The Great Pitcher: Nolan Ryan's Incredible Career

TLDRNolan Ryan, one of the greatest pitchers in MLB history, never won a Cy Young Award despite his exceptional career. He dominated the game with his raw power and unmatched strikeout records, but team success and other factors influenced the voting. In 1973, Burt Blylevin was more deserving, while in 1981, the strike-shortened season limited Ryan's chances.

Key insights

🔥Nolan Ryan's career spanned four decades and four different teams.

🏆He holds numerous MLB records, including the all-time strikeout record of 5,714.

🤝Ryan's lack of team success and the focus on wins hindered his chances of winning the Cy Young Award.

In 1973, Burt Blylevin had a better case for the award, while the strike-shortened 1981 season limited Ryan's opportunities.

👑Despite not winning the Cy Young, Ryan's legacy as one of the greatest pitchers of all time remains untarnished.

Q&A

Why didn't Nolan Ryan win a Cy Young Award?

Ryan's lack of team success and the focus on wins, as well as other outstanding pitchers in those years, influenced the voting and prevented him from winning the award.

Who had a better case for the Cy Young in 1973?

Burt Blylevin of the Minnesota Twins had a more dominant season and received more recognition from the voters, finishing seventh in the Cy Young voting.

What limited Nolan Ryan's chances in the 1981 season?

The season was shortened due to a strike, resulting in fewer opportunities for Ryan to showcase his skills and accumulate the statistics necessary to win the Cy Young Award.

Did Nolan Ryan's lack of Cy Young Awards impact his legacy?

No, despite not winning the award, Nolan Ryan's legacy as one of the greatest pitchers in MLB history remains untarnished. His records and dominance speak for themselves.

How many teams did Nolan Ryan play for in his career?

Nolan Ryan played for four different teams during his career: the New York Mets, California Angels, Houston Astros, and Texas Rangers.

Timestamped Summary

00:00[Music] When asked to list the greatest pitchers in the history of Major League Baseball, names like Pedro Martinez, Sandy Koufax, Greg Maddux, and Nolan Ryan immediately come to mind.

06:06In 1973, Nolan Ryan had an incredible season, breaking the all-time strikeout record with 383 strikeouts. However, he finished second in the Cy Young voting, with Burt Blylevin being more deserving of the award.

10:29In 1981, Nolan Ryan had another remarkable season, posting a 1.69 ERA and leading both leagues in several pitching categories. Unfortunately, the strike-shortened season limited his chances of winning the Cy Young Award.

10:59Despite never winning a Cy Young Award, Nolan Ryan's legacy as one of the greatest pitchers of all time remains untarnished.