Ryan Mania : Baseball: Texas Ranger pitcher handcuffs 5,000 plus, hurls six no-hitters, now goes for his 300th career victory.

When Nolan Ryan signed with the Texas Rangers as a free agent in December, 1988, three numbers swirled in his head.

Five thousand. Six and 300.

“Those are the only numbers that really mean something to me,” Ryan said.

Ryan, the all-time strikeout leader, struck out Rickey Henderson for No. 5,000 last summer and has added 202 since. His sixth no-hitter, against Oakland last month, came after several close calls since his record fifth in 1981.

On Wednesday night, Ryan goes for his 300th victory against the New York Yankees.

Ryan declined to discuss going for No. 300 until last Friday night, when he beat Detroit 5-3 for No. 299.

“Now I can start thinking about it,” he said. “I don’t think about no-hitters until the ninth or so, I didn’t think about 5,000 until I was close and I didn’t think about 300 until I had 299.”

Just about everyone else has been thinking about it all season. And now, Ryanmania has struck again. Even Ryan is caught up in it, agreeing to a news conference today to accommodate the hundreds of interview requests.

Unlike some 300-win pitchers, Ryan is on a hot streak as he approaches the coveted number. Despite nagging back problems, Ryan is 5-0 with an 2.63 ERA in his last six starts.

“I feel good,” Ryan said. “My back won’t keep me from starting Wednesday, but it’s just one of those things that’ll need five weeks of rest to completely heal.”

Wednesday night’s game was sold out on July 20, the earliest sellout in Rangers history, said Tanja Burgdorf in the team’s public relations office.

One fan in the Dallas suburb of Plano bought six tickets to take his family to the game, but got an unexpected collectible when his wife chose not to go.

The $8.50 unused ticket would be worth at least $50 if Ryan wins, said Jim Milholland of Dick’s Dugout sports collectibles shop in Dallas.

“But I think they’re crazy for not going to the game if they have a ticket,” he said.

Some examples of Ryanmania:

--Local newspapers are running daily updates on Ryan remaining calm as the pressure mounts, and radio stations are giving fans up-to-the-minute reports on Ryan’s ailing back.

--The razor company for which Ryan does TV commercials is poised for the Texas pitcher’s 300th career victory. Since Ryan is 43, BIC said when Ryan wins No. 300, all 43-year-old men in the United States will be offered a free trial pack of BIC Metal Shavers.

--Ryan memorabilia was a hot item at the 11th National Sports Collectors convention in Arlington earlier this month. Rangers Manager Bobby Valentine even doled out hundreds of dollars for a Ryan rookie card.

A mint 1968 Topps rookie card of Ryan recently sold for $3,900 at a Florida auction.

--Five hundred people entered a Ft. Worth Star-Telegram contest titled “Ryan Expressions,” in which they wrote in 25 words or less just how special the Rangers pitcher is to their lives.

The winner, James Fleschener of Arlington, wrote: “Nolan brings back memories of days gone by. Playing ball during the endless summer days with childhood friends. Nolan is my personalized fountain of youth.”