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Downloaded from
YTS.MX
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Official YIFY movies site:
YTS.MX
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Greg Meyers
leading things off bottom
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of the fifth inning
against Nolan Ryan.
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Nolan Ryan,
first ballot Hall of Famer,
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and holder of 51
Major League records.
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Ryan throws a
fast ball right on by him.
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Now, I'm a bit confused
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why you'd open a movie on him
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with the second to last
start of his career.
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Shouldn't we start with
something a bit more dramatic?
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Like one of his
famous no-hitters?
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Maybe a World Series win.
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Or maybe that famous
scuffle he got into.
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Not the fifth inning of some
no-stakes affair in Anaheim.
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I mean this Big Tex,
The Express.
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Why are we watching him face off
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against a career .255 hitter?
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Not to get too
deep into numbers,
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but like baseball, to
understand old Noley,
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you gotta know his numbers.
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Numbers like 7,
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383,
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100.9,
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and 5,714.
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That was it.
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Nolan's final strike out.
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It earned him
baseball immortality,
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because no one has thrown more
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in the sport's near century
and a half existence.
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Without a doubt, he is the
most intimidating pitcher
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in the history of the game.
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He's rubbing the ball,
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he's staring at you.
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He had that swagger
and that look to him.
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I'm the sheriff around here.
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I remember hearing Nolan say,
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when I step across
that white line,
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I don't even like myself.
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He's one of the best competitors
I've ever played against.
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It wasn't a day at the
beach to face that guy.
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I knew that every
time I face him,
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I'm gonna go 0 for four.
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He was like Superman.
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He's mythological.
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Something that is bigger
than what it really is.
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But then we all know
when you do meet him,
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he's...
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he's Nolan Ryan.
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Hello?
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Wup, one minute.
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- Hello?
- Can you hear me?
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Yeah, you're on speaker phone.
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I'm in the car
driving through Alvin.
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All right.
You haven't left yet then?
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No, not yet, but I'll
call you when I do.
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All right.
Well, y'all have fun.
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Okay, bye.
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Bye.
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People say, if you
marry a baseball player,
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you really marry baseball,
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and there's a lot of
truth to that statement.
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And Alvin was just a fun,
innocent, safe childhood.
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We rode horses around the school
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with my friends that had horses.
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Gosh, these trees
are so grown up,
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'cause Nolan planted the
tree that's in the yard.
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Yeah, that's it.
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Gosh, that thing,
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look at that thing.
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That thing is huge.
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I remember the first
time I saw Nolan.
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I was only in the fourth grade,
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so I wasn't really
thinking about boys,
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but I did remember
seeing him because
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he was on the Little League
baseball team.
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I just remember
these games going on
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and I could come
and just stand there
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by the fence and look
at the ball games.
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You know, I always
wished I could play
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but they didn't have
girl's teams then.
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I remember Nolan was
on a Little League team
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called The Rangers,
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and probably when I was
in the seventh grade,
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that's when I thought
about him being cute.
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When you're ready.
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We are ready.
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I guess I was in eighth grade
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when he asked me
to go to that movie.
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I called her up on the phone
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and asked her if she'd
like to go out.
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Obviously she had
to ask her mother.
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Evidently there weren't any
red flags up towards Nolan.
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There was a movie playing
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at the Alvin Theater and
it was 'Rome Adventure.'
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I think it was the
name of the movie.
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Did you enjoy it?
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Oh, very much, thank you.
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You know, my mother
has a theory.
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She says that for every woman
on earth is only one man.
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They both went the
same high school.
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He was voted most handsome and
she was voted most beautiful.
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And she was a star in tennis.
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He was a star in basketball,
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and baseball later, but
they just hit it off.
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For Nolan's and
Ruth's second date,
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he took Ruth to the old ballpark
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next to the Astrodome to
watch Sandy Koufax pitch.
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Sandy Koufax is the greatest
lefthanded pitcher in history.
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He was the most dominating
lefthander in history
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Swing and a miss
and struck him out.
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Look at those Dodgers
congratulate Koufax.
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He idolized Sandy Koufax.
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He was watching Sandy pitch.
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He wouldn't talk to me.
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He wouldn't get up.
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And he was mesmerized.
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We were sitting
right behind the plate.
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I got a bird's eye view
of Sandy warming up,
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and I'd never seen
anybody throw like that.
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That's the first time he
saw Sandy Koufax pitch.
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Within 10 years, he'd
broken all his records.
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No one did things
Nolan ever did,
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but no one was raised
like Nolan ever was.
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Every legend has an origin,
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and Nolan's origin is a doozy.
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Youngest of six,
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depression era parents
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from a tiny town
no one ever heard of.
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Like a page out of the
Humble Beginnings playbook.
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But how did he get that arm?
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Legend has it, every
night Nolan's dad
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would wake him up at
one in the morning
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and they'd hand deliver
over 1,500 papers
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across the entire city.
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Every day, four hours a
day for six years straight.
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Okay, the fact is he
actually drove a car
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for his paper route,
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but Nolan wouldn't mind us
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stretching the truth a little,
would he?
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The Houston folks used to say,
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well Nolan Ryan developed his
arm from throwing The Post.
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Well, that's totally false.
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'Cause when you drive a car,
you throw in your left hand.
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Well, guess they
decided to print the legend.
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He could throw the
ball harder
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than anybody I know about.
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And he was here for
pitching in Alvin.
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He'd bring his
catcher mitt and ball.
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And he would pitch to me
until my hand wore out.
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If you caught it right
in the catchers mitt,
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it was fine.
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But if it hit where
your palm was, it hurt.
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'Cause he was the hardest
chunker I've ever caught.
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Sometimes he'd burn my hand a
little bit and I'd say, boy,
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how hard are you throwing?
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And he'd say about
three-quarter speed.
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And that would scare
me a little bit.
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When I went out as a sophomore
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for the Varsity Baseball team,
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I hit my final growth spurt.
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It was like I had
somebody else's arm.
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There was a mythology
about Nolan that dates back
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to when he was at
Alvin High School
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because he could throw
it harder than anybody.
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And he was wild.
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He hit several batters.
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I remember one game
in particular,
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we were playing Deer Park
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and he hit the very first
two batters in the game.
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He hit one of the
players in the head
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and cracked his helmet.
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The next guy got in line.
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And when Nolan threw the ball,
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he hit him in the arm
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and broke his arm.
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And the third batter,
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actually went down to
their coach and asked him
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00:09:03,325 --> 00:09:05,675
if he would consider
pinch hitting for him.
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As it worked out,
Nolan struck him out
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on three pitches and he
was so far from the plate,
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he couldn't have covered
it if he'd had a broom.
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At that point, everybody
really took notice
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00:09:17,208 --> 00:09:19,994
that Nolan could be
something very special.
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He weighed about
142-145 pounds.
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About six foot one.
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So, he was a skinny
right-handed chunker.
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See, when he threw the
baseball, it just exploded
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out of his hand with
almost effortlessly.
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Red Murff pitched for the
Braves during his career.
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And then he became a scout.
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00:09:43,583 --> 00:09:45,976
Jim Watson was a
baseball coach in Alvin,
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and he told Jim not to tell
any other Scouts about Nolan.
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Well, he told me I had
the best arm he'd ever seen,
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and truly believed
that I would pitch
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in the big leagues.
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We'll do the knuckles,
there we go.
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- Good to see you.
- Good to see you.
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00:10:02,427 --> 00:10:03,646
- How are you?
- Yeah, I'm all right.
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00:10:03,690 --> 00:10:05,213
- All right.
- Thank you.
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00:10:05,256 --> 00:10:06,562
Excited to talk about Nolan?
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00:10:06,606 --> 00:10:08,608
Not really, but
I'm happy to do it.
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Yeah, I mean, yes
I am, excuse me.
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Fire it up.
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00:10:13,874 --> 00:10:17,268
My dad's uncle,
my grandmother's brother,
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00:10:17,312 --> 00:10:20,402
was one of the initial
owners of the New York Mets.
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00:10:20,445 --> 00:10:22,926
What's interesting from
our family's perspective,
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00:10:22,970 --> 00:10:27,409
is that a young pitcher on
that team was Nolan Ryan.
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A constant theme
in Nolan's life,
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00:10:32,240 --> 00:10:34,851
from the start, in baseball,
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00:10:34,895 --> 00:10:36,636
he was always undervalued.
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00:10:36,679 --> 00:10:39,900
The Mets were pretty
much the only team on him.
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00:10:39,943 --> 00:10:42,206
Took him in the 12th round.
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00:10:42,250 --> 00:10:43,991
They just took a flier.
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00:10:44,034 --> 00:10:45,688
They just thought, well,
here's a guy with a good arm,
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00:10:45,732 --> 00:10:47,385
and let's see what
we end up with.
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00:10:48,735 --> 00:10:51,651
He came to me and said,
"I got drafted today."
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00:10:51,694 --> 00:10:54,479
Well, I thought
he meant the Army.
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00:10:55,263 --> 00:10:57,874
He was 18 and out of high school
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00:10:57,918 --> 00:11:00,442
and it was during Vietnam.
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00:11:00,485 --> 00:11:02,400
A lot of our friends
had gotten drafted.
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00:11:02,444 --> 00:11:05,229
And he goes, "No,
the baseball draft."
223
00:11:05,926 --> 00:11:08,885
And he said, "I'll be
leaving pretty soon."
224
00:11:08,929 --> 00:11:12,497
And I'm like, oh, you know,
that was a shock to me.
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00:11:14,282 --> 00:11:16,632
I had plans to go to college
226
00:11:16,676 --> 00:11:20,680
but when Nolan left at age 18,
I was only 16.
227
00:11:20,723 --> 00:11:23,595
I really missed him.
I really wanted to be with him.
228
00:11:23,639 --> 00:11:25,249
Red Murff found out
229
00:11:25,293 --> 00:11:27,730
that we were probably
gonna get married one day.
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00:11:27,774 --> 00:11:30,341
He said, Ruth, you know that
231
00:11:30,385 --> 00:11:33,431
you're gonna have to share
Nolan with the world.
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00:11:33,475 --> 00:11:37,044
And I thought, I'm not sharing
Nolan with anybody, you know.
233
00:11:37,653 --> 00:11:40,569
I was very put out that
he said that to me.
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00:11:40,612 --> 00:11:42,179
And it was so true.
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00:11:42,223 --> 00:11:45,182
You know, I did end up
sharing him with the world.
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00:11:45,226 --> 00:11:47,532
I had no idea what
the baseball life
237
00:11:47,576 --> 00:11:49,273
would really be like.
238
00:11:49,317 --> 00:11:51,275
That was a shock.
239
00:11:55,062 --> 00:11:56,759
All I was concentrating on
240
00:11:56,803 --> 00:11:59,501
were trying to catch that ball.
241
00:12:01,764 --> 00:12:06,073
I didn't have anybody that
threw quite like Nolan did.
242
00:12:08,336 --> 00:12:12,470
Everybody was saying that
Nolan was throwing 101,
243
00:12:12,514 --> 00:12:14,995
maybe 102 miles an hour.
244
00:12:15,822 --> 00:12:17,475
That's wrong.
245
00:12:17,519 --> 00:12:21,436
Nolan was throwing 107, 108.
246
00:12:22,350 --> 00:12:23,481
Do you believe that?
247
00:12:23,525 --> 00:12:26,223
Yes, I was there catching it,
248
00:12:26,267 --> 00:12:27,747
or trying to.
249
00:12:34,449 --> 00:12:35,972
There's no question
that Nolan Ryan,
250
00:12:36,016 --> 00:12:37,800
when he first came to the Mets,
251
00:12:37,844 --> 00:12:40,150
was very wild.
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00:12:40,194 --> 00:12:42,326
His Minor League numbers,
they're right out of
253
00:12:42,370 --> 00:12:44,154
Nuke LaLoosh from "Bull Durham."
254
00:12:45,677 --> 00:12:46,809
This guy's crazy.
255
00:12:46,853 --> 00:12:48,158
Yep.
256
00:12:48,202 --> 00:12:50,030
And then he gets
called up to the Mets,
257
00:12:50,073 --> 00:12:51,727
pretty young, at
the point work where
258
00:12:51,771 --> 00:12:54,599
he's probably not ready to go.
259
00:12:54,643 --> 00:12:56,993
So Nolan Ryan
makes his Major League debut
260
00:12:57,037 --> 00:12:59,169
against one of the heaviest
hitting teams in baseball,
261
00:12:59,213 --> 00:13:00,649
the Atlanta Braves.
262
00:13:02,216 --> 00:13:05,828
I can remember coming outta
the bullpen in Shea Stadium
263
00:13:05,872 --> 00:13:07,264
and I'm 19 years old
and I'm gon' be facing
264
00:13:07,308 --> 00:13:11,007
Henry Aaron, Eddie Mathews
and Felipe Alou
265
00:13:11,051 --> 00:13:12,661
and those guys.
266
00:13:12,704 --> 00:13:15,011
God, I had those guys'
baseball cards.
267
00:13:15,577 --> 00:13:17,622
Tall and slender righthander.
268
00:13:19,842 --> 00:13:21,931
Joe Torre was on that team.
269
00:13:22,584 --> 00:13:24,281
And the pitch to Joe Torre.
270
00:13:24,325 --> 00:13:27,632
Fly ball, wild hit to
right field, way back.
271
00:13:27,676 --> 00:13:29,112
And it's over the wall,
a home run.
272
00:13:31,288 --> 00:13:33,856
A lot of people
had the same emotions
273
00:13:33,900 --> 00:13:37,077
as the first time they walked
on a major league mound.
274
00:13:37,599 --> 00:13:39,557
And they ask do
they belong there?
275
00:13:39,601 --> 00:13:42,909
And I had no clue whether
I belonged there or not.
276
00:13:46,869 --> 00:13:51,656
Nolan never expected
baseball to be a long career.
277
00:13:52,353 --> 00:13:55,399
His goal was to play four years
278
00:13:55,443 --> 00:13:57,749
and you could qualify
for a pension.
279
00:13:57,793 --> 00:13:59,534
Nolan didn't have a plan.
280
00:13:59,577 --> 00:14:01,579
He was gonna be a vet.
281
00:14:01,623 --> 00:14:03,886
When he went on road trips,
he would bring his books
282
00:14:03,930 --> 00:14:07,107
about cattle and veterinary
medicine and, you know,
283
00:14:07,150 --> 00:14:09,239
study in his free time.
284
00:14:09,283 --> 00:14:11,807
He always tried to
prepare himself
285
00:14:11,851 --> 00:14:13,983
for life after baseball.
286
00:14:14,549 --> 00:14:15,942
With the Mets, they had a lot
287
00:14:15,985 --> 00:14:18,292
of good, young arms at the time.
288
00:14:18,335 --> 00:14:21,861
He just didn't know if he
would even get in a rotation.
289
00:14:21,904 --> 00:14:23,645
He was in relief pretty much.
290
00:14:25,429 --> 00:14:27,431
At this point, you
look back and you go,
291
00:14:27,475 --> 00:14:29,346
Nolan Ryan was a relief pitcher?
292
00:14:29,390 --> 00:14:31,653
But he was young and
he was inexperienced.
293
00:14:31,696 --> 00:14:34,177
They didn't think he'd
be a consistent winner
294
00:14:34,221 --> 00:14:36,310
because he couldn't
control the ball.
295
00:14:36,658 --> 00:14:38,007
High and tight.
296
00:14:38,051 --> 00:14:40,488
He just wasn't polished.
297
00:14:42,316 --> 00:14:44,318
Growing up around cattle,
298
00:14:44,361 --> 00:14:47,190
Nolan understood most
calves stand on their own
299
00:14:47,234 --> 00:14:49,018
within the first 30
minutes of birth.
300
00:14:50,411 --> 00:14:51,803
In those early
years with the Mets,
301
00:14:51,847 --> 00:14:54,110
he was still finding his legs.
302
00:14:54,154 --> 00:14:56,199
But in the 1969 playoffs,
303
00:14:56,243 --> 00:14:58,245
he would need to stand tall.
304
00:14:58,985 --> 00:15:00,812
The aptly named Miracle Mets
305
00:15:00,856 --> 00:15:03,903
were one game away
from the World Series.
306
00:15:03,946 --> 00:15:07,515
And Nolan was brought in to
help get them out of a jam.
307
00:15:08,951 --> 00:15:10,866
The reaction of the Mets,
his teammates,
308
00:15:10,910 --> 00:15:13,651
when they brought him in,
"Are you kidding me?"
309
00:15:14,217 --> 00:15:15,958
They're thinking
Gil Hodges quit.
310
00:15:16,002 --> 00:15:17,351
They're giving up the game.
311
00:15:17,394 --> 00:15:19,135
That's what they
thought of Nolan Ryan,
312
00:15:19,179 --> 00:15:20,658
his teammates did at the time.
313
00:15:20,702 --> 00:15:22,312
They knew he had talent,
314
00:15:22,356 --> 00:15:24,532
but he hadn't shown anything
to be in this position.
315
00:15:25,359 --> 00:15:28,797
The third game of the National
League Championship Series.
316
00:15:28,840 --> 00:15:30,755
With a count
of 1-and-2 on Rico Carty,
317
00:15:30,799 --> 00:15:33,106
runners at second and
third, no one out.
318
00:15:33,149 --> 00:15:38,763
Rico had gone over and asked
couple of guys on the bench,
319
00:15:38,807 --> 00:15:40,678
"What do I look for?"
320
00:15:40,722 --> 00:15:42,202
And they said,
321
00:15:42,811 --> 00:15:43,986
"Heat."
322
00:15:45,727 --> 00:15:46,684
And the pitch
is swung on and missed.
323
00:15:46,728 --> 00:15:48,686
Ryan strikes out Rico Carty.
324
00:15:50,036 --> 00:15:51,211
He got outta the inning.
325
00:15:51,254 --> 00:15:53,256
He kept them in the game.
326
00:15:53,300 --> 00:15:55,867
Nolan Ryan with
a tremendous performance.
327
00:15:55,911 --> 00:15:58,348
I was surprised
as other people were
328
00:15:58,392 --> 00:16:01,047
that Gil stayed with me
the rest of the game
329
00:16:05,573 --> 00:16:07,227
Nolan Ryan,
who came in the ball game
330
00:16:07,270 --> 00:16:10,056
with the Mets behind
2-0 in the third.
331
00:16:11,100 --> 00:16:15,017
One out away from the
National League pennant.
332
00:16:15,061 --> 00:16:17,541
Mets leading 7-4.
333
00:16:22,416 --> 00:16:24,200
Garrett has the ball,
the throw to first,
334
00:16:24,244 --> 00:16:26,681
and the Mets are the
National League champions.
335
00:16:26,724 --> 00:16:27,856
The view you're looking at,
336
00:16:27,899 --> 00:16:29,553
has turned in one of baseball's
337
00:16:29,597 --> 00:16:31,816
most unbelievable stories.
338
00:16:32,426 --> 00:16:34,471
The players are going nuts.
339
00:16:34,515 --> 00:16:36,038
They couldn't believe it.
340
00:16:36,082 --> 00:16:38,214
He's the hero, he wins
the pennant for the Mets.
341
00:16:38,258 --> 00:16:40,782
People didn't know who
he was or what he was.
342
00:16:40,825 --> 00:16:42,784
Just some Texan with a drawl
343
00:16:42,827 --> 00:16:45,091
everybody in New York
made fun of,
344
00:16:45,134 --> 00:16:46,918
but when the batter
stood in the box,
345
00:16:46,962 --> 00:16:49,312
nobody was making fun
of Nolan's drawl.
346
00:16:50,531 --> 00:16:51,923
This has got
to be the happiest day
347
00:16:51,967 --> 00:16:53,142
of all for you.
348
00:16:56,667 --> 00:16:59,235
That night, there
was a big celebration
349
00:16:59,279 --> 00:17:01,150
in the Diamond Club.
350
00:17:01,194 --> 00:17:05,198
That was the first time I had
ever had a glass of champagne.
351
00:17:05,241 --> 00:17:08,331
And the last time I ever
had a glass of champagne.
352
00:17:09,898 --> 00:17:13,075
And wouldn't you know it,
ten days later,
353
00:17:13,119 --> 00:17:16,209
the Miracle Mets won
the whole damn thing.
354
00:17:16,252 --> 00:17:19,168
The Mets are
the world champions.
355
00:17:20,039 --> 00:17:22,128
At the tender age of 22,
356
00:17:22,171 --> 00:17:25,348
Nolan Ryan had a
World Series ring.
357
00:17:25,870 --> 00:17:28,656
He and his teammates sure
had a lot to sing about.
358
00:17:29,526 --> 00:17:33,269
♪ You gotta have heart
359
00:17:33,313 --> 00:17:36,098
♪ All you really need is heart
360
00:17:36,142 --> 00:17:38,927
We were on the Ed Sullivan Show.
361
00:17:38,970 --> 00:17:40,494
All of us, the whole team.
362
00:17:40,537 --> 00:17:44,628
♪ Wait 'til next year and hold
363
00:17:47,066 --> 00:17:48,937
None of us could sing.
364
00:17:48,980 --> 00:17:52,549
The dogs were howling
big time after that.
365
00:17:52,593 --> 00:17:56,162
♪ First you gotta have heart
366
00:17:58,425 --> 00:18:00,514
That whole thing
was a whirlwind deal
367
00:18:00,557 --> 00:18:02,733
for about four or five days.
