Nolan Ryan Quotes

#1. Dick Moss, my agent. Dick became my agent in 1979 when I signed my contract with the Houston Astros.

Nolan Ryan

#2. For my children, they spent 15 to 20 years of their life in baseball. And Ruth and I spent so many years of our married life that that was our life. We knew nothing else.

Nolan Ryan

#3. One of the beautiful things about baseball is that every once in a while you come into a situation where you want to, and where you have to, reach down and prove something.

Nolan Ryan

#4. Put the right pitching mechanics together with good health, and there's nothing surprising about lasting a long time.

Nolan Ryan

#5. When I got traded to the California Angels, I really wasn't that excited about going to the Angels because it meant changing leagues and also a whole new set of teammates. But shortly after I got there I realized that it was one of the best things that ever happened to me.

Nolan Ryan

#6. I cant think of anything more humiliating than losing a ballgame to a guy who steals home on you. It happened to me one time against Kansas City. I had a 2-2 count on the hitter - and Amos Otis broke from third. The pitch was a ball and slid in safe. I felt like a nickel.

Nolan Ryan

#7. And when I went to Houston, they had a conditioning coach by the name of Gene Coleman. And that was the first time I had gone to an organization that had a program with a weight room and designed specifically for pitchers.

Nolan Ryan

#8. And to play as long as I did and to have a family you have to be very blessed and I was with my wife Ruth. Ruth, I appreciate the job you did, and my three fine children, Reid, Reese, and Wendy.

Nolan Ryan

#9. I feel very fortunate that I played for the four organizations I did.

Nolan Ryan

#10. When I had dyslexia, they didn't diagnose it as that. It was frustrating and embarrassing. I could tell you a lot of horror stories about what you feel like on the inside.

Nolan Ryan

#11. Everyone has limits. You just have to learn what your own limits are and deal with them accordingly.

Nolan Ryan

#12. A successful pitcher keeps the leadoff hitter from reaching first base and puts the first pitch over for a strike - the two most important rules of pitching.

Nolan Ryan

#13. Baseball life is a tough life on the family.

Nolan Ryan

#14. My ability to throw a baseball was a gift. It was a God-given gift. And I am truly appreciative of that gift.

Nolan Ryan

#15. Maintaining concentration depends on what I call tunnel vision; nothing else in the world exists but the catcher's target, the hitter and my perfect delivery.

Nolan Ryan

#16. I always thought that there was going to be life after baseball, and so I designed that in my life I would have other interests after baseball that I would be able to step into. And I didn't realize the grip that baseball had on me and on my family.

Nolan Ryan

#17. What man in his 40s would not like to look in the mirror and find Nolan Ryan?

Nolan Ryan

#18. I can honestly say it took two full years for me to get over the fact that I was no longer a baseball player.

Nolan Ryan

#19. It helps if the hitter thinks you're a little crazy.

Nolan Ryan

#20. And when I retired, trust me, not only did Nolan Ryan, but the entire Ryan family had withdrawals from baseball. And it was tough.

Nolan Ryan

#21. I like to refer to my years with the Angels as the foundation of my career.

Nolan Ryan

#22. I never found a place where I wanted to live more than Alvin (Texas).

Nolan Ryan

#23. I had the pleasure, as Robin said, to live a childhood dream as many young Americans and Puerto Rican children live that play youth baseball. And I feel honored and very thankful for that opportunity.

Nolan Ryan

#24. And I'm a believer that you take a negative and turn it into a positive, and as it turned out, it was one of the best things that ever happened to me. And so I do appreciate the Ranger staff and the Ranger organization for giving me that opportunity.

Nolan Ryan

#25. It took me a while to figure that out and to realize what a gift that I had been given. And when I finally did, I dedicated myself to be the best pitcher I possibly could be, for as long as I possibly could be.

Nolan Ryan

#26. Enjoying success requires the ability to adapt. Only by being open to change will you have a true opportunity to get the most from your talent.

Nolan Ryan

#27. I am going to spend my time today just thanking the people that played a role in my career, because I truly do believe that I was blessed by a lot of people that paths crossed mine as I went down the road in my career.

Nolan Ryan

#28. And then when I went to stay in '68, I can honestly say that I was not focused on my career and on what it took to be a major league pitcher and to be a starting pitcher.

Nolan Ryan

#29. And that's what makes this a great game, is the support and the commitment that the fans give the game.

Nolan Ryan

#30. I came into the game when I broke into the major leagues, the minimum salary was seven thousand dollars, and I'd have to go home in the wintertime and get a job.

Nolan Ryan

#31. My job is to give my team a chance to win.

Nolan Ryan

#32. I grew up with the thought that I wanted to treat people the way I'd like to be treated, and I think if you do that, it's pretty hard to go wrong.

Nolan Ryan