OT: Facing Nolan on Netflix

[RUBubba]

Pretty cool documentary on Nolan Ryan, one of my favorites as a kid. Always "undervalued".

Said technology then had him over 100, but with modern technology, he would have been clocked at about 107 mph. Back then no one was buzzing over 100, though Goose comes to mind.

I wonder if "any posters" here may have had the pleasure of facing him...

Worth watching for sure. Even my wife enjoyed it.

 

[newell138]

one of the all time greatest pitchers. thanks for the heads up. I have a couple of his baseball cards still from when he was on the Mets in the 1960s

 

[Mike from MD]

one of the all time greatest pitchers. thanks for the heads up. I have a couple of his baseball cards still from when he was on the Mets in the 1960s

Tiger First Baseman, Norm Cash brought a table leg to the plate to face Ryan during the 2nd no-hitter.

 

[RUnTeX]

I wonder if "any posters" here may have had the pleasure of facing him...

Certainly one esteemed poster will chime in at some point. I think he's even mentioned in the past about facing NR a few times in the early-mid 80s.

 

[Ronnie_B]

Certainly one esteemed poster will chime in at some point. I think he's even mentioned in the past about facing NR a few times in the early-mid 80s.

He did rather well hitting Ryan for a .294 avg.

 

[RU4Real]

I wonder if "any posters" here may have had the pleasure of facing him.

I don't know about "facing him", but Joe did attend one of our tailgates this season. I think I could probably take him.

 

[Skull83]

I don't know if he was really "undervalued" RUBubba. I know some people liked to point to his negative statisitics, but he was a first ballot hall of famer and I think he still has something like the 5th highest vote percentage of all time! That's pretty rarefied air.

 

[RUTGERS95]

Pretty cool documentary on Nolan Ryan, one of my favorites as a kid. Always "undervalued".

Said technology then had him over 100, but with modern technology, he would have been clocked at about 107 mph. Back then no one was buzzing over 100, though Goose comes to mind.

I wonder if "any posters" here may have had the pleasure of facing him...

Worth watching for sure. Even my wife enjoyed it.

thanks for heads up, I'll watch it

 

[dconifer]

I saw and loved it.

As a kid, I remember being sure that Jim Palmer definitely deserved the AL Cy Young in 1973 (what a homer). But this show mentioned how Mrs. Ryan was quite bummed that Nolan didn't win it that year, given that he'd pitched two no-hitters and won 21 games. They made a good case for Nolan winning it that hit home with me. Put him on a better team (such as the Orioles, with their stellar defense) and who knows what his numbers would have been that season. As a matter of fact, he was on weak teams for most of his career and still put up great numbers.

I don't think he was the best pitcher of his era, but maybe if he'd played for better teams I'd feel differently...

 

[RUTGERS95]

He did rather well hitting Ryan for a .294 avg.

in the voice of vader, 'impressive, most impressive'

 

[RUBubba]

I don't know if he was really "undervalued" RUBubba. I know some people liked to point to his negative statisitics, but he was a first ballot hall of famer and I think he still has something like the 5th highest vote percentage of all time! That's pretty rarefied air.

Wasn't my words. That was part of the documentary. When he was leaving the Angels, the owner was quoted as saying something like "With the money he wants, I can get two 8 and 6 pitchers."

His curveball was just ridiculous too. One of my favorite baseball highlights was him buckling Paul Blair (I think) in the World Series.

 

[tom1944]

I saw and loved it.

As a kid, I remember being sure that Jim Palmer definitely deserved the AL Cy Young in 1973 (what a homer). But this show mentioned how Mrs. Ryan was quite bummed that Nolan didn't win it that year, given that he'd pitched two no-hitters and won 21 games. They made a good case for Nolan winning it that hit home with me. Put him on a better team (such as the Orioles, with their stellar defense) and who knows what his numbers would have been that season. As a matter of fact, he was on weak teams for most of his career and still put up great numbers.

I don't think he was the best pitcher of his era, but maybe if he'd played for better teams I'd feel differently...

What do you consider his era? He was not as good as Seaver or Carlton in my opinion

 

[dconifer]

What do you consider his era? He was not as good as Seaver or Carlton in my opinion

Yes, that's what I meant (and I would add Palmer)...

 

[tom1944]

Yes, that's what I meant (and I would add Palmer)...

And Gibson but Gibson is probably before his era

He pitched 68 to 93 but the 70's was his best period. His era would be the 70's and 80's I would think

 

[tom1944]

Here is someone's opinion on the best pitchers of the 70's

The 10 Best Pitchers of the 1970s

Tireless workhorse aces kept the focus and stayed in charge during a time of change and upheaval in the game, on and off the field.

thisgreatgame.com

 

[tom1944]

and the 80s

The 10 Best Pitchers of the 1980s

A decade of sensational debuts is well represented on this list of top pitchers from a robust time for baseball.

thisgreatgame.com

 

[RUnTeX]

And Gibson but Gibson is probably before his era

He pitched 68 to 93 but the 70's was his best period. His era would be the 70's and 80's I would think

I was going to say, his career was so long it just about spanned two eras worth of pitchers. I'd have him behind Seaver and probably Carlton. Blyleven would have been another contemporary but Ryan would be above him.

 

[dconifer]

And Gibson but Gibson is probably before his era

He pitched 68 to 93 but the 70's was his best period. His era would be the 70's and 80's I would think

I only remember watching Gibson in his twilight years, but damn, after reading about him, he's my favorite. I feel like you couldn't do better than Gibby in a game 7 situation...

 

[RUfinally2008]

Many moons ago, before all this grading of baseball cards I cleared $1,500 for Ryan's Rookie card. Put it on consignment at that Hobby store in the Strathmore Shopping Center in Matawan.

 

[Rufaninga]

Was this from viewpoint of Robin Ventura?

 

[dconifer]

Was this from viewpoint of Robin Ventura?

They specifically point out in the documentary that Robin Ventura refused the opportunity to comment, ha ha.

The Ryan family said that the photo of the fight was the most frequently autographed item for Nolan...

 

[tom1944]

They specifically point out in the documentary that Robin Ventura refused the opportunity to comment, ha ha.

The Ryan family said that the photo of the fight was the most frequently autographed item for Nolan...

There is more to the tape than is usually shown

Ventura actually took Ryan to the ground. He had 2 other players grabbing him but popped his head out and had the upper hand as he brought Ryan to the ground

 

[dconifer]

There is more to the tape than is usually shown

Ventura actually took Ryan to the ground. He had 2 other players grabbing him but popped his head out and had the upper hand as he brought Ryan to the ground

I've never seen it, and really am not interested. I was merely pointing out that it came up in the documentary, though...

 

[bob-loblaw]

Many moons ago, before all this grading of baseball cards I cleared $1,500 for Ryan's Rookie card. Put it on consignment at that Hobby store in the Strathmore Shopping Center in Matawan.

That store was the worst. I vaguely remember them being on Shame on You or some other Channel 2 or 5 news report showing them on their own cameras opening up packs of cards and taking out valuable cards and replacing them with less valuable ones.
I'm still scarred from all the packs opened in 89 thinking, seeing Mark Mc, on the back, only to continue opening and have it be Mark McLemore.

 

[newell138]

Watched tonight it was really well done. Learned a lot about his career and life. He comes across as a genuine, good man. His wife had a crush on him from the time she was a little girl and eventually they went on a first date when they were in 8th grade.

 

[RUTrack94]

Thought it was an amazing documentary. His stats and longevity are very impressive. One of my favorite pitchers of that time.