Ryan, Nolan, 1947-

Lynn Nolan Ryan Jr. (born January 31, 1947), nicknamed The Ryan Express, is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher and a previous chief executive officer (CEO) of the Texas Rangers. He is currently an executive adviser to the owner of the Houston Astros; Ryan was born in Refugio, south of Victoria in south Texas; In 1965, after graduating from Alvin High School, Ryan was drafted by the New York Mets in the 12th round of the 1965 Major League Baseball draft, with the 226th overall pick; On December 10, 1971, the 25-year-old Ryan was traded to the California Angels; In 1980 Nolan Ryan became the first million dollar player when he signed a four-year free agent contract with the Houston Astros; Ryan left Houston in a contract dispute following the 1988 season and joined the Texas Rangers at age 42; Ryan threw a record seven no-hitters during his major league career, three more than any other pitcher. The no-hitters spanned three decades of pitching. In those seven games, Ryan accumulated a total of 94 strikeouts and 26 walks; a ratio of 3.6 strikeouts per walk (his career K:BB was 2.0). Ryan struck out 17 in his no-hitter on July 15, 1973 versus Detroit and walked eight in his subsequent no-hitter against Minnesota, both respective highs for his no-hitters; In February 2008, the Rangers hired Ryan as team president; On February 11, 2014, Ryan accepted a position as a executive adviser for the Houston Astros under owner Jim Crane;