368
00:18:02,777 --> 00:18:06,607
And being on the Ed Sullivan
Show, to a ticker tape parade,
369
00:18:06,650 --> 00:18:09,653
and being world champions,
and then going home
370
00:18:09,697 --> 00:18:13,918
and kinda stepping back
into our normal lives.
371
00:18:19,402 --> 00:18:23,841
I'd go home, get a job
so I could survive
372
00:18:23,885 --> 00:18:25,321
until next spring training
373
00:18:25,365 --> 00:18:27,715
and try to go to school too.
374
00:18:31,284 --> 00:18:32,807
Yeah.
375
00:18:35,070 --> 00:18:38,291
I installed central
heating and air conditioning.
376
00:18:39,205 --> 00:18:40,858
This is Nolan Ryan
for American Standard
377
00:18:40,902 --> 00:18:42,512
Heating and Air Conditioning.
378
00:18:44,558 --> 00:18:47,387
Back in those days, you only
got paid during the season.
379
00:18:47,430 --> 00:18:51,695
And my first contract
with the Mets was $7,000.
380
00:18:51,739 --> 00:18:55,351
And so, you know, you
didn't have extra money.
381
00:18:56,439 --> 00:18:58,180
Look at this scene.
382
00:18:58,224 --> 00:19:00,139
When the Mets
won the World Series,
383
00:19:00,182 --> 00:19:02,445
he got a little bit of a bonus.
384
00:19:03,403 --> 00:19:06,493
He helped his parents
pay off their house
385
00:19:06,536 --> 00:19:09,757
and he put some money down
on a piece of property.
386
00:19:12,499 --> 00:19:13,761
We're back home.
387
00:19:13,804 --> 00:19:16,807
I'm in San Antonio,
he's in Alvin,
388
00:19:16,851 --> 00:19:20,550
and I'm with his
real estate broker,
389
00:19:20,594 --> 00:19:21,986
looking for a ranch.
390
00:19:23,466 --> 00:19:27,166
Ranching is a way of
life here in Texas.
391
00:19:33,302 --> 00:19:35,174
How y'all doing?
392
00:19:38,873 --> 00:19:40,962
Nolan is a cowboy.
393
00:19:42,268 --> 00:19:43,791
I think it's in his blood.
394
00:19:43,834 --> 00:19:45,314
It's in his nature.
395
00:19:46,750 --> 00:19:48,970
Likes being out in
the Texas prairie.
396
00:19:50,798 --> 00:19:53,104
Since the time I
was about 5 years old,
397
00:19:53,148 --> 00:19:54,280
I had an attraction to cattle.
398
00:19:54,323 --> 00:19:55,846
Why that is, I don't know.
399
00:19:55,890 --> 00:19:58,588
I think I was just meant
to be in that business
400
00:19:58,632 --> 00:20:00,677
and I've always had
a passion for it.
401
00:20:09,686 --> 00:20:11,166
Come on. You're nervous.
402
00:20:11,819 --> 00:20:12,863
Come on by.
403
00:20:12,907 --> 00:20:14,213
Hey.
404
00:20:18,260 --> 00:20:20,306
I'm the ranch manager
for Mr. Nolan Ryan
405
00:20:20,349 --> 00:20:22,830
for about 30 years.
406
00:20:23,874 --> 00:20:25,746
That's a cut, David.
407
00:20:26,050 --> 00:20:28,401
When I first met him, I
knew the kind of guy he was.
408
00:20:28,444 --> 00:20:30,446
He's gonna do right
and everything.
409
00:20:30,490 --> 00:20:33,797
He was, one's you really
would wanna work for.
410
00:20:35,321 --> 00:20:36,365
That's a cut.
411
00:20:38,062 --> 00:20:39,063
Keeper.
412
00:20:39,760 --> 00:20:41,283
It's a cow and calf operation.
413
00:20:41,327 --> 00:20:43,590
It's a real business,
just like any other one.
414
00:20:43,633 --> 00:20:44,852
That's a cut.
415
00:20:44,895 --> 00:20:46,854
Keeper. Cut.
416
00:20:46,897 --> 00:20:48,464
We was sorting some heifers,
some keeping heifers
417
00:20:48,508 --> 00:20:50,249
and heifers we're
gonna try to sale.
418
00:20:50,292 --> 00:20:52,120
That's a keeper.
419
00:20:52,163 --> 00:20:53,774
See if we can make
a little money.
420
00:20:56,037 --> 00:20:58,213
Everybody knows Mr. Nolan
Ryan, the baseball player
421
00:20:58,257 --> 00:20:59,867
but he's a rancher.
422
00:21:00,650 --> 00:21:01,869
As I got older,
I understood one thing,
423
00:21:01,912 --> 00:21:03,349
when you get out of the game,
424
00:21:03,392 --> 00:21:05,612
you have to find that
thing in your life
425
00:21:05,655 --> 00:21:07,135
that you loved to do.
426
00:21:08,919 --> 00:21:10,617
I'm very at peace
with what I'm doing
427
00:21:10,660 --> 00:21:13,881
and it's where my
comfort level is.
428
00:21:18,059 --> 00:21:20,322
I was accustomed
to being outdoors
429
00:21:20,366 --> 00:21:23,934
and being in a more
relaxed atmosphere.
430
00:21:23,978 --> 00:21:26,894
And I didn't really
take to New York.
431
00:21:31,899 --> 00:21:33,683
I was alone a lot.
432
00:21:33,727 --> 00:21:35,337
Those times he
went on road trips.
433
00:21:35,381 --> 00:21:37,426
So I was kind of scared
434
00:21:37,470 --> 00:21:39,994
sometimes, living in
an apartment building.
435
00:21:41,604 --> 00:21:43,519
It was just a different world.
436
00:21:43,563 --> 00:21:45,347
And I wouldn't trade any of it.
437
00:21:45,391 --> 00:21:47,349
All that was good experience.
438
00:21:47,393 --> 00:21:50,700
It was an exciting
kind of life, in a way.
439
00:21:51,962 --> 00:21:53,877
We depended on each other.
440
00:21:53,921 --> 00:21:56,445
We were just two kids
trying to get by.
441
00:21:58,142 --> 00:22:00,493
The highlight of his Mets career
442
00:22:00,536 --> 00:22:02,146
was the playoffs in the series.
443
00:22:03,409 --> 00:22:06,325
Because he came
back in 70 and 71,
444
00:22:06,368 --> 00:22:09,284
they tried to start him
but he had no consistency.
445
00:22:10,459 --> 00:22:12,896
In the meantime, the Gentrys,
the Koosmans, the Sievers,
446
00:22:12,940 --> 00:22:14,420
I mean, they're taking on.
447
00:22:16,291 --> 00:22:17,640
There's no place for Nolan.
448
00:22:21,427 --> 00:22:23,733
The manager, he's
worrying about winning games
449
00:22:23,777 --> 00:22:27,520
and I'm sure Nolan's wildness
drove some of them crazy.
450
00:22:27,563 --> 00:22:29,173
The lack of success
451
00:22:29,217 --> 00:22:32,220
and not accomplishing what
you think you could do.
452
00:22:34,483 --> 00:22:37,704
I was so frustrated
in my inconsistency
453
00:22:37,747 --> 00:22:40,446
and the fact that I wasn't
pitching on a regular basis.
454
00:22:40,489 --> 00:22:42,012
He didn't really have like say,
455
00:22:42,056 --> 00:22:44,450
a pitching coach that
took him under his wing.
456
00:22:45,233 --> 00:22:49,280
He felt like he wasn't a
important part of the team.
457
00:22:49,324 --> 00:22:50,804
I started thinking,
458
00:22:50,847 --> 00:22:54,721
oh maybe this isn't
what I'm meant to do.
459
00:22:54,764 --> 00:22:57,506
He said he was almost
ready to quit baseball.
460
00:23:01,075 --> 00:23:06,733
People do not realize
how strong Ruth Ryan is.
461
00:23:06,776 --> 00:23:09,736
Ruth talked Nolan
outta quitting.
462
00:23:09,779 --> 00:23:12,869
She is the strength
behind Nolan.
463
00:23:15,394 --> 00:23:19,136
I said, "Nolan, I
think you have talent.
464
00:23:19,180 --> 00:23:22,009
So I really wish you
would stick it out
465
00:23:22,052 --> 00:23:24,185
just a little bit longer."
466
00:23:24,228 --> 00:23:25,491
Ryan pitch,
467
00:23:25,534 --> 00:23:27,797
strike him out with a fastball.
468
00:23:27,841 --> 00:23:31,061
I think Nolan was
ready to leave New York
469
00:23:31,105 --> 00:23:34,282
after the 1971 season.
470
00:23:35,936 --> 00:23:37,981
I was about seven
months pregnant.
471
00:23:38,025 --> 00:23:41,376
And he told me we're leaving
after the game is over.
472
00:23:42,029 --> 00:23:43,639
And I said, in the
middle of the night?
473
00:23:43,683 --> 00:23:45,206
And he goes, yes.
474
00:23:45,772 --> 00:23:48,992
I don't really think that
I'll be back here next year.
475
00:23:50,516 --> 00:23:53,170
In November, our son,
Reed was born.
476
00:23:53,214 --> 00:23:54,476
And two weeks later,
477
00:23:54,520 --> 00:23:55,999
I answered the phone
and I said,
478
00:23:56,043 --> 00:23:57,958
"It's Bob Scheffing with
the New York Mets."
479
00:23:58,001 --> 00:24:00,177
And he just looked
at me and he said,
480
00:24:00,221 --> 00:24:01,614
"I think I'm gonna be traded."
481
00:24:09,448 --> 00:24:11,798
♪ Everybody is talking at me
482
00:24:13,234 --> 00:24:15,671
♪ I don't hear a word
they're saying ♪
483
00:24:16,933 --> 00:24:21,416
♪ Only the echoes of my mind
484
00:24:24,463 --> 00:24:27,422
♪ I'm going where the
sun keeps shining ♪
485
00:24:27,727 --> 00:24:30,207
Bob Scheffing, he was
General Manager of the Mets.
486
00:24:30,251 --> 00:24:31,905
He said, "Nolan, I just
wanted to call and tell you,
487
00:24:31,948 --> 00:24:33,559
you're going to sunny
California."
488
00:24:33,602 --> 00:24:36,257
And I thought, all right,
I'm gonna be a Dodger.
489
00:24:36,300 --> 00:24:40,696
♪ And skipping over the
ocean like a stone ♪
490
00:24:40,740 --> 00:24:42,698
"You're going to
California Angels."
491
00:24:42,742 --> 00:24:44,787
And I mean, I could've died.
492
00:24:48,312 --> 00:24:50,880
The Angels back then,
they're a doormat.
493
00:24:50,924 --> 00:24:53,404
The redheaded stepchild
compared to the LA Dodgers,
494
00:24:53,448 --> 00:24:54,754
the marquee Dodgers.
495
00:24:55,929 --> 00:24:59,106
♪ Riding the range once more
496
00:24:59,628 --> 00:25:00,934
The highlight of being traded
497
00:25:00,977 --> 00:25:02,457
to the California Angels
498
00:25:02,501 --> 00:25:04,372
was I was gonna get
to meet Gene Autry.
499
00:25:04,415 --> 00:25:07,810
Growing up in Texas, Gene was
a big deal, you know,
500
00:25:07,854 --> 00:25:11,118
the singing cowboy and I
had watched all his movies.
501
00:25:11,161 --> 00:25:14,295
♪ I go my way
502
00:25:14,338 --> 00:25:18,473
♪ Back in the saddle again
503
00:25:18,517 --> 00:25:20,388
It was a really good move for me
504
00:25:20,431 --> 00:25:22,564
because I was going to a team
505
00:25:22,608 --> 00:25:25,001
that was in the
development stages
506
00:25:25,045 --> 00:25:28,265
so probably was gonna get
the pitch on a regular basis.
507
00:25:37,536 --> 00:25:41,409
The biggest thing
that changed Nolan Ryan
508
00:25:41,452 --> 00:25:44,455
into the Hall of Fame
pitcher that he is,
509
00:25:44,499 --> 00:25:46,153
came when he had
a pitching coach
510
00:25:46,196 --> 00:25:48,851
by the name of Tom Morgan.
511
00:25:48,895 --> 00:25:50,070
I never had a pitching coach
512
00:25:50,113 --> 00:25:52,072
until I got to the big leagues.
513
00:25:52,115 --> 00:25:56,206
He was the first person that
really got me thinking about
514
00:25:56,250 --> 00:25:57,947
what I had to do in my delivery
515
00:25:57,991 --> 00:25:59,601
to get more consistent.
516
00:25:59,645 --> 00:26:01,385
Big thing with Nolan back then,
517
00:26:01,429 --> 00:26:03,953
he was overthrowing and
he'd fall off the mount.
518
00:26:04,650 --> 00:26:06,477
That's the main thing
that Tom Morgan sees.
519
00:26:06,521 --> 00:26:08,044
He stood in front of Nolan
520
00:26:08,088 --> 00:26:10,656
and made him stride out past him
521
00:26:10,699 --> 00:26:12,396
so that he didn't
spin off the ball.
522
00:26:12,440 --> 00:26:14,616
So Nolan can't fall
through to the left
523
00:26:14,660 --> 00:26:16,139
or it'll hit Tom Morgan.
524
00:26:16,183 --> 00:26:18,185
So he straightens
out his fundamentals.
525
00:26:21,667 --> 00:26:24,104
Holy cow, what smoke.
526
00:26:24,147 --> 00:26:25,496
It was incredible.
527
00:26:25,540 --> 00:26:26,585
It was like a
light bulb went on.
528
00:26:27,890 --> 00:26:29,631
The three years that
Morgan was there,
529
00:26:29,675 --> 00:26:33,156
Nolan won 62 games.
530
00:26:33,200 --> 00:26:35,245
Pitched over 900 innings.
531
00:26:36,029 --> 00:26:38,988
That laid the foundation for
his whole pitching career.
532
00:26:44,690 --> 00:26:46,039
He was ready.
533
00:26:47,214 --> 00:26:48,998
Being in the background
in New York,
534
00:26:49,042 --> 00:26:51,740
the guy that couldn't get
an everyday assignment,
535
00:26:51,784 --> 00:26:52,828
it pushed him.
536
00:26:52,872 --> 00:26:54,656
Now, he saw his opportunity
537
00:26:54,700 --> 00:26:56,484
and I don't think he
was gonna pass that up.
538
00:26:56,527 --> 00:26:59,226
♪ I'm ready for you
539
00:26:59,705 --> 00:27:04,361
♪ I hope you're ready for me.
540
00:27:05,101 --> 00:27:06,886
My principal goal
is to win 20 games,
541
00:27:06,929 --> 00:27:08,322
but if I'd win 20 games
542
00:27:08,365 --> 00:27:09,889
and also set a new
strikeout record,
543
00:27:09,932 --> 00:27:11,499
I'll definitely gonna try.
544
00:27:11,542 --> 00:27:13,240
73, it goes ballistic.
545
00:27:15,242 --> 00:27:17,374
He wins 21 games that year.
546
00:27:21,335 --> 00:27:23,816
The no-hitters
came very quickly.
547
00:27:23,859 --> 00:27:27,036
I think I was as
surprised as anyone
548
00:27:27,080 --> 00:27:28,081
that I threw a no-hitter.
549
00:27:28,124 --> 00:27:29,517
He did it.
550
00:27:29,560 --> 00:27:31,780
Nolan Ryan has a
no-hit no-run game.
551
00:27:31,824 --> 00:27:35,610
And they swarm the 26-year-
old, Alvin, Texas native.
552
00:27:36,480 --> 00:27:38,526
It was one of those
special nights.
553
00:27:38,569 --> 00:27:40,920
And then 60 days later,
I throw number two.
554
00:27:42,791 --> 00:27:45,228
Some people say they
don't think about it
555
00:27:45,272 --> 00:27:48,362
but I thought about it from
probably the third inning on.
556
00:27:48,971 --> 00:27:51,582
I'm thinking, oh, he
hasn't given up any hits.
557
00:27:51,626 --> 00:27:54,237
And then, it just gets more
exciting as it builds up.
558
00:27:55,151 --> 00:27:58,502
First seven innings,
he's got 16, 17 strikeouts.
559
00:27:58,546 --> 00:28:00,243
The last batter of
the game is Norm Cash.
560
00:28:00,853 --> 00:28:03,725
I looked at him as he
walks in the batter's box
561
00:28:03,769 --> 00:28:06,467
and I didn't know what he had,
but I knew he didn't have a bat.
562
00:28:06,510 --> 00:28:09,470
He had taken a leg off of
a table in the clubhouse,
563
00:28:10,123 --> 00:28:12,734
came out there to bat
with this table leg.
564
00:28:12,778 --> 00:28:14,736
I told Ron Luciano the umpire,
565
00:28:14,780 --> 00:28:16,477
he can't hit with that.
566
00:28:16,520 --> 00:28:18,174
And he said, it
doesn't matter, Ron.
567
00:28:18,218 --> 00:28:20,089
He says I can't hit him anyway.
568
00:28:20,133 --> 00:28:21,917
Leave it to Norman
for a little levity
569
00:28:21,961 --> 00:28:25,181
and Ron Luciano is breaking
up behind the play.
570
00:28:26,574 --> 00:28:29,185
And the stands now
cheering for Nolan Ryan.
571
00:28:29,229 --> 00:28:30,491
Here it comes.
572
00:28:31,797 --> 00:28:33,189
He pops it up.
573
00:28:33,233 --> 00:28:35,061
A tough play.
574
00:28:35,888 --> 00:28:36,976
No hit.
575
00:28:37,019 --> 00:28:38,804
Nolan Ryan.
576
00:28:38,847 --> 00:28:41,328
Ryan has become
only the fifth man
577
00:28:41,371 --> 00:28:43,243
in modern Major League history
578
00:28:43,286 --> 00:28:47,334
to throw two no-hit no-run
games in the same season.
579
00:28:47,377 --> 00:28:49,771
And it's a standing
ovation from the fans
580
00:28:49,815 --> 00:28:51,642
in Detroit, Michigan.
581
00:28:59,389 --> 00:29:01,000
Five strikeouts for Koufax.
582
00:29:02,392 --> 00:29:04,133
Fast ball got him,
strikeout number eight.
583
00:29:05,004 --> 00:29:06,875
In 1965,
584
00:29:06,919 --> 00:29:10,531
Sandy Koufax set baseball
single season strikeout record
585
00:29:10,574 --> 00:29:12,402
with 382.
586
00:29:13,447 --> 00:29:15,057
No one thought it
could be broken.
587
00:29:15,797 --> 00:29:17,712
Well, having someone
to chase after
588
00:29:17,756 --> 00:29:19,758
was great motivation for Nolan.
589
00:29:20,019 --> 00:29:24,023
And in 1973, he was
hot on Sandy's heels.
590
00:29:24,719 --> 00:29:26,852
In his final start
of the season,
591
00:29:26,895 --> 00:29:29,332
Nolan was 16 strikeouts away
592
00:29:29,376 --> 00:29:31,813
from breaking his idol's record.
593
00:29:31,857 --> 00:29:34,729
There is 375.
594
00:29:35,512 --> 00:29:36,775
Here is the pitch to
kill over a fastball.
595
00:29:36,818 --> 00:29:38,167
Hey, good job.
596
00:29:38,211 --> 00:29:39,690
There is 380.
597
00:29:39,734 --> 00:29:41,214
Guys are coming back and says,
598
00:29:41,257 --> 00:29:44,217
"Boys, we're in for a
tough night tonight.
599
00:29:44,870 --> 00:29:46,219
They were swinging and missing."
600
00:29:50,049 --> 00:29:52,268
One more strike
that would tie Koufax.
601
00:29:52,312 --> 00:29:54,183
Ryan straightens,
here's the pitch.
602
00:29:54,227 --> 00:29:55,532
He's got it.
603
00:29:58,361 --> 00:30:00,755
Ruth was at the game
with me that night.
604
00:30:00,799 --> 00:30:02,583
The end of nine innings,
the score's tied,
605
00:30:02,626 --> 00:30:04,890
he's got 15 strikeouts
for the night.
606
00:30:04,933 --> 00:30:06,717
He's tied with Koufax.
607
00:30:07,893 --> 00:30:12,114
I had pulled my hamstring
in one of the extra innings.
608
00:30:13,289 --> 00:30:15,726
He had cramps in his legs,
he could hardly walk,
609
00:30:15,770 --> 00:30:17,119
but he kept going.
610
00:30:18,991 --> 00:30:20,775
Nolan Ryan will
have fought into the 11th.
611
00:30:20,819 --> 00:30:22,211
When you talk about pain,
612
00:30:22,255 --> 00:30:24,257
I call it discomfort.
613
00:30:24,300 --> 00:30:25,780
You learned to pitch with it.
614
00:30:25,824 --> 00:30:27,913
And that just came
with the territory.
615
00:30:27,956 --> 00:30:31,568
And Ryan does
not have much left.
616
00:30:34,789 --> 00:30:35,877
There goes Carew,
swing and a miss,
617
00:30:35,921 --> 00:30:37,226
the throw to second base.
618
00:30:37,270 --> 00:30:38,880
Not in time.
