Page "Nolan Ryan" Paragraph 14

In his first season with the Angels, Ryan, given a chance to pitch regularly as a starter for the first time in his career, had a league-leading 329 strikeouts — nearly a third more than the AL runner-up, and to that point, the fourth-highest total of the 20th century.

Within five seasons, the season would only be Ryan's fourth-highest strikeout total.

He also set a still-standing Major League record by allowing only 5. 26 hits per nine innings, breaking Luis Tiant's 5. 30 in 1968, as well as posting a 2. 28 earned run average that year, to date the second lowest in franchise history, trailing only Dean Chance's 1. 65 in 1964.

Though Ryan's actual winning percentage hovered only slightly over. 500, his strikeouts and no-hitters brought him media attention.

Meanwhile, Fregosi failed to produce as a Met, making no significant contribution to the Mets ' 1973 pennant-winning campaign ; he was sold to the Texas Rangers mid-season.