Nolan Ryan is the best pitcher in the history of the Texas Rangers.

There have been several pitchers to wear a Texas Rangers uniform since the team’s first game in 1961. In Texas, some of the game’s finest pitchers have made their mark. But the best of them all is Nolan Ryan.

Nolan Ryan

Prior to the 1989 season, Ryan signed with the Rangers and pitched for them for portions of five seasons. With Texas, he achieved two no-hitters and his 300th career win, both at the age of 42, even though he was long past his peak.

There are now 51 major league records held by Ryan that include the most strikeouts (5,714) by a pitcher in big league history after a career of 27 seasons in MLB.

It is estimated that Ryan’s total career earnings were somewhat more than $25.75 million. In 1992, when he was 45 years old, he earned a whopping $4.2 million dollars.

Before obtaining a job with the Houston Astros, Ryan served as president and CEO of the Texas Rangers from 2008 to 2013. Ryan was inducted into the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame in 2003, and he is the first pitcher in Rangers history to have his number (34), which he wore for his entire career, permanently retired.