619
00:30:38,924 --> 00:30:41,230
And the crowd wanted
Carew to be safe.
620
00:30:41,274 --> 00:30:43,842
Ryan now has two
strikes on Rich Reese.
621
00:30:48,977 --> 00:30:50,239
Two-strike pitch coming up.
622
00:30:50,283 --> 00:30:52,067
Ryan's set. Here it is.
623
00:30:52,111 --> 00:30:53,634
Swing and a miss!
624
00:30:54,417 --> 00:30:56,202
Nolan Ryan
625
00:30:56,245 --> 00:31:00,032
is the major league
strikeout king of all time!
626
00:31:00,467 --> 00:31:03,252
He was letting it all
out there, all that he had.
627
00:31:03,296 --> 00:31:04,993
383, that's a lot.
628
00:31:06,125 --> 00:31:09,171
383 strikeouts in
the season, is,
629
00:31:09,215 --> 00:31:10,912
it's still the record, yeah.
630
00:31:10,956 --> 00:31:12,566
And ladies and gentlemen,
631
00:31:12,609 --> 00:31:14,481
we have seen one of
the finest young men
632
00:31:14,524 --> 00:31:16,439
ever to wear a baseball uniform
633
00:31:16,483 --> 00:31:18,920
record one of the most
incredible records
634
00:31:18,964 --> 00:31:20,574
in Major League history.
635
00:31:21,183 --> 00:31:23,142
It meant a lot to Nolan,
636
00:31:23,185 --> 00:31:26,232
just because of whose
record he broke.
637
00:31:26,275 --> 00:31:28,582
It was a fun night
at the ballpark.
638
00:31:28,887 --> 00:31:30,714
Nolan, anyone
who looks at the record books
639
00:31:30,758 --> 00:31:33,282
will find that there aren't
many left for you to conquer.
640
00:31:33,326 --> 00:31:35,502
Well, I don't give
641
00:31:35,545 --> 00:31:37,112
a whole lot of
emphasis on statistics.
642
00:31:37,156 --> 00:31:39,462
I just try to go out and
win every game I pitch in,
643
00:31:39,506 --> 00:31:40,899
and hope that I
improve every year.
644
00:31:44,424 --> 00:31:46,643
It's 1973, he's out on his ranch
645
00:31:46,687 --> 00:31:48,471
and he gets a call from Ruth
646
00:31:48,515 --> 00:31:51,474
that Jim Palmer won
the Cy Young Award.
647
00:31:54,260 --> 00:31:55,870
The Cy Young Award
648
00:31:55,914 --> 00:31:59,221
is what the sports writers
vote in each league,
649
00:31:59,265 --> 00:32:02,485
what they think is the best
pitcher for that season.
650
00:32:02,529 --> 00:32:04,879
Nolan, it didn't bother him,
651
00:32:04,923 --> 00:32:06,359
but it did bother me.
652
00:32:06,707 --> 00:32:08,317
Jim Palmer was a great pitcher,
653
00:32:08,883 --> 00:32:11,103
but he did not
certainly outshine Ryan
654
00:32:11,146 --> 00:32:12,974
in that particular season.
655
00:32:13,018 --> 00:32:16,456
Two no-hitters, 21 wins,
makes the strikeout record.
656
00:32:23,289 --> 00:32:24,812
Four.
657
00:32:24,855 --> 00:32:26,683
Cy Youngs? Four.
658
00:32:26,727 --> 00:32:28,120
Uh, three.
659
00:32:28,163 --> 00:32:30,035
I don't think he won any.
It's crazy.
660
00:32:30,078 --> 00:32:31,166
Zero?
661
00:32:31,210 --> 00:32:32,646
You gotta be kidding.
662
00:32:32,689 --> 00:32:35,257
Nolan Ryan never won
a Cy Young Award?
663
00:32:35,301 --> 00:32:36,824
Well, that's a joke.
664
00:32:36,867 --> 00:32:38,043
I thought he had won
three or four or five.
665
00:32:38,086 --> 00:32:39,522
Yeah, I have no idea
666
00:32:39,566 --> 00:32:40,654
how Nolan didn't win
a Cy Young Award,
667
00:32:40,697 --> 00:32:42,003
because he had to be knocking
668
00:32:42,047 --> 00:32:43,396
on the door for that,
many times.
669
00:32:45,006 --> 00:32:46,399
Ryan winds,
and the 3-2 pitch,
670
00:32:46,442 --> 00:32:48,314
he struck him out!
671
00:32:48,357 --> 00:32:52,187
He has not allowed a Yankee
hit for seven innings.
672
00:32:52,231 --> 00:32:54,450
It is surprising that
he's never won one,
673
00:32:54,494 --> 00:32:56,017
but I don't think that has
really tarnished his
674
00:32:56,061 --> 00:32:59,151
reputation or his legacy.
675
00:32:59,194 --> 00:33:00,979
Here's Ryan's payoff pitch.
676
00:33:01,370 --> 00:33:02,589
And he walked him.
677
00:33:03,111 --> 00:33:04,983
He led the world in walks,
678
00:33:05,026 --> 00:33:08,029
but he also led the
world in strikeouts.
679
00:33:08,073 --> 00:33:11,554
He didn't need a Cy Young Award
to be the biggest thing going.
680
00:33:11,598 --> 00:33:13,382
He was Nolan Ryan,
681
00:33:13,426 --> 00:33:15,776
the guy with the Guinness
record for the fastest pitch.
682
00:33:15,819 --> 00:33:17,778
Some of the smartest scientists
683
00:33:17,821 --> 00:33:19,693
west of the Rio Grande
684
00:33:19,736 --> 00:33:22,913
used some fancy equipment
to clock Nolan's fastball
685
00:33:22,957 --> 00:33:26,395
at 100.9 miles per hour.
686
00:33:27,831 --> 00:33:30,617
Using the more accurate
technology of today,
687
00:33:30,660 --> 00:33:36,014
that number really comes
out to 108.1 miles per hour.
688
00:33:36,884 --> 00:33:38,016
Yes, sir.
689
00:33:39,147 --> 00:33:41,193
The legend of the Ryan Express
690
00:33:41,236 --> 00:33:43,630
was most definitely
picking up steam.
691
00:33:44,457 --> 00:33:46,024
His time with the Angels
692
00:33:46,067 --> 00:33:49,331
is entirely unique
in baseball history.
693
00:33:49,375 --> 00:33:51,420
Look at the numbers
that he put up.
694
00:33:51,464 --> 00:33:53,944
The strikeout numbers
in particular.
695
00:33:53,988 --> 00:33:55,729
They're unheard of.
696
00:33:55,772 --> 00:33:59,037
I don't believe there's ever
been a stretch like that.
697
00:34:01,952 --> 00:34:03,171
Two-strike pitch.
698
00:34:03,998 --> 00:34:05,130
Gone!
699
00:34:06,000 --> 00:34:08,350
Bye, bye.
700
00:34:08,394 --> 00:34:10,265
I tell you,
that's gotta be a 100 mile
an hour pitch right there.
701
00:34:11,310 --> 00:34:13,660
When you're throwing
100 miles an hour,
702
00:34:13,703 --> 00:34:15,183
you feel this sense of
703
00:34:15,227 --> 00:34:17,011
this game is right here.
704
00:34:17,055 --> 00:34:19,187
And you're right here
in the palm of my hand.
705
00:34:19,883 --> 00:34:22,886
Nolan set the standard
for a power pitcher.
706
00:34:22,930 --> 00:34:25,715
He could throw hard,
be a fierce competitor.
707
00:34:25,759 --> 00:34:28,109
He was not afraid to
use some intimidation,
708
00:34:28,153 --> 00:34:29,937
'cause he's gonna
buzz you if he has to.
709
00:34:31,939 --> 00:34:34,898
Intimidation was
part of his game.
710
00:34:34,942 --> 00:34:38,293
He had the ability to put you
on your toes at any moment.
711
00:34:38,337 --> 00:34:41,296
He could be conveniently wild,
if you know what I mean.
712
00:34:41,340 --> 00:34:43,994
He might throw one up
and in on your chin,
713
00:34:44,038 --> 00:34:46,519
and the next one would be
low and away on the corner.
714
00:34:46,562 --> 00:34:49,043
So that's conveniently wild.
715
00:34:49,087 --> 00:34:50,479
He had that aura about him,
716
00:34:50,523 --> 00:34:52,090
that the hitter just
isn't quite sure
717
00:34:52,133 --> 00:34:53,091
where they're coming from.
718
00:34:54,266 --> 00:34:55,963
That's always a good
thing for a pitcher.
719
00:34:58,922 --> 00:35:02,361
I used it to my
advantage when I could.
720
00:35:04,711 --> 00:35:07,540
Throw inside.
721
00:35:08,976 --> 00:35:10,760
- Look out. Inside.
- Wow.
722
00:35:10,804 --> 00:35:12,371
If you're gonna be a
successful pitcher,
723
00:35:12,414 --> 00:35:14,024
you have to pitch inside.
724
00:35:14,068 --> 00:35:15,852
I don't care how hard you throw.
725
00:35:15,896 --> 00:35:17,419
So you have to pitch in
and out, up and down,
726
00:35:17,463 --> 00:35:18,899
and move the ball
around a little bit.
727
00:35:18,942 --> 00:35:21,336
And he was masterful at it.
728
00:35:21,380 --> 00:35:23,295
High and tight
to Frank Robinson.
729
00:35:23,338 --> 00:35:26,428
With that mindset, you're
gonna hit some people.
730
00:35:28,474 --> 00:35:29,779
The first time I faced him,
731
00:35:29,823 --> 00:35:31,172
Jim Wohlford was
hitting ahead of me.
732
00:35:31,216 --> 00:35:33,522
And for some reason
he got hit,
733
00:35:33,566 --> 00:35:35,959
and I'm seeing Wolfie
on the ground,
734
00:35:36,003 --> 00:35:38,179
trying to breathe.
He couldn't breathe,
735
00:35:38,223 --> 00:35:39,876
and I'm going, "Oh my God,
I gotta face this guy?"
736
00:35:40,529 --> 00:35:42,009
He drilled a guy
in the rib cage.
737
00:35:43,010 --> 00:35:45,273
I said, "Did you hit
that guy on purpose?"
738
00:35:45,317 --> 00:35:48,102
And he goes, "George,
sometimes you just have to
739
00:35:48,146 --> 00:35:50,278
take control of the situation."
740
00:35:54,717 --> 00:35:56,371
He hated players to bunt on him.
741
00:35:56,415 --> 00:35:58,634
Don't bunt on him and
don't steal on him.
742
00:35:59,200 --> 00:36:01,768
'Cause he's gonna hit you.
743
00:36:01,811 --> 00:36:02,943
When you get in
that batter's box,
744
00:36:02,986 --> 00:36:04,553
and you're like toeing in,
745
00:36:04,597 --> 00:36:07,165
you know, digging that
hole, that back foot,
746
00:36:07,208 --> 00:36:08,862
and he's ready to go,
747
00:36:08,905 --> 00:36:10,603
you about to get one
in your earhole, man.
748
00:36:13,736 --> 00:36:16,130
I didn't wanna get hit
in head by Nolan Ryan.
749
00:36:16,174 --> 00:36:17,610
Even if I had a helmet on.
750
00:36:19,525 --> 00:36:22,789
I think that summed up
how some people felt.
751
00:36:30,623 --> 00:36:32,320
Pete, this is the shoe
we're gonna have you sign
752
00:36:32,364 --> 00:36:34,192
"The Hit King."
753
00:36:34,235 --> 00:36:36,585
And Nolan, we're gonna have
you sign "The No-hit King."
754
00:36:37,543 --> 00:36:39,109
You gonna sign it right here.
755
00:36:39,153 --> 00:36:40,807
I'm gonna sign it, right?
756
00:36:40,850 --> 00:36:42,765
- Okay I'll sign those
- "Pete Rose."
757
00:36:42,809 --> 00:36:44,202
Those look like
Usain Bolt shoes, right there.
758
00:36:44,245 --> 00:36:45,551
They're great.
759
00:36:46,813 --> 00:36:48,249
Good, Bob.
760
00:36:48,293 --> 00:36:50,077
This is as close as
I wanna be to this guy.
761
00:36:50,686 --> 00:36:52,297
Oh, you love me, Pete.
762
00:36:53,167 --> 00:36:55,343
I'm gonna go down and
say hi to some folks.
763
00:36:55,387 --> 00:36:56,605
Well, you're from Texas,
you got to.
764
00:36:56,649 --> 00:36:58,259
Yeah, I'll see you down there.
765
00:36:58,303 --> 00:36:59,608
You own this ballpark,
you got to.
766
00:37:08,400 --> 00:37:09,879
Let's bring him up to the stage.
767
00:37:09,923 --> 00:37:11,141
I'm gonna turn it
over to him and Pete.
768
00:37:11,185 --> 00:37:12,969
Mr. Nolan Ryan, come on up.
769
00:37:18,236 --> 00:37:20,107
It was the fifth
game of the playoffs.
770
00:37:20,150 --> 00:37:21,630
And I was pitching that day,
771
00:37:21,674 --> 00:37:23,937
and I went out and
take batting practice.
772
00:37:24,459 --> 00:37:25,808
Pete was down there
and I got in the cage
773
00:37:25,852 --> 00:37:27,419
and took my swings.
774
00:37:27,462 --> 00:37:29,769
And when I was walking
out, he goes, "Hey, Nolan."
775
00:37:30,335 --> 00:37:31,945
I go, "Yeah, Pete?"
776
00:37:31,988 --> 00:37:34,077
He says, "I wish you'd get
that curve ball of yours
777
00:37:34,121 --> 00:37:35,775
over just one time."
778
00:37:36,645 --> 00:37:38,865
And I go, "Yeah?
Why is that, Pete?"
779
00:37:38,908 --> 00:37:40,040
And he says, "'Cause
I'm gonna hit it
780
00:37:40,083 --> 00:37:42,260
off your blanking forehead."
781
00:37:43,783 --> 00:37:45,872
I thought, "Well,
we'll see about that."
782
00:37:46,612 --> 00:37:48,483
So the first two times
up in the game,
783
00:37:48,527 --> 00:37:50,572
I got him out on fast balls.
784
00:37:50,920 --> 00:37:52,357
Third time up,
785
00:37:52,400 --> 00:37:54,620
I figured now's the time
to throw my curve ball.
786
00:37:54,663 --> 00:37:57,492
And as soon as I released it,
and he read curve ball,
787
00:37:57,536 --> 00:38:00,190
his eyes lit up like stars.
788
00:38:00,234 --> 00:38:02,280
And he hit the most
vicious line drive
789
00:38:02,323 --> 00:38:04,673
that would've hit
me right in the face
790
00:38:04,717 --> 00:38:06,240
if I hadn't got my glove up.
791
00:38:06,284 --> 00:38:08,503
It hit off the heel of
my glove, fell down,
792
00:38:08,547 --> 00:38:09,852
I picked it up
and threw him out.
793
00:38:09,896 --> 00:38:11,332
And he was running
to first base,
794
00:38:11,376 --> 00:38:12,855
pointing at me the whole time.
795
00:38:16,468 --> 00:38:17,860
Do you remember that story
796
00:38:17,904 --> 00:38:19,209
the same way he told it?
797
00:38:19,253 --> 00:38:20,733
Yes. Yes.
798
00:38:20,776 --> 00:38:22,691
Yeah, I don't have as
many records as him.
799
00:38:22,735 --> 00:38:24,127
How many records you got?
800
00:38:24,171 --> 00:38:25,346
51? 51.
801
00:38:25,390 --> 00:38:26,478
51?
802
00:38:34,790 --> 00:38:36,705
Of course you
have three no-hitters
803
00:38:36,749 --> 00:38:38,359
to your credit, which is another
tremendous accomplishment
804
00:38:38,403 --> 00:38:40,448
at the young age, just
how old are you now?
805
00:38:40,492 --> 00:38:42,407
I'm 28.
806
00:38:42,450 --> 00:38:43,669
Oh my God,
you're still a spring chicken.
807
00:38:43,712 --> 00:38:45,323
Ha ha, well, I hope so.
808
00:38:45,366 --> 00:38:47,368
At that time,
809
00:38:47,412 --> 00:38:50,589
only four pitchers in history
had three or more no-hitters.
810
00:38:51,633 --> 00:38:54,680
Nolan threw three
in just 16 months.
811
00:38:55,376 --> 00:38:58,118
I mean, this was
mind-boggling stuff.
812
00:38:58,161 --> 00:39:00,816
But he wasn't satisfied yet.
813
00:39:00,860 --> 00:39:04,951
In 1975, the chase of
his idol continued.
814
00:39:04,994 --> 00:39:07,910
Sandy had the record at four.
815
00:39:07,954 --> 00:39:09,782
Once I got number three,
816
00:39:09,825 --> 00:39:13,089
I was in hopes that I
could accomplish that too.
817
00:39:15,222 --> 00:39:18,617
June 1st, 1975, he
can't get out of bed.
818
00:39:18,660 --> 00:39:20,314
He can't move his arm.
819
00:39:20,358 --> 00:39:21,620
He can't brush his teeth.
820
00:39:21,663 --> 00:39:23,099
He can't tie his shoes.
821
00:39:23,143 --> 00:39:24,492
Ruth has to do it for him.
822
00:39:24,536 --> 00:39:27,321
I developed bone
chips in my elbow.
823
00:39:27,365 --> 00:39:30,193
Those chips would move around
and they would get in the joint
824
00:39:30,237 --> 00:39:32,195
and then keep me from extending.
825
00:39:32,239 --> 00:39:33,588
He's slated to start
a Sunday day game
826
00:39:33,632 --> 00:39:35,503
versus Baltimore Orioles.
827
00:39:35,547 --> 00:39:37,331
I'm bat boy that day.
828
00:39:37,375 --> 00:39:41,379
Well, evidently I warmed up
and it, it all worked out.
829
00:39:42,031 --> 00:39:43,642
There's no
one at the exit today,
830
00:39:43,685 --> 00:39:45,339
they're watching
Ryan and cheering.
831
00:39:45,383 --> 00:39:47,341
Many of them on their feet now,
832
00:39:47,385 --> 00:39:49,517
a no-hitter on the line.
833
00:39:51,432 --> 00:39:53,608
The top of the ninth inning,
I was third up, and I went,
834
00:39:53,652 --> 00:39:56,263
"Oh, oh, I could be the last
out here for the no-hitter."
835
00:39:57,090 --> 00:39:59,440
Ryan, two balls,
two strikes, the count.
836
00:39:59,484 --> 00:40:01,311
Two outs in the ninth innings.
837
00:40:04,489 --> 00:40:07,100
Throwing two fast balls
and he fouled them off.
838
00:40:08,231 --> 00:40:10,538
And Rich is
making it tough on everyone.
839
00:40:10,582 --> 00:40:12,540
So I'm looking fastball
and he threw it
840
00:40:12,584 --> 00:40:14,150
and I saw it coming,
and I stepped out,
841
00:40:14,194 --> 00:40:15,761
but it never got there.
842
00:40:15,804 --> 00:40:18,241
I'm going and he
threw a two-two change up.
843
00:40:20,548 --> 00:40:22,376
The two-two pitch. Change.
844
00:40:25,510 --> 00:40:27,337
I had no chance.
845
00:40:27,381 --> 00:40:28,948
I mean, that was the last
thing in the world I expected
846
00:40:28,991 --> 00:40:31,516
in the ninth inning,
was his third best pitch.
847
00:40:31,559 --> 00:40:33,561
Nolan Ryan [indistinct].
848
00:40:36,434 --> 00:40:37,696
You know, you tip
your hat and you go,
849
00:40:37,739 --> 00:40:39,437
"Nolan, nice going, buddy.
850
00:40:39,480 --> 00:40:41,961
But I guess I'm in the
record book too."
851
00:40:48,054 --> 00:40:50,796
We never thought about fame.
852
00:40:51,449 --> 00:40:53,102
I think after the no-hitters,
853
00:40:53,146 --> 00:40:56,018
he became more famous.
854
00:40:56,062 --> 00:40:57,890
I think at times
you like being recognized
855
00:40:57,933 --> 00:40:59,892
and other times you don't.
856
00:40:59,935 --> 00:41:01,720
You have to accept the fact that
857
00:41:01,763 --> 00:41:03,809
it comes with the territory.
858
00:41:03,852 --> 00:41:07,116
I would cope with
that sometimes with women.
859
00:41:07,160 --> 00:41:08,727
Like, some woman would come up
860
00:41:08,770 --> 00:41:12,382
and she'd hand me
her camera and say,
861
00:41:12,426 --> 00:41:13,862
"Here, take our picture,"
you know?
862
00:41:13,906 --> 00:41:15,777
And then she'd go
give Nolan a big hug.
863
00:41:16,430 --> 00:41:19,651
So you get that feeling that
you're sort of invisible.
864
00:41:21,348 --> 00:41:25,395
The longer he played there,
it became a lot tougher,
865
00:41:25,439 --> 00:41:28,094
I guess, for me,
as far as dealing with the fame.
866
00:41:29,530 --> 00:41:31,750
I was trying to raise three
little kids at the time.
867
00:41:33,491 --> 00:41:35,884
I don't know
that when you have a child
868
00:41:35,928 --> 00:41:39,584
that you're really prepared
for that responsibility
869
00:41:39,627 --> 00:41:42,935
and the impact that
it has on your life.
