And because of our friendship and Tom pushing me, I think I got in the best shape of my life during the years that I was with the Rangers.
And I can remember walking off the airplane in Houston, coming home from Atlanta, and it probably being the lowest day in my career.
And I'm a believer that you take a negative and turn it into a positive, and as it turned out, it was one of the best things that ever happened to me. And so I do appreciate the Ranger staff and the Ranger organization for giving me that opportunity.
And that's what makes this a great game, is the support and the commitment that the fans give the game.
And then when I went to stay in '68, I can honestly say that I was not focused on my career and on what it took to be a major league pitcher and to be a starting pitcher.
And to play as long as I did and to have a family you have to be very blessed and I was with my wife Ruth. Ruth, I appreciate the job you did, and my three fine children, Reid, Reese, and Wendy.
And when I retired, trust me, not only did Nolan Ryan, but the entire Ryan family had withdrawals from baseball. And it was tough.
And when I went to Houston, they had a conditioning coach by the name of Gene Coleman. And that was the first time I had gone to an organization that had a program with a weight room and designed specifically for pitchers.
Baseball life is a tough life on the family.
Dick Moss, my agent. Dick became my agent in 1979 when I signed my contract with the Houston Astros.
Enjoying success requires the ability to adapt. Only by being open to change will you have a true opportunity to get the most from your talent.
Everyone has limits. You just have to learn what your own limits are and deal with them accordingly.
For my children, they spent 15 to 20 years of their life in baseball. And Ruth and I spent so many years of our married life that that was our life. We knew nothing else.
I always thought that there was going to be life after baseball, and so I designed that in my life I would have other interests after baseball that I would be able to step into. And I didn't realize the grip that baseball had on me and on my family.
I am going to spend my time today just thanking the people that played a role in my career, because I truly do believe that I was blessed by a lot of people that paths crossed mine as I went down the road in my career.
I came into the game when I broke into the major leagues, the minimum salary was seven thousand dollars, and I'd have to go home in the wintertime and get a job.
I can honestly say it took two full years for me to get over the fact that I was no longer a baseball player.
I feel very fortunate that I played for the four organizations I did.
I had the pleasure, as Robin said, to live a childhood dream as many young Americans and Puerto Rican children live that play youth baseball. And I feel honored and very thankful for that opportunity.
I like to refer to my years with the Angels as the foundation of my career.
I played on both coasts, and I got the opportunity to stay in Texas for 14 years.
It helps if the hitter thinks you're a little crazy.
It took me a while to figure that out and to realize what a gift that I had been given. And when I finally did, I dedicated myself to be the best pitcher I possibly could be, for as long as I possibly could be.
My job is to give my team a chance to win.
My parents played a very big role in my life and as growing up as the last of six children I didn't realize the influence that my parents had on me.
One of the beautiful things about baseball is that every once in a while you come into a situation where you want to, and where you have to, reach down and prove something.
What man in his 40s would not like to look in the mirror and find Nolan Ryan?
When I got traded to the California Angels, I really wasn't that excited about going to the Angels because it meant changing leagues and also a whole new set of teammates. But shortly after I got there I realized that it was one of the best things that ever happened to me.
When I went to the New York Mets, I got there at my first stop at 19. And I was overwhelmed by being there, and truly intimidated.
Ryan is the only pitcher in MLB history to strike out the side with just nine pitches in both leagues.
Nolan had 10 or more strikeouts in a game 215 times which is a MLB record.
Ryan allowed one or fewer hits in a record 19 games, a MLB record.
April 26, 1990: Nolan Ryan pitches a one-hitter and sets a Ranger record with 16 strikeouts in a 1–0 win over the White Sox. It is Ryan's 12th career one-hitter (which ties him with ML leader Bob Feller) and 200th career game with at least 10 strikeouts.
Nolan Ryan signed with the Houston Astros as a free agent before the 1980 season began.
He threw a pair of no-hitters in 1973, including one on July 15th against the Tigers. Norm Cash, the Detroit first baseman and last batter of the game, came to the plate against Nolan Ryan in the ninth inning with a wooden piano leg for a bat, so hopeless was the task of hitting the six-foot-two righty that day!
Nolan Ryan helped the Mets shock baseball by winning the 1969 World Series.
Nolan Ryan is the only pitcher to have struck out Hank Aaron and Ken Griffey, Jr.
Ryan never won the Cy Young Award.
Played in the All-Star Game in 1985.
He was an All-Star in 1975.
Had a career fielding percentage of .895.
Appeared in 807 games during his career.
He walked 2,795 batters in his career.
Pitched in 5,386 innings in his career.
Started 773 games in his career.
Has 222 career complete games.
Ryan appeared in the most seasons ever (27).
Ryan won 324 games in his career.
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