HOFer, Nolan Ryan. Nolan Ryan had a historic season in 1973. Ryan broke the single season strikeout record by striking out 383 batters, a record that still stands today. 1973 was the first year of the designated hitter, making Ryan's strike out record that much more impressive. Ryan threw a no-hitter against the Kansas City Royals on May 15, 1973. He threw a second no-hitter on July 15 against the Detroit Tigers, he struck out 17 batters – the most in a recorded no-hitter. (This record was later tied by Max Scherzer on October 3, 2015.) Ryan was so dominant in this game, it led to one of baseball's best-remembered pranks. Tigers first baseman and cleanup hitter Norm Cash came to the plate with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, having already struck out twice, and was carrying a clubhouse table leg instead of a bat. Plate umpire Ron Luciano ordered Cash to go back and get a regulation bat, to which Cash replied, "Why? I won't hit him anyway!" With a regulation bat in hand, Cash did finally make contact, but popped out to end the game. Cash's teammate Mickey Stanley commented on facing Ryan that day by saying, "Those were the best pitches I ever heard." On the front tail of this grey knit, is the Rawlings size 44 label. Team name (Angels) arched across the chest, player number (30) below that and on the back - all done in red on navy blue tackle twill, with nice wear, pilling and puckering. Angels logo patch on the left sleeve. Ryan has signed inside the neck, in blue marker, in our opinion rating a strong 8. This jersey is properly tagged, presented to us as game-used and in our opinion shows excellent wear, with some minor staining. Accompanied by a JSA ALOA.