Texas Rangers History: Nolan Ryan Notches 5000th Strikeout

Only one pitcher has ever hit the 5000 strikeout plateau in the history of the MLB. Texas Rangers pitcher Nolan Ryan did just that on this day in 1989.

Nolan Ryan was an ageless wonder. Pitching effectively into his mid 40’s, Ryan was still firing mid 90s fastballs before he retired at age 46. It is understandable, given his longevity and incredibly durable arm, as to why Ryan is the all time strikeout leader, and it is not even close.

Naturally, when Ryan joined the exclusive 5000 strikeout club, he did so in his own inimitable way. Facing Rickey Henderson in the top of the fifth, and with a full count, Ryan reared back and fired a 96 MPH fastball past the great leadoff man, reaching that historic milestone. It would be one of the 13 strikeouts that Ryan would record that day, as he pitched a complete game despite losing 2-0.

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Reaching that milestone helped cap off another excellent season for Ryan. He made his final All Star Game that year, and finished fifth in the Cy Young vote. That year, Ryan finished with a 16-10 record, leading the American League with 301 strikeouts, while posting a 3.20 ERA and a 1.086 WHiP. Ryan led the league in Strikeouts per nine, and had the fewest hits allowed per nine innings, as was typically the case throughout his career.

In typical Nolan Ryan fashion, he did not want any fanfare after reaching that milestone. Per his request, the game continued unabated, without ceremony. The rest of the Texas Rangers remained in the dugout, and the only acknowledgement of the historic strikeout that Ryan permitted was when he doffed his cap to the cheering crowd. Otherwise, it was just business as usual for Ryan, who was more focused upon attempting to win the ballgame than his personal milestones.

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Nolan Ryan was simply a force of nature when on the mound, an aberration who was still capable of firing mid 90s fastballs into his mid 40’s. On this day in 1989, the Texas Rangers legend became the only pitcher to amass 5000 career strikeouts, victimizing Rickey Henderson for the historic K.