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NO STAT IS SAFE. NO ERA IS FORGOTTEN.
VOL. 1, NO. 26 · AUGUST 24, 2026 · EVERY MONDAY
ISSUE #026 · FREE AGENT
Nolan Ryan — 7 No-Hitters
And 5,714 Strikeouts
On May 1, 1991, Nolan Ryan threw his 7th career no-hitter at age 44 — the oldest no-hitter in baseball
📅 THIS DATE IN
BASEBALL history.
THE STAT THAT SHOULDN'T EXIST 01
NO ONE HAS COME CLOSE TO EITHER RECORD, AND NO ONE WILL.
7 No-Hitters. 5,714 Career Strikeouts. Threw 100
MPH At Age 44.
NOLAN RYAN STRIKEOUTS NO-HITTERS CAREER WALKS (BB)
CAREER YEARS PITCHED AGE OF 7TH NO-HITTER CY YOUNG AWARDS
Ryan threw 7 no-hitters across 27 seasons — three more than anyone else in history. He struck out 5,714
batters, a record that dwarfs the next closest (Randy Johnson at 4,875). He pitched until age 46 and was
clocked at 96 MPH in his final season. The numbers are so extreme they don't feel real.
THE GAME YOU FORGOT 02
VS Toronto Blue Jays MAY 1, 1991
16 0 44 W 3-0
IP K HITS RYAN'S AGE RESULT
No-Hitter #7
THE 7TH NO-HITTER AT AGE 44 — NOBODY ELSE HAS ONE AT THAT AGE
On May 1, 1991, Nolan Ryan threw his 7th no-hitter against Toronto at age 44 years old — the oldest no-hitter
in baseball history. He struck out 16 and threw 122 pitches. He had thrown his first no-hitter in 1973 with
California. Eighteen years between first and seventh no-hitters. He was still throwing 96 MPH. The Toronto
lineup couldn't touch him. Nobody has ever thrown 4 no-hitters. Ryan threw 7.
ERA VS ERA 03
Greatest Strikeout Pitcher Ever — Ryan or Johnson?
NOLAN RYAN RANDY JOHNSON
CAREER K CAREER K
NO-HITTERS VS CY YOUNG AWARDS
PITCHED UNTIL PEAK ERA+
Age 46 172
Ryan's 5,714 strikeouts and 7 no-hitters are the records. Johnson's 5 Cy Young awards and career ERA are the
case for the better pitcher. Ryan was more dominant in raw stuff; Johnson was more efficient. The honest
answer: Johnson was the better pitcher. Ryan was the more extraordinary phenomenon.
Greatest strikeout pitcher in baseball history?
NOLAN RYAN RANDY JOHNSON SANDY KOUFAX PEDRO MARTINEZ
THE COLDEST MOMENT 04
1972-1974 · CALIFORNIA ANGELS — BEST YEARS, NO TROPHY
He Never Won A Cy Young Award. The All-Time
Strikeout Leader Has Zero.
Ryan went 19-16 in 1973 with a 2.87 ERA, struck out 383 batters, and threw two no-hitters. He
didn't win the Cy Young. Jim Palmer of Baltimore won it. Ryan led the league in strikeouts 11
times and never won a single Cy Young award across 27 seasons. The all-time strikeout leader
has zero Cy Youngs. The stat doesn't have an explanation that fully satisfies.
People who write about spring training not being necessary have never tried to throw
a baseball.
— NOLAN RYAN
THE STAT VAULT 05
CAREER STRIKEOUTS CAREER NO-HITTERS
The all-time record. Randy Johnson is 2nd 3 more than any other pitcher. His 7th
at 4,875 — 839 behind. came at age 44.
STRIKEOUTS IN 1973 SEASONS PITCHED
A single-season record at the time. Broke 1966 to 1993. He threw 96 MPH in his final
Sandy Koufax's mark. season at 46.
0 CY YOUNG AWARDS
Never won one. The all-time strikeout leader was winless in Cy Young voting.
THE FORGOTTEN MAN 06
OVERLOOKED · UNDERRATED · DESERVES MORE
Jim Abbott
CALIFORNIA ANGELS · 1989-1999
87 WINS · 4.25 ERA · HOF-CALIBER STORY
Pitched In The Majors For 10 Years With One Hand. Threw A No-Hitter In 1993.
Jim Abbott was born without a right hand and pitched for 10 major league seasons, going 87-108 with a 4.25
ERA. He threw a no-hitter for the Yankees on September 4, 1993. He's one of the most remarkable stories in
baseball history. He's also mentioned approximately never.
THE CONNECTION:
Abbott and Ryan both pitched for the California Angels. Ryan threw no-hitters #1 and #2 there. Abbott
threw one in the same franchise's tradition. The most physically unlikely no-hitter in history came
from a team with the most no-hitters in history.
COMING NEXT MONDAY
Next Monday: Rickey Henderson stole 1,406 bases — 468 more than #2 all-time. It's not even close.
Who's Your Forgotten Man?
Reply with a player from any era who deserves more credit. Best answer gets featured next Monday.
All Eras. All Stats. No Debate.
Every Monday. No exceptions.