Nolan Ryan
Hall of Fame Pitcher
Nolan Ryan was elected to the baseball hall of fame in 1999, after playing for two Texas teams, the Astros and Rangers, as well as many others.
For most of Nolan Ryan's extraordinary career, the fireballing Texan defined the term "power pitcher." Ryan holds numerous major league pitching records, including most strikeouts (5,714), most no-hitters (7), most games with 15 or more strikeouts (26), and most strikeouts in a single season (383). The "Ryan Express" never showed signs of slowing down and became the only pitcher to strike out 16 or more batters after the age of 40, accomplishing the feat three times. Ryan was the first American League pitcher to strike out nineteen men in a nine-inning game (August 12, 1974). Ryan's 27 major league seasons are the most played by anyone in baseball history. Over his illustrious career, the flame-thrower struck out an average of 9.55 batters per nine innings pitched, while allowing opposing batters a meager .204 batting mark.
Today, Nolan owns his own team, The Nolan Ryan Express--a AAA team playing in Roundrock, Texas.