Ryan Tops Inductee List for O.C. Hall of Fame

Nolan Ryan and Brian Downing, two of the greatest players in Angel history, and Steve Scott and Mary Slaney, two of the greatest American milers, are among seven athletes to be inducted into the Orange County Hall of Fame, it was announced Wednesday.

They are joined by former Ram center Rich Saul, boxer George Latka and tennis player Josephine Cruickshank.

The induction ceremony will be held Dec. 18 at the Hall of Fame at Anaheim Stadium.

Ryan threw four of his major league-record seven no-hitters while with the Angels from 1972-79. Ryan’s 383 strikeouts in 1973 remains the American League record.

Downing is one of two Angels--Bobby Grich is the other--to play on the 1979, ’82 and ’86 AL West championship teams.

Scott, from UC Irvine, set the U.S. mile record of 3 minutes 47.69 seconds in 1982 and made Olympic teams in 1980, ’84 and ’88.

Slaney, from Orange High, also made three Olympic teams but never won a medal. She holds the U.S. women’s mile record of 4:16.71, set in 1985, and won the 1,500 and 3,000 meters in the first World Championships in 1983.

Saul played 12 seasons for the Rams, retiring after the 1981 season. Latka turns 80 Saturday. Cruickshank was a tennis champion in the 1920s and ‘30s.