On this date (April 8) in, 1986, Will Clark, a 22-year-old rookie, stepped into the batter’s box for his first-ever major league at bat.  He was the second batter in the top of the first inning, as his Giants took on the Houston Astros.  On the mound was the imposing presence of the Astros’ right-handed flamethrower 38-year-old future Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan – who already had 241 MLB wins and more than 4,000 strikeouts to his credit. Clark took the first two pitches and then – with a one-and-one count – took his first MLB regular-season swing.  The result was a home run – and it set the tone for future Ryan-Clark confrontations.

Over his career, Clark would face Ryan 39 times and collect 12 hits in 36 at bats – for a .333 average. More impressive, eight of those 12 hits would go for extra bases, six leaving the park.  Clark’s six home runs are those most any batter hit off Ryan – despite the fact that 163 hitters had more plate appearances versus Ryan than Clark.

That story, and those statistics, led Baseball Roundtable to look into which batters had found the most success against Ryan – and come up with a “World Against Nolan Ryan” All Star lineup. The nine-man, Nolan-centric squad I uncovered went 136-for-390 against Ryan (.349 average), with 22 home runs and 80 RBI.  They range from Hall of Famer (and career .328 hitter) Rod Carew at second base to career .158 hitter Ron Reed on the mound. It’s an experienced squad – each of them played more than a dozen seasons  in the major leagues (averaging better than 17 MLB seasons); all but one made at least one All Star squad; three were league MVPs; two were Rookies of the Year and two are in the Hall of Fame.  (Only one – Rod Carew – checks all four of those boxes.)

A Brief Semi-Commercial Message

This look at batters who “handled” Nolan Ryan’s outstanding stuff was the first step toward Baseball Roundtable’s ongoing “Who’s Your Daddy?” Series of blog post – looking at some of the best pitchers of all time and presenting position-by-position lineups of hitter who fared the best against these elite arms.  The links below will take you to other “edition” of the series. 

                     Sandy Koufax, click here

                    Pedro Martinez, click her

                    Bob Gibson, click here.

                    Randy Johnson, click here.

                   Greg Maddux, click here.

                   Justin Verlander, click here.

                  Bob Feller, click here.

                 Roger Clemens, click here.

                 Max Scherzer, click here.

                 Tom Seaver, click here

                 Mariano Rivera, click here.

                Warren Spahn, click here.

                 Lefty Grove, click here. 

DISCLAIMER

Photo by Mike Overall

I must note that the fact that I chose to pursue this topic is actually a compliment to Nolan Ryan.  It is Ryan’s excellence that supports this lineup’s exceptionalism against him.  Let’s consider just how difficult it was to put up “good numbers” against Ryan.  Among qualifying pitchers, Ryan has the lowest career batting average against – a mere .204.  He also led his league in fewest hits per nine innings a dozen times – and has the career record for the lowest H/9 at 6.56.  Only five times in MLB history has a qualifying pitcher given up less than 5.5 hits per nine frames in a season. Two of those five campaigns belong to Ryan – and they came 19 years apart (at ages 25 and 44).

Ryan also amassed 324 MLB victories, threw a record seven no-hitters and holds the all-time record for strikeouts (5,715). In his 27 MLB seasons, he led his league in strikeouts 11 times, set the post-1900 record for whiffs in a season at 383 and six times fanned 300+ batters in a season.  Over his career, Ryan fanned just over one of every four batters he faced.  The eight-time All Star also led the league in shutouts three times, earned run average twice and WHIP twice. It is Ryan’s consistent excellence that makes the success of the batter noted here worth noting.

Longevity – Good News/Bad News

When  you pitch for 27 seasons, you sometimes end up on the wrong side of a record.  Nolan Ryan, for example, not only holds the MLB record for strikeout (5,714), but also for walks (2,795) . In addition, he is the recognized record holder for MLB Grand Slams allowed (10) and the post-1900 record holder for wild pitches at 277 (leading his league in WP six times).

We’ll soon move on to the “World Versus Nolan Ryan” All Star squad, based solely on success against Ryan – but first a look at some of the “record holders” when it comes to matching up against the Hall of Famer.

THE BIG HURT – OUCH!    

Frank Thomas faced Nolan Ryan 15 times in his career and put the ball in play just once.

Photo by rchdj10

On August 17, 1990, 22-year-old White Sox Rookie Frank Thomas (in the early days of a Hall of Fame career that would earn him the nickname “The Big Hurt“) stepped into the batters’ box against another (much more experienced) future Hall of Famer  – 43-year old Nolan Ryan.  Thomas was in his 14th MLB game – and was hitting .357.  Ryan was in his 24th MLB season, pitching in his 732nd game.  On the 1990 season, he was 11-6, 4.10 with 150 strikeouts in 134 innings. At that point in his career, Ryan was 300-269, 3.17 with 5,226 whiffs in 4,919 1/3 innings. 

Thomas faced Ryan four times that day, saw 18 pitches and struck out swinging in all four plate appearances. (Ryan, by the way, went ten shutout innings, giving up just three hits and fanning 15, as his Rangers topped the White Sox 1-0 in 13 frames.) Notably, that four-whiff day was a sign of things to come.  Thomas faced Ryan 15 times in his  career (Ryan retired after the 1993 season.) In those fifteen plate appearances he went zero-for-twelve.  His results included two walks, one hit by pitch, 11 strikeouts (nine swinging) and an infield pop out.  In fairness to Thomas, he did go on to hit .301, with 521 home runs and 1,704 RBI over 19 MLB seasons. He was a five-time All Star, a two-time AL MVP and the 1997 AL batting champ. (In the three seasons in which he went 0-12 with 11 whiffs against Ryan, Thomas hit .322-63-255 overall.)

Now that World Versus Nolan Ryan squad.

—–The World Versus Nolan Ryan All Star Team—–

Catcher – Rick Cerone, RHH, 5’11”/192 pounds

In his 18-season MLB career (1975-92), Rick Cerone faced Ryan 33 times (29 at bats).  He collected 11 hits, for a .379 average – including one double, one triple and two home runs, producing seven RBI.  He also did okay in the walks-to-strikeouts ratio, with four of each.

Cerone’s success against Ryan comes as somewhat of a surprise.  Over his 18 seasons, he played in 100 or more games only four times and hit .245, with 59 home runs and 436 RBI.  He played in the major leagues from 1975 to 1992 –  (Indians… 1975-76; Blue Jays … 1977-79; Yankees…1980-84, 1987 & 1990; Braves … 1985; Brewers …1986; Red Sox 1988-89; Mets 1991; Expos 1992). His best season was 1988, when he hit .277, with 14 home runs and 85 RBI for the Yankees.

Rick Cerone’s two home runs and seven RBI against Nolan Ryan are the second-most he accumulated against any pitcher in his career. (He had three homers and ten RBI against Larry  Gura, whom he faced 55 times.)  

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First Base – Will Clark, LHH, 6’2”/190 pounds

As noted earlier, six-time All Star Will Clark got his MLB career off to a good start, homering off Nolan Ryan in his first-ever MLB at bat. He went on to prove the first round tripper was no fluke, hitting six home runs off Ryan between 1986 and 1988. Overall, Clark went 12-for-36 versus Ryan (.333), with eight extra-base hits and 11 RBI.  In 1988, Clark reached Ryan for a .600 average (six-for-ten), with two doubles, three home runs and five RBI. (That season, the 41-year-old Ryan went 12-11, 3.52, with NL leading 228 strikeouts in 220 innings.)

Over his MLB career (1986-2000), Clark collected 2,176 hits (.303 average), with 284 home runs and 1,205 RBI. He averaged .300 or better in ten of 15 campaigns, topped 20 home  runs six times and 100 RBI three times. Clark played for the Giants (1986-93); Rangers 1994-99), Orioles (1999-2000); and Cardinals (2000).

Will Clark’s six home runs versus Nolan Ryan are not only the most home runs any batter hit against Ryan, but also the most home runs Clark hit against any MLB pitcher.

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.300 – .400 – .400 …

Most at bats versus Nolan Ryan while maintaining a .300 or better average

Rod Carew –  93 at bats, .301 average

Most at bats versus Nolan Ryan while maintaining a .400 or better average

Gary Sutherland – 24 at bats, .417 average

Most at bats versus Nolan Ryan while maintaining a .500 or better average

Lonnie Smith – 24 at bats, .500 average

Most at bats versus Nolan Ryan while maintaining a .600 or better average

Carlos Baerga – 10 at bats, .600 average

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Second Base – Rod Carew, LHH, 6’/170 pounds

Okay, no surprise to see Rod Carew here.  He is, after all, a seven-time batting champ, who retired with 3,053 hits and a .328 career average. Carew has more at bats versus Ryan (93) than any other player who hit at least .300 against him. He also had the second-most career hits against Ryan with 28 – trailing only George Brett, who had 29 hits  in 101 at bats against Ryan (.287 average). Of course, getting touched for a .300 average versus Carew (.328 career average) is nothing to be ashamed of. The Hall of Famers  Carew hit at least .300 against (regular season) include Fergie Jenkins (.362 in 58 at bats); Jim Palmer (.358 in 95 AB); Catfish Hunter (.347 in 101 AB); Dennis Eckersley (.321 in 56 AB); Gaylord Perry (.316 in 76 AB); and, of course, Ryan.

Slow Starter?

In his first MLB game, Rod Carew struck out three times and grounded out pitcher-to-first.  Not a sign of things to come.

Carew was an 18-time All Star (in 19 MLB seasons … 1967-85). He hit .300 or better in 15 seasons (a high of .388 in 1977) and reached 200 or more hits in four campaigns. He was the AL Rookie of the Year in 1987, and league MVP in 1977. Carew played for the Twins (1967-78) and Angels (1979-86)

In 1974, when he won his fourth batting crown with a .364 average, Rod Carew hit .538 (seven-for-thirteen) versus Nolan Ryan – with a home run, four walks and four whiffs.

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Whiff – le Ball

Nobody struck out more times against Nolan Ryan than Claudell Washington, who faced Ryan 102 times and fanned 39. In those appearances (90 at bats), Washington hit .144. Nobody faced Ryan more times without striking out than Julian Javier, who stepped in the batter’s box 18 times against Ryan  and never fanned, but hit only .124 (two-for-sixteen). 

Here’s list of those who stepped in against Ryan at least a dozen times and never fanned.

Name                                      PA           AB               H            Avg.

Julian Javier                       18              16                  2            .125

Tommy Helms                    13               13                 2            .154

Carlos Baerga                      12                10               6            .600

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Third Base – Dick Allen, RHH, 5’11”/187 pounds

Thank goodness for Dick Allen’s 652 games at the hot corner, which enable me to keep both Allen and Will Clark in this lineup. Allen hit a robust .364 versus Ryan (16 hits in 44 at bats). He also hit three home runs versus The Ryan Express and drove in 16 tallies.  Only Darrell Porter and Rusty Staub had more career RBI (17 each) versus Ryan.  In 1968, Allen was perfect in eight plate appearances versus Ryan (then a 21-year-old rookie) collecting three hits (two home runs) and five walks.  Allen’s competition for this spot in the lineup came primarily from George Brett, who had the most career hits versus Ryan (29), but trailed Allen in HR (Brett had zero) and RBI (Brett had 8). In addition, Brett hit .287 against Ryan, well below his career .305 mark.

Allen was a seven-time All Star in 15 MLB seasons (1963-77). He collected 1,848 hits (.292 average, reaching .300+ in seven seasons), 351 home runs (topping 30 six times, a high of 40 in 1966) and reaching 100+ RBI three times.  He led his league in home runs twice, RBI once, runs scored once and triples once. He was the NL Rookie of the Year in 1964 and AL MVP in 1972. He played for the Phillies (1963-69 & 1975-76); Cardinals (1970); Dodgers (1971); White Sox (1972-74); and A’s (1977).

Despite striking out nearly twice as many times as he walked in his career (1,556 strikeouts to 894 walks), Dick Allen drew 22 walks versus just 11 strikeouts versus Nolan Ryan.  Those were the most walks Allen drew from any MLB pitcher – only one of the free passes was intentional.

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Shortstop Rafael Ramirez, RH, 6’/170-pounds

Rafael Ramirez, a .261 hitter in 13 MLB seasons (1980-92), is a bit of a surprise on this list – but put up a .333 average (18-for 54) versus Ryan, with two home runs and seven RBI.

During his career,  Ramirez was an All Star just once (1984, Braves). He reached double digits in home runs just once (10 in 1982) and hit over.270 in three campaigns.  He played for the Braves (1980-87) and Astros (1988-92). His best season was with the Braves in 1983, when he hit .297, with seven home runs, 58 RBI, 82 runs scored and 16 stolen bases in 152 games.

Rafael Ramirez hit two or more home runs against only four pitchers in his career. Don Robinson (3); Nolan Ryan (2); Bob Forsch (2); Dave Dravecky (2).

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Outfield – Carl Yastrzemski, LHH,  5’11’/175-pounds

Carl Yastrzemski is no surprise on this list. In 23 MLB seasons (1961-83, all with the Red Sox), he collected 3,419 hits (.285 average), 452 home runs and 1,844 RBI. He touched Nolan Ryan for a .340 average (17-for-50), four home runs and 14 RBI.

Yaz was the AL MVP in 1967 (when he won the AL Triple Crown) and an All Star in 18 seasons. He won three batting titles (and hit .300 or better six times), twice led the AL in hits and three times topped the league in runs scored.

Carl Yastrzemski was awarded a basketball scholarship by Notre Dame University.

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Outfield – Lonnie Smith, RHH, 5’9”/170-pounds

Lonnie Smith was a bit of a journeyman over his 18-season MLB career (Phillies …1978-81; Cardinals … 1982-85; Royals … 1985-87; Braves … 1988-92; Pirates … 1993; Orioles … 1993-94). He was a steady performer throughout, putting up a .288 career average (1,488 hits) with 98 home runs, 909 runs, 553 RBI and 370 stolen bases. He hit over .300 in six seasons. As an All Star in 1982, he led the NL in runs (120) and hit .307 with eight home runs and 68 stolen bases.

Smith did a good job against Nolan Ryan facing him 31 times and going 12-for-24 (.500 average), with one home run and five RBI. He also walked five times (versus five strikeouts) versus Ryan.

Lonnie Smith batted against Nolan Ryan in five different seasons (1980-84) and never hit under .333 against him.

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HALL OF FAMERS WHO DID WELL VERSUS NOLAN RYAN (minimum three at bats)

These Hall of Famers hit .333 or better versus Nolan Ryan:

Catfish Hunter –  .667 (2-for-3)

Eddie Murray  –  .389 (7-for 19)

Harold Baines –  .364 (8-for-22)

Barry Larkin – .357 (5-for-14)

Tony Perez – .346 (9-for-26)

Paul Molitor – .341 (14-for-41)

Carl Yastrzemski – .340 (17-for-50)

Phil Niekro – .333 (1-for-3)

Fergie Jenkins- .333 (1-for-3)

Joe Torre – .318 (7-for-22)

Hank Aaron – .308 (12-for-39)

Tony Gwynn – .302 (19-for-63)

Rod Carew – .301 (28-for-93)

Luis AparIcio – .300 (3-for-10)

Al Kaline – .300 (3-for-10)

These Hall of Famers hit .150 or lower against Ryan (minimum three at bats): 

Frank Thomas – .000 (0-12); Don Sutton – .000 (0-for-5); Jim Thome – .000 (0-for-4); Willie Mays – .000 (0-for-3); Edgar Martinez – .053 (1-for 19); Willie Stargell – .071 (1-for-14); Steve Carlton – .111 (1 for 9); Dave Winfield  – .115 (3-for-26); Rickey Henderson – .118 (2-for-17); Roberto Clemente – .125 (2-for-16); Willie McCovey – .133 (2-for 15); Johnny Bench – .138 (4-for-29); Jim Rice – .150 (6-for-40); Kirby Puckett – .150 (3-for-20).

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Outfield – George Hendrick, RHH, 6’3”/195-pounds

George Hendrick play 18 seasons in the major leagues (1971-88) – collecting 1,980 hits (.278 average), 267 home runs and 1,111 RBI. He was an All Star four times, hit .300 or better four times, reached at least 20 home runs six  times and drove in 100 or more runs twice. Hendrick played for the A’s (1971-71); Indians (1973-76); Padres (1977-78); Cardinals (1979-84); Pirates (1985); Angels (1985-88).

Against Nolan Ryan, Hendrick collected 19 hits in 53 at bats (.345), with two homers and six RBI.  The 19 hits were his sixth-most against any pitcher in his career.

George Hendrick, a .278 lifetime hitter, collected more hits off Hall of Famer Steve Carlton (38) than against any other pitcher.  He hit .345 against Carlton. He collected his third-most hits regular-season hits (22) off another HOFer, Bert Blyleven (.367 average) and his sixth-most (19) off Nolan Ryan.

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Pitcher – Ron Reed, RHH, – 6’6”/215-pounds

In his 19 MLB seasons, Reed went 149-140, with a 3.46 earned run average.  He stepped up to the plate seven times versus Nolan Ryan and produced two successful sacrifice bunts, one hit by pitch, three hits in seven at bats (a .429 average), one triple and three RBI.  In his career, Reed came to the plate 695 times and produced 98 hits (.158 average). In 1968, when he collected two of his three hits off Nolan Ryan (including the lone triple), he hit just .161 (10-for-62).  Reed’s main competition for a spot on this squad came from Catfish Hunter, who faced Ryan three times and produced a pair of singles and a foul ball pop out.

Ron Reed’s triple off Nolan Ryan was the only three-bagger of his career – and his three RBI versus Ryan were the most runs he plated off any opposing pitcher.

Primary Resources:  Baseball-Reference.com; MLB.com

Additional “Who’s Your Daddy?” looks at top lineups versus top pitchers:

• Sandy Koufax, click here.
• Bob Gibson, click here.
• Pedro Martinez, click here.
• Randy Johnson, click here. 

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