In 1973 Nolan Ryan may have had the single most dominant season ever for a MLB hurler. All the tall Texan did was go 21-16 [with a losing ballclub], start 39 games, 20 of those were complete games, toss 4 shutouts, throw 2 no-hitters, and set a single season strikeout mark of 383 batters whiffed. A mark which still stands today. Yet in what is probably the biggest snub in professional sports history, Ryan was passed over for the Cy Young Award when Jim Palmer of the Baltimore Orioles was named the recipient of this honor.

Ryan went on to set many league records including, most no-hitters [ 7 ],  and most career strikeouts [ 5714 ]. He also finished with 327 career victories. When asked what moments or achievements in his career were the most special to him Ryan responded.."People bring up the 300th win or the 5000th strkeot, but those were a product of my longevity. So it would have to be the no-hitters. The first , with the Angels in 1973, at Kansas City, because I didn't think I was that kind of pitcher to hold a team hitless. The fourth no-hitter is a big memory because I tied Koufax. But if I had to pick one moment, it would be the seventh no-hitter in 1991, in Arlington, against Toronto. I was 44 years old and this was probably the best game I ever pitched. I had 16 strikeouts, 13 of them in the first 21 batters. I got Roberto Alamor for the final out. His father, Sandy, had been my second baseman in my first two no-hitters. The best part was, I did it at home, in front of thr Rangers fans who had always been so good to me.

"People respond to him. There is a sense of majesty."- Al Rosen, former major leaguer and baseball executive

" Ryan's the best. He's the only guy in baseball today who, every time he takes the mound, he's capable of a no-hitter. He's that dominant. He should have his own building in the Hall of Fame." -  Pete Rose, all-time base hit king

"When he was on, forget it. You talk about a guy being tough! When he was throwing the fastball, the change, the curveball for strikes, it was a victory just to get the bat on the ball."- Tony Gwinn, perennial NL batting champion.

" Those were the best pitches I ever heard."- Mickey Stanley, a former major leaguer

" Every hitter likes fastballs, just like everybody likes ice cream. But you don't like it when someone is stuffing it into you by the gallon. That's how you feel when Ryan is throwing balls by you. You just hope to get a walk so you only go 0-for-3."- Reggie Jackson, fellow Hall of Famer

" Superman could not have gotten a hit off him today once he started getting the breaking ball over."- Tony Scott, former Astros teamate

" Nolan was the guy you went to bed thinking about."-  Dusty Baker, former big leager, current manager

" It helps if you don't tense up because you might have to run for your life!" -George Brett, Class of '99 Hall of Famer

" You could hear his ball hiss. It didn't sound like anyone else's. Kind of sssssst. I used to tell young hitters, you don't need to run up there and hit it. It will get there plenty quick, and when it does, you better already be swinging.'- Hank Aaron, all-time great

"Strikeouts and no-hitters don't measure up to waht he has meant to the game."- Joe Garagiola, sportscaster and former big leaguer

 " If they had a higher league, he would be in it."=Hal McRae, former major leaguer 

Nolan Ryan still makes his home in Alvin Texas where he was raised. He is still married to his high school sweetheart  Ruth, and is considered a Texas Legend and Hero.