I don't think it is preposterous to view Ryan in the same circle as Seaver. Seaver had the better career, but not by a ton.
If one uses a new metic such as WAR, then Ryan checks in at 20th all-time for pitchers.
If using traditional methods, Ryan is a 300 game winner and the all-time leader in strikeouts.
A big part of Ryan's drawing power is that he was still a star in his 40's. At age 40,41,42,and 43 he lead the league in strikeouts each of those years. At age 43 and age 44 he led the league in WHIP and K/IP.
In other words, Ryan was a marvel to a generation of kids that watched in in the 1960's/70's and the kids that watched him in the 1980's/90's. Most older pitchers are no longer a spectacle at the end such as Ryan was.
Add that Ryan became the poster boy for pitching mechanics at the end of his career...you have a generational icon.
And again, for the newer measurement methods he still is ranked 20th all time in WAR.
Ryan has a resume worthy of his card collecting popularity.
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