TTM Success - Nolan Ryan

Because I am working on the 1987 set, it was an easy decision on what to send Nolan Ryan when I wanted to get his autograph TTM.  He's expensive, but well worth the price.  I paid $60/card to the Nolan Ryan Foundation but the card came back signed and even had an authentication sticker affixed to the back.

Ryan (b. 1947) played in the majors in 1966 and from 1968 to 1993 for the Mets, Angels, Astros and Rangers.  His seven no hitters are a record.  His 5,714 career strike outs are a record.  His 383 strike outs in a single season (1973) are a record.

He had a career record of 324-292 with 5,714 strike outs and a 3.19 ERA.  He won 20 or more games twice in his career (1973 and 1974) and led the league in ERA twice (1981 and 1987).  He won the World Series in 1969 with the Mets.  He was an 8-time All Star (1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1985 and 1989) and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1999 (first ballot) when he was named on 98.8% of the ballot.  At the time, that was the second highest percentage (to Tom Seaver) and is now third, since Ken Griffey, Jr. has the highest.

Ryan never won a Cy Young Award.  He finished second in 1973.

I mailed to Ryan on March 30 and got the card back on June 11, for a 72-day TAT.