Crazy Baseball Fact 3: Nolan Ryan did NOT win a Cy Young Award

[Mr. Friscus]

That's right, zero Cy Youngs for Nolan Ryan yet look at his career numbers: 26 years.

324 wins (14th all time)
3.19 ERA
5,714 KO's (1st all time)
Led League in KO's 11x
Led League in ERA 2x

Here's some years he was in contention
1973: 21-16, 2.87 ERA, 383 KO's** (2nd in CY)
1974: 22-16, 2.89 ERA, 367 KO's**
1977: 19-16, 2.77 ERA, 341 KO's** (3rd in CY)
1981: 11-5, 1.69 ERA**, 140 KO's (4th in CY)
1987: 8-16, 2.76*, 270 KO's* (5th in CY)

Now look at the winners:
1973: 22-9, 2.40 ERA, 158 KO's
1974: 25-12, 2.49 ERA, 143 KO's
1977: 13-5, 2.17 ERA, 68 KO's. 2nd Place 20-11, 2.91 ERA, 193 KO's
1981:13-7, 2.48 ERA, 180 KO's
1987: 5-3, 2.83 ERA, 74 KO's (reliever)

Ryan could have won 73, 74, 77.

 

[egp320i]

That's right, zero Cy Youngs for Nolan Ryan yet look at his career numbers: 26 years.

324 wins (14th all time)
3.19 ERA
5,714 KO's (1st all time)
Led League in KO's 11x
Led League in ERA 2x

Here's some years he was in contention
1973: 21-16, 2.87 ERA, 383 KO's** (2nd in CY)
1974: 22-16, 2.89 ERA, 367 KO's**
1977: 19-16, 2.77 ERA, 341 KO's** (3rd in CY)
1981: 11-5, 1.69 ERA**, 140 KO's (4th in CY)
1987: 8-16, 2.76*, 270 KO's* (5th in CY)

Now look at the winners:
1973: 22-9, 2.40 ERA, 158 KO's
1974: 25-12, 2.49 ERA, 143 KO's
1977: 13-5, 2.17 ERA, 68 KO's. 2nd Place 20-11, 2.91 ERA, 193 KO's
1981:13-7, 2.48 ERA, 180 KO's
1987: 5-3, 2.83 ERA, 74 KO's (reliever)

Ryan could have won 73, 74, 77.

Yes he was a top 5 GOAT, nobody is getting close to his SO record
or his no hits, 1 hits, etc

he was a workhorse + unicorn we likely will never see again

pitchers now have counts, they get around 100 the are pulled
regardless if they have more in the tank

it's all about........save the arm......you need 4-5 day of rest........LOL

really 5 days to your arm "heals" itself is kinda absurd really

 

[Mr. Friscus]

Yes he was a top 5 GOAT, nobody is getting close to his SO record
or his no hits, 1 hits, etc

he was a workhorse + unicorn we likely will never see again

pitchers now have counts, they get around 100 the are pulled
regardless if they have more in the tank

it's all about........save the arm......you need 4-5 day of rest........LOL

really 5 days to your arm "heals" itself is kinda absurd really

Again, you're comparing modern players to older time players. Stop it. You can't do that.

Even in Nolan's days, he was well ahead of others in elite areas. He was rarely on good teams. He'd have a poor Win/Loss record, but have elite stuff before such metrics were considered. In his time, Win/Loss was prime. A pitcher could go 21-6 with a 3.12 ERA +160 KO's and beat out a 13-12 pitcher with a 2.01 ERA+345 KO's easily.

Nowadays, we aren't so easily fooled

 

[egp320i]

Again, you're comparing modern players to older time players. Stop it. You can't do that.

Even in Nolan's days, he was well ahead of others in elite areas. He was rarely on good teams. He'd have a poor Win/Loss record, but have elite stuff before such metrics were considered. In his time, Win/Loss was prime. A pitcher could go 21-6 with a 3.12 ERA +160 KO's and beat out a 13-12 pitcher with a 2.01 ERA+345 KO's easily.

Nowadays, we aren't so easily fooled

actually no I am not.......Ryan was and is a unique pitcher which his numbers won't be matched
by even the best of the best right now

Ryan in his prime in 2026 would be wiping out batters

 

[Mr. Friscus]

actually no I am not.......Ryan was and is a unique pitcher which his numbers won't be matched
by even the best of the best right now

Ryan in his prime in 2026 would be wiping out batters

By physics he threw a 107 MPH fastball. Modernists say "if it's not 105.6 like Chapman it's legit". The thing is, when Ryan threw his fastball, the measuring distance was near homeplate, while Chapmans measurement was almost after he threw it. Air slows the ball down. Taking Ryan's speeds near home plate, physics says his fastest pitch was 107.

 

[22lcidw]

Again, you're comparing modern players to older time players. Stop it. You can't do that.

Even in Nolan's days, he was well ahead of others in elite areas. He was rarely on good teams. He'd have a poor Win/Loss record, but have elite stuff before such metrics were considered. In his time, Win/Loss was prime. A pitcher could go 21-6 with a 3.12 ERA +160 KO's and beat out a 13-12 pitcher with a 2.01 ERA+345 KO's easily.

Nowadays, we aren't so easily fooled

There were/are many pitchers in that scenario in a year from the past and today. Not just one. Plus, there are variables.

 

[Mr. Friscus]

There were/are many pitchers in that scenario in a year from the past and today. Not just one. Plus, there are variables.

There was clearly more focus on wins up until at least the 90’s. And the 70’s-80’s had a weird relief pitcher Cy Young phase.. which also cost Ryan opportunities. I’m not saying a relief pitcher should never win one, but it should have to be complete historic dominance and effect. There were a few cy young relief pitchers that were iffy (Steve Bedrosian winning in 1987 comes to mind)