Ryan’s Setting the Record, Not Just Chasing After It

Let us now praise Nolan Ryan. After years of playing with mediocre to terrible teams and being labeled a .500 pitcher by some know-nothings, he now becomes the first man ever to strike out 4,000 batters. Four thousand--20 years of averaging 200 strikeouts. This feat is no less remarkable than Pete Rose’s. It isn’t Nolie’s fault that, unlike Rose, no one managed to get there before him.

FRANK MALFITANO

Los Angeles