Sports Wax Episode 9: An Encore for the Express
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Baseball’s back — and as the season settles into its rhythm, Sports Wax takes you back to one of the most jaw-dropping performances ever to come from a major league mound.
It’s a story of age-defying grit. A story of one man, one mound, and one unforgettable night in Texas.
This is the story of Nolan Ryan, 44 years old, carving up a lineup of future All-Stars and throwing his seventh career no-hitter — the most in Major League Baseball history.
Listen to the full episode on:
The Fire Still Burned
May 1, 1991. A warm Wednesday night in Arlington, Texas.
The Toronto Blue Jays were in town, but local TV didn’t even bother to air the game. The Rangers weren’t contenders, and Nolan Ryan, though a legend, was 44 years old — more likely to be discussed in past tense than present greatness.
Even in the bullpen, things didn’t look promising. Ryan couldn’t find his command. He looked winded. Rangers coaches were quietly preparing a backup plan.
And then, the game started.
He struck out the first batter. Then another. And another.
Suddenly, the old flame was lit again.
The Ryan Express Rolls On
The Rangers gave Ryan a lead in the third — and he never looked back.
He struck out 16 batters that night, including Roberto Alomar, whose father had been Ryan’s teammate in the 1970s. He walked just two. And he allowed no hits.
With each passing inning, the energy at Arlington Stadium surged. There was no local TV, so fans at the ballpark were the only ones seeing it unfold in real time — the return of a titan.
In the ninth inning, Ryan needed just three outs. He got two routine grounders. And then, one final duel with Alomar.
Pitch 122. Fastball. Swing and miss.
History.
The Stuff of Legends
It was the seventh no-hitter of Ryan’s career — more than any other pitcher in MLB history.
He was older than some managers. He’d already passed 5,000 strikeouts. But somehow, on this ordinary May evening, he delivered something unforgettable — a moment that cut through the grind of a 162-game season and reminded everyone why baseball, at its best, is pure magic.
For Rangers fans in the early ’90s — before playoff runs and October baseball — Nolan Ryan was the show.
The Final Line
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7 no-hitters.
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5,714 strikeouts.
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324 wins.
- 25 seasons.
When Ryan retired in 1993, it felt like the end of a myth. When he entered the Hall of Fame in 1999, he did so wearing a Texas Rangers cap — the same cap he wore that unforgettable night in 1991.
- A living legend.
- A final masterpiece.
- A moment we’ll remember forever.
Why This Episode Matters
This isn’t just a story about Nolan Ryan. It’s about the beauty of sports — how, in the middle of an ordinary season, on an untelevised night, something epic can still happen.
If you love baseball, nostalgia, or watching greatness age like fine wine, this one’s for you.
You can listen to the episode here: