I've heard a lot of people say that the hat Nolan sports in the Hall of fame should be an Astro’s instead of a Ranger's. Of coarse everyone can agree it is ridiculous he is enshrined as a Ranger but if that wasn't he case, he would have been an Angel. While Ryan plaid more years in Houston he still had more wins, strikeouts and no-hitters in LA. Maybe I am incorrectly generalizing Astros fans but it says something that whenever Nolan Ryan's name comes up on the radio, this complaint usually follows.
Strictly IMO I'm not saying that he's MORE of an Angel in his heart or anything ... that's up to him to decide, but to the average everyday Joe baseball fan (that is in his mid 30's or above,) I'd say he's definitely a California Angel. Just as Clemens is a Boston Red Sock or at the very least, a Yankee. Sad but true. Talking "prime" years, etc. Where they made their name. I suppose some Mets, Astros, & Rangers fans could debate the crap out of it though concerning Ryan.
I don't know. I don't even think it's much of a debate. He may be loved more here but like you said, on a national level people will know him for what he did as an angel
I wouldn't have been mad if he had gone in the hall with an Angles hat on. I just think what he did as a Ranger is not enough and I'm pretty sure it pissed off some Angel fans too. It would be the equivelant of Clemens goin into the hall with a 'stros cap on. Which would be cool with me but it wouldn't be portraying his career correctly. Honestly, I feel Ryan should have went in with an Angel hat and Clemens should go in with a Sox cap. But it's their decision not ours.
People think on Nolan as an Astro, not an Angel. He works for the Astros. So he consdiers himself an Astro. He was at all our playoff games the past two years. He wasnt' in Anaheim in '02 when the Angels were in the playoffs/World Series.
i tend to agree...i think people around the country think of him as a texan. some people equate him with the rangers..some with the astros. however unfair that might be to the angels.
It could go either way. Ryan was a big part of the Astros 80's playoff teams though. He signed the largest free agent contract at the time when he joined the Astros. He gave instant credibility to the Astros and pitched with them for a number of years.
Why should that be the criterion? He worked for the Rangers for years before he started working for the Astros and went to their playoff games in 99. At that time, was the Rangers hat justified? And now it's not? People may think of him as an Astro in Texas but you can't say that on a national level. Maybe if he would of made it to the WS in houston it would be different. For the record, players can no longer choose their Hat in cooperstown so Roger will probably go in as a Red Sox as oppose to the Yankee hat he prefers.
Sidenote: Roger Clemens (and family) was in Cooperstown today. One of his kids was here with his little league team; very friendly. Sidenote #2: **** the HOF.
Most people don't know he worked for the Rangers after his playing days. He only did appearances and useless junk like that. They didn't tap into his baseball knowledge. Now, the Astros are using The Alvin Express the right away. He's in charge of the Nolan Ryan Elite Pitchers camp for all the young hurlers. Media from all over the U.S was in attendance so people know Nolan as an Astros because they actually see him doing stuff for Houston, unlike in Arlington.
That is absurd. Everyone knew he worked for them. You got to think people took notice when he chose to wear a Rangers hat that he was still a part of the team. He has only been affiliated with the astro players for a couple years after spending TEN YEARS working for the Rangers. Ryan may of been in attendance during the games but he was never the subject of a single story during the playoff run.
