This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/16/2017
Though he possessed a blazing fastball and a curveball that could halt even the greatest hitters in their tracks, no one could have predicted that Nolan Ryan would become one of the true pitching legends of baseball. Though he posted back to back 20-game seasons in 1973 and 1974, Nolan Ryan spent his entire career just barely over the .500 mark. But what Ryan excelled at was the strikeout, leading the league 11 times, including a major-league record 383 Ks in 1973. Ryan topped the 300 strikeout mark six times, the last one in 1989 at the age of 42, on his way to being baseball's all-time strikeout king. Although he shares the spotlight with another accomplished pitcher, 222-game winner Jerry Koosman, it's the popularity of "The Ryan Express" that makes his rookie card one of the most sought-after issues of the last 50 years. The featured card is a strong PSA 9 with horizontal right side endpoints that push the limits of GEM MINT. The centering is very accurate and the images of both Koosman and Ryan and bright and sharp. Even the purple circle housing the "METS" team name, often a haven for stray print, comes in problem-free. An essential card for any advanced collection, and this MINT example is extraordinary!