Nolan Ryan is regarded as one of the greatest pitchers of all time and his baseball cards from his 27 season career (1966-1993) are some of the most sought after in the hobby. Ryan holds numerous pitching records including career strikeouts, no-hitters and career losses. Each year of his career produced new baseball cards showcasing another remarkable season. Let’s take a closer look at Nolan Ryan’s baseball cards from 1966 through 1993 and the accomplishments and statistics featured on each:

1966 Topps #582 – Ryan’s rookie card shows him as a member of the New York Mets. This was his first full season in the majors in which he went 8-8 with 167 strikeouts in only 116.1 innings pitched. His rookie card is considered reasonably affordable for a Hall of Famer despite the popularity as a key piece for any vintage collection.

1967 Topps #491 – Ryan still with the Mets on this issue and improved to a 15-11 record with 243 strikeouts in 237.1 innings. He threw his first career no-hitter on May 15, 1981 against the Phillies. The no-hitter is not mentioned on his ’67 Topps card of course since it had not yet occurred. This was Ryan’s first year truly showcasing his elite pitching ability that would continue for decades.

1968 Topps #533 – Traded to the Los Angeles Angels after the ’67 season. His record dipped to 12-13 but he continued rapidly increasing his strikeout totals, whiffing 279 batters that season. Ryan’s early Angels cards increased in popularity in the late 1980s and early 1990s as “Nolan Ryan fever” took off during his record-breaking later career.

1969 Topps #327 – Ryan blossomed into an ace going 18-16 with 303 strikeouts for the Angels. Considered by many to be the pinnacle of his rookie/early career Angels issues, his ’69 is regarded as one of his most iconic and valuable pre-1970s cards.

1970 Topps #360 – Posted a 20-14 record and gained the nickname “Ryan the Lion” for his tenacious style on the mound. Struck out a career-high 383 batters, shattering the American League single season record. This historic season is prominently featured on his 1970 Topps issue which remains a highly sought vintage Ryan card.

1971 Topps #155 – Slipped to 15-16 but still fanned 329 batters. Becoming seen as one of the league’s preeminent strikeout artists during this period of his career based on his elite stats like this. Valuable issue for 1970s Ryan collectors.

1972 Topps #169 – Went 21-16 with 329 strikeouts as he settled into his role as the staff ace in Anaheim. A consistent 20-win, 300-strikeout threat virtually every season now in the early 70s.

1973 Topps #181 – Posted a 25-17 record along with 335 punchouts in a career-high 324 innings pitched. His ’73 is considered a key middle era issue.

1974 Topps #142 – Suffered an arm injury and went 17-18 as his season was shortened to 237 innings with 239 strikeouts. His down year issues like ’74 remains popular due to relative abundance and significance as an Oddball.

1975 Topps #62 – Finally reached the 20-win plateau at age 30 going 20-13 with 341 strikeouts in 302.2 innings back in a full season. Helped push his mid-70s issues like this one higher in the past 20 years.

1976 Topps #1 – Enjoyed his best overall season going 22-16 record along with 367 strikeouts in 325.1 innings at age 31. Fittingly, his ’76 was Topps’ featured cover boy, adding significance as his last card as an Angel.

After the 1976 season, Ryan was traded to the Houston Astros where he would further cement his legacy as perhaps the greatest power pitcher of all-time. His first Astros card appeared as:

1977 Topps #250 – Went 19-13 for Houston with 329 strikeouts in 288.1 innings in his debut campaign for the Astros at age 32. Played a key role in leading Houston to the NLCS. Significant as his first card as an Astro.

1978 Topps #330 – Posted a 15-13 record but led the league with 341 strikeouts in 270.2 innings in his age 33 season. Highlights his emergence as strikeout king entering his later prime years.

1979 Topps #405 – Went 18-13 along with one of his classic seasons of 313 strikeouts in 273 innings at age 34. A consistent 20-game winner and 300+ punchout guy each season.

1980 Topps #310 – Slipped to 11-10 but still fanned 271 batters in 226 innings as the innings started catching up to him at age 35. His brilliance still shown through despite a down campaign.

1981 Topps #177 – Achilled his record-setting fifth career no-hitter on September 26th against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Finished 16-14 with 225 strikeouts in 222.2 innings at age 36. The first card to reference one of his record seven career no-hitters.

After the 1981 season, Ryan was traded again, this time to the Texas Rangers where he enjoyed the most productive years of his illustrious career:

1982 Donruss #60 – In his first season in Texas at age 37, he led the league with 223 strikeouts and set a ML record with his sixth career no-hitter against the Angels in May. Helped lift the small-market Rangers to prominence.

1983 Topps #118 – Went 16-10 with a career-high 301 strikeouts in 275.1 innings at age 38, displaying his freakish late-career dominance.

1984 Donruss #114 – Threw his MLB record seventh career no-hitter on the final day of the season at age 39 against the Toronto Blue Jays. Finished 14-11 with 225 strikeouts. Considered one of his most valuable 80s issues.

1985 Donruss #92 – At age 40, went 23-16 over 309.2 innings with 225 strikeouts to lead Texas to the AL West title. A true freak of nature entering the twilight of his career.

1986 Donruss #106 – Slipped to 9-6 but still struck out 180 batters in only 146.2 innings in his age 41 season. Remained a weapon out of the pen.

1987 Donruss #65 – Enjoyed a renaissance at age 42 going 8-16 in only 112.1 innings but led the majors with 270 strikeouts. Threw his fifth career one-hitter that season.

1988 Donruss #107 – At age 43, he struck out 121 batters in 109.2 innings. Retired after the 1993 season at age 46, finishing with career records of 5,714 strikeouts, seven no-hitters and 324 wins.

Nolan Ryan’s illustrious 27-year baseball card record captures the brilliance and statistical milestones of perhaps the greatest power pitcher of all-time. From his early Mets/Angels issues in the vibrant 1960s and 1970s, through his strikeout records years with the Astros and Rangers setting pitching feats that may never be broken. Ryan’s baseball cards stand as one of the true long term chronicles of greatness the hobby has to offer.