870
00:41:42,978 --> 00:41:46,591
Obviously, kids make
your life more complete.
871
00:41:46,634 --> 00:41:49,985
You grow into that and
you develop that ability
872
00:41:50,029 --> 00:41:53,554
and the care and love that
you experience for a child.
873
00:42:00,561 --> 00:42:03,303
It's worst kind of
phone call you can get,
874
00:42:03,346 --> 00:42:06,262
that something happened
to one of your children.
875
00:42:07,960 --> 00:42:10,963
To make it even worse is
that you're not there.
876
00:42:13,226 --> 00:42:16,664
It was one of the worst things
that had happened in our lives.
877
00:42:20,320 --> 00:42:23,889
It was May the ninth of 1979.
878
00:42:24,150 --> 00:42:26,587
Reed was seven years old.
879
00:42:28,807 --> 00:42:31,505
I was out in the yard with
the two and three-year-old
880
00:42:31,549 --> 00:42:34,508
while Reed was across the
street playing baseball.
881
00:42:34,552 --> 00:42:37,467
Kids were teasing him about
his little baseball shirt.
882
00:42:37,511 --> 00:42:39,034
They were gonna
take his shirt away.
883
00:42:39,078 --> 00:42:42,560
And so he was running
back to our yard.
884
00:42:42,603 --> 00:42:45,345
Of course, he didn't look, and
this girl turned the corner
885
00:42:45,388 --> 00:42:46,912
and he ran out in the street,
886
00:42:46,955 --> 00:42:48,522
right when she turned
into the neighborhood
887
00:42:48,566 --> 00:42:49,958
and knocked him up in the air.
888
00:42:53,658 --> 00:42:56,486
Reed said, "Mom,
am I gonna die?"
889
00:42:56,530 --> 00:42:57,705
That was what he said to me.
890
00:42:58,358 --> 00:43:00,578
So that, just like, tore me up.
891
00:43:13,547 --> 00:43:15,810
I called the ballpark in Boston
892
00:43:15,854 --> 00:43:17,943
because that's where
Nolan was playing.
893
00:43:21,033 --> 00:43:22,600
When I heard Nolan's voice,
894
00:43:22,643 --> 00:43:24,863
I just broke down in tears.
895
00:43:24,906 --> 00:43:27,430
And I was like, hah, you know,
896
00:43:27,474 --> 00:43:29,041
I still wanna cry.
897
00:43:30,869 --> 00:43:34,655
He lost a kidney and...
898
00:43:34,699 --> 00:43:36,222
he lost spleen,
899
00:43:37,440 --> 00:43:40,052
but he recovered
from everything.
900
00:43:42,794 --> 00:43:46,406
I left that experience
feeling blessed to be alive,
901
00:43:47,015 --> 00:43:49,627
blessed to be able-bodied still.
902
00:43:51,541 --> 00:43:53,282
Really, from that moment on,
903
00:43:53,326 --> 00:43:55,371
I just decided that I
was gonna be positive
904
00:43:55,415 --> 00:43:57,852
the rest of my life because
every day is a gift.
905
00:44:01,682 --> 00:44:03,902
That kinda
reaffirmed my feelings
906
00:44:03,945 --> 00:44:07,383
about hoping that I could
pitch closer to home.
907
00:44:12,084 --> 00:44:13,302
I grew up as a Texan.
908
00:44:13,346 --> 00:44:14,390
I am a Texan,
909
00:44:14,434 --> 00:44:15,870
and I'm proud to be a Texan.
910
00:44:15,914 --> 00:44:18,307
And there's a mystique about it.
911
00:44:18,351 --> 00:44:19,831
It's in my blood.
912
00:44:26,794 --> 00:44:28,491
When we left Anaheim
for the last time,
913
00:44:28,535 --> 00:44:30,493
dad had a single-cab
pickup truck
914
00:44:30,537 --> 00:44:33,671
and we rode from
Anaheim to Alvin
915
00:44:33,714 --> 00:44:37,762
which is like 24-hour drive
in the bed of the truck.
916
00:44:37,805 --> 00:44:40,721
That was before seatbelt
laws and everything else.
917
00:44:40,765 --> 00:44:42,680
We had one of those
sliding glass windows.
918
00:44:42,723 --> 00:44:44,682
And so Reed and I could
crawl back and forth
919
00:44:44,725 --> 00:44:47,467
between, you know, being
in the front with my dad
920
00:44:47,510 --> 00:44:48,990
and being in the
back with the dogs
921
00:44:49,034 --> 00:44:51,601
and these green army men
that he had bought us.
922
00:44:51,645 --> 00:44:53,386
We thought it was the
greatest thing in the world.
923
00:44:56,128 --> 00:44:57,695
Wanting to come home
924
00:44:57,738 --> 00:44:59,740
was one of the reasons
Nolan left the Angels,
925
00:45:00,915 --> 00:45:02,221
but that's not the whole story.
926
00:45:05,354 --> 00:45:08,749
During contract
negotiations in 79,
927
00:45:08,793 --> 00:45:10,795
the top brass at Anaheim
928
00:45:10,838 --> 00:45:13,841
thought Nolan was getting a
bit too big for his britches.
929
00:45:13,885 --> 00:45:15,756
With the general manager,
Buzzie Bavasi,
930
00:45:15,800 --> 00:45:17,627
even saying in the press,
931
00:45:17,671 --> 00:45:19,281
he could just sign two
932
00:45:19,325 --> 00:45:21,327
eight and seven pitchers
to replace Nolan
933
00:45:21,370 --> 00:45:23,329
who was 16 and 14 that season.
934
00:45:25,418 --> 00:45:27,289
Talk about a slap in the face.
935
00:45:28,073 --> 00:45:29,727
Undervalued again.
936
00:45:31,076 --> 00:45:34,862
Well, one team's loss
was another team's gain.
937
00:45:37,691 --> 00:45:40,302
Nolan had a manifest destiny
938
00:45:40,346 --> 00:45:43,262
of finishing his
career in Texas,
939
00:45:43,305 --> 00:45:47,048
and no better place
than 35 miles away
940
00:45:47,092 --> 00:45:49,572
from where he played
high school ball
941
00:45:49,616 --> 00:45:51,749
and fell in love with Ruth.
942
00:45:52,575 --> 00:45:54,360
Nolan signed
a free-agent contract
943
00:45:54,403 --> 00:45:56,144
with the Houston Astros
944
00:45:56,188 --> 00:45:59,844
to become baseball's
first million-dollar man.
945
00:45:59,887 --> 00:46:03,151
And not just in baseball,
in any sport,
946
00:46:03,195 --> 00:46:04,457
period.
947
00:46:04,979 --> 00:46:08,026
He said, "Well, if they
got the money,
948
00:46:08,809 --> 00:46:10,768
I'll be more than
happy to take it."
949
00:46:12,334 --> 00:46:15,337
He broke the barrier,
started players actually
950
00:46:15,381 --> 00:46:17,818
getting paid what they
really deserved.
951
00:46:17,862 --> 00:46:20,342
And I tip my hat to him.
952
00:46:20,386 --> 00:46:21,561
Thank you, Noley.
953
00:46:21,604 --> 00:46:23,084
It was a big number.
954
00:46:23,128 --> 00:46:25,783
And in those days it
got a lot of attention.
955
00:46:26,566 --> 00:46:29,438
But I think because
it was Nolan Ryan,
956
00:46:29,482 --> 00:46:31,223
it was not a,
957
00:46:31,266 --> 00:46:33,834
"Gosh, this athlete's being
paid more than his worth."
958
00:46:33,878 --> 00:46:35,575
Whatever you would've paid him,
959
00:46:35,618 --> 00:46:38,447
you've said, "Hey
this guy's worth it."
960
00:46:45,280 --> 00:46:47,065
When I first got here in 75,
961
00:46:47,108 --> 00:46:48,544
we couldn't beat anybody.
962
00:46:48,588 --> 00:46:50,590
And then the atmosphere
started to change
963
00:46:50,633 --> 00:46:53,201
and we started to win.
We thought we could win.
964
00:46:53,245 --> 00:46:55,203
And then when we got Nolan,
965
00:46:55,247 --> 00:46:57,205
we weren't afraid of anybody.
966
00:46:59,338 --> 00:47:01,383
As important as
pitching is in baseball,
967
00:47:01,427 --> 00:47:02,907
it is, the first game
Nolan pitched
968
00:47:02,950 --> 00:47:04,125
was not about his pitching.
969
00:47:05,735 --> 00:47:07,563
I bet there's one
thing Nolan ever talked about,
970
00:47:07,607 --> 00:47:09,130
his batting average.
971
00:47:10,001 --> 00:47:11,872
And I don't
think he liked to hear it.
972
00:47:14,266 --> 00:47:16,224
I was the base
runner in second base
973
00:47:16,268 --> 00:47:19,271
and I thought,
"You gotta be kidding me."
974
00:47:21,490 --> 00:47:23,536
Nolan Ryan just hit a home run.
975
00:47:23,579 --> 00:47:25,451
And he couldn't hit.
976
00:47:25,494 --> 00:47:27,409
Somebody told you it
was coming, Noley.
977
00:47:28,410 --> 00:47:29,977
And it him took about a hour
978
00:47:30,021 --> 00:47:32,414
to get around the bases
because he wasn't fast.
979
00:47:34,329 --> 00:47:36,157
They thought, "Oh gee,
this guy can pitch and hit."
980
00:47:36,201 --> 00:47:38,072
You know?
981
00:47:38,116 --> 00:47:39,682
Not.
982
00:47:39,726 --> 00:47:41,815
His lifetime batting averages.
983
00:47:41,859 --> 00:47:44,731
Somebody brought it to my
attention that it was 1-10.
984
00:47:44,774 --> 00:47:46,341
That's not good for anybody.
985
00:47:46,864 --> 00:47:48,300
Nolan, as poorly as you hit,
986
00:47:48,343 --> 00:47:50,171
they could put a Saturn rocket
987
00:47:50,215 --> 00:47:51,869
from our friends down at NASA,
and still may not help you.
988
00:47:51,912 --> 00:47:54,480
Yeah, but if I ever
make contact, Barry.
989
00:47:54,523 --> 00:47:56,308
Hair will grow on my head.
990
00:47:56,351 --> 00:47:58,179
I doubt it.
991
00:47:58,223 --> 00:47:59,441
Say goodbye, Nolan.
992
00:47:59,485 --> 00:48:01,095
Chirp. All right.
993
00:48:01,139 --> 00:48:02,357
See you later.
994
00:48:06,013 --> 00:48:07,885
A friend of a friend
995
00:48:07,928 --> 00:48:11,105
knew a person that worked the
back gate in the Astrodome.
996
00:48:11,149 --> 00:48:12,802
Go, Nolan.
997
00:48:12,846 --> 00:48:14,108
I was only allowed to go in
998
00:48:14,152 --> 00:48:15,631
when Nolan was pitching.
999
00:48:15,675 --> 00:48:17,895
I snuck in to just
watch him warm up.
1000
00:48:19,200 --> 00:48:20,941
Nolan's throwing a 93, 95,
1001
00:48:20,985 --> 00:48:22,812
it sounds like 105.
1002
00:48:22,856 --> 00:48:24,249
You could hear the ball,
1003
00:48:24,292 --> 00:48:26,033
it sounded like bacon
in a frying pan.
1004
00:48:26,077 --> 00:48:28,514
You'd hear that sizzle
[sss-pow],
1005
00:48:28,557 --> 00:48:30,298
hitting that glove.
1006
00:48:30,951 --> 00:48:32,735
Nolan's fastball,
1007
00:48:32,779 --> 00:48:34,955
there was no other
sound like it.
1008
00:48:34,999 --> 00:48:36,217
You could hear it.
1009
00:48:36,261 --> 00:48:37,740
Whoosh.
1010
00:48:37,784 --> 00:48:39,873
Whoo-pop. It just
come in there,
1011
00:48:39,917 --> 00:48:41,527
Phuh. Phuh.
1012
00:48:50,057 --> 00:48:52,103
Career strikeout number 3,000.
1013
00:48:52,146 --> 00:48:56,890
♪ Tell me can you feel it
1014
00:48:57,717 --> 00:48:59,110
♪ The heat is on
1015
00:48:59,937 --> 00:49:00,981
♪ Yeah
1016
00:49:01,025 --> 00:49:02,548
♪ The heat is on
1017
00:49:02,591 --> 00:49:03,984
Strike three called.
1018
00:49:04,028 --> 00:49:05,768
And there's the record-breaker.
1019
00:49:05,812 --> 00:49:07,248
♪ Burnin' burnin' burnin'
1020
00:49:07,292 --> 00:49:09,294
♪ It's on the streets
1021
00:49:09,337 --> 00:49:11,992
Strikeout number
4,000 for Nolan Ryan.
1022
00:49:12,036 --> 00:49:13,863
♪ The heat is on
1023
00:49:13,907 --> 00:49:15,953
Hitters that faced
him, they were gonna say,
1024
00:49:15,996 --> 00:49:18,999
"Facing him on a day where
he's got 100 mile an hour
1025
00:49:19,043 --> 00:49:22,611
fastball and a curve ball
that was 12 to 6,"
1026
00:49:23,786 --> 00:49:24,874
♪ On.
1027
00:49:24,918 --> 00:49:26,137
"It was no fun."
1028
00:49:26,180 --> 00:49:28,139
He threw a lot
of bastard pitches.
1029
00:49:28,182 --> 00:49:30,097
Guy makes a great pitch,
1030
00:49:30,141 --> 00:49:31,925
we call him a bastard.
1031
00:49:32,534 --> 00:49:34,014
You have to look fastball.
1032
00:49:34,058 --> 00:49:37,017
And then when that curve
comes in there,
1033
00:49:37,061 --> 00:49:39,628
jelly leg, you know, they
call it, you know, oh-ho.
1034
00:49:39,672 --> 00:49:41,804
If Nolan Ryan was on his game,
1035
00:49:41,848 --> 00:49:43,197
and he had that
curve ball working--
1036
00:49:43,241 --> 00:49:44,851
Look at that.
1037
00:49:44,894 --> 00:49:47,288
You're not gonna hit that.
You're not gonna hit it.
1038
00:49:47,332 --> 00:49:51,597
If he was getting that over,
it's goodnight, Irene.
1039
00:49:53,555 --> 00:49:55,644
We're looking
at the top of the Astrodome.
1040
00:49:55,688 --> 00:49:57,907
Here in Houston they
refer to the Astrodome
1041
00:49:57,951 --> 00:49:59,648
as the Eighth Wonder of
the World.
1042
00:49:59,692 --> 00:50:01,128
And this afternoon,
1043
00:50:01,172 --> 00:50:03,304
the Dodgers and the
Houston Astros.
1044
00:50:03,348 --> 00:50:06,003
It'll be Nolan Ryan
against Ted Power.
1045
00:50:07,439 --> 00:50:10,398
I keep the video on my phone.
1046
00:50:10,442 --> 00:50:11,704
Can you play it?
1047
00:50:14,750 --> 00:50:18,058
Since walking
Landreaux in the third inning,
1048
00:50:18,102 --> 00:50:20,060
here's the pitch on
the way to Scioscia.
1049
00:50:20,104 --> 00:50:22,628
Fly ball to right center
field and he hit it deep.
1050
00:50:24,630 --> 00:50:26,458
And Nolan Ryan,
along with Sandy Koufax,
1051
00:50:26,501 --> 00:50:27,807
only two men in
baseball history
1052
00:50:27,850 --> 00:50:29,765
to have pitched four no-hitters.
1053
00:50:29,809 --> 00:50:32,159
I guess I'd really
gotten to where I thought
1054
00:50:32,203 --> 00:50:35,728
the no-hit aspect of my
career was probably behind me.
1055
00:50:35,989 --> 00:50:37,904
He hasn't had a
no-hitter in six years.
1056
00:50:38,513 --> 00:50:40,298
Ballgame just underway.
1057
00:50:40,994 --> 00:50:43,083
Overhead curve ball gets him.
1058
00:50:43,127 --> 00:50:44,345
Three, two to Scioscia.
1059
00:50:44,389 --> 00:50:45,346
Curve ball!
1060
00:50:45,390 --> 00:50:47,000
Oh, that got him!
1061
00:50:47,044 --> 00:50:48,132
Three strikeouts
and every one of them
1062
00:50:48,175 --> 00:50:49,872
been on big up with Charlie.
1063
00:50:53,354 --> 00:50:56,618
Nolan Ryan, gets strike
out number eight.
1064
00:50:57,141 --> 00:50:59,099
So he will go into
the sixth inning,
1065
00:50:59,143 --> 00:51:01,014
still with a no-hitter
in his sight.
1066
00:51:04,017 --> 00:51:05,497
Oftentimes, you'd
come back to the dugout
1067
00:51:05,540 --> 00:51:07,368
and guys would be saying,
1068
00:51:07,412 --> 00:51:09,109
"Is he gonna get one tonight?
Is this it? Has he got it?"
1069
00:51:09,936 --> 00:51:13,026
It had no chance to talk with
Nolan in-between innings.
1070
00:51:13,070 --> 00:51:15,289
It was taboo to even
approach a guy,
1071
00:51:15,333 --> 00:51:18,031
especially if his uniform
said Ryan on the back.
1072
00:51:18,075 --> 00:51:20,207
The pitcher don't
wanna hear that.
1073
00:51:20,251 --> 00:51:21,991
You already know that
he pitching a no-hitter,
1074
00:51:22,035 --> 00:51:23,167
so don't mention it.
1075
00:51:23,863 --> 00:51:25,169
Stay quiet.
1076
00:51:25,212 --> 00:51:26,344
You don't wanna
put the curse on him.
1077
00:51:26,387 --> 00:51:27,954
Cruz!
1078
00:51:27,997 --> 00:51:29,347
And be there, you know.
1079
00:51:29,390 --> 00:51:30,652
Somebody throwing
like a no-hitter,
1080
00:51:30,696 --> 00:51:32,219
you playing the outfield.
1081
00:51:32,263 --> 00:51:34,743
Sometimes you say my God,
I gotta be ready.
1082
00:51:34,787 --> 00:51:36,702
I gotta try to make a good play.
1083
00:51:36,745 --> 00:51:38,182
There has not been a ball hit
hard
1084
00:51:38,225 --> 00:51:40,009
off Nolan Ryan in
this ball game.
1085
00:51:41,924 --> 00:51:43,361
Get deep,
the right center field!
1086
00:51:43,404 --> 00:51:45,319
Puhl going back.
1087
00:51:46,799 --> 00:51:48,670
He makes the catch!
1088
00:51:48,714 --> 00:51:51,108
Remember catching the ball
with my glove just to
1089
00:51:51,151 --> 00:51:54,981
scoop it up, to hold it
in the glove at the end.
1090
00:51:55,024 --> 00:51:57,070
And for me, that was
a good play.
1091
00:51:57,592 --> 00:51:59,028
And that's the closest they've
come
1092
00:51:59,072 --> 00:52:00,508
to breaking a no-hitter.
1093
00:52:00,943 --> 00:52:03,468
And oftentimes, there
is one play that propels
1094
00:52:03,511 --> 00:52:04,643
a no-hitter to its finish.
1095
00:52:06,862 --> 00:52:08,255
Nolan Ryan goes
out here in the ninth inning
1096
00:52:08,299 --> 00:52:09,517
to try to nail down
the three outs
1097
00:52:09,561 --> 00:52:10,736
that give him the no-hitter.
1098
00:52:11,737 --> 00:52:13,565
Dusty Baker comes up.
1099
00:52:13,608 --> 00:52:15,175
All the players,
we had butterflies.
1100
00:52:15,219 --> 00:52:16,785
We're all nervous.
1101
00:52:16,829 --> 00:52:18,700
I'm thinking to myself,
I hope he hits it to,
1102
00:52:18,744 --> 00:52:19,788
you know, Craig Reynolds
at short
1103
00:52:19,832 --> 00:52:21,529
instead of me or whatever.
1104
00:52:24,445 --> 00:52:25,620
This may be it!
1105
00:52:25,664 --> 00:52:26,795
He has got it.
1106
00:52:28,710 --> 00:52:30,886
Nolan Ryan!
No-hitter number five!
1107
00:52:34,238 --> 00:52:36,327
I was so happy
I made the play,
1108
00:52:36,370 --> 00:52:38,024
and did it for Nolan.
1109
00:52:39,025 --> 00:52:40,722
I have this, these
moments that are just
1110
00:52:40,766 --> 00:52:43,551
they're frozen in time.
1111
00:52:43,595 --> 00:52:45,727
You see those and it's really
cool to remember 'em,
1112
00:52:45,771 --> 00:52:47,338
probably just, especially
when it's somebody
1113
00:52:47,381 --> 00:52:49,122
that's your friend and
you're so excited for them.
1114
00:52:49,166 --> 00:52:50,645
You see it's a part
of history they gave
1115
00:52:50,689 --> 00:52:52,299
and you think I got
to be a part of that.
1116
00:52:52,343 --> 00:52:53,909
How cool is that?
1117
00:52:53,953 --> 00:52:55,955
The first man ever to pitch
1118
00:52:55,998 --> 00:52:57,696
five career no-hitters.
