This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 5/11/2001.
The incomparable Nolan Ryan pocketed the last of his record 7 no-hitters in a 3-0 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on May 1, 1991. The whitewash was Ryan's second in as many years in a Texas Rangers uniform, the latter when he was 44 years old. Ryan, the Walter Johnson of modern times, put up more than earned his nickname of "Ryan's Express," using a molten fastball and darting curve to strike out a record 5,714 hitters in a 27-year big league career. So devastating was Ryan's ability to blow away hitters that he had nearly 1,600 more strikeouts than did the pitcher next in line. His numbers (324 wins, 773 starts, 5,386 innings pitched) mark him as arguably the best pitcher the game has ever seen. Ryan's historic 7th no-hitter is commemorated by this well toned OAL Brown game ball which Ryan signed on the sweet spot with a black ballpoint pen after blistering the Blue Jays. While the signature is somewhat light, it is legible and rates a 7. The ball is also signed by the four umpires who worked the game, John Shulock, Drew Coble, Tim Tschida, and Mark Johnson, on four different panels, with signatures ratings 9s.