I don’t think we’re ever going to see another Nolan Ryan, or anyone even close to his ability!

@ET2carbon

Жыл бұрын

There is a new Ryan documentary

@bill2953

7 ай бұрын

5714 strike outs, seven no-hitters. Nope, we won't see anotet like him in this lifetime, maybe not the next either.

I tell my dad if he’s ever complaining about being old- you lived in the 60s, 70s 80s and 90s. The best decades. And you had Nolan Ryan. You old guys had the best of everything so be happy about it.

"Nolan Ryan knocked the door down, and he went clear through the building and kicked the back door down." LOL awesome.

Greatest Texas Athlete of all time

I DIG HIS CARELESS TEXAS DRAWL!!!!! I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HAVE MET THIS COOL DUDE!!!!

That opening song was lit

@noahmcdaniel4920

5 жыл бұрын

I was literally looking for this comment dead

@TheNaturalhumandiet

5 жыл бұрын

The 90's VHS Years were lit AF sonny

@ADEAL918

4 жыл бұрын

Jordan McDaniel it's a spoof on the Blues Brothers song "Rollin rollin rollin, Rawhide."

@forbin1185

4 жыл бұрын

ADEAL918 that’s not a blues brothers song it’s from a tv show called rawhide

@DrPlatypus1

4 жыл бұрын

😂😂😂😂😂 I started the video and saw your comment right when the song started playing.

In 1987 my mother-in-law from the Philippines had just arrived in Texas and we were watching Nolan Ryan pitch against the K.C. Royals on T.V. and I told her that Nolan Ryan was the best pitcher in all of baseball history. After watching in silence for 45 minutes she suddenly remarked, "He's not so good, he isn't letting anyone hit the ball!" I literally fell off the couch laughing so hard I couldn't even respond to my wife as she yelled at me for laughing at her mother. Nolan Ryan struck out 14 Royals including the rookie Bo Jackson FOUR times!!! I believe it was in April at the time and Bo Jackson's batting average entering the game was an astounding 410. Welcome to the majors sonny!!!

@robertstroud7561

6 жыл бұрын

HILARIOUS!!!

@CarlosRodriguez-di9us

5 жыл бұрын

I nearly feel out of my chair reading your story, dude. AWESOME. My wife is Australian (where baseball is played) and even she can't appreciate how rare of a pitcher NR was. Def one of the GOATs.

@TA152H01

5 жыл бұрын

He's not even close to the best pitcher in history, and if one goes by the Cy Young award, was never the best pitcher any given year. Tom Seaver was a significantly better pitcher than Ryan, as evidenced by his three Cy Young awards, not to mention the year he didn't win it with a 1.76 ERA. Guys like Maddox, Pedro, etc... were also better, matching prime against prime. Ryan was the most amazing though, for sure. He did things no one else could do, and no one had a right to do. But that didn't make him the best pitcher ever, but arguably the most interesting to watch, and one of the most difficult to get a hit off of. But those walks ...

@billyboyer

5 жыл бұрын

@@TA152H01 You forgot the 7 No- Hitters, Most Shutouts in MLB History, oh and those pesky 5,000 strikeouts.

@houstonrebel4449

5 жыл бұрын

I thought he played for the Astros in 1987. How could he play against the Royals.

I've seen this probably 80-90 times, at least when I was a kid. Was one of my most favorite tapes I had. 2022 and I've still got the tape at home.

@ET2carbon

Жыл бұрын

There is a new Ryan documentary

And after this documentary he still had one more No hitter left in him. Unbelievable.

@kickassandchewbubblegum639

2 жыл бұрын

he had 12 1 hitters and 18 2 hitters...also records

@MidnightTokenFloydChatAccount

2 жыл бұрын

They showed highlights of the 7th as well

@MidnightTokenFloydChatAccount

2 жыл бұрын

And i just realised they did NOT Show his 7th no hitter could have sworn they did

@baberRuth

2 жыл бұрын

@@MidnightTokenFloydChatAccount there are 2 editions of this.

@demetriusdarius463

Жыл бұрын

@@baberRuth I had the 2nd version of this that included the 7th no-hitter

One thing about Nolan was his longevity. He played for that long while mostly throwing complete games!! Imagine if he played today only going 6 innings each game. He could have probably played for 40 years 😂

My grandpa got this tape for Christmas. I always watched it with him. Nostalgia is strong with this one.