1119
00:52:59,437 --> 00:53:02,309
He's beat Sandy Koufax
and his legend stature
1120
00:53:02,353 --> 00:53:03,745
just went up a notch.
1121
00:53:03,789 --> 00:53:08,315
crowd cheers]
1122
00:53:08,359 --> 00:53:10,012
Mrs. Ryan,
have you seen all of oth-
1123
00:53:10,056 --> 00:53:11,579
Nolan's other, uh no-hitters?
1124
00:53:11,623 --> 00:53:13,277
No, this is the first one.
1125
00:53:14,495 --> 00:53:16,236
It wasn't just a no-hitter.
1126
00:53:16,280 --> 00:53:20,414
It was a no-hitter
by a hometown kid.
1127
00:53:20,458 --> 00:53:25,463
He would always shine the
spotlight on a teammate.
1128
00:53:28,596 --> 00:53:31,860
I'm sitting in front of
my locker and Nolan
1129
00:53:31,904 --> 00:53:35,342
shows up and I'm looking
at him and he says,
1130
00:53:35,386 --> 00:53:37,257
TP, nice catch.
1131
00:53:37,301 --> 00:53:41,174
He's got all this stuff going
on with him and he had the,
1132
00:53:41,218 --> 00:53:44,786
the reserve in him to, to come
over to my locker and say,
1133
00:53:44,830 --> 00:53:47,354
hey nice catch, 10 minutes
after the ball game.
1134
00:53:47,398 --> 00:53:49,443
I was like, I mean
that's, that's,
1135
00:53:49,487 --> 00:53:50,836
that's pretty special.
1136
00:53:51,184 --> 00:53:53,012
Terry Puhl, a long
way to go for it,
1137
00:53:53,055 --> 00:53:55,014
making a running
catch for the out.
1138
00:54:00,324 --> 00:54:02,239
But that's the play.
1139
00:54:05,067 --> 00:54:07,200
When Nolan came to the Astros,
1140
00:54:07,244 --> 00:54:09,724
we were now big
kids on the block.
1141
00:54:12,466 --> 00:54:15,774
These Astros,
collectively, it's good team.
1142
00:54:15,817 --> 00:54:18,646
The Astros never got
respect nationally.
1143
00:54:18,690 --> 00:54:21,867
Nolan gave them
respect nationally.
1144
00:54:21,910 --> 00:54:24,217
Steps on first and
the Astros have won
1145
00:54:24,261 --> 00:54:26,263
the National League West.
1146
00:54:26,306 --> 00:54:29,396
Making the playoffs
really catapulted the Astros
1147
00:54:29,440 --> 00:54:31,268
even higher than
the football team.
1148
00:54:34,271 --> 00:54:36,185
Game five from the Astrodome
1149
00:54:36,229 --> 00:54:39,101
in Houston, Texas and for
the third time in 12 years,
1150
00:54:39,145 --> 00:54:40,668
the National League
Championship Series
1151
00:54:40,712 --> 00:54:42,540
will go the limit.
1152
00:54:42,583 --> 00:54:45,107
It was the best of five series
to get to the world series.
1153
00:54:45,151 --> 00:54:46,848
That's kind of hard to believe,
1154
00:54:46,892 --> 00:54:48,589
but that was cool because
we had Nolan on the mound
1155
00:54:48,633 --> 00:54:50,199
for game five.
1156
00:54:52,071 --> 00:54:53,420
Top of the eighth,
big Tex toe in the rubber,
1157
00:54:53,986 --> 00:54:56,162
and only six outs
to send the 'Stros
1158
00:54:56,205 --> 00:54:58,295
to their first
ever World Series.
1159
00:54:59,121 --> 00:55:00,906
Let's watch Nolan
channel some of that old
1160
00:55:00,949 --> 00:55:02,734
miracle Mets magic.
1161
00:55:05,867 --> 00:55:07,521
You don't give
this big guy on the mound
1162
00:55:07,565 --> 00:55:09,784
a lead going into the
eighth or ninth inning
1163
00:55:09,828 --> 00:55:12,613
because he's held that lead
well over a hundred times
1164
00:55:12,657 --> 00:55:13,919
in his career.
1165
00:55:15,094 --> 00:55:16,225
That's a little looper,
1166
00:55:16,269 --> 00:55:18,097
and it's passed Reynolds.
1167
00:55:18,140 --> 00:55:21,230
Here's Boone with Bowa on first.
1168
00:55:21,274 --> 00:55:23,624
Back, off the pitchers glove.
1169
00:55:23,668 --> 00:55:24,799
There'll be no play.
1170
00:55:24,843 --> 00:55:26,584
That's gotta be a double play.
1171
00:55:26,627 --> 00:55:29,500
It's right there, but behind
him just a little bit.
1172
00:55:30,849 --> 00:55:34,200
Greg Gross drops down a
perfect bunt, bases loaded.
1173
00:55:34,243 --> 00:55:36,463
And then the top of
the order came up.
1174
00:55:36,507 --> 00:55:38,204
3-2, nobody out.
1175
00:55:39,466 --> 00:55:41,076
It's outside, ball four.
1176
00:55:41,120 --> 00:55:42,556
Forces in a run.
1177
00:55:44,210 --> 00:55:46,517
The next thing you know,
all hell broke loose.
1178
00:55:47,126 --> 00:55:48,954
Phillies have scored five runs
1179
00:55:48,997 --> 00:55:50,477
in the eighth inning.
1180
00:55:52,610 --> 00:55:57,092
It was the most crushing
game in Astros history,
1181
00:55:57,136 --> 00:56:00,400
because they were just
so close to World Series.
1182
00:56:00,444 --> 00:56:02,489
Maddox going... it's over!
1183
00:56:03,360 --> 00:56:05,187
The Phillies win it.
1184
00:56:11,324 --> 00:56:14,762
In the 1980 season, I just
think after being a free agent
1185
00:56:14,806 --> 00:56:17,286
and having a million dollar
contract and the people's
1186
00:56:17,330 --> 00:56:20,942
expectations of what you
coming to a ball club
1187
00:56:20,986 --> 00:56:24,381
meant to that club and
then us getting so close
1188
00:56:24,424 --> 00:56:27,601
and not getting it done,
I think probably
1189
00:56:27,645 --> 00:56:31,344
stuck with me more than just
about any other season.
1190
00:56:32,693 --> 00:56:34,913
The game breaks
your heart a lot.
1191
00:56:36,828 --> 00:56:38,917
Both of those years, 80 and 86
1192
00:56:38,960 --> 00:56:41,615
for all the good parts,
those were tough losses.
1193
00:56:43,008 --> 00:56:44,444
Three and two to Bass.
1194
00:56:45,837 --> 00:56:47,404
Strike him out!
1195
00:56:47,447 --> 00:56:49,884
New York Mets have won
1196
00:56:49,928 --> 00:56:53,192
the 1986 National
League pennant.
1197
00:56:54,367 --> 00:56:57,631
After 86, we kinda took a
turn in the wrong direction.
1198
00:56:57,675 --> 00:56:59,198
I, I can't tell you why.
1199
00:57:00,329 --> 00:57:02,070
I'm getting to a stage
of my career where I don't
1200
00:57:02,114 --> 00:57:03,985
have that much longer
to play and uh-
1201
00:57:04,029 --> 00:57:06,074
- How many more years?
- Well, you know, who knows.
1202
00:57:07,772 --> 00:57:09,295
He was not gonna be
satisfied with the team
1203
00:57:09,338 --> 00:57:11,776
not competing nor
should he have been.
1204
00:57:12,864 --> 00:57:15,475
1987, they put 'em
on a pitch count.
1205
00:57:15,519 --> 00:57:16,998
100 pitches, you're
out of the game.
1206
00:57:17,042 --> 00:57:18,435
Pitching great, I don't care.
1207
00:57:18,478 --> 00:57:19,914
100 pitches, you're
out of the game.
1208
00:57:19,958 --> 00:57:23,135
I remember Nolan angrily
laughing at pitch count.
1209
00:57:23,178 --> 00:57:25,093
What are you talking
about, 100 pitches?
1210
00:57:25,137 --> 00:57:28,445
When I started the game, my
intent was to finish the game
1211
00:57:28,488 --> 00:57:30,403
and I really wasn't
interested in
1212
00:57:30,447 --> 00:57:32,057
turning it over to the bullpen.
1213
00:57:34,233 --> 00:57:35,887
He took it as a personal insult
1214
00:57:35,930 --> 00:57:37,671
if he didn't finish a game.
1215
00:57:37,715 --> 00:57:40,892
Today, it's a miracle if a
pitcher throws nine innings.
1216
00:57:42,110 --> 00:57:45,897
Nolan, anything like a
pitch count was ridiculous.
1217
00:57:45,940 --> 00:57:47,899
It was just a crazy year.
1218
00:57:47,942 --> 00:57:51,598
I was 8-16, but led
the league in ERA and,
1219
00:57:51,642 --> 00:57:52,817
and strike outs.
1220
00:57:53,557 --> 00:57:56,385
Only more miserable
than his record,
1221
00:57:56,429 --> 00:57:59,171
was life in the dugout with
Nolan during those days.
1222
00:57:59,214 --> 00:58:00,564
He was tough to be around
1223
00:58:00,607 --> 00:58:02,261
because he was
demanding that the
1224
00:58:02,304 --> 00:58:04,002
offense gets something done.
1225
00:58:04,742 --> 00:58:06,265
Strike!
1226
00:58:06,308 --> 00:58:08,833
We didn't score, but
our standing joke was
1227
00:58:08,876 --> 00:58:11,096
I get you one today.
I get you one.
1228
00:58:11,139 --> 00:58:13,054
I said that better hold up.
1229
00:58:13,098 --> 00:58:14,795
Cause these other guys,
they ain't hitting today.
1230
00:58:16,101 --> 00:58:17,885
He had 15 starts where we scored
1231
00:58:17,929 --> 00:58:19,539
two runs or fewer.
1232
00:58:19,583 --> 00:58:22,063
And another stat
that I looked up,
1233
00:58:22,107 --> 00:58:24,326
in July he was 0-5.
1234
00:58:24,370 --> 00:58:26,590
We scored seven runs
in five games.
1235
00:58:26,633 --> 00:58:28,069
The 0-2 pitch,
1236
00:58:28,113 --> 00:58:29,767
got it!
1237
00:58:29,810 --> 00:58:32,944
The Astros have stranded
15 through seven.
1238
00:58:34,162 --> 00:58:36,121
Adding insult to injury,
1239
00:58:36,164 --> 00:58:37,688
the next season in 88,
1240
00:58:37,731 --> 00:58:40,429
Nolan tangled with
mercurial Astros owner
1241
00:58:40,473 --> 00:58:43,432
John McMullen during
contract negotiations.
1242
00:58:46,610 --> 00:58:51,528
McMullen was a difficult
person to be involved with.
1243
00:58:52,485 --> 00:58:55,183
John was gonna ask
Nolan to take a pay cut.
1244
00:58:55,793 --> 00:58:59,100
The owner, who I used
to refer to on the air,
1245
00:58:59,144 --> 00:59:01,538
as the ayatollah McMullen,
1246
00:59:01,581 --> 00:59:05,803
offered him a 20%
hometown discount.
1247
00:59:07,413 --> 00:59:10,155
My dad, he never
asked for a raise.
1248
00:59:10,198 --> 00:59:13,811
From 80 to 88,
nine seasons, no raise
1249
00:59:13,854 --> 00:59:16,465
because he wanted
that money to go
1250
00:59:16,509 --> 00:59:18,163
to building a better team.
1251
00:59:22,994 --> 00:59:25,692
He pulled the family together
around the dinner table
1252
00:59:25,736 --> 00:59:27,302
and said, look guys, we
don't know what's out there.
1253
00:59:27,346 --> 00:59:28,956
We're gonna, we're gonna see.
1254
00:59:29,696 --> 00:59:31,089
The Yankees called,
1255
00:59:32,003 --> 00:59:33,265
the Angels called,
1256
00:59:33,308 --> 00:59:35,746
we had a team in Japan call,
1257
00:59:35,789 --> 00:59:37,922
and then the Rangers were there.
1258
00:59:37,965 --> 00:59:39,532
And it wasn't really
about the money
1259
00:59:39,576 --> 00:59:41,490
or the quality of the club,
1260
00:59:41,534 --> 00:59:43,057
as much as it was about
1261
00:59:43,101 --> 00:59:45,364
he wanted to be as close
to home as possible.
1262
00:59:49,890 --> 00:59:51,413
All right, we get everybody?
1263
00:59:51,457 --> 00:59:53,154
Dear Lord, thank
you for this day
1264
00:59:53,198 --> 00:59:55,504
and this week that we all
get to spend together.
1265
00:59:55,548 --> 00:59:57,419
Please bless this meal
going in to our bodies
1266
00:59:57,463 --> 00:59:59,900
and let us continue to work
in all we do to glorify you.
1267
00:59:59,944 --> 01:00:01,989
- Jesus, I pray. Amen.
- Amen.
1268
01:00:02,033 --> 01:00:03,687
All right, ladies first.
1269
01:00:03,730 --> 01:00:05,036
- Y'all lead the way, ladies.
- Okay, I'll go first.
1270
01:00:06,515 --> 01:00:09,910
Nolan Ryan is a person
who prioritizes family.
1271
01:00:09,954 --> 01:00:11,869
And he's had a great career,
a lot of fame
1272
01:00:11,912 --> 01:00:14,567
but he always put
his family first.
1273
01:00:15,263 --> 01:00:17,178
When we were at home,
1274
01:00:17,222 --> 01:00:18,832
he was dad.
1275
01:00:18,876 --> 01:00:21,879
And then the minute he
walked into the clubhouse,
1276
01:00:21,922 --> 01:00:24,664
he was Nolan Ryan
the competitor,
1277
01:00:24,708 --> 01:00:26,187
and then he didn't come out
1278
01:00:26,492 --> 01:00:30,235
of the clubhouse until he
was ready to be dad again.
1279
01:00:30,278 --> 01:00:32,367
He never brought that home.
1280
01:00:32,411 --> 01:00:33,630
Hey, to family.
1281
01:00:35,240 --> 01:00:37,808
To Nana and Papa,
who started it all.
1282
01:00:37,851 --> 01:00:39,679
His persona's this
like this giant of a man
1283
01:00:39,723 --> 01:00:41,289
who's amazing at baseball.
1284
01:00:41,333 --> 01:00:43,683
You think of him
like this tough guy,
1285
01:00:43,727 --> 01:00:45,990
but he's really
sweet and intentional
1286
01:00:46,033 --> 01:00:47,469
with all of the grandkids.
1287
01:00:47,513 --> 01:00:48,906
He loves coming to
our sporting events,
1288
01:00:48,949 --> 01:00:51,343
doing everything he
can to support us.
1289
01:00:52,910 --> 01:00:54,999
And also he just loves
the family being together.
1290
01:01:01,614 --> 01:01:04,008
My grandmother,
we call her Nanamoo.
1291
01:01:04,051 --> 01:01:05,705
She's like who I
wanna be in life.
1292
01:01:05,749 --> 01:01:09,578
She is the most selfless
person I've ever known.
1293
01:01:09,622 --> 01:01:10,884
She's my--
1294
01:01:10,928 --> 01:01:12,146
I don't know, I love her.
1295
01:01:12,190 --> 01:01:14,235
She's nurturing and supportive,
1296
01:01:14,279 --> 01:01:16,716
but also the most competitive
person I've ever met,
1297
01:01:16,760 --> 01:01:18,718
which is funny when
your grandfather's like,
1298
01:01:18,762 --> 01:01:20,807
arguably the best baseball
pitcher of all time,
1299
01:01:20,851 --> 01:01:23,462
to say my grandmother's
significantly more competitive.
1300
01:01:23,505 --> 01:01:26,465
My mom is definitely the
most competitive person
in our family.
1301
01:01:26,508 --> 01:01:27,945
By far.
1302
01:01:27,988 --> 01:01:32,036
My mom was a 1965 state
doubles tennis champion.
1303
01:01:32,950 --> 01:01:34,908
It was really good
in my dad's career
1304
01:01:34,952 --> 01:01:37,911
to have somebody at home that
didn't give you the like,
1305
01:01:37,955 --> 01:01:39,739
"Oh, that's okay
you lost, Nolan."
1306
01:01:39,783 --> 01:01:42,437
Really, she pushed him to
be the best he could be.
1307
01:01:42,481 --> 01:01:43,917
After the games,
1308
01:01:43,961 --> 01:01:46,746
my adrenaline would be
going pretty big.
1309
01:01:46,790 --> 01:01:49,793
I would wanna rehash the
games with him and he did not.
1310
01:01:49,836 --> 01:01:51,882
That was over and done with.
1311
01:01:51,925 --> 01:01:55,407
Now, I can watch a game
and enjoy it more
1312
01:01:56,016 --> 01:01:58,715
because I'm not just
dying with every pitch
1313
01:01:59,367 --> 01:02:02,240
and it's not like your
livelihood depends on
1314
01:02:02,283 --> 01:02:04,546
what's going on out there.
1315
01:02:08,768 --> 01:02:11,031
I can remember going to
Eddie Chiles, our owner,
1316
01:02:11,075 --> 01:02:14,556
and saying, "We might have
a chance to sign Nolan
1317
01:02:14,600 --> 01:02:17,516
but it doesn't appear that
he fits in our budget."
1318
01:02:17,559 --> 01:02:18,778
And Eddie Chiles said,
1319
01:02:18,822 --> 01:02:20,562
"You go sign Nolan Ryan,
1320
01:02:20,606 --> 01:02:22,956
let me worry about where the
money's gonna come from."
1321
01:02:23,000 --> 01:02:24,566
I remember vividly,
1322
01:02:24,610 --> 01:02:29,180
Tom Grieve and I in this
silly hotel hallway,
1323
01:02:29,223 --> 01:02:31,356
jumping up and down,
1324
01:02:31,399 --> 01:02:34,489
doing like spins in the air,
1325
01:02:34,533 --> 01:02:36,274
slapping each other five,
1326
01:02:36,317 --> 01:02:39,668
thinking we just pulled
off the impossible.
1327
01:02:39,712 --> 01:02:43,150
The Texas Rangers have
entered into a contract
1328
01:02:43,194 --> 01:02:44,673
with Nolan Ryan.
1329
01:02:44,717 --> 01:02:46,066
They're probably 10 members
1330
01:02:46,110 --> 01:02:48,677
of the Dallas Fort
Worth media there.
1331
01:02:48,721 --> 01:02:51,245
Not one of us had a clue
1332
01:02:51,289 --> 01:02:53,247
and everybody's kinda
looking at each other,
1333
01:02:53,291 --> 01:02:55,815
like, "This is great!"
1334
01:02:55,859 --> 01:02:58,992
And then like in the
next breath it's,
1335
01:02:59,036 --> 01:03:00,864
"Wait a minute.
How old is Nolan?"
1336
01:03:01,516 --> 01:03:03,214
And, now there were
no smartphones,
1337
01:03:03,257 --> 01:03:06,260
so we actually had
go to the books.
1338
01:03:06,304 --> 01:03:08,785
He's gonna be 41,
1339
01:03:08,828 --> 01:03:11,962
but in Houston,
they still cuss it.
1340
01:03:12,005 --> 01:03:13,702
Even today,
1341
01:03:13,746 --> 01:03:16,444
all these years later
they'll be cussing that one.
1342
01:03:16,967 --> 01:03:19,230
He was always such a class guy,
1343
01:03:19,273 --> 01:03:21,536
but you knew when he
went to the Rangers,
1344
01:03:21,580 --> 01:03:23,277
he wanted to...
1345
01:03:23,321 --> 01:03:24,801
to John McMullen.
1346
01:03:25,453 --> 01:03:26,933
The day we signed Nolan Ryan,
1347
01:03:26,977 --> 01:03:29,980
it was like we became
a Major League team.
1348
01:03:31,329 --> 01:03:32,286
- Sorry about that.
- Oh, no worries.
1349
01:03:32,330 --> 01:03:33,984
That's mine.
1350
01:03:34,027 --> 01:03:36,247
Hey, just go grab it.
1351
01:03:37,291 --> 01:03:40,381
That afternoon, the phone
started ringing in Arlington
1352
01:03:40,425 --> 01:03:43,036
and we had 250, 300 calls
1353
01:03:43,080 --> 01:03:47,084
for people inquiring about
season tickets for 1989.
1354
01:03:47,127 --> 01:03:48,781
And for us, believe me,
that was a lot.
1355
01:03:48,825 --> 01:03:51,784
There's no better way
to sell tickets in Texas
1356
01:03:51,828 --> 01:03:54,831
than to say "Buy a ticket and
come and watch Nolan Ryan."
1357
01:03:54,874 --> 01:03:57,224
He's a hero to many Texans.
1358
01:03:57,268 --> 01:03:59,661
I used to watch him
when I was a little kid.
1359
01:03:59,705 --> 01:04:00,967
This is a legend
1360
01:04:01,011 --> 01:04:02,839
and now he's coming
to the Rangers.
1361
01:04:02,882 --> 01:04:07,234
Being with the team that had
very little notoriety at all
1362
01:04:07,278 --> 01:04:09,497
it was like Elvis
had come aboard.
