As a follow-up story on Todd Snider’s song about one of the craziest baseball players of all-time (Dock Ellis – click to read), I want to share another great baseball song about the toughest player to ever step on the diamond… Mr. Nolan Ryan.

“Nolan Ryan (He’s a Hero to Us All)” was written and performed by one of the most beloved Americana music pioneers, Jerry Jeff Walker.

If you don’t know about Jerry Jeff, click here to read my story from Oct. 2020 entitled “RIP Jerry Jeff Walker – a founding father of the TBR Ramble sound.” Walker wrote and published the upbeat country tune “Nolan Ryan” in 1990.

In the picture below, Jerry Jeff played the song for Nolan in the Rangers dugout before a game in August 1990.

NOTE: Check out third baseman Steve Buechele listening in the background.

Click the YouTube box below to hear Walker’s tune….

I included the lyrics below so you can follow along!

Well, our story starts in Texas, where he’s tempered by the heat
That skinny Alvin boy believes his fastball can’t be heat
So he brings it and he brings it and it passes every test
They’re talkin’ he’s a wild man might be the fastest in the West

Well, he’s drafted by New York, he’s gonna pitch up there in Shea
With those amazing Mets, he’ll help them take it all the way
He gets a World Series ring, he stays modest, he don’t boast
Now it’s off to California, where he’ll make history on the coast

Chorus:
Nolan Ryan, he’s a hero to us all
Nolan Ryan, he stands straight, he stands tall
He don’t mess around boys
He just throws a mean fast ball

Tom Morgan is the angel, gets Nolan in second gear
Then he pitches four no-hitters in about as many years
He’s working for Gene Autry, they’re calling him the Ryan Express
He throws one ball a hundred, now he’s the fastest in the West

But after eight years on the left coast
He says he wants to come home
So he signs on with the Astros
He’ll bring magic to the dome
As he throws his fifth no-hitter
They’re talkin’ about he might be the best

Chorus

Now he’s a Texas Ranger, but he don’t tote no gun
He’ll mow you down with the heater, you smell leather, hear it hum
He throws a sixth no-hitter, the Oakland A’s just met Big Tex

Now they’re gonna judge all the rest
Boys, against the fastest in the West

Now let’s count up some numbers, he’s forty-three years of age
He’s got 5200 strike-outs, six no-hitters to date
There’s 57 shut-outs, right up against 300 wins
And on the very first ballot, the Hall of Fame’s gotta take him in

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Walker’s “Nolan Ryan” is featured on my Baseball Gems Spotify playlist…

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By the way, I found another baseball song about Nolan Ryan based on “Rawhide” by Frankie Laine. It’s not going to make my top list of baseball songs, but certainly worth including here for you. Click below to listen…

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Nolan Ryan is a badass. He is a