Just had dinner next to Nolan Ryan

S

Schlonghorns

< 25 Posts
He's taller than I thought he was and he still looked like he could give Ventura another 6-hitter. It was all I could do not to interrupt his dinner but I didn't want to be a jerk. I don't think anybody else recognized him. He wore his sunglasses the whole time. It was cool to see one of the greatest pitchers ever in person.
 
His wife is kind of down home, small town cute. I saw her back in the summer of 1993 when Nolan was giving an interview and she looked like the kind of lady you would like to come home to.
 
A buddy of mine got to bat against Nolan a few years ago as part of a corporate outing. He fouled one off, which made him the only one to make contact. He said the key was to start swinging when Nolan goes into his windup.
 
This was at least 5 years ago, but Tom Arnold made contact off of Nolan. Said Nolan was still throwing 95.
 
I have a nice Ruth Ryan story. When Nolan was pitching coach for TCU they played Rice and Ruth was there watching. She had been at a book signing somewhere with a new book she put out. Some loud-mouthe jerk, in a very loud voice so everyone could hear asked her "tell me Ruth, why should I buy your book". Without hesitation she perked right up and said "because we need the money". The entire section of the stands died laughing and that loud mouth shut up for the rest of the day. She won my respect right then and there.
 
Got a better Nolan Ryan story. I used to do some charity work for Make-A-Wish in Dallas many years ago.

Back when Nolan first came to the Rangers we had a kid who had leuekemia and he was very sick. His wish was to meet Will Clark who at the time was a superstar with the Giants. We got word that Clark was in transit to or from spring training and out of pocket [pre cell phones].

So we asked him about an alternative and he said he wanted to meet Nolan Ryan. Rangers said great, we will set him up for a game in a couple of months. Dr. said this kid is really sick and we dont know if he will make it that long.

They call Nolan who is still in Alvin, he drops everything, flies to Arlington, spends the whole day with him, shows him around, etc. Gives him a bunch of Rangers stuff.

A few days later the kid gets a FedEx package from Nolan. Inside there is an autographed Will Clark jersey.
 
I kind of see Nolan as everything eflow thought Roger Clemens was.

Nolan has never been brash, cocky, petulant, thrown a broken bat at someone... He seems a little simple, hard working, and honest. (Of course I have no idea, but you just don't see signs of things that would raise an eyebrow.)

I like the guy.
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Nolan Ryan is my favorite baseball player ever and it is not even close. My mother-in-law is very good friends with Ruth Ryan and they played tennis together until the Ryan's moved to Georgetown. Still get a Christmas card every year.

I could tell story after story of how great a guy Nolan is. Napoleon is pretty much right. He is just a good ol' guy that has a lot of integrity and a boat load of talent.

BTW, Ruth Ryan traveled all over the country with Nolan when he was playing. They have always been that close. Great family.
 
My best friend growing up went on a deer hunt with Nolan Ryan in deep South Texas. My friend killed a nice buck and has a picture of Nolan and him with the deer. We had the mount on our wall all through college and when we got ready to move out he gave me the mount. I am a big time hunter and he knew I would enjoy the mount more than him. Even though I did not shoot the deer it is one of my favorite one on my wall.
 
A little off topic, but related to meeting athletes such as Nolan Ryan.

A few years ago I lived in Houston. They used to do a radio broadcast once a week from The Outback Pub (not the restaurant), with color commentary by Larry Dierker (sp?), manager for the 'Stros and previous big, tall pitcher like Ryan.

A few years later I moved to SA, and in a chance business introduction met Tommy Kramer (SA native QB, star at Rice, All Pro at the Vikings).

The point is this --- I recall shaking their hands, a major league pitcher and pro QB, and remember to this day how BIG their hands were. Even in comparison to their frames. Probably a Darwinian thing w/r/t athletes, but kind of surprising to me.

Hook 'em
 
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