OUR MUSEUM IN ACTION
NOLAN RYAN 5,000th STRIKEOUT CLEATS
You can honor one of baseball’s greatest pitchers by helping fund the work that will preserve this symbol of excellence for today’s generation and the next.
ABOUT THIS PROJECT
As his Hall of Fame plaque reads, Nolan Ryan was "one of baseball's most intimidating figures on the pitching mound for four decades." The Texas legend spent 27 years staring down the best hitters in the world and sending them back to the dugout empty-handed. Equipped with an "overpowering fastball and unparalleled longevity," he would become the first (and only) major league pitcher to reach the 5,000-strikeout mark.
On Aug. 22, 1989, in the dog days of summer, the Texas Rangers played host to the first-place Oakland Athletics in an American League West matchup, with Ryan making his 25th start of the season. While he would leave the ballpark with a loss, the "Ryan Express" would etch his name in baseball history in the top of the fifth inning.
Fellow Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson took his stance in the right-handed batter's box to lead off the inning. The 42-year-old Ryan quickly fired two strikes before Henderson worked his way back to a full count. With his signature heat, Ryan tossed a 96-mile-per-hour fastball right by a swinging Henderson for Strikeout No. 5,000.
Ryan finished his career with a major league record 5,714 strikeouts, eight All-Star selections and an incredible seven no-hitters before entering the Hall of Fame in 1999.
Today, the cleats Ryan wore during this milestone night in Arlington require additional care and vital conservation. With your support, you can help preserve these historic spikes and keep Ryan's legendary legacy alive as one of the most dominant pitchers in major league history—ensuring his story is passed down to future generations of baseball fans.