Learned how to throw a curveball after watching him explain it on TV. Went out a week later and struck out the league's leading hitter swinging. Only game I ever started.

@ThatsDandy

5 жыл бұрын

Learned it as a kid and struck out 18 batters in 8 innings pitched in my little league championship. Literally made kids cry before coming up to bat because they knew they couldn't hit it.

@brian1963110

3 жыл бұрын

hope you can follow you dream...:).

@fosterch11

3 жыл бұрын

@@brian1963110 that was in the 80s lol.

@digiorno1142

3 жыл бұрын

@@ThatsDandy curveballs are lethal when youre young. Kids dont know how to hit em yet lol

@abtwopoint0

2 жыл бұрын

I struck out 27 in rbi baseball after somebody said Nolan Ryan. True story

What a beast to pitch from the 60s to 90s and keeping the heat in his arm for 4 decades is impressive.

Still watching the legend in 2022?..,,:),

@ET2carbon

Жыл бұрын

There is a new Ryan documentary

This is an awesome 👌 documentary on the best pitcher ever Baseball so misses the talent of this COWBOY NEVER be one better

@ET2carbon

Жыл бұрын

There is a new Ryan documentary

Great tribute to Nolan Ryan, the most impressive pitcher I have ever seen, phenomenal career

@baberRuth

Жыл бұрын

I'd take D Gooden in his prime & so wd millions.

I love Ricky Henderson's reaction after he gets 2 strikes on him. He has a smile on his face and thinking, "Yup, everyone's expecting me to be strikeout #5000, that's what they want to see. Well I'm not giving them the satisfaction." Cudos to Henderson for battling and getting the count full to make it that much more interesting.

@doktorcopernikuss

5 жыл бұрын

He's also laughing because the second strike was 6 inches off the plate. It was a dog shit call...

@ryanbrown3177

4 жыл бұрын

Yeah but that 6th pitch curveball was a strike that should have sat Ricky’s Ass down 🤷🏻‍♂️ So he got one back.

@scottrackley4457

2 жыл бұрын

I think Rickey once said something along the lines, "If Nolan Ryan hasn't struck you out, you ain't nobody" High praise from the best leadoff hitter and best base stealer ever.

@LinkRocks

Жыл бұрын

@@doktorcopernikuss It all evens out. He got squeezed several times in his career as well.

@LinkRocks

Жыл бұрын

Nolan also stole some of Ricky's thunder when he threw his 7th no hitter the day Henderson broke the all time stolen base record.

My dad recorded this for me on vhs 20 years ago. The opening song has been in my head since. Haven't been able to find it until now.

@H43339

6 ай бұрын

It's the theme song from the old TV Western called Rawhide. This is a great video.

I still think its funny as hell that Mr. Ryan beat the ever lovin' dog shit out of Ventura. Hahahaha

@user-co7fb6qe5w

3 ай бұрын

He stayed on the mound a d waited for Ventura to come to him. Nookie time!

I sure miss watching Nolan fanning batters. He was my favorite pitcher as a kid. Never had a favorite team, just loved the game.

@geeky12ful

7 ай бұрын

My favorite pitcher too!!

A great memory of what a true pitcher was all about..NOLAN....The baddest-ass of all-time...:). and didn't worry about how much he got paid...he went out and kept striking out the batters...A true legend Nolan was...:).

HE IS WITHOUT A DOUBT THE GREATEST PITCHER OF ALL TIME. UR THE MAN NOLAN!!!

@markuyehara7880

Жыл бұрын

He's great but no.

@jasonsmith2439

5 ай бұрын

@@markuyehara7880then who is?

@markuyehara7880

5 ай бұрын

@@jasonsmith2439 It depends. If you don't consider era, it's Walter Johnson. If you do, then Randy Johnson or Greg Maddux. Maybe Pedro or Koufax if you only consider peak or Roger Clemens if you don't care about steroids. Ryan's not really in this convo, though. Top 10-15? Sure, but not in the GOAT debate.

@Fiservv

4 ай бұрын

@@markuyehara7880 Ehh okay. Greatr points, but what about the amount of no hitters, 1 hitters, 2 hitters, etc... However, my question is, "How did he not even get a Perfect Game?!"

@markuyehara7880

4 ай бұрын

@@Fiservv If no-hitters equaled greatness, Bob Forsch and Larry Corcoran would be in the Hall of Fame. It's about an entire career, not a couple dozen games. Also, the reason why he didn't throw a perfect game is the same reason he wasn't the GOAT: Too many walks.

