This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 12/10/2004.
During a career that spanned four decades, Nolan Ryan solidified his place as one of the most dominant pitchers the game of baseball has ever seen. In 27 years of Major League play, Ryan never slowed down, continuing to deliver blistering fastballs at speeds approaching 100 mph. In fact, in 1974 Ryan set a then Guinness World Record when he threw a 100.9 mph pitch in a game against the Chicago White Sox. Using his rubber arm, Ryan became the all-time leading strikeout king, gunning down 1,176 batters 5,714 times in his illustrious career. Strangely enough however, Ryan also holds the all-time record for most career walks with 2,795. He broke into the league with the New York Mets at age 19 in 1966, and after winning a World Series with them in 1969, switched leagues to join the California Angels in 1971. Ryan would switch leagues two more times before retiring in 1993 at the ripe old age of 46, allowing him to become the only pitcher ever to strike out the side with nine pitches in both leagues. In 1973 Ryan set the all-time record for most strikeouts in a season with 383, and he would lead his league in strikeouts during 11 different seasons. Ryan notched an amazing seven no-hitters during his career as well as 12 one-hitters. His last no-no came in 1991 against the Toronto Blue Jays when he was 44 years old. Ryan, whose career story seems to resemble that of a pitching machine rather than a human being, finished his career with 324 wins, never having won a Cy Young award. On the front left tail of the jersey is the "Wilson" manufacturer's tag with wash instructions, and jersey size "42" on it. Across the front of the jersey is "NEW YORK." Below that, and on the back is the player number "30." All lettering and numbering is done in blue on orange tackle twill. On the left sleeve is the "Mets" team logo patch. Inside the back of the collar is "30-42-1971" stitched in blue on a grey plate indicating player number, jersey size, and year, respectively. The jersey shows good game-use and appears to have no alterations of any kind.