Ryan becomes first pitcher to reach 4,000 career strikeouts
Ryan’s longevity allowed him to bring the heat to batters spanning four decades. Despite the wear and tear of 20 years in the majors, Ryan still struck out 200-plus batters in five different seasons after the age of 40.
Ryan once said his goal when he got to the big leagues was to play four years so that he could qualify for the pension. His 27 seasons of Major League service are the most of all time, his 5,714 strikeouts have not been approached and his record seven no-hitters are untouched.
Ryan was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999.
“If they had a higher league, he could be in it,” Hal McRae said. “As a matter of fact, he could be it.”
Connor O’Gara was the 2012 public relations intern in the Hall of Fame’s Frank and Peggy Steele Internship Program for Youth Leadership Development
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