In 1973, one of the best pitchers in baseball history would have arguably the best season of his 27-year career.
On July 15, 1973, Nolan Ryan tossed a no-hitter for the California Angels, in a game against the Detroit Tigers. Ryan finished the game allowing only four baserunners, all on walks. He also struck out 17 batters – the highest total of the season for the right-hander.
The effort was Ryan’s second no-hitter of the 1973 campaign, as he had blanked the Kansas City Royals earlier in the year on May 15 – an impressive feat as both the Royals and Tigers would finish over .500 for the season.
These would be the first two no-hitters of Ryan’s career. The future Hall of Famer would become only the fourth pitcher in the Live Ball Era to throw two no-hitters in the same season, joining Johnny Vander Meer, Allie Reynolds and Virgil Trucks.
Ryan would eventually accumulate seven total no-hitters over his career, which ranks first all-time.
In addition to his two no-no’s that year, the eight-time All-Star would also finish the season with 383 strikeouts. This remains the most ever for a pitcher in any one season during the Live Ball Era. His 5,714 strikeouts rank first all-time for a career.
Ryan’s outing against the Tigers would bring his record to an even 11-11 that year, and drop his earned-run average to 2.90. He would finish the season with a 21-16 record and a 2.87 ERA in 326 innings pitched.
For his efforts, Ryan would finish second in the American League Cy Young Award voting in 1973. He was runner-up to Orioles right-hander and fellow future Hall of Fame pitcher, Jim Palmer.