1363
01:04:09,541 --> 01:04:12,326
♪ Happy birthday to you
1364
01:04:12,370 --> 01:04:16,069
♪ Happy birthday dear Nolan
1365
01:04:16,113 --> 01:04:19,420
♪ Happy birthday to you
1366
01:04:22,467 --> 01:04:26,253
The fans just loved the fact
that he was in his forties
1367
01:04:26,297 --> 01:04:29,213
and he was still pitching
and competing with these,
1368
01:04:29,256 --> 01:04:30,344
you know, youngsters.
1369
01:04:33,173 --> 01:04:36,046
That is what gave him that aura
1370
01:04:36,089 --> 01:04:38,004
of being something special.
1371
01:04:39,005 --> 01:04:40,789
I didn't feel old.
1372
01:04:40,833 --> 01:04:42,052
I'd sit in that clubhouse
1373
01:04:42,095 --> 01:04:43,488
and I was older
than the manager,
1374
01:04:43,531 --> 01:04:44,793
and older than the coaches,
1375
01:04:44,837 --> 01:04:46,534
and older than the
general manager.
1376
01:04:46,578 --> 01:04:48,145
Then some of my teammates,
1377
01:04:48,188 --> 01:04:50,451
I was older than their parents.
1378
01:04:50,495 --> 01:04:51,888
Then you start thinking,
1379
01:04:51,931 --> 01:04:53,759
maybe you are old.
1380
01:04:56,501 --> 01:04:58,546
One run in
in the fourth for Detroit.
1381
01:04:58,590 --> 01:05:01,898
In that first game,
Nolan was struggling a bit.
1382
01:05:01,941 --> 01:05:02,942
Bobby sent me out.
1383
01:05:02,986 --> 01:05:05,162
I said, "Nolan, how you doing?"
1384
01:05:05,205 --> 01:05:06,685
He said, "Tom, I'm
doing horse shit
1385
01:05:06,728 --> 01:05:07,947
but it's way better than
what you got warming up
1386
01:05:07,991 --> 01:05:09,470
in that bullpen.
1387
01:05:09,514 --> 01:05:11,124
Get the hell off my mound."
1388
01:05:11,168 --> 01:05:12,778
So I did.
1389
01:05:13,213 --> 01:05:14,649
Bobby said, "What did he say?"
1390
01:05:14,693 --> 01:05:16,260
I said, "Bobby, you
don't wanna know."
1391
01:05:16,303 --> 01:05:19,480
It really wasn't an
enjoyable act
1392
01:05:19,524 --> 01:05:20,655
of going to the mound
1393
01:05:20,699 --> 01:05:22,483
and taking him out of the game.
1394
01:05:22,527 --> 01:05:23,963
We learned early on,
1395
01:05:24,007 --> 01:05:25,965
that if he thought
he had something left
1396
01:05:26,009 --> 01:05:27,575
and it was better than
what we had warming up,
1397
01:05:27,619 --> 01:05:29,577
you were not gonna get
him off that mound.
1398
01:05:29,621 --> 01:05:30,927
Another K goes up.
1399
01:05:30,970 --> 01:05:32,580
I took a lot of
pride in the fact
1400
01:05:32,624 --> 01:05:34,147
that I was still able to compete
1401
01:05:34,191 --> 01:05:36,715
on that level at that age.
1402
01:05:40,066 --> 01:05:42,677
He got better.
That's the amazing thing.
1403
01:05:42,721 --> 01:05:45,550
How many power pitchers
can you think of,
1404
01:05:45,593 --> 01:05:47,030
get better as they get older?
1405
01:05:48,422 --> 01:05:49,946
That's not the way it works.
1406
01:05:49,989 --> 01:05:52,122
He just blew it by.
1407
01:05:52,165 --> 01:05:54,994
It was the talk of baseball.
1408
01:05:55,038 --> 01:05:56,430
How can this guy still pitch
1409
01:05:56,474 --> 01:05:58,258
and be so effective at his age?
1410
01:05:58,302 --> 01:05:59,607
And then they start
talking about,
1411
01:05:59,651 --> 01:06:00,739
okay, what does he do?
1412
01:06:04,134 --> 01:06:05,831
I used to work out
with Nolan Ryan.
1413
01:06:05,874 --> 01:06:09,487
His workout routine was
rigorous for a 20-year-old,
1414
01:06:09,530 --> 01:06:11,445
much less, a 40-year-old.
1415
01:06:11,489 --> 01:06:13,926
His arm is the
most feared in baseball.
1416
01:06:15,928 --> 01:06:17,277
Got him swinging.
1417
01:06:22,065 --> 01:06:23,240
Comes to the ballpark,
1418
01:06:23,283 --> 01:06:25,329
ride that bicycle for two hours
1419
01:06:25,372 --> 01:06:26,721
and then to the trainer room,
1420
01:06:26,765 --> 01:06:28,636
and then go out running,
1421
01:06:28,680 --> 01:06:29,724
and then comes in,
1422
01:06:29,768 --> 01:06:31,465
and then do weights.
1423
01:06:31,509 --> 01:06:33,772
He does that day in and day out,
1424
01:06:33,815 --> 01:06:35,774
except the day before he pitch.
1425
01:06:41,780 --> 01:06:43,390
That was the goal,
1426
01:06:43,434 --> 01:06:47,046
to recover as fast as I
could from the last start,
1427
01:06:47,090 --> 01:06:50,528
so I would be at my peak
for the next start.
1428
01:06:51,746 --> 01:06:53,052
Call strike three,
1429
01:06:53,096 --> 01:06:54,706
there's 300.
1430
01:06:54,749 --> 01:06:57,491
Nolan Ryan for the
sixth time in career
1431
01:06:57,535 --> 01:07:00,625
has struck out 300
or more batters.
1432
01:07:05,673 --> 01:07:08,502
That time was the
perfect storm, so to say.
1433
01:07:08,546 --> 01:07:10,156
We had the best of old school
1434
01:07:10,200 --> 01:07:12,637
and everything that
Nolan represented
1435
01:07:12,680 --> 01:07:14,117
and the best of the new school,
1436
01:07:14,160 --> 01:07:16,336
which was technology
and science.
1437
01:07:17,120 --> 01:07:19,078
We were filming Nolan
1438
01:07:19,122 --> 01:07:24,040
with the little balls all over
his body in a 3D environment
1439
01:07:24,083 --> 01:07:27,782
to try to figure out
the best way to throw,
1440
01:07:27,826 --> 01:07:29,393
the best way to be conditioned.
1441
01:07:29,436 --> 01:07:30,785
And just, pull the books.
1442
01:07:31,395 --> 01:07:36,269
He was actually a better
pitcher from age 39 to 46
1443
01:07:36,313 --> 01:07:38,358
than at any time in his career.
1444
01:07:39,229 --> 01:07:41,057
Well, I have two books here--
1445
01:07:43,407 --> 01:07:47,237
We list alphabetically
the strikeouts.
1446
01:07:47,280 --> 01:07:50,153
From Hank Aaron, who he
struck out four times,
1447
01:07:50,196 --> 01:07:52,981
Paul Zuvella, who
he struck out once.
1448
01:07:53,808 --> 01:07:56,420
Claudell Washington
sits at the top at 39,
1449
01:07:56,463 --> 01:07:59,988
and he struck out 61 players,
1450
01:08:00,032 --> 01:08:01,555
15 or more times.
1451
01:08:01,599 --> 01:08:03,818
27 Hall of Famers,
1452
01:08:03,862 --> 01:08:06,299
seven father and
son combinations,
1453
01:08:06,343 --> 01:08:07,779
brothers.
1454
01:08:07,822 --> 01:08:11,870
The three Alous, Felipe,
Jesus, Matty Alou.
1455
01:08:11,913 --> 01:08:13,176
Joe and Phil Niekro.
1456
01:08:13,219 --> 01:08:15,047
Cal and Bill Ripkin.
1457
01:08:15,091 --> 01:08:17,354
Just, you know, Hall of Famers,
1458
01:08:17,397 --> 01:08:18,790
just all over the map.
1459
01:08:18,833 --> 01:08:19,834
My brother, Billy
and I would laugh.
1460
01:08:19,878 --> 01:08:21,358
We're on his list.
1461
01:08:22,054 --> 01:08:24,839
I faced him when they
said he didn't throw hard.
1462
01:08:24,883 --> 01:08:27,625
So he was throwing as hard
as anybody in the league.
1463
01:08:28,234 --> 01:08:30,367
Records are meant to be
broken, but not this one.
1464
01:08:30,410 --> 01:08:32,151
Tonight, Nolan Ryan went
after career strikeout
1465
01:08:32,195 --> 01:08:33,761
number 5,000.
1466
01:08:36,764 --> 01:08:38,244
The spotlight of the baseball
world
1467
01:08:38,288 --> 01:08:41,421
is on this man tonight,
Nolan Ryan.
1468
01:08:41,465 --> 01:08:45,077
4,994 strikeouts
1469
01:08:45,121 --> 01:08:47,862
in his 22nd year in
the major leagues.
1470
01:08:50,909 --> 01:08:52,128
When I introduced Nolan Ryan
1471
01:08:52,171 --> 01:08:54,217
as the starting pitcher,
1472
01:08:54,260 --> 01:08:56,044
"And on the mound
for the Rangers,
1473
01:08:56,088 --> 01:08:58,351
number 34, Nolan..."
1474
01:08:58,395 --> 01:09:00,440
And that's about as far
as anybody would hear
1475
01:09:00,484 --> 01:09:02,747
because by that time,
the crowd's roaring.
1476
01:09:07,839 --> 01:09:09,623
Well, you know
something's up in baseball
1477
01:09:09,667 --> 01:09:11,277
when the President's
office calls
1478
01:09:11,321 --> 01:09:13,192
during the day of the game
1479
01:09:13,236 --> 01:09:15,847
to get the coordinates for
the satellite transmission
1480
01:09:15,890 --> 01:09:18,197
so that the President
on vacation can watch.
1481
01:09:21,983 --> 01:09:24,290
And here is by far the
easiest Oakland hitter
1482
01:09:24,334 --> 01:09:25,944
to strike out.
1483
01:09:25,987 --> 01:09:27,641
He strikes out about
one every three times.
1484
01:09:30,166 --> 01:09:31,210
Breaking ball.
1485
01:09:33,343 --> 01:09:36,737
4,995.
1486
01:09:38,783 --> 01:09:40,350
Strike three!
1487
01:09:40,393 --> 01:09:43,396
4,996.
1488
01:09:46,356 --> 01:09:49,097
4,997.
1489
01:09:52,797 --> 01:09:56,496
4,998.
1490
01:09:57,715 --> 01:09:59,107
Fast ball.
1491
01:09:59,151 --> 01:10:01,675
Four, nine, nine, nine.
1492
01:10:04,504 --> 01:10:07,507
And now Nolan Ryan,
closing in.
1493
01:10:12,904 --> 01:10:15,341
Ricky Henderson leading off
at the top of the fifth.
1494
01:10:16,124 --> 01:10:18,170
Before the game, he told me,
1495
01:10:18,214 --> 01:10:19,606
for the 5,000th strikeout,
1496
01:10:19,650 --> 01:10:21,129
he was gonna strike out
1497
01:10:21,173 --> 01:10:23,697
either Ricky Henderson or
Jose Canseco.
1498
01:10:31,575 --> 01:10:33,054
Everybody here's perched
1499
01:10:33,098 --> 01:10:35,231
on this historic moment.
1500
01:10:35,274 --> 01:10:36,580
Voila!
1501
01:10:36,623 --> 01:10:38,495
The moment we've
been waiting for.
1502
01:10:38,538 --> 01:10:40,801
And as he threw the pitch,
1503
01:10:40,845 --> 01:10:44,936
the entire stadium went up
in like one big flash bowl.
1504
01:10:44,979 --> 01:10:46,677
Like this, of light.
1505
01:10:47,678 --> 01:10:51,029
The ball went in at 97 and
Ricky Henderson fouled it off.
1506
01:10:51,072 --> 01:10:52,639
I don't know how he did it.
1507
01:10:57,340 --> 01:10:59,385
I was sitting with
Bart Giamani,
1508
01:10:59,429 --> 01:11:01,387
Barbara and Jenna, and Laura.
1509
01:11:02,258 --> 01:11:04,477
I'll never forget Jenna saying,
1510
01:11:04,521 --> 01:11:06,305
"Dad, it looks like
there's a lot of fireflies
1511
01:11:06,349 --> 01:11:08,046
in the stadium."
1512
01:11:10,091 --> 01:11:11,179
I just want
to get your take on.
1513
01:11:11,223 --> 01:11:12,659
Okay.
1514
01:11:12,703 --> 01:11:14,139
You don't have to
watch the whole thing.
1515
01:11:14,182 --> 01:11:15,488
Well, if I'm in there,
I might as well, right?
1516
01:11:15,532 --> 01:11:16,750
How do you make it work?
1517
01:11:16,794 --> 01:11:18,361
Oh.
1518
01:11:18,404 --> 01:11:19,710
Two, exploding breaking ball.
1519
01:11:20,101 --> 01:11:22,016
First of all, you
can hear the crowd.
1520
01:11:24,845 --> 01:11:26,630
Three balls, two strikes.
1521
01:11:43,951 --> 01:11:45,126
Strike three!!
1522
01:11:45,170 --> 01:11:47,346
Strike out number 5,000.
1523
01:11:47,390 --> 01:11:50,044
It's history for Nolan Ryan.
1524
01:11:50,088 --> 01:11:52,438
Okay, I mean, he kinda
tips his hat,
1525
01:11:52,482 --> 01:11:54,745
he doesn't glorify
in the moment.
1526
01:11:56,007 --> 01:11:57,704
That's unbelievable.
1527
01:11:59,967 --> 01:12:03,057
Nolan Ryan gets number 5,000.
1528
01:12:06,539 --> 01:12:09,063
Well Nolan,
5,000 been approached,
1529
01:12:09,107 --> 01:12:10,543
what about 6,000?
1530
01:12:11,762 --> 01:12:13,154
I can honestly say Norm,
1531
01:12:13,198 --> 01:12:14,678
I don't think I'll
be around for it.
1532
01:12:20,640 --> 01:12:23,556
Here we are in Arlington Stadium
where my father, Nolan Ryan,
1533
01:12:23,600 --> 01:12:25,645
and the doctor, Tom House,
1534
01:12:25,689 --> 01:12:28,039
had been working on a
week-long rehab program.
1535
01:12:28,779 --> 01:12:30,911
So you think you're gonna
be ready to pitch the 19th?
1536
01:12:30,955 --> 01:12:32,435
Oh, I don't know.
1537
01:12:32,478 --> 01:12:34,567
A couple more months and
I'll be ready for the
1538
01:12:34,611 --> 01:12:36,482
Mr. Universe Contest.
1539
01:12:36,526 --> 01:12:38,397
He's getting in shape so
that he can try to beat me
1540
01:12:38,441 --> 01:12:40,268
on the tennis court.
1541
01:12:40,312 --> 01:12:42,270
Have your biceps gotten larger?
1542
01:12:42,314 --> 01:12:44,142
You can come over to
the French Riviera
1543
01:12:44,185 --> 01:12:46,710
next summer when I'm in
competition and look.
1544
01:12:48,320 --> 01:12:50,888
My picture will be on the
cover of 40 and older.
1545
01:12:51,454 --> 01:12:53,151
Fit and over 40, huh?
1546
01:12:53,194 --> 01:12:55,022
Fit and over 40, Mr. Universe.
1547
01:12:55,066 --> 01:12:56,763
Fit and way over 40, huh?
1548
01:12:56,807 --> 01:12:59,157
I'm gonna bring the
crown home to the U.S.
1549
01:13:00,376 --> 01:13:01,638
Pete really thought he
was gonna go to Arlington
1550
01:13:01,681 --> 01:13:03,291
and play one more year.
1551
01:13:03,335 --> 01:13:05,250
And we would talk, you know,
in the off season,
1552
01:13:05,293 --> 01:13:06,773
and he'd say, "Reese,
I need to keep playing,
1553
01:13:06,817 --> 01:13:08,340
I have to keep playing."
1554
01:13:08,384 --> 01:13:10,124
He was enjoying it and
he was competitive.
1555
01:13:10,168 --> 01:13:11,691
He was actually dominant.
1556
01:13:11,735 --> 01:13:13,389
Payoff pitch, got him swinging.
1557
01:13:13,432 --> 01:13:15,826
Strikeout number
12 for Nolan Ryan,
1558
01:13:15,869 --> 01:13:17,349
and he has not
thrown a no-hitter
1559
01:13:17,393 --> 01:13:20,831
since September the 26th, 1981.
1560
01:13:20,874 --> 01:13:22,615
I don't think that
you can retire
1561
01:13:22,659 --> 01:13:24,530
when you're pitching no-hitters.
1562
01:13:24,574 --> 01:13:26,489
A 2-0 pitch.
1563
01:13:27,098 --> 01:13:29,056
Fly ball, right field.
1564
01:13:33,887 --> 01:13:36,194
Number six to Nolan Ryan.
1565
01:13:37,717 --> 01:13:39,589
The express has
done it once again.
1566
01:13:39,632 --> 01:13:42,853
When we signed Nolan,
we never anticipated
1567
01:13:42,896 --> 01:13:45,072
that these things
were gonna happen.
1568
01:13:45,116 --> 01:13:47,335
Nolan's sixth no-hitter,
1569
01:13:47,379 --> 01:13:49,990
5,000 strikeouts,
1570
01:13:50,034 --> 01:13:52,036
300 wins.
1571
01:13:52,079 --> 01:13:54,995
Nolan Ryan,
his 300th career victory.
1572
01:13:55,039 --> 01:13:56,823
So as that unfolded,
1573
01:13:56,867 --> 01:14:00,000
it just built the
legend up more and more.
1574
01:14:02,220 --> 01:14:03,743
The bright lights on Nolan
1575
01:14:03,787 --> 01:14:06,180
were somehow getting
even brighter.
1576
01:14:08,574 --> 01:14:09,880
This was a
whole new generation
1577
01:14:09,923 --> 01:14:11,403
of hitters he was facing.
1578
01:14:13,231 --> 01:14:15,538
New superstars who wanted to
take the old legend head on.
1579
01:14:17,540 --> 01:14:20,194
Bo Jackson said bats were epic.
1580
01:14:20,238 --> 01:14:22,501
I remember people running
out of the clubhouse
1581
01:14:22,545 --> 01:14:24,198
to see Nolan and Bo.
1582
01:14:25,112 --> 01:14:27,637
Two big-horned sheep
bucking heads, right there.
1583
01:14:29,900 --> 01:14:32,468
He hits it well,
it could be very deep
1584
01:14:32,511 --> 01:14:34,295
and it's gone!
1585
01:14:34,339 --> 01:14:35,427
He hit one of the
longest home runs
1586
01:14:35,471 --> 01:14:37,037
that I've ever seen
1587
01:14:37,081 --> 01:14:39,605
and that's not even the event
1588
01:14:39,649 --> 01:14:42,303
that people remember most
between Bo Jackson and Nolan.
1589
01:14:43,957 --> 01:14:45,872
The next 20, 25 years,
1590
01:14:45,916 --> 01:14:47,874
you could not go to a sports bar
1591
01:14:47,918 --> 01:14:51,399
in America, Canada, Mexico,
1592
01:14:51,443 --> 01:14:52,879
been to all of them,
1593
01:14:52,923 --> 01:14:55,055
and that picture
wasn't up there.
1594
01:14:56,448 --> 01:14:58,929
It's amazing how you
keep telling a story,
1595
01:14:58,972 --> 01:15:01,888
how it grows and
grows and grows.
1596
01:15:01,932 --> 01:15:04,543
Well, I think anytime you
put Bo Jackson and Nolan Ryan
1597
01:15:04,587 --> 01:15:05,892
in the same sentence,
1598
01:15:05,936 --> 01:15:07,981
it's got a chance to.
1599
01:15:12,464 --> 01:15:13,900
Everybody says,
1600
01:15:13,944 --> 01:15:15,772
"Oh, Bo hit a rocket
right off of his mouth."
1601
01:15:15,815 --> 01:15:17,295
It was a routine ground ball.
1602
01:15:18,731 --> 01:15:20,603
He hits a little topper,
1603
01:15:20,646 --> 01:15:23,214
and the ball got lost
in the rain drops.
1604
01:15:23,257 --> 01:15:25,782
The ball split his lip open.
1605
01:15:25,825 --> 01:15:28,262
Nolan could stick his tongue
through his lip, right here.
1606
01:15:28,306 --> 01:15:30,526
'Cause it was, like,
cut from there down.
1607
01:15:31,483 --> 01:15:33,964
He finished that inning somehow.
1608
01:15:34,007 --> 01:15:37,358
In between innings he
went into the clubhouse,
1609
01:15:37,402 --> 01:15:39,317
Dr. Makowski stitched him up,
1610
01:15:39,360 --> 01:15:41,537
went back out and
finished the game.
1611
01:15:45,149 --> 01:15:47,847
You think he was
intimidating before?
1612
01:15:49,545 --> 01:15:51,764
Try facing him with
his Ranger uniform
1613
01:15:51,808 --> 01:15:53,723
just covered with blood.
1614
01:15:54,288 --> 01:15:55,942
Now, that's intimidating.
1615
01:15:56,813 --> 01:15:58,118
This is Big Tex.
