar gun clocked a ninth-inning fastball at 100.8 miles per hour (162.2km/h) when it was 10 feet (3.0m) in front of home plate. 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