Nolan Ryan did not just break the MLB no hitter record, he shattered it.
Ryan did not become a star until he was traded to the Los Angeles Angels, part of the package to land the remnants of Jim Fregosi. His first no hitter came on May 15, 1973, as he blanked the Royals 3-0. Two months to the day latter, Ryan threw his second no hitter, this time blanking the Tigers 6-0, a game in which he struck out 17 batters. Ryan then threw seven no hit innings in his next start, coming the closest anyone has to tying Johnny Vander Meer‘s consecutive no hitters.
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Ryan became the fifth pitcher with three no hitters on September 28, 1974, when he blanked the Twins 4-0. Then, on June 1, 1975, he tied Koufax with a 1-0 victory over the Orioles.
His fifth no hitter did not come until he was a member of the Houston Astros. On September 26, 1981, he blanked Koufax’ old team 5-0. The Dodgers did eventually get the last laugh however, as they won the World Series that season. It took until June 11, 1990, for Ryan to notch his sixth, a 5-0 blanking of the Athletics. Finally, on May 1, 1991, the 44 year old Ryan threw his seventh and final no hitter, the oldest pitcher in MLB history to do so.
Ryan, who set the record with 27 major league seasons, had an impressive career even without the no hitters. He posted a 324-293 record, along with a 3.19 ERA and a 1.297 WHiP. Over his 5386 innings, he struck out a record 5714 batters, while issuing a record 2795 walks. He was an eight time All Star, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999.
It is this group of pitchers that Justin Verlander joined with his third no hitter on Sunday. He has truly cemented his place in MLB history.