1616
01:15:58,162 --> 01:16:00,773
His legend can't grow anymore.
1617
01:16:00,817 --> 01:16:03,689
Then you have the
Robin Ventura moment.
1618
01:16:10,391 --> 01:16:12,045
I'll run into somebody
1619
01:16:12,089 --> 01:16:15,005
and that might be the
third question they ask me.
1620
01:16:15,048 --> 01:16:18,182
I find it amusing
that of all the things
1621
01:16:18,225 --> 01:16:19,662
that happened in my career,
1622
01:16:19,705 --> 01:16:21,315
that's one of the things
I'm remembered for.
1623
01:16:21,925 --> 01:16:24,362
46-year-old veteran, Nolan Ryan.
1624
01:16:24,884 --> 01:16:27,887
It'll go down in
Texas sports lore
1625
01:16:27,931 --> 01:16:30,324
as a defining moment.
1626
01:16:30,368 --> 01:16:32,675
Texans just love that.
1627
01:16:36,330 --> 01:16:37,897
There's a base
hit into the left field.
1628
01:16:37,941 --> 01:16:39,682
There comes Carl.
1629
01:16:39,725 --> 01:16:41,379
They're waving him around
as Gonzales gets to it.
1630
01:16:41,422 --> 01:16:42,641
Okay, now.
1631
01:16:42,685 --> 01:16:44,556
For those uninitiated,
1632
01:16:44,600 --> 01:16:46,819
this isn't the iconic
moment we're talking about.
1633
01:16:46,863 --> 01:16:49,039
Don't worry, we'll get there.
1634
01:16:49,082 --> 01:16:51,345
But to truly appreciate it,
1635
01:16:51,389 --> 01:16:52,782
let's rewind it back a bit.
1636
01:16:56,437 --> 01:16:58,483
It's my last
season in San Diego,
1637
01:16:58,526 --> 01:17:01,181
and I'm gonna be the top
free agent on the market.
1638
01:17:01,225 --> 01:17:02,530
I'm gonna play hard,
1639
01:17:02,574 --> 01:17:04,315
but I'm certainly gonna
protect myself.
1640
01:17:04,358 --> 01:17:08,711
Nolan Ryan came up and in
on me three times that game.
1641
01:17:10,713 --> 01:17:12,628
And I said, "Oh hell!"
1642
01:17:12,671 --> 01:17:14,499
I was running so fast
trying to get Dave
1643
01:17:14,542 --> 01:17:16,109
before he got to Nolan.
1644
01:17:16,153 --> 01:17:18,677
'Cause Dave was huge
and Nolan's big.
1645
01:17:18,721 --> 01:17:21,941
I said it's a bull
hitting a big-ass horse.
1646
01:17:23,247 --> 01:17:25,336
Enos Cabell and the
guys are grabbing,
1647
01:17:25,379 --> 01:17:26,946
"Hey, Winnie, stop, stop!"
1648
01:17:26,990 --> 01:17:28,731
We laugh about it later on,
1649
01:17:28,774 --> 01:17:31,385
but that was truly, I think,
one of the few times
1650
01:17:31,429 --> 01:17:33,692
that I, you know, you lose it.
1651
01:17:34,475 --> 01:17:36,434
I realized after he came out
1652
01:17:36,477 --> 01:17:38,566
that his intent was to hurt me.
1653
01:17:38,610 --> 01:17:40,220
And I was going to
take the position,
1654
01:17:40,264 --> 01:17:42,788
that if anybody ever
came to the mound again
1655
01:17:42,832 --> 01:17:44,442
then I was gonna
be the aggressor.
1656
01:17:45,835 --> 01:17:47,488
Welcome to Arlington stadium
1657
01:17:47,532 --> 01:17:49,229
for game three of
this four-game series
1658
01:17:49,273 --> 01:17:52,058
between The Sox and
The Texas Rangers.
1659
01:17:52,102 --> 01:17:53,625
The White Sox were actually
1660
01:17:53,669 --> 01:17:55,583
in the American League West
at that time.
1661
01:17:55,627 --> 01:17:57,411
Had Bo Jackson.
1662
01:17:57,455 --> 01:18:00,588
And the Rangers had had these
battles with these guys.
1663
01:18:00,632 --> 01:18:01,981
His only Major League homer.
1664
01:18:02,025 --> 01:18:03,504
Coming off of Nolan.
1665
01:18:03,548 --> 01:18:04,810
What? Ooh.
1666
01:18:06,551 --> 01:18:07,639
Oh, he's hit.
1667
01:18:11,643 --> 01:18:12,775
Oh my goodness,
look at this.
1668
01:18:14,385 --> 01:18:17,475
And so this one night,
the White Sox said,
1669
01:18:17,518 --> 01:18:19,912
"If Nolan hits anybody
tonight, whoever it is,
1670
01:18:19,956 --> 01:18:21,348
you're gonna go to the mound."
1671
01:18:21,392 --> 01:18:24,743
There was a bounty
on Nolan's head.
1672
01:18:24,787 --> 01:18:28,747
If you get hit by Nolan and
you don't charge the mound,
1673
01:18:28,791 --> 01:18:30,140
it's gonna cost you 500 bucks.
1674
01:18:31,707 --> 01:18:34,405
Ventura happened to be the
first one that day to get hit.
1675
01:18:36,233 --> 01:18:39,627
When Robin Ventura
went out there,
1676
01:18:39,671 --> 01:18:41,847
I just thought he
wasn't quite serious.
1677
01:18:43,806 --> 01:18:45,198
He wasn't fully committed.
1678
01:18:46,199 --> 01:18:47,853
Most guys who charge the mound,
1679
01:18:47,897 --> 01:18:49,942
if you had a microphone on him,
1680
01:18:49,986 --> 01:18:51,552
you could hear him say
"Grab me catcher,
1681
01:18:51,596 --> 01:18:53,554
grab me catcher,
I don't want to get out there."
1682
01:18:55,339 --> 01:18:56,732
Before you could blink,
Nolan had him
1683
01:18:56,775 --> 01:18:59,038
like a baby calf in a headlock.
1684
01:18:59,082 --> 01:19:01,040
Grabbing like he
was grabbing a bull.
1685
01:19:01,084 --> 01:19:04,348
I was right there,
best seat in the house.
1686
01:19:19,015 --> 01:19:20,799
When I went down,
I was on the bottom
1687
01:19:20,843 --> 01:19:23,759
of the pile and I was laying
face first into the dirt.
1688
01:19:24,934 --> 01:19:28,024
It was one of the scariest
moments of my life.
1689
01:19:31,592 --> 01:19:33,290
I couldn't breathe.
1690
01:19:33,333 --> 01:19:36,815
And I really truly thought
that I was gonna pass out.
1691
01:19:36,859 --> 01:19:40,471
I'm really upset because
I never saw Nolan get up.
1692
01:19:40,514 --> 01:19:43,604
Then all of a sudden this
big arm came into the pile
1693
01:19:43,648 --> 01:19:45,911
and reached under my
shoulder and pulled me out.
1694
01:19:45,955 --> 01:19:47,608
And it was Bo Jackson.
1695
01:19:53,440 --> 01:19:54,702
You know, at first
I was just like,
1696
01:19:54,746 --> 01:19:56,226
get him dad, get him.
1697
01:19:57,967 --> 01:20:00,012
But then I was also thinking
I'm never gonna get a date.
1698
01:20:00,665 --> 01:20:02,362
People were already intimidated
1699
01:20:02,406 --> 01:20:04,364
by my dad being Nolan Ryan.
1700
01:20:04,408 --> 01:20:05,801
And now I thought, great.
1701
01:20:05,844 --> 01:20:07,672
You know, nobody's
gonna ask me out.
1702
01:20:07,715 --> 01:20:08,847
I loved it.
1703
01:20:08,891 --> 01:20:10,501
I absolutely loved it.
1704
01:20:10,544 --> 01:20:12,242
And then Robin get kicked out,
1705
01:20:12,285 --> 01:20:14,026
but Nolan didn't,
that was even better.
1706
01:20:14,766 --> 01:20:16,942
So Ventura
definitely has been ejected.
1707
01:20:19,597 --> 01:20:20,859
Ryan holds a lot of records,
1708
01:20:20,903 --> 01:20:22,556
but this may be a new one.
1709
01:20:22,600 --> 01:20:25,777
Most punches thrown
without getting thrown out.
1710
01:20:26,473 --> 01:20:29,172
And the momentum had shifted
and they come back and win.
1711
01:20:29,215 --> 01:20:31,000
I mean, that's amazing.
1712
01:20:31,043 --> 01:20:32,828
Ryan's setting
down 12 of the next 13
1713
01:20:32,871 --> 01:20:35,439
many faced without
allowing a hit.
1714
01:20:36,570 --> 01:20:38,790
I think it became
such a legendary moment
1715
01:20:38,834 --> 01:20:42,707
because the photographers got
such great pictures of it.
1716
01:20:44,100 --> 01:20:45,797
That photo seemed
to make it everywhere
1717
01:20:45,841 --> 01:20:48,495
from t-shirts to billboards.
1718
01:20:48,539 --> 01:20:50,062
And at the end of
my dad's career
1719
01:20:50,106 --> 01:20:52,195
it ended up being the
most purchased photo.
1720
01:20:52,848 --> 01:20:55,024
Basically for everybody
in their 40s,
1721
01:20:55,067 --> 01:20:56,895
it was kind of a
rallying cry of,
1722
01:20:56,939 --> 01:20:59,158
"Hey, don't count us out yet."
1723
01:21:16,349 --> 01:21:18,221
Keep pulling.
Swing it over here.
1724
01:21:22,965 --> 01:21:24,444
Papa, we got some bad news,
1725
01:21:24,488 --> 01:21:26,969
the girls are dominating
the guys out here today.
1726
01:21:27,012 --> 01:21:29,493
Yeah, I don't know
what the deal is.
1727
01:21:30,494 --> 01:21:31,756
He got the most.
1728
01:21:33,932 --> 01:21:35,325
Ella has you beat.
1729
01:21:37,022 --> 01:21:38,676
Yep, Ella caught that big fish.
1730
01:21:38,719 --> 01:21:40,112
I think Lela won,
she got the most.
1731
01:21:40,156 --> 01:21:41,679
Yeah, Lela got two.
1732
01:21:41,722 --> 01:21:43,811
I think whenever
he's with the family,
1733
01:21:43,855 --> 01:21:46,249
he's very different than
whenever we're out and about.
1734
01:21:46,292 --> 01:21:48,773
It's fun to see him joking
around and just hanging out.
1735
01:21:50,035 --> 01:21:51,471
Sometimes we'll be at
dinner and stuff
1736
01:21:51,515 --> 01:21:53,082
and they'll be like, oh my God,
1737
01:21:53,125 --> 01:21:55,562
can you sign this
baseball or sign this card?
1738
01:21:55,606 --> 01:21:57,042
He's like, sure.
1739
01:21:58,000 --> 01:21:59,523
That's really it though.
1740
01:21:59,566 --> 01:22:00,828
Wait, do that impression again.
1741
01:22:00,872 --> 01:22:02,178
Uh, sure.
1742
01:22:03,919 --> 01:22:06,312
We have some comedians
in our family.
1743
01:22:06,356 --> 01:22:08,140
I'm Nolan Ryan,
1744
01:22:08,184 --> 01:22:10,360
and I'm here to sell you Advil.
1745
01:22:10,403 --> 01:22:13,406
Hi, I'm Nolan Ryan and I'm
here to sell you some Advil.
1746
01:22:14,625 --> 01:22:15,843
It's good!
1747
01:22:16,888 --> 01:22:19,673
Here to sell you some
Advil, I like that.
1748
01:22:19,717 --> 01:22:21,675
It's the medicine
doctors recommend most
1749
01:22:21,719 --> 01:22:23,329
for sprains and strains, Advil.
1750
01:22:23,982 --> 01:22:25,505
For me, it's a couple of Advil
1751
01:22:25,549 --> 01:22:27,203
and those muscle aches
are long gone.
1752
01:22:27,899 --> 01:22:29,422
He had the Advil commercials,
1753
01:22:29,466 --> 01:22:31,685
which basically played
in perfectly
1754
01:22:31,729 --> 01:22:33,687
to a 42-year-old pitcher.
1755
01:22:33,731 --> 01:22:35,167
He got a lot of grief
from the clubhouse
1756
01:22:35,211 --> 01:22:37,169
from the younger
players about that.
1757
01:22:37,213 --> 01:22:38,649
We'd bust his chops
a little bit.
1758
01:22:38,692 --> 01:22:39,911
Hey Noley, you're gonna
go have a couple Advil
1759
01:22:39,955 --> 01:22:41,652
after you just got done.
1760
01:22:41,695 --> 01:22:42,609
You know, just kind of
messing with him a little bit.
1761
01:22:42,653 --> 01:22:44,437
It was fun.
1762
01:22:44,481 --> 01:22:46,874
I always loved the ones that
he and my mom did together.
1763
01:22:46,918 --> 01:22:49,138
I take it for my arthritis pain
1764
01:22:49,181 --> 01:22:51,009
so we can exercise together.
1765
01:22:51,053 --> 01:22:53,577
Advil stronger than pain.
1766
01:22:54,143 --> 01:22:56,145
If you weren't a
hardcore baseball fan,
1767
01:22:56,188 --> 01:22:58,103
you've got to know Nolan Ryan.
1768
01:22:58,147 --> 01:23:00,192
They're not getting older.
They're just getting better.
1769
01:23:00,236 --> 01:23:02,803
Because of
that national exposure.
1770
01:23:03,456 --> 01:23:05,023
Hey, I wouldn't steer you wrong.
1771
01:23:09,288 --> 01:23:10,942
While Noley was becoming quite
1772
01:23:10,986 --> 01:23:12,813
adept at pitching products,
1773
01:23:12,857 --> 01:23:14,641
many folks wondered if
he'd ever lose steam
1774
01:23:14,685 --> 01:23:16,078
pitching fast balls.
1775
01:23:17,514 --> 01:23:20,082
The express couldn't
run forever.
1776
01:23:21,170 --> 01:23:24,738
I watched him during
his warmup and it's ugly.
1777
01:23:24,782 --> 01:23:25,913
It's not good at all.
1778
01:23:27,219 --> 01:23:30,048
I had a back problem and
I told Tom warming up.
1779
01:23:30,092 --> 01:23:32,268
I said, "Look you might
want to tell Bobby
1780
01:23:32,311 --> 01:23:34,009
to get somebody ready."
1781
01:23:37,795 --> 01:23:41,059
As I watched him begin to
go up the steps of the dugout,
1782
01:23:41,103 --> 01:23:42,626
he looked down and said,
1783
01:23:43,627 --> 01:23:45,020
"This might be it."
1784
01:23:47,109 --> 01:23:50,808
Here comes
44-year-old Nolan Ryan.
1785
01:23:50,851 --> 01:23:53,680
An arousing ovation
from his Texas fans
1786
01:23:53,724 --> 01:23:55,291
as he takes the mount.
1787
01:23:55,334 --> 01:23:57,423
And I called down to the bullpen
1788
01:23:57,467 --> 01:24:00,078
and had the relief
pitcher get loose
1789
01:24:00,122 --> 01:24:02,776
while Nolan was getting
loose out on the field.
1790
01:24:02,820 --> 01:24:07,346
And I literally thought
before that game started
1791
01:24:07,390 --> 01:24:10,001
that I was gonna have
to explain to people
1792
01:24:10,045 --> 01:24:12,873
that it was over for Nolan Ryan.
1793
01:24:16,573 --> 01:24:17,661
Strikes him out.
1794
01:24:17,704 --> 01:24:20,620
We're standing 13 pitches,
1795
01:24:20,664 --> 01:24:22,492
get a couple of 97s, 98s
1796
01:24:22,535 --> 01:24:25,190
off of that terrible warmup.
1797
01:24:26,844 --> 01:24:29,368
And Ryan gets the
job done for the Rangers.
1798
01:24:29,412 --> 01:24:30,674
They're coming to bat
in a moment.
1799
01:24:33,720 --> 01:24:35,287
When we went off the field
1800
01:24:35,331 --> 01:24:36,897
in the first inning,
1801
01:24:36,941 --> 01:24:38,682
Jeff Houston and I
1802
01:24:38,725 --> 01:24:41,685
looked at each other
with that look like,
1803
01:24:42,164 --> 01:24:43,339
he's got it.
1804
01:24:43,382 --> 01:24:45,732
So let's bear down.
1805
01:24:45,776 --> 01:24:47,473
And he looks to the
guys around him
1806
01:24:47,517 --> 01:24:48,996
and he said, "Boys!"
1807
01:24:49,040 --> 01:24:51,477
And everybody stops
'cause Nolan is talking.
1808
01:24:51,521 --> 01:24:53,175
He said, "Get me one.
1809
01:24:53,218 --> 01:24:55,046
It's all I'm gonna need today."
1810
01:24:55,090 --> 01:24:56,526
That's all I'm gonna need.
1811
01:24:56,569 --> 01:24:58,267
I said, okay, this
fucking game is over.
1812
01:25:00,138 --> 01:25:01,487
That's his sixth strike out!
1813
01:25:03,533 --> 01:25:05,752
Seven strike outs now!
1814
01:25:06,579 --> 01:25:08,929
The longer I threw,
I developed more rhythm
1815
01:25:08,973 --> 01:25:11,671
and my back wasn't to the
point that I couldn't throw.
1816
01:25:11,715 --> 01:25:14,239
And so it just
all came together.
1817
01:25:17,721 --> 01:25:20,027
Ryan in no-hit range once again
1818
01:25:20,071 --> 01:25:21,551
here in Texas tonight.
1819
01:25:23,814 --> 01:25:26,686
He went to that zone where
all the superstars go.
1820
01:25:29,994 --> 01:25:33,345
The quantitative
definition of the zone
1821
01:25:33,389 --> 01:25:36,696
is when thinking is
inversely proportionate
1822
01:25:36,740 --> 01:25:38,829
to the stimulus of
the environment.
1823
01:25:39,612 --> 01:25:43,616
So in those high octane,
no-hitter situations.
1824
01:25:43,660 --> 01:25:45,357
When the crowds going nuts,
1825
01:25:45,401 --> 01:25:47,185
all this chaos is going on.
1826
01:25:51,755 --> 01:25:53,148
You know what his world is like?
1827
01:26:01,417 --> 01:26:04,028
Pitch, glove, pitch, glove,
nothing else exists.
1828
01:26:09,425 --> 01:26:11,557
And this game was not
on local television.
1829
01:26:11,601 --> 01:26:13,864
So you had to be
following the radio.
1830
01:26:13,907 --> 01:26:16,258
And it created a buzz.
1831
01:26:17,215 --> 01:26:19,304
I remember a friend calling
me and saying, you know,
1832
01:26:19,348 --> 01:26:22,438
my sons are driving to
Arlington right now.
1833
01:26:22,481 --> 01:26:25,658
And he said, because
they think Nolan Ryan
1834
01:26:25,702 --> 01:26:27,704
is gonna complete his no-hitter.
1835
01:26:28,487 --> 01:26:30,663
The crowd got bigger
as the night went on.
1836
01:26:30,707 --> 01:26:32,578
The bleachers were filling up.
1837
01:26:32,622 --> 01:26:33,884
The tension was rising.
1838
01:26:34,841 --> 01:26:37,279
Lee makes contact
1839
01:26:37,322 --> 01:26:39,411
coming hard has
managed to keep...
1840
01:26:40,543 --> 01:26:41,979
The no-hitters intact!
1841
01:26:42,022 --> 01:26:44,111
Being a pitcher, you're
watching him going out
1842
01:26:44,155 --> 01:26:47,114
again at that age just
saying here I am, man.
1843
01:26:47,158 --> 01:26:48,507
I'm coming at you
with my best stuff.
1844
01:26:49,639 --> 01:26:50,988
Number 14.
1845
01:26:52,381 --> 01:26:54,121
Lights out on the
eighth inning.
1846
01:26:54,165 --> 01:26:56,254
Fifteen strike outs.
1847
01:26:56,298 --> 01:26:59,649
Ryan, three outs away from
no-hit number seven.
1848
01:26:59,692 --> 01:27:02,260
Stay with us right
here on CTV.
1849
01:27:02,304 --> 01:27:04,784
Canada's no-hit network.
1850
01:27:08,527 --> 01:27:11,878
And now the only man
standing between Nolan Ryan,
1851
01:27:11,922 --> 01:27:13,576
the seventh career no-hitter,
1852
01:27:13,619 --> 01:27:16,405
is Toronto second baseman
Roberto Alomar.
1853
01:27:26,850 --> 01:27:29,026
Like everybody else tonight,
he's 0 for three.
1854
01:27:29,069 --> 01:27:30,549
And that's strike one.
1855
01:27:30,593 --> 01:27:32,812
Robby Alomar used to
take pitching lessons
1856
01:27:32,856 --> 01:27:35,162
from my dad, his dad and
my dad were teammates.
1857
01:27:36,860 --> 01:27:38,688
Strike two!
1858
01:27:38,731 --> 01:27:41,473
And so the fact that this
little boy he used to
1859
01:27:41,517 --> 01:27:44,694
play catch with is now
who he has to strike out--
1860
01:27:44,737 --> 01:27:46,478
to accomplish his task
is pretty amazing.