I hade this video as a kid and the opening song came back to me like I heard it yesterday.

Parents got me this on VHS in the early 90's, I wasn't even 10 then and was mesmerized by Nolan. I didn't make it to the majors but my high school and childhood friend Jake Arrieta did. Ryan though was one of a kind!

So happy I was able to see him pitch, saw him pitch has last game with the 'Stros back in 88 then again in 90. The Express in my opinion is the greatest pitcher of all time. He definitely got hosed on a Cy Young nomination a couple times, but he didnt need awards to validate what a great pitcher he was. The greatest and toughest off all time

@LinkRocks

2 жыл бұрын

I saw him pitch in 1991 and it was awesome.

Clearly, a new Nolan Ryan Documentary should be made...

@charlieflowers4344

8 жыл бұрын

Lmfao. Why BC he was still playing when this was made and he retired 30 yrs ago?

@Scubadeer28

8 жыл бұрын

So many reasons, gotta keep the song though! lol

@regularsharp

8 жыл бұрын

+Charlie Flowers Because it's inaccurate. After the time this was made, there's been an even older pitcher to throw a no-hitter since Nolan Ryan threw his sixth. Nolan Ryan when he threw his seventh.

@chrismartin500

6 жыл бұрын

Yep. He threw another no-no after this was filmed. Nolan Ryan was and will be not only my favorite baseball player of all time, but one of my all time heroes.

@ADEAL918

4 жыл бұрын

CHRIS MARTIN I saw an updated version of this which includes his 7th no-hitter.

What a joy to watch our Texas boy turn it loose in the major league!

I meet Nolan and his wife in Houston Astros he was a great player and a great guy down to earth I believe that I'm a country boy and he feels better that I am I will be in touch with him after not seeing him for 35 years I feel at home with him and the 82 team are friends with me I will be there for surely will be in touch with him and Houston Astros boys thanks for being.y friend guys and Ruth I love you forever lol

Amazing that he threw yet another no-hitter after this video was released

He seemed so modest. So cool!!!!!

@geeky12ful

7 ай бұрын

He is very modest; a class act!!

Like Nolan Ryan needed any more testimony to his greatness as a pitcher...Its Nolan Ryan who singlehandedly transformed Randy Johnson into the dominant "Big Unit"...Ryan worked with Johnson in an off season on his mechanics and "calmed down" his control of the baseball...took him from being a "thrower of the ball" to a "pitcher of the ball"...and from that the transformation to the "Big Unit" was achieved...

@lloydkline6946

3 жыл бұрын

Randy Johnson could broken nolan ryan strike out record 383, but he let did not pitch to save nolan ryan strike out record

@scottcarl3086

2 жыл бұрын

Two of the best pitchers ever!

Nolan had the nastiest stuff, his fastball had so much movement and his power curve was like he was throwing a whiffle ball.

hahahah oh my god...the opening song...I'm pretty sure my jaw was on the ground for that entire thing

@MCisEasy

9 жыл бұрын

manifestgtr because it was fire?

@3yahweh3

8 жыл бұрын

+manifestgtr I, too, am trying to pick my jaw up offa the floor.

@NitroRCNerds

8 жыл бұрын

+manifestgtr Real shit. I have this VHS (I got it hot off the presses back in the day and the song was corny then. But watch the rest of the video and you'll see Nolan Ryan was in effect. Real shit and a real Texas hero.

Saw him with my dad some time back in the late 70s at Milwaukee's old County Stadium. He struck out 12 Brewers. Kind of like Brett Favre throwing a football; watching him on TV is one thing but actually seeing his fast ball in person was another. Pretty impressive. An arm like that and a hot wife too. Some guys have it all; not fair!

@LinkRocks

Жыл бұрын

I saw him in 1991 vs Baltimore. You're right seeing him pitch in person took it to a whole other level. I also remember seeing him jog around the outfield track before a game. Just to see him in person was special.

Made it to the Hall of Fame in 1999!!

Apparently Nolan threw his 7th no-hitter after this was made. It's a shame they made the video so early. The guy is a LEGEND.

@LinkRocks

2 жыл бұрын

They were making Nolan Ryan product while he was still playing to cash in on his popularity, esp here in Texas.

@baberRuth

Жыл бұрын

It's called "feeling the Heat 2".

