Though his time on the Mets brought him only one World Series title, it wasn’t until he was traded to the California Angels that he really turned into Nolan Ryan. With the help of pitching coach Tom Morgan, Ryan met his potential. He made his first All-Star Game in 1972, pitching 284 innings with a 2.28 ERA, leading the league in both walks and strikeouts for the first of many times in his career. And 1973 was when there was no doubt he was one of the best in the game.

He started that year strong, striking out at least 11 batters in each of his first three starts. Just nine days after throwing 12 innings on May 2, Ryan had his roughest outing of the season, giving up four hits and five earned runs without making it out of the first inning. But he bounced back quickly, recording a two-inning save in his next appearance, a reminder of his bullpen roots from his Mets days. That save propelled him into his May 15 start in Kansas City.

Ryan opened that night with a strikeout, then issued a walk to Steve Hovley, who stole second. But Hovley would be the only Royal to reach second base, as Ryan struck out the side. Entering the bottom of the ninth, Ryan had 11 strikeouts, and the Angels had yet to strike out once. He got a popout, struck out Hovley, who he'd walked in the first, and then got Amos Otis to fly out to right, securing the first no-hitter of his career. He finished with three walks, 12 strikeouts, and a game score of 96. For those paying attention, it was clear this wouldn’t be his last.

Following his first no-hitter, Ryan posted three consecutive games with at least 10 strikeouts. By the end of May, he'd tallied 176 strikeouts in 157.1 innings. After a tough outing in Baltimore where he allowed six earned runs and six walks in six innings, he returned to form in Detroit. The Tigers, a strong team with three All-Stars, were made to look like the 2003 Tigers. Ryan was dominant, walking four but allowing no one to reach second. He struck out 17 through eight innings, with a chance to break the single-game strikeout record. But after two quick outs in the ninth, Norm Cash came up, holding a table leg instead of a bat. After a laugh and a quick substitution, Cash hit a soft lineout to shortstop, ending the game. Ryan became just the fourth pitcher to throw two no-hitters in a season. He struck out 17 and walked four for a game score of 100, one of just five 100+ game scores in MLB history at the time, and two now belonged to Ryan.

On September 27, 1973, Ryan added more history, striking out 16 in 11 innings for his 383rd strikeout of the season, breaking Sandy Koufax’s seemingly untouchable record. He would finish second in Cy Young voting behind Jim Palmer. Despite Palmer's lower ERA, Ryan’s dominance, including breaking records never thought to be broken, made him the most deserving. But in an era when win totals and team performance mattered too much, Palmer took the award.

Ryan continued his dominance in 1974. Though he didn’t make the All-Star team, he entered his final start with 323.2 innings, a 2.98 ERA, and 352 strikeouts. He hadn’t thrown a no-hitter yet that season but had come close with a one-hitter against the Rangers. Facing the Twins at home in front of a small crowd, Ryan battled wildness, walking seven through five innings, but still hadn't allowed a hit. He calmed down, striking out four more while walking none the rest of the way. With 14 strikeouts and eight walks, Ryan struck out Eric Soderholm to seal his third no-hitter. He joined an elite group of four pitchers to throw three no-hitters, doing so in just 16 months. Despite the wildness, his 15 strikeouts earned him a game score of 94.

At that point, only one man had more no-hitters than Ryan—his idol, Sandy Koufax. On June 1, 1975, Ryan woke up sore. He had bone chips in his elbow and could barely extend his arm. But that day against the Orioles, the pain vanished. While not as overpowering—only nine strikeouts and four walks—Ryan again kept the Orioles hitless. He struck out Bobby Grich on a 2-2 changeup to end the game and tie Koufax with four career no-hitters. His game score of 92 was his least dominant, but it was enough to make history.

Ryan’s fourth no-hitter would be his last as an Angel. After the team refused to pay him due to his lack of wins, he signed with the Houston Astros in 1979, becoming the first million-dollar baseball player, and the first million-dollar athlete in America. In the years between his fourth and fifth no-hitter, Ryan threw 1,274 innings, struck out 1,351 batters, and posted a 3.33 ERA. He made two All-Star teams but still hadn’t secured that elusive Cy Young Award.

On September 26, 1981, nearly seven years after his third, Ryan no-hit the Dodgers in his penultimate start of a strike-shortened season. After walking three in the first three innings, he retired 15 straight, striking out 11. Dusty Baker, the final batter, grounded out to third to make Ryan the all-time no-hit king with five. His game score? 95.

After that fifth no-hitter, many assumed Ryan’s days of dominance were behind him. But after nine seasons with the Astros, Ryan signed with the Texas Rangers at age 42. In his first year, he struck out 300 batters, becoming the oldest pitcher to do so, and earned his final All-Star nod and Cy Young votes. One of those strikeouts was his 5,000th.

On June 11, 1990, he added his sixth no-hitter. Facing the defending champion A’s, Ryan was nearly untouchable. Only Walt Weiss reached second base through eight innings, and Ryan had struck out 13 while walking two. After Rickey Henderson and Mark McGwire were retired, Willie Randolph was the A’s last hope—and he flew out. At age 43, Ryan had no-hit a 90-win team and posted a game score of 99.

Then came number seven.

On May 1, 1991, Ryan, battling back problems, wasn’t sure he’d even pitch. But after a strong first inning, he told his teammates to get him one run—he wouldn’t need more. They gave him three. Ryan retired 17 straight at one point, walking only two and striking out 16. In the ninth, after two groundouts, he faced Roberto Alomar—the son of Ryan’s former teammate. On the seventh pitch of the at-bat, Ryan struck him out looking for his seventh no-hitter. At age 44, he posted a game score of 101, the best of his career.

Though he pitched two more seasons, he never threw number eight. Still, seven no-hitters is a record that may never be matched. Ryan also holds the record for most one-hitters, two-hitters, and three-hitters. Without the walks, he might’ve been the only pitcher with multiple perfect games. In his seven no-hitters, Ryan struck out 94 and walked 26, a 3.6 K/BB ratio, better than his career average. His **average game score in those seven games was a staggering 96.7.

And, of course, another unbreakable record: the most frequently framed photo in sports bars across America.

The 1985 draft has the highest collective BWar for a class at 979.1