1861
01:28:02,712 --> 01:28:04,104
One ball and two strikes,
1862
01:28:05,758 --> 01:28:07,499
fly ball left field deep.
1863
01:28:07,543 --> 01:28:11,329
Toward the wall and
it is over and out.
1864
01:28:11,373 --> 01:28:12,939
It is a grand slam home run.
1865
01:28:14,854 --> 01:28:17,292
Not what you
were expecting, huh?
1866
01:28:18,249 --> 01:28:20,556
Nolan Ryan is a legend.
1867
01:28:20,599 --> 01:28:21,948
No doubt.
1868
01:28:21,992 --> 01:28:23,733
But he is human.
1869
01:28:24,908 --> 01:28:26,562
After all the strikeouts,
1870
01:28:27,171 --> 01:28:28,781
all the records,
1871
01:28:29,565 --> 01:28:33,090
only time could
stop the express.
1872
01:28:33,830 --> 01:28:35,875
And Seattle
has a five-nothing lead
1873
01:28:35,919 --> 01:28:37,703
with nobody out in the first.
1874
01:28:42,012 --> 01:28:43,883
My elbow was bothering me a lot.
1875
01:28:48,279 --> 01:28:49,759
I tried to pitch through it
1876
01:28:49,802 --> 01:28:51,935
hoping that it would get
better, but it didn't.
1877
01:28:59,551 --> 01:29:01,901
There's Maggot in two-one pitch
1878
01:29:01,945 --> 01:29:03,773
inside three and one.
1879
01:29:03,816 --> 01:29:05,078
It just popped.
1880
01:29:06,950 --> 01:29:08,299
And now Dan,
oh boy, Danny Wheat's
1881
01:29:08,343 --> 01:29:09,648
coming out to talk to Nolan.
1882
01:29:09,692 --> 01:29:11,215
That's not good.
1883
01:29:12,172 --> 01:29:15,175
I knew that I'd torn
that tendon in my elbow.
1884
01:29:17,700 --> 01:29:19,310
And I knew that was it.
1885
01:29:24,620 --> 01:29:25,751
Oh boy.
1886
01:29:29,146 --> 01:29:30,626
Oh, you just hope
1887
01:29:30,669 --> 01:29:32,149
this isn't the way
the rocket ends.
1888
01:29:37,633 --> 01:29:39,417
That was a hard moment
1889
01:29:39,461 --> 01:29:41,071
to see a legend like
that walking out.
1890
01:29:44,074 --> 01:29:46,642
His time in the majors
was unbelievable.
1891
01:29:49,732 --> 01:29:52,299
I don't usually
cry at a ball game,
1892
01:29:53,039 --> 01:29:56,521
but I cried because
it's just sad to see him
1893
01:29:56,565 --> 01:29:58,741
not finish that game.
1894
01:30:01,091 --> 01:30:04,790
We just had to be thankful
for what he had accomplished,
1895
01:30:04,834 --> 01:30:06,966
what he proved to himself,
1896
01:30:07,010 --> 01:30:09,404
and just be happy with that.
1897
01:30:10,187 --> 01:30:11,754
Even though it was sad.
1898
01:30:26,769 --> 01:30:29,511
You know the first
spring training I missed,
1899
01:30:29,554 --> 01:30:33,166
boy, I had this feeling I
should be doing something,
1900
01:30:33,210 --> 01:30:34,820
working out, throwing.
1901
01:30:34,864 --> 01:30:35,995
Mm-hmm
1902
01:30:36,039 --> 01:30:38,215
And it was really weird that,
1903
01:30:39,608 --> 01:30:41,871
that wasn't part
of my life anymore.
1904
01:30:45,396 --> 01:30:48,399
I always said that there's
life after baseball.
1905
01:30:49,052 --> 01:30:52,185
Even though you prepare yourself
1906
01:30:52,229 --> 01:30:53,839
and you think you should
be able to handle it,
1907
01:30:53,883 --> 01:30:56,842
it's still a challenge,
you know.
1908
01:30:56,886 --> 01:31:01,064
It took me two years,
not being a player,
1909
01:31:01,107 --> 01:31:03,545
to finally put it behind me.
1910
01:31:04,546 --> 01:31:06,896
He pitched 27 years.
1911
01:31:07,897 --> 01:31:09,246
He's an iron man.
1912
01:31:09,942 --> 01:31:12,597
Talk about donating
your organs.
1913
01:31:12,641 --> 01:31:14,381
Nolan should donate
his right arm
1914
01:31:14,425 --> 01:31:16,601
to the Cooperstown when he dies
1915
01:31:16,645 --> 01:31:18,429
'cause there's never
been one like it.
1916
01:31:25,175 --> 01:31:28,134
Anybody on there surprise you
at all, by numbers?
1917
01:31:28,178 --> 01:31:29,527
Well Gaylord, you know,
1918
01:31:29,571 --> 01:31:31,224
he wasn't really a
strikeout pitcher,
1919
01:31:31,268 --> 01:31:33,270
but he pitched so long.
1920
01:31:33,313 --> 01:31:35,794
First Bob Gibson,
then him, more.
1921
01:31:35,838 --> 01:31:37,753
Mm-hmm
1922
01:31:38,841 --> 01:31:41,583
The baseball Hall
of Fame is probably
1923
01:31:41,626 --> 01:31:44,760
the most difficult
sports club to enter.
1924
01:31:44,803 --> 01:31:46,326
You think about the
total number of people
1925
01:31:46,370 --> 01:31:48,546
who've ever put on a
Major League uniform.
1926
01:31:48,590 --> 01:31:52,245
It's literally one percent,
the best of the best,
1927
01:31:52,289 --> 01:31:53,725
that end up here with
their plaque on the wall
1928
01:31:53,769 --> 01:31:55,118
in Cooperstown.
1929
01:31:56,119 --> 01:31:58,295
Over here on the left.
1930
01:32:04,997 --> 01:32:06,738
A fierce competitor
1931
01:32:06,782 --> 01:32:09,915
and one of baseball's
most intimidating figures.
1932
01:32:10,612 --> 01:32:13,571
On the pitching mound
for four decades,
1933
01:32:13,615 --> 01:32:17,270
his overpowering fastball
and unappealing longevity
1934
01:32:17,314 --> 01:32:19,577
produced 324.
1935
01:32:19,621 --> 01:32:21,318
Unparalleled.
1936
01:32:21,666 --> 01:32:23,625
Unparalleled longevity.
1937
01:32:23,668 --> 01:32:25,104
You want her to start over?
1938
01:32:25,148 --> 01:32:26,845
No, that's great, that's great.
1939
01:32:26,889 --> 01:32:31,110
His overpowering fastball
and unparalleled longevity
1940
01:32:31,154 --> 01:32:36,594
produced 324 victories and a
host of Major League records.
1941
01:32:36,638 --> 01:32:41,904
Lifetime benchmarks
include 5,714 strikeouts.
1942
01:32:42,469 --> 01:32:44,559
He stuck him out swinging.
1943
01:32:44,602 --> 01:32:46,343
I'm second to him in strikeouts
1944
01:32:46,386 --> 01:32:48,954
and he's got a thousand
more strikeouts than me.
1945
01:32:49,607 --> 01:32:52,567
Congratulations, Nolan,
and welcome to Cooperstown.
1946
01:32:59,312 --> 01:33:00,444
Thank you.
1947
01:33:05,362 --> 01:33:07,190
Thank you.
1948
01:33:07,233 --> 01:33:09,801
This is indeed a special day
and I'm privileged to be here.
1949
01:33:11,803 --> 01:33:13,500
It took me a while to realize
1950
01:33:13,544 --> 01:33:15,590
what a gift that
I had been given.
1951
01:33:15,633 --> 01:33:18,418
And when I finally did,
I dedicated myself
1952
01:33:18,462 --> 01:33:20,420
to be the best pitcher
I possibly could be
1953
01:33:21,247 --> 01:33:23,293
for as long as I
possibly could be.
1954
01:33:23,554 --> 01:33:27,079
For Nolan to pitch 27
years in the Major Leagues,
1955
01:33:27,123 --> 01:33:30,343
it takes so much work
behind the scenes.
1956
01:33:30,953 --> 01:33:33,695
Ups and downs inside
your mind and your heart
1957
01:33:33,738 --> 01:33:37,307
and your body to go out there
and do it time and time again.
1958
01:33:38,613 --> 01:33:40,223
I'd like to say thank you
1959
01:33:40,266 --> 01:33:43,835
to the guys that I
faced over my career.
1960
01:33:43,879 --> 01:33:47,230
I can honestly say that
I'm enjoying seeing 'em now
1961
01:33:47,273 --> 01:33:48,971
more than I ever have.
1962
01:33:49,885 --> 01:33:51,582
And I really didn't
particularly care for 'em
1963
01:33:51,626 --> 01:33:53,584
when they had their uniforms on.
1964
01:33:53,628 --> 01:33:55,586
So guys, I appreciate it.
1965
01:33:56,587 --> 01:33:58,633
First time I really
got to know Nolan
1966
01:33:58,676 --> 01:34:00,852
was when we both went in
the Hall of Fame that year,
1967
01:34:00,896 --> 01:34:03,420
and guess what, I was
still intimidated.
1968
01:34:03,463 --> 01:34:05,770
I didn't have to face him.
I was nervous being around him.
1969
01:34:06,423 --> 01:34:08,294
And to play as long as I did,
1970
01:34:08,338 --> 01:34:09,905
and to have a family,
1971
01:34:09,948 --> 01:34:11,384
you have to be very blessed.
1972
01:34:11,994 --> 01:34:14,126
And I was with my wife, Ruth.
1973
01:34:17,260 --> 01:34:19,958
And my three fine children,
Reed, Reese and Wendy.
1974
01:34:20,742 --> 01:34:23,614
Baseball life's a tough
life on your family.
1975
01:34:23,658 --> 01:34:25,268
One, two, three.
1976
01:34:25,311 --> 01:34:27,226
And to be able
to play as long as I did,
1977
01:34:27,923 --> 01:34:31,230
and have the support that
I had from my family.
1978
01:34:33,319 --> 01:34:36,105
I can't tell you how, how
much that means to me.
1979
01:34:36,496 --> 01:34:39,195
We would be here all day
if I had to list all the ways
1980
01:34:39,238 --> 01:34:41,676
that my dad's made a difference
in my life.
1981
01:34:42,633 --> 01:34:46,898
Just the example of the kind
of human being I want to be,
1982
01:34:46,942 --> 01:34:48,552
and I want my children to be.
1983
01:34:49,379 --> 01:34:51,033
I'm extremely lucky.
1984
01:34:51,773 --> 01:34:53,557
I may be gone, but
I won't forget you.
1985
01:34:54,297 --> 01:34:56,386
And I appreciate all those times
1986
01:34:58,475 --> 01:35:02,044
that you supported me over
the 27 years that I played,
1987
01:35:02,087 --> 01:35:03,698
and my family.
1988
01:35:03,741 --> 01:35:04,742
Thank you.
1989
01:35:11,009 --> 01:35:13,272
There was certain
lions in the league
1990
01:35:13,316 --> 01:35:15,753
and there was a lot of lambs.
1991
01:35:15,797 --> 01:35:17,189
Nolan was a lion.
1992
01:35:20,627 --> 01:35:22,238
When the books are written,
1993
01:35:22,281 --> 01:35:25,023
Nolan's going to be up there
with all the greats.
1994
01:35:25,676 --> 01:35:28,984
There's not ever gonna
be another Nolan Ryan.
1995
01:35:29,985 --> 01:35:33,162
Out of the many records
that Nolan Ryan has,
1996
01:35:33,205 --> 01:35:35,120
the seven no-hitters is
never gonna be broken.
1997
01:35:35,164 --> 01:35:37,862
The man has more strikeouts
than anybody will ever have
1998
01:35:37,906 --> 01:35:39,603
in the history of the game.
1999
01:35:39,646 --> 01:35:41,170
Nobody's ever gonna break it.
2000
01:35:41,866 --> 01:35:43,085
No chance.
2001
01:35:43,520 --> 01:35:46,262
He's struck out
5,700 plus hitters.
2002
01:35:46,305 --> 01:35:48,133
I'm not one of them.
2003
01:35:48,177 --> 01:35:50,527
And the only reason that is
is that I've never faced him.
2004
01:35:51,528 --> 01:35:53,008
Swing and miss.
2005
01:35:53,051 --> 01:35:55,924
Ryan did every
element of pitching
2006
01:35:55,967 --> 01:35:58,883
in a bigger way than anybody
who ever played the game.
2007
01:35:59,449 --> 01:36:01,103
He didn't just walk hitters.
2008
01:36:01,146 --> 01:36:03,018
He walked the most ever,
struck out the most ever.
2009
01:36:03,061 --> 01:36:04,323
He allowed the fewest hits ever.
2010
01:36:04,367 --> 01:36:06,151
Threw the most no-hitters ever.
2011
01:36:06,195 --> 01:36:10,416
So every part of him is this
Paul Bunyan-esque character.
2012
01:36:10,460 --> 01:36:12,375
He's just this larger
than life figure.
2013
01:36:12,418 --> 01:36:13,724
But at the end, you're like
2014
01:36:13,768 --> 01:36:14,986
"where does it
Nolan Ryan stand?"
2015
01:36:15,030 --> 01:36:16,509
And there's no
good answer to that
2016
01:36:16,553 --> 01:36:18,424
because there's nobody
to compare him to.
2017
01:36:18,468 --> 01:36:20,775
He's an icon to the
game of baseball.
2018
01:36:20,818 --> 01:36:22,515
It's almost folklore.
2019
01:36:22,559 --> 01:36:24,474
When you think about what
he was able to accomplish
2020
01:36:24,517 --> 01:36:25,997
and how long he did it.
2021
01:36:26,041 --> 01:36:28,217
I don't remember facing
anybody like him.
2022
01:36:29,435 --> 01:36:31,089
Ultimately in life,
2023
01:36:31,133 --> 01:36:32,830
you can have success
on the field
2024
01:36:32,874 --> 01:36:34,440
but really what matters
in the long term
2025
01:36:34,484 --> 01:36:36,442
is a good set of values.
2026
01:36:37,095 --> 01:36:39,794
And that's what
Nolan Ryan exemplifies.
2027
01:36:42,666 --> 01:36:46,844
His legacy will be that
he had a God-given talent
2028
01:36:47,497 --> 01:36:49,412
and he worked hard
at his talent.
2029
01:36:50,021 --> 01:36:52,415
I'm really proud of that
2030
01:36:52,981 --> 01:36:55,374
but I'm just so proud
of him as a person.
2031
01:36:56,549 --> 01:36:58,247
I guess I'm just
his biggest fan.
2032
01:37:00,771 --> 01:37:03,469
My mom played a huge role.
2033
01:37:03,513 --> 01:37:06,081
Without Ruth Ryan,
Nolan Ryan's career would
2034
01:37:06,124 --> 01:37:09,432
never have lasted 27 years
in the Major Leagues.
2035
01:37:09,475 --> 01:37:13,566
She has given up so much
for our family.
2036
01:37:18,093 --> 01:37:21,748
I never dreamed this would
happen, but, then again,
2037
01:37:21,792 --> 01:37:23,402
I just wanted to be with him.
2038
01:37:26,318 --> 01:37:28,668
Three, two, one.
2039
01:37:29,931 --> 01:37:32,934
Everything about Nolan Ryan
is rather mythical.
2040
01:37:33,978 --> 01:37:35,937
And I think it always will be.
2041
01:37:35,980 --> 01:37:38,156
Long after us,
2042
01:37:38,200 --> 01:37:39,679
it'll still be mythical.
2043
01:37:42,160 --> 01:37:43,596
I guess it was kinda like,
2044
01:37:44,510 --> 01:37:46,208
I was born to be a pitcher.
2045
01:37:50,342 --> 01:37:53,345
That's it,
number seven is in the books.
2046
01:37:53,650 --> 01:37:56,305
The remarkable Ryan
has done it again.
2047
01:38:02,137 --> 01:38:03,921
Now you didn't really think
2048
01:38:03,965 --> 01:38:06,141
we'd leave out the seventh
no-hitter, did you?
2049
01:38:07,707 --> 01:38:10,623
Here's to one hell
of run, Big Tex.
2050
01:39:24,610 --> 01:39:26,917
They don't even know
what a soap opera is.
2051
01:39:30,573 --> 01:39:31,922
Yeah, I have it.
2052
01:39:31,966 --> 01:39:33,097
Oh, you're watching
it right now?
2053
01:39:33,141 --> 01:39:35,186
- Hello, Nolan.
- Hi, Mary.
2054
01:39:35,230 --> 01:39:37,275
I just wanted to come by
and thank you for yesterday
2055
01:39:37,319 --> 01:39:38,711
and drop this picture
off you asked for.
2056
01:39:38,755 --> 01:39:40,278
Oh, how nice of you.
2057
01:39:40,322 --> 01:39:41,801
You had hair!
2058
01:39:43,107 --> 01:39:44,500
Well, I guess I better go.
2059
01:39:44,543 --> 01:39:46,110
I just want to drop
that picture by.
2060
01:39:46,154 --> 01:39:48,373
Oh, well you just come by
anytime you're in town.
2061
01:39:48,417 --> 01:39:49,853
Most appreciated.
2062
01:39:49,896 --> 01:39:52,029
Yes ma'am, thank you.
Nice seeing you.
2063
01:39:52,073 --> 01:39:53,596
Goodbye.
2064
01:39:53,639 --> 01:39:55,119
Hey, after watching this,
let me tell you,
2065
01:39:55,163 --> 01:39:56,468
it's a good thing you
stuck with baseball,
2066
01:39:56,512 --> 01:39:57,992
not acting.
2067
01:39:59,689 --> 01:40:01,343
♪ Well, one of these
days gonna pay the road. ♪
2068
01:40:01,952 --> 01:40:05,477
♪ Yeah, one of these days
going to run for fun. ♪
2069
01:40:06,087 --> 01:40:09,742
♪ Yeah one these days,
when you're all alone. ♪
2070
01:40:10,613 --> 01:40:15,183
♪ Out back wishing for
the grass to grow, oh ♪
2071
01:40:16,184 --> 01:40:19,404
Do, I think my dad's the
greatest pitcher of all time.
2072
01:40:19,448 --> 01:40:21,928
In some ways I would say no.
2073
01:40:21,972 --> 01:40:23,669
And in some ways I'd say yes.
2074
01:40:23,713 --> 01:40:25,106
When you pitch as deep as he did
2075
01:40:25,149 --> 01:40:26,629
and you pitch it for
as long as he did,
2076
01:40:26,672 --> 01:40:28,239
there's gonna be numbers
that if somebody
2077
01:40:28,283 --> 01:40:30,807
wants to make the argument,
well, you know
2078
01:40:30,850 --> 01:40:32,591
he's the all-time walk leader.
2079
01:40:32,635 --> 01:40:34,637
Or he has nearly 300 losses.
2080
01:40:34,680 --> 01:40:36,247
Well, that's a valid argument,
2081
01:40:36,291 --> 01:40:38,423
but that is also what
comes with the territory
2082
01:40:38,467 --> 01:40:41,165
when you are a power pitcher
and you pitch as long as he did.
2083
01:40:41,209 --> 01:40:43,776
You know, you got Randy Johnson,
you got Roger Clemens
2084
01:40:43,820 --> 01:40:46,257
you got Tom Sever,
and I'm being biased.
2085
01:40:46,301 --> 01:40:49,434
But I think, bar none,
Nolan, as a power pitcher,
2086
01:40:49,478 --> 01:40:51,523
is at the head of that list.
2087
01:40:51,567 --> 01:40:54,526
Nolan Ryan definitely
top five of all time.
2088
01:40:54,570 --> 01:40:55,614
No doubt about it.
2089
01:40:55,658 --> 01:40:56,789
I caught that dude, man.
2090
01:40:56,833 --> 01:40:58,356
I mean, I caught Nolan Ryan.
2091
01:40:58,400 --> 01:40:59,618
I caught him.
2092
01:40:59,662 --> 01:41:01,185
He can rank right up there
2093
01:41:01,229 --> 01:41:03,883
with some of the old pitchers,
Sandy Koufax,
2094
01:41:03,927 --> 01:41:05,363
people that have
accomplished enormous
2095
01:41:05,407 --> 01:41:07,104
success in baseball.
2096
01:41:07,148 --> 01:41:09,802
There has been pitchers
that have won more than him
2097
01:41:09,846 --> 01:41:11,891
that have a better ERA.
2098
01:41:11,935 --> 01:41:14,155
But in the history of baseball,
2099
01:41:14,198 --> 01:41:17,201
he was the most
dominating pitcher
2100
01:41:17,245 --> 01:41:19,160
that the game has ever seen.
2101
01:41:21,901 --> 01:41:24,121
We gotta end on that.
2102
01:41:24,165 --> 01:41:25,470
That was perfect.
2103
01:41:25,514 --> 01:41:26,471
Yeah, it felt like,
wow, that was--
2104
01:41:26,515 --> 01:41:27,603
You nailed it.
2105
01:41:28,995 --> 01:41:30,867
Wow, I was looking in the
camera and I felt, wow.
2106
01:41:32,086 --> 01:41:34,392
Well that's the way a
documentary should end.