Back in the day, this was one of my favorite videos to watch. Partially because of the song and partially because it was bomb.

I love Nolan

When I was ten years old this video taught me how to pitch. I threw my fastball, curve, and change just how Ryan explains in this video. My 12 to 6 curve like Ryan’s was nasty as a kid, but as I got older my body forgot how to throw it.

@markuyehara7880

Жыл бұрын

The curve is great but he throws his change incorrectly off his middle finger -- that's why it's too fast.

Your the best Nolan, thanks for the history & apart of the Astros Nation !!

IN THE GLORIOUS STATE OF TEXAS, ENGLISH AND SPANISH 2 GREAT LANGUAGES!!!!

THx foe the upload. seen this 197 times at least

Thank you so much for this

All of you young pitchers who love baseball...listen to Nolan and you can be a good as him...:).

Thanks for sharing this video albiet long... But difficult to post a Cliffs Notes version with so much information. That said Nolan Ryan the man was as classy and respectful as he was great pitcher. Such a breath of fresh air for such an elite athlete.

11:48 the way Grote describes Blair thinking it was a fastball coming at him was funny.

I have in my own hands a Houston Astros basebal cap!!!! FREEAKIN AWESOME!!!

Seven no hitters and twelve 1 hitters and 5700 strikeouts. Records that will last until the end of time

I got this in high school and the t-shirt that you got as a free gift! Wore the hell out of that shirt...haha

There are two ways to look at Nolan: you can say that when he was getting his pitches over and throwing quality strikes, he was unhittable; or you can say that his wildness, especially early on in his career, actually contributed to his dominance because hitters were scared of him. I admire the man a great deal, but his .524 winning percentage is not solely a result of his having played for some sorry teams, especially in Anaheim. It's just that when you see some of the pitches Nolan threw, especially the fastball that exploded away or up in the zone, and the knee-buckling curve, you really wonder how he didn't wind up with a better record. It's the walks obviously. You can probably add 30 wins to his ledger if he'd played for better teams and gotten run support (led the league in ERA in 87 but went 8-16), and subtract 30 from the loss column. That would make him 354-262. Amazingly, even that would seem to not correspond positively to his stuff. His stuff was as better than Clemens' Whether he underachieved in wins or not, there's no question he's the most remarkable pitcher ever, a physical marvel.

@tomg2304

4 жыл бұрын

Just for fun look at Don Sutton career, he had 774 starts and had 244 games where his team run support was 2 or less runs, Ryan had 773 starts and had 288 games where his team run support was 2 or less, and Ryan record with 3 or more run support, was 75%, so I think if given same as Sutton he would have won easily 20+ games more games over his career. If Ryan had the run support like Phil Niekro, it would surely have 30 wins more. Just look up their numbers. www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.fcgi?id=suttodo01&year=Career&t=p www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.fcgi?id=ryanno01&year=Career&t=p www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.fcgi?id=niekrph01&year=Career&t=p

@LinkRocks

2 жыл бұрын

You're all over the place with your comment, not to mention it was way too long. A pitcher's W-L record is meaningless. Nolan was a dominant pitcher for many years and had some of the most devastating stuff any pitcher has ever had. That's all that needs to be said.

@paulg6274

Жыл бұрын

@@LinkRocks his comment was quite well thought out actually. Obv W-L isnt everything, but era adjusted ERA and WHIP are, and Ryan's were not elite. He walked a ton of hitters

@H43339

6 ай бұрын

The knee buckling curves were just devastating. Starting out at your head and ending down and out. Not to mention the velocity he had on his curves. He truly was one of a kind.

@haroldsmyth6685

6 ай бұрын

The mets had bunch of young pitchers couldn't spend the time and inninngs for all of them. So one had to be left out. But who did hodges go to in relief?

Driniking coffee with a fork? That's what Willie Stargell said about sandy Koufax 20 years earlier

@jacobakin7280

8 жыл бұрын

he meant facing coufax was like during coffee with a fork

He had an excellent pitching throw. Some pitchers have their own pitching style.

I used to watch this video (especially the opening song) all the time back in the day.

greatest of all time

I was at Nolan Ryan's 300th win in Milwaukee. that game I remember it being standing-room-only. Never had seen County Stadium so packed.

