SPECIAL REPORT: NOLAN RYAN

DRAWING CROWDS: Ryan is one of baseball’s biggest draws, both on television and at the gate. . . . In the two-plus years ESPN has carried major league games, Ryan was responsible for the all-sports network’s highest-rated game. Over 2.5 million households were tuned in when he sought his 300th victory July 25, 1990. When he finally got the win six days later, 2.3 million were watching. . . . Ryan boosts Texas Ranger attendance by about 4,000 fans per game. His 17 starts in 1991 averaged 33,171.