Nolan Ryan

Nolan Ryan's season nearly came to an end because of an angry taxi driver, but he is not expected to miss any time with the Texas Rangers. Ryan, pitching coach Tom House and House's wife, Karren, hailed a cab outside their Seattle hotel Sunday morning for a short ride to a health club where Ryan was to have his usual off-day weightlifting session. The cabdriver, unhappy at the prospect of a $2.50 fare, shoved open the passenger side door just as Ryan reached to open it, jamming Ryan's thumb.

The eagerly awaited return of Nolan Ryan to the pitching mound for the struggling Texas Rangers will be delayed an additional six days, team officials say. Ryan had been placed on the 15-day disabled list and the team originally planned to bring him off the list in time to start next Saturday night against the Angels. But Ryan had more problems with his back spasms Monday while pitching during a 15-minute session at Arlington Stadium.

The telephone relentlessly rings at The Express Bank in Alvin, Tex. Folks will sometimes call about their checking account. There are the occasional inquiries about the prime rate of interest. Yet, most of the calls pertain to one man, leaving secretary Jill Bick scrambling each day just to uncover the mountain of messages on her desk. You see, the owner of The Express Bank is Texas' own living legend, Nolan Ryan. "It's unbelievable around here," Bick said.

Nolan Ryan, the oldest pitcher to have 300 strikeouts in a season, said Monday he will go for his 300th victory next year and "be disappointed" if he doesn't get it. At 42, the Texas Rangers' right-hander is 11 victories short of 300, considered an automatic ticket to the Hall of Fame. Although he considered retiring, Ryan had to be encouraged by his performance this season.

Given the work ethic that enabled him to pitch for 27 years in the major leagues, it is not surprising that Nolan Ryan is retired in name only. At 52, five years after he ended his remarkable career, the power pitcher has become something of a power broker: Part banker, philanthropist, rancher, minor league owner, major league team advisor, government official, restaurant owner and heavily recruited product endorser.

It had been the two most frustrating months of Nolan Ryan's brilliant career. Although the all-time strikeout king was striking out batters at a faster clip than he did throughout his career, the 40-year-old right-hander couldn't win for losing. As his losing streak continued, Manager Hal Lanier talked about taking Ryan out of the rotation and making him the long relief man. It was nearly the final blow for a pitcher who had pitched well but had been the victim of his teammates' silent bats.

Armed with the weapons of the autograph army, they converged about three dozen strong on Nolan Ryan's car, even before he had brought it to a stop at the training base of the Texas Rangers the other morning. "The King's here," said one, waving pad and pencil as Ryan weaved his way to the clubhouse, saying he would sign when his work was done. At 45, preparing for his 25th major league season, the King is never without his court.

Thursday morning at 7:30, 4 1/2 hours after getting to bed, he was in a room underneath Arlington Stadium lifting weights. An extra hour or two of sleep, the morning television shows, even the congratulatory phone calls--they would all have to wait. No-hitter No. 7? No big deal. Nolan Ryan had work to do.

OK, so he doesn't have Nolan Ryan's fastball. So he was washed up--like most normal pitchers--and serving as the St. Louis Cardinals' pitching coach by the time he was 40. So Billy Muffett, who now oversees the Detroit Tigers' pitchers, won a grand total of 16 games in the bigs. You can still call him Billy (No-Hit) Muffett. You see, Ryan throws them, Muffett watches them. Take the mid-1970s. Muffett worked as the Angels' pitching coach for a little more than three years--and saw five no-no's.

A 27-year career illuminated by the blinking lights of the speed guns will end with the 1993 season. Nolan Ryan said Thursday that this season will be his last, a final fling for one of the most remarkable pitchers ever. With pitchers and catchers scheduled to report to the Texas Rangers' training base in Florida next week, Ryan, 46, told the team's management Thursday that he would retire at the end of the season. He said age, family and injuries were the key factors.