Nolan Ryan Keynote Speaker

Nolan Ryan is a retired American professional baseball player. Born on January 31, 1947, in Refugio, Texas, Ryan grew up on a ranch and attended Alvin High School, where he played baseball and football. After graduating in 1965, he was signed by the New York Mets and began his professional career in the minor leagues.

In 1966, Ryan made his major league debut with the Mets and quickly established himself as a dominant pitcher known for his powerful fastball and exceptional control. In 1969, he set a record for the most strikeouts in a single game, with 19. He also pitched a no-hitter that year, the first of his career.

Ryan was traded to the California Angels in 1972 and spent five seasons with the team. In 1973, he set a new record for the most strikeouts in a season, with 383. He also pitched his second no-hitter that year. In 1974, he was named the American League’s Most Valuable Player.

In 1979, Ryan signed with the Houston Astros and spent nine seasons with the team. During this time, he set a new record for the most career strikeouts, surpassing Walter Johnson’s previous mark of 3,508. He also pitched his third no-hitter with the Astros in 1981.

In 1988, Ryan joined the Texas Rangers and played his final five seasons with the team. He retired from baseball in 1993, at the age of 46, with a record of 324 wins and 292 losses. He was the oldest player in the major leagues at the time of his retirement.

After retiring from baseball, Ryan became an executive with the Rangers and later the Astros. He also founded the Nolan Ryan Foundation, which provides support for children’s health, education, and wellness programs in Texas. Ryan was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999 and is widely considered one of the greatest pitchers in the history of the game. He is married to Ruth Holdorff and has two children. He currently resides in Georgetown, Texas.