Anaheim Is a Special Place to Ryan : Baseball: Texas pitcher, who makes 700th career start tonight, talks about the past, but not so much about the future.

People have tried to predict where or when Nolan Ryan’s career will end. And so far, no one has been right.

When Ryan takes the mound for the Texas Rangers tonight at Anaheim Stadium, there will again be curiosity: Could this be the last time he will pitch here?

Ryan, who at 43 has earned his 300th victory and pitched a record sixth no-hitter this season, has made no announcements about whether he will play next season.

His competitive nature and a 1991 salary of $3.3 million are among the reasons he well might.

“As far as my attitude, probably within a short period of time I’ll know what my position is, in the next several weeks,” Ryan said Monday.

Ryan returned to Anaheim Stadium last season for the first time since leaving the Angels for Houston after the 1979 season. Ryan was triumphant in every return last season, throwing two three-hit shutouts for the Rangers and working two scoreless innings to win the All-Star Game.

Tonight he will try to continue that scoreless streak as an opposing pitcher in Anaheim Stadium, the place where he once thought he might finish his career.

“I really thought when I played here I’d end up retiring out here in an Angel uniform,” Ryan said, pausing and then smiling. “I had that thought too, in an Astro uniform.”

The return to Anaheim is special.

“I always look forward to pitching here,” Ryan said. “It’s been probably my favorite place to visit and pitch in the American League because of all the fond memories I have here from years past--the fans, the organization, the ballpark, just the whole area.”

Ryan (12-6), who will make the 700th start of his career tonight, tying him for fifth on the all-time list with Tommy John, won his 300th game July 31 at Milwaukee.

Since then, he has gone 1-2 in four starts. In his past two starts, he has allowed only three earned runs in 17 innings.

“I was so relieved to have that behind me, to try to get my schedule back to some kind of normalcy,” Ryan said. “I really have enjoyed the period after.”

Ryan’s contract expires after this season, with an option in 1991 that the Rangers have said they will exercise if he wants to return.

“Some factors that come into play each year are how I’m holding up physically, my performance, the ballclub’s attitude and my family situation, whether everybody’s still enjoying it,” Ryan said. “Too, you have to have the desire to play. I honestly can say to this point I’ve never had a problem with that.”

There is also his drive to pitch in another World Series. For all he has accomplished--the victories, the no-hitters, the all-time strikeout lead--he has pitched in only one World Series game, in 1969.

Ryan pitched 2 1/3 innings of relief for the New York Mets against Baltimore, earning a save.

“I would like still to pitch in another World Series,” he said. “That’s always been a goal of mine. I think with our ballclub, we’re not too far from being in that type of situation.”

Recalling old times, Ryan was asked again to speak of his departure from the Angels after a 16-14 season in 1979, when then-General Manager Buzzie Bavasi failed to re-sign him, saying he could be replaced with “two 8-7 pitchers.”

“I’m not a vindictive person,” Ryan said. “There were circumstances involved. Things happen. One reason I don’t (harbor a grudge) is that Buzzie later admitted making a mistake.”

Bavasi, Ryan said, thought Ryan would not leave Anaheim.

“He counted on one thing--that I wouldn’t leave. That was his ace in the hole. He underestimated me there. I think that happened again with (owner) John McMullen and the Astros.”

Underestimate Nolan Ryan? Never a very good idea.