The Ryan Express

Nolan Ryan (30) walks off the field after his no-hitter with manager Bobby Winkles

‍Exactly two months to the day after throwing his first no-hitter in 1973, California’s Nolan Ryan pitches another one 53 years ago today in Detroit as he strikes out 17 batters in a 6-0 victory before a Sunday afternoon crowd of 41,411 at Tiger Stadium.

Ryan records all 17 of his strikeouts before the end of the eighth inning.

Ryan ends up with a record seven no-hitters during a Hall of Fame career that lasts from 1966-93.

Each of those seven no-hitters is caught by a different catcher with Art Kusnyer behind the plate for this one 53 years ago today.

As for the Tigers, cleanup hitter and first baseman Norm Cash best sums up Detroit’s resignation in facing Ryan on this day in 1973 as he comes to the plate with two outs in the ninth inning carrying a white table leg he retrieves from the Tigers’ clubhouse instead of a bat.

Unamused, plate umpire Ron Luciano tells Cash to go get a more conventional piece of wood.

Like a real bat.

“Why not?” Cash asks Luciano about using the table leg. “I won’t hit him anyway.”

Cash, with a real bat, then pops out to Angels shortstop Rudy Meoli to end the game.

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