@wesnile30

6 жыл бұрын

Ben Middleton I had tickets to his next start. It was at Arlington stadium against Toronto. I was secretly rooting against the rangers that night in Milwaukee lol

@ysbt16

5 жыл бұрын

I saw the game(he beat the Brewers to win his 300th victory) on ESPN back in 1990, even though I don't remember much about the game.

@zman8340

Жыл бұрын

That funny , I was in comiskey the start before hoping to see history , Nolan didn’t have a good outing And obviously won in his next start in Milwaukee. Still a great memory.

"THE TOAST of BOTH COASTS."

The best pitcher ever in the history of the major league and never a Cy Young winner. 😞

@jamesdecker8069

Жыл бұрын

The Cy Young award is over rated. Sports writers choosing the most popular pitcher based upon no objective criteria.

This is awesome!

Never will be another like my Favorite player of all time!

I love how Robin Ventura's entire baseball career will forever be known by his getting uppercut while trapped in a Ryan headlock

Great memories

The clint eastwood of baseball

I think of Nolan every time they take a Pitcher out in the 6th inning.

They should make a new documentary about this man,more stats after this

@note2owns

5 жыл бұрын

Better yet a movie based on his life.

@demetriusdarius463

5 жыл бұрын

I once had an updated version of this video after his 7th no-hitter

Growing up..I loved watching Nolan pitch..he was tough asf..had a fast ball from hell..just one dam good pitcher

Hank Aaron was 42 and broke a 1-1 tie game by hitting a homer off Ryan which I thought was pretty incredible. Hammerin' Hank!

@loricooke3423

4 жыл бұрын

An extraordinary pitcher against an extraordinary hitter. Can't get much better than that.😁

Awesome man!

2:29, shout out to the GREAT Mark Holtz. RIP

@demetriusdarius463

5 жыл бұрын

I used to rather listen to Rangers games on WBAP with Mark Holtz & Eric Nadel than watch them on TV

@philtll

4 жыл бұрын

Hello win column!

Goosebumps

Ryan is the Greatest Period

@NkrumahTure

5 жыл бұрын

Adrian Garza Ryan only won 20 games twice, but he was never the best pitcher in baseball in any single year, and he never won the Cy Young Award. His overall record is barely over .500 in percentage, he almost lost 300 games

@LinkRocks

2 жыл бұрын

@@NkrumahTure You don't know how to evaluate pitchers. Dork.

this is what a pitcher used to be now you throw one inning and you're concerned great

I remember this playing during Ranger rain delays.

Nolan Ryan has now taught me how to throw a change up. Very cool.

I love Ryan! Grew up watching him pitch and grew up wanting to be a pitcher. However, as a girl, I was encouraged to play softball (not exciting enough for me. I played for one season and discovered it wasn't for me. I wanted baseball.) I got this for a birthday gift my senior year of high school (1990) and got the commemorative tee shirt that I literally wore to death!

@danacoleman4007

4 жыл бұрын

too bad you couldn't keep playing baseball.

@alexanderwinkins7158

2 жыл бұрын

They do and have had women's baseball league. It's interesting that you said you hated you softball. I'm pretty sure most girls feel that way.

@GinaBlythe

2 жыл бұрын

@@alexanderwinkins7158 They didn't have those in the 80s and we LOOKED. So, I never played baseball. Even church was softball. So...🤷‍♀️ But am SO glad they have women baseball now. I am just too old (in my mind) for it. 😊

It's crazy how insanely strong pitchers have become. They were absolutely freaked out about a 97-98 Fastball back then, today you have a few guys on every Team that can bring the heat like that

@vgr112261

6 жыл бұрын

diggi juri yes, because they know they can air it out for six innings and then are done for the night. Think of how fast Ryan would have been knowing he only had to go six innings and 100 pitches. BTW.. you get far more serious arm issues today because of the six inning, go for broke approach.

@paulg6274

Жыл бұрын

@@vgr112261 Ryan aired it out plenty of times man lol

7:28 Here's an interesting part, he played football, baseball and basketball. Bo Jackson almost played professional basketball after his hip replacement ended his football/baseball career. The difference is Bo's career was disappointingly short and Nolan's was amazing in it's spectacular longevity.

Burned up this vhs as a kid

@lloydkline6946

3 жыл бұрын

❤ nolan ryan express

...and there was one 7th No-Hitter.

Ryan still has the fastest fastball ever.

Imagine being the GM for the Mets telling your grandkids, “I traded Nolan Ryan to improve our team.”

@haroldsmyth6685

6 ай бұрын

And seaver koosman mcgraw

Nolan Ryan was the fastest pitcher ever he threw 108

@ajeroneski7338

4 жыл бұрын

@@EviLLivEClan inflated..bob gibson threw harder and so does chapman..but nobody threw 100 plus that late into a career on that short rotation and relief forsure.

@darrelleaster5381

4 жыл бұрын

@@ajeroneski7338 It's not inflated. Measurements were done to measure the speed of the ball coming out of his hand, and bob gibson did not throw harder. I did the math to confirm it myself

@paulg6274

Жыл бұрын

@@darrelleaster5381 that gun was not reliable at all. Also they didnt know at what excat point the speed was picked up. Also the Angels couldve simply lied cause there was so much pressure to break 100

@darrelleaster5381

Жыл бұрын

@@paulg6274 Fair, I agree with you now. Keep in mind I posted that comment two years ago. Although using the eye test one of Nolan Ryan’s pitches looks eerily similar to Chapman’s 105

@darrelleaster5381

Жыл бұрын

@@paulg6274 Also take note of the fact that Nolan did what Justin Verlander does: increases velocity towards the end of the game.

Greatest ever, had he played on good teams 450 wins,,lol

This is 😎 awesome.

Well, I decided to do my own fact checking since my memory isn't what it used to be and it was May 11, 1989 that Nolan Ryan struck out Bo Jackson 4 times and he had a total of 11 strike-outs not 14.

Sharing how he throws his pitches reminds me of Larry Bird telling opponents where he was going with the ball and whether it's off the glass or nothing but net. The best in their game.

In 1974 I saw Nolan Ryan pitch in Yankee Stadium and he was throwing incredible heat. In the 3rd inning everybody in the Stadium heard a loud "POP" and Ryan grabbed his right elbow - and walked right off the field and into the dugout. Naturally you couldn't help but think that he'd never pitch again...but I don't think he even missed a start.

Reggie Jackson once told me Nolan Ryan's best stuff was better than anybody else's best stuff..

I had the tape. Classic.

Imagine if they would have measured his speed near the point of release like they do today. I have no doubt that Chapman and Hicks 105mph would be below Ryan in “fastest pitch” ever recorded.

@ET2carbon

Жыл бұрын

There is a video discussing that matter and from their updated way of calculating, Ryan actually did 108mph. There is a new Ryan documentary

This special needs to be updated to include Ryan's 7th no-hitter.

@ET2carbon

Жыл бұрын

There is a new Ryan documentary

That 100.9 mph pitch was reajusted to be 107+mph

dedication to the game. no doubt.

The Julio Franco comeback home run at @48:49 looks like it's at Dodger Stadium (aside from the red backstop), although the narrator says it's at Milwaukee's County Stadium. Observe the Dodgers jersey on the pitcher, the bleachers in left field, and the blue UCLA sweatshirt on the fan near the landing point.

108 mph fast ball, nobody can beat it

The greatest pitcher of all time was from Texas, and his first love was basketball.

He kicked Ventura's ass

250 strikeouts a year for 20 years... ridiculous!

I love Nolan Ryan cool cool cool

This vid was produced before his 7th no hitter against the Bluejays, he ironicly struck out Alomar who homered against Ryan in his 1st MLB at bat.

I hate to be that guy, and don't get me wrong; Nolan was my absolute HERO when I was a kid playing little league in the early 90s, _especially_ being a Texan, coming into it after most had already played all their lives including tee-ball even before, breaking my wrist within a few weeks of my very first season (taking me out for that year), and working my way up from right fielder (which in little league (different story completely at the pro level) is where they put the suckiest players and beginners) to being starting pitcher for 3 different teams (before suffering another bad injury in what became my last season of playing ball ever (because of it)), at least two of which included good pitchers who were also the coaches' sons (so competing with that) -- yes, he was my idol..... _*But*,_ with that last strikeout with Henderson, you'd have to be blind (even with Ryan's amazing speed) not to see that that pitch on that 2nd strike was definitely a ball. _Way_ outside. He was wise not to take the swing (if not for the ump being blind), and may have been part of the reason he laughed ('course, I'da thought he would have been mad....I would). So, being that it was a full count with a bogus strike, he actually, he would have walked him. Not to say he wouldn't have still gotten it (of course he would have, but as for in that game....it's like trying to count how many licks it takes to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop.......The world may never know...