Nolan Ryan Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What is Nolan Ryan’s Net Worth?

Nolan Ryan, an American professional baseball player, boasts a net worth estimated at $80 million. Over his remarkable 27-year career in Major League Baseball, he participated in games spanning an extraordinary four decades. Ryan played for acclaimed teams such as the New York Mets, the California Angels, the Houston Astros, and the Texas Rangers, ultimately retiring in 1993. His induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame occurred in 1999, coinciding with his first year of eligibility. Post-retirement, he took on the roles of CEO and part-owner for the Texas Rangers and served as an advisor to the Houston Astros.

Regarded as one of the greatest pitchers in the history of baseball, Ryan holds over 50 MLB records as of this writing, many of which may never be surpassed. Throughout his career, consistently even in his later years, he threw pitches exceeding 100 miles per hour. Another standout aspect of his game was his remarkable 12-6 curveball, which showcased incredible velocity, akin to his fastball. Such skills contributed to Ryan’s impressive tally of 5,714 career strikeouts, far surpassing any other MLB pitcher. The next closest player, Randy Johnson, falls short by 839 strikeouts. Additionally, Ryan is part of a select group of only five pitchers who accumulated more strikeouts than innings pitched. Nonetheless, not all of his records were positive; he also allowed the most walks in history, amassing a total of 2,795.

At the conclusion of his career, Ryan had his jersey number retired by at least three teams, another impressive record. Throughout his journey, he achieved seven no-hitters, a count that exceeds any other pitcher in history by three. Interestingly, Ryan never managed to pitch a perfect game nor did he receive a Cy Young Award. Nonetheless, he celebrated victory in the World Series in 1969 and was honored as an eight-time All-Star.

Career Earnings

Nolan Ryan’s total earnings from baseball salaries during his MLB career amounted to $25.7 million, equivalent to nearly $70 million in today’s currency. His highest single-season salary was recorded in his second to last season, when he earned $4.2 million from the Texas Rangers, amounting to about $9 million when adjusted for inflation.

MLB Records

Below is a list highlighting Nolan Ryan’s top 10 most notable MLB records:

• Seven career no-hitters – a record still unbroken today
• 5,714 career strikeouts – the highest in MLB history
• 12 one-hitters – tied for the most in MLB history
• 222 complete games – the most by any pitcher since 1975
• 5,386 innings pitched – the greatest by any pitcher since 1927
• 773 career starts – the most by any pitcher since 1927
• 27 seasons played – tied for the highest in MLB history
• 383 strikeouts in one season – a modern era record
• 18 seasons with over 100 strikeouts – the most in MLB history
• 11 seasons with over 200 strikeouts – tied for the most in MLB history

Note: The significance of this list is subjective and not necessarily organized by importance.

Early Life

Lynn Nolan Ryan Jr. was born on January 31st, 1947, in Refugio, Texas, a small town. He was raised with five older siblings just outside of Victoria before moving with his family to Woodsboro and later to Alvin. Nolan demonstrated remarkable talent at hitting objects with nearly any thrown item, prompting his father to recognize his potential and encourage him to explore baseball.

Ryan left his mark early, recording his first no-hitters in Little League. His success continued as he developed…his high school years saw him regularly breaking the bones in catchers’ hands, which caused many batters to refuse to step up against him. Red Murff, a scout for the New York Mets, recognized his talent, declaring it was the best arm he had ever witnessed.

Baseball Career

Nolan made his initial foray into professional baseball through the minor leagues, playing for teams such as the Marion Mets, Greenville Mets, and Jacksonville Suns, before he was called up to the New York Mets’ main roster. He celebrated a World Series victory with the Mets before being traded to the California Angels in 1972. Ryan then pitched in California for seven years before spending the entirety of the 80s with the Houston Astros.

In 1979, he signed a four-year, free-agent contract valued at $4.5 million with the Astros and remained with the franchise for almost a decade before joining the Texas Rangers in 1989, at which point he was 42 years old. Ultimately, after a 27-year career in baseball, Ryan sustained a career-ending arm injury in 1993, tearing a ligament at the age of 46, marking the end of his playing days.

After Retirement

Upon retiring from professional baseball, Nolan Ryan ventured into various business pursuits. He became the principal owner of Ryan Sanders Sports and Entertainment, which manages a Triple-A Affiliate of the Texas Rangers. Additionally, he co-authored six books, including his autobiography, “Miracle Man,” published in 1992. His other works include “Throwing Heat,” “The Road to Cooperstown,” “Kings of the Hill,” along with instructional texts like “Pitching and Hitting” and “Nolan Ryan’s Pitcher’s Bible.”

Ryan also took on roles as the chairman of a bank, owned a Texas restaurant, and was a member of the Texas Parks Wildlife Commission for six years, although he eventually stepped away from these ventures. In 2000, he experienced a heart attack but successfully underwent a double coronary bypass surgery.

Arguably, Ryan’s most significant post-retirement endeavor was his connection with the Texas Rangers. In 2008, he assumed the position of team president. The following year, he and Chuck Greenberg made a bid to purchase the Rangers, with a $385-million deal finalized in 2010. Ryan retained his presidential role following the acquisition, later transitioning to the new CEO position after Greenberg’s exit in 2011, although he stepped down as CEO two years later.

Nolan became actively involved with the Houston Astros, taking on the roles of special assistant and executive adviser in 2014, working alongside his son Reid Ryan, who was then president of business operations. The Astros clinched the World Series title in 2017. Following Reid Ryan’s demotion in 2019, Nolan Ryan indicated his intent to cease his involvement with the Astros.

Nolan Ryan Beef

In 2000, Nolan established Nolan Ryan Beef, with their products appearing in Texas Krogers just two years later. Today, the brand boasts an impressive annual gross revenue of approximately $20 million.

Endorsements

Nolan Ryan has been featured in numerous advertisements over the years, endorsing products like Advil. His recommendation for the pain medication stemmed from his personal use for arm pain relief. He is particularly recognized for his commercials aired within Texas.

Criticism

Despite Nolan Ryan’s remarkable accomplishments,Modern observers have criticized him for several reasons. Not only did he allow the highest number of walks, but he also threw the most “wild pitches.” Additionally, he stands third in total losses among all pitchers. On top of that, he gave up ten grand slam home runs, which was a record at the time.