Presented by VETERANS PLUMBING.
This Day In Sports…July 31, 1990, 35 years ago today:
With an 11-3 win over the Milwaukee Brewers, Texas Rangers fireballer Nolan Ryan becomes the first and only pitcher to reach 300 career wins in the 1990s. And there have been only four players to reach the milestone since: Roger Clemens in 2003, Greg Maddux in 2004, Tom Glavine in 2007 and Randy Johnson in 2009. Considering there hasn’t been a 20-game winner in a season in the majors since 2019, there may never be another pitcher who gets to 300.
Magnifying the fact that it was a different era, Ryan threw 146 pitches in 7 2/3 innings in that game. Any outing over 100 pitches these days is worthy of the hook. No question, Ryan wanted to get it done. “I’m just relieved to have this over with,” said Ryan, then 43. “The last 15 days have been the toughest emotionally that I’ve ever gone through.” It had been 11 days since Ryan recorded No. 299, and at least 250 reporters had been following him around in hopes of recording history.
Ryan had one of the most diverse legacies of any major league pitcher. In addition to winning 324 games, he struck out a major league record 5,714 batters, threw seven no-hitters, 12 one-hitters and 18 two-hitters. Ryan was the first pitcher to be clocked regularly with throws of 100 miles per hour and maintained that velocity throughout his career. He played in 27 seasons from 1966 to 1993, tying Cap Anson for the most seasons in a major league career. Ryan started his career for the New York Mets. In addition to the Rangers, he also had long stints with the California Angels and Houston Astros.
The only active pitcher within shouting distance of 300 wins is Justin Verlander, now with the San Francisco Giants. Verlander has 263 career victories, but he’s 42 and time is running out. He hasn’t pitched terribly this season, but Verlander didn’t get his first win until last week. He’s currently 1-8 with a 4.53 ERA. The Giants released a statement Wednesday that they are willing to move Verlander by today’s trade deadline. According to Jon Morosi of MLB Network, “Out of respect to the future Hall of Famer, the Giants are open to working out a deal if it makes sense for Verlander and the organization.”
(Tom Scott hosts the Scott Slant segment during the football season on KTVB’s Sunday Sports Extra. He also anchors four sports segments each weekday on 95.3 FM KTIK and one on News/Talk KBOI. His Scott Slant column runs every Wednesday.)
