Nolan Ryan

Overview

To any baseball fan, Nolan Ryan’s name still conjures up images of blistering 100-mile-per-hour fastballs and knee-buckling curveballs. During his 27-year career, “The Ryan Express” was named an eight-time All-Star and amassed seven no-hitters and more than 5,700 strikeouts—more than any other pitcher in major-league history. This comprehensive biography of Nolan Ryan follows the baseball legend’s journey from the start of his professional career in 1965 to his retirement in 1993. Hall of Famers, journeymen, clubhouse workers, coaches, and trainers offer their own unique take on Ryan in this book filled with never-before-told anecdotes and personal recollections and peppered with eyewitness accounts of his greatest games. In the pages of this history, readers will discover what made Nolan Ryan one of the most revered and respected athletes and citizens of his time.

Reviews

"Nolan Ryan and Bob Gibson, were the two best competitors I ever faced. The Making of a Pitcher tells you why." —Pete Rose, Baseball's all time hit leader

"This is the oral history of Nolan Ryan, the story of baseball's most legendary power pitcher as told by the teammates, friends and family members who have known him for decades. Rob Goldman is one of those friends, and he takes you beneath the Ryan Express label to share the secrets of Ryan's success on and off the field." —Bill Shaikin, LA Times

"Going back over four decades, just when you think you knew almost everything about the Nolan Ryan story, along comes this book, The Making of a Pitcher. I got a good education, and had a good time learning exactly what I didn't know. Rob Goldman gives us a Nolan look, and a Ruth Ryan look, that is a fun, interesting, and most of all, an entertaining read about two Texas icons. Yes, two. Nolan and Ruth." —Randy Galloway, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

"Nolan Ryan is a tribute to the American way, living proof that hard work creates opportunity. He wasn't a highly-touted prospect when he came out of high school, and he even thought about quitting when he was trade to the California Angels. Now look at him. He became a Hall of Famer, setting records for no-hitters and strikeouts. Rob Goldman delivered a hit in documenting Ryan's rise to the top." —Tracy Ringolsby, MLB.Com

Author Biography

Rob Goldman was a batboy for the California Angels during the 1970s, when he first met Nolan Ryan. He is the author of Once They Were Angels, a history of the Angels, and collaborated with former Angels outfielder Tim Salmon on his memoir Always an Angel. He lives in Thousand Oaks, California.  Reid Ryan, the eldest son of Nolan Ryan, was a minor league pitcher and co-founder of Ryan-Sanders Baseball. He is currently the president of the Houston Astros. He lives in Texas.