Ick’s Corner

This day in sports is brought to us by Nolan Ryan

1989 – Nolan Ryan became the first major league pitcher to strike out 5000 batters.

Now this day in sports has a special meaning to me, Lajitas and I were actually at this game. We jumped in the old pick up truck and headed north on 45 from Houston, got to Arlington extra early for batting practice. We were sitting in the outfield, and Jose Canseco hit a shot during batting practice.. seemed like he aimed it right at my glove. The ball came down and hit the tip of my glove, and while trying to bare hand catch it, there were a few other fans pushing and shoving, and needless to say, none of us came away with the ball, as it dropped back onto the field! Looking back, I probably would not have wanted to keep that ball anyway!!! Somewhere there is a picture of young Ick with Bob Allen, a Houston sportscaster sent up by (channel 13 I believe) to cover the game. I’m sure I looked dorky, well because thats how I looked in most of my pictures growing up! What am I saying, not much has changed.. I still look dorky in pictures!!!

You know when the talk of Nolan Ryan comes up, and his 5000th strike out makes its way into the conversation I always find myself wondering how Rickey Henderson feels about being Nolan’s 5000th victim!

Nolan Ryan – The Strikeout King

This has been a production of “This Day In Sports”, and a “Stroll Down Memory Lane”. Please join us tomorrow to see where history will take us.