Continuing the HOF debates -- Who Should NOT be in and why

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Posted By: runscott

other than the magic "300 wins" number. But as someone who saw him pitch 20 or more times (I was lucky enough to live in Houston while he was there, and then Arlington while he was there), it was just incredible to watch him when he was "on". Also, if he had retired at a normal age, he probably wouldn't have made the Hall - he didn't really learn how to "pitch" until during his time with Houston.

He did a lot more for baseball than just win games - he became a genuine baseball celebrity while with Texas. There's a lot of "intangible" in his inclusion, plus the fact that he is the ALL-TIME STRIKEOUT king. You just can't ignore that.

BTW, I was at his last no-hitter. I was sick and didn't drink beer at a game for the first time since I was 16. I think Nolan sensed that and decided he owed me one for losing a no-no in the 9th once when I saw him, failing twice to pass Walter Johnson while I was watching, and failing to get his 300th win while I was watching. Needless to say, I'm a big Ryan fan.