In his final start of the season, Ryan found himself 15 strikeouts shy of Sandy Koufax’s single-season record of 382. Ryan struggled early, giving up a single, a walk, a single, and a double for three runs before recording a single out. Luckily, he finished the inning strong – striking out three. The Angels scored three of their own in the bottom of the first to even the score.
In the second, Ryan struck out two Twins, and another in the third. The Angels scored in the bottom half of the frame to take a 4-3 lead.
Ryan struck out the side in the fourth, and two more in the fifth to bring his total up to eleven. He didn’t get any strikeouts in the sixth, but gave up the tying run - which would eventually prove to be providential.
In the seventh, Ryan again fanned three Twins, bringing him within one of the record. He tied Koufax’s mark in the eighth; but he also tore a muscle, an injury that would hamper him the rest of the way.
An exhausted Ryan didn’t strike anyone out in a scoreless ninth, but the game went to extra innings because his teammates couldn’t score either. In the tenth, he struggled, giving up two hits, but escaped without giving up a run or recording a strikeout. Once again, the Angels failed to score, and the game went to the eleventh.
Ryan and manager Bobby Winkles agreed that the eleventh would be Ryan’s last – with or without the record. Ryan got two strikes on Steve Brye before he grounded out to short. Rod Carew then drew a walk. When Carew broke for second, catcher Jeff Torborg made a good throw, but Carew slid in safely. Ironically, the crowd booed Torborg for trying to get the out and thus limit Ryan’s chances.
Tony Oliva flied out for the second out, bringing Rich Reese to the plate. Ryan got two quick strikes on Reese, setting up the final pitch. Announcer Dick Enberg, who had earlier compared Ryan to a heavyweight fighter staggering around struggling to land the knockout blow, made the call, “Ryan sets, here it is, SWUNG ON AND MISSED! …Nolan Ryan is the major league strikeout king of all time! ...Ladies and gentlemen we have seen one of the finest young men to ever wear a baseball uniform record one of the most incredible records in major league history. 383 for Nolan Ryan!”
In the bottom of the inning, Tommy McCraw scored on Richie Scheinblum’s double for the winning run, giving Nolan his 21st win of the season. Despite winning 21, recording a 2.87 ERA, pitching 26 complete games, throwing two no-hitters, and breaking Koufax’s strikeout record, Ryan only finished second in the Cy Young Award voting – an award that would elude him throughout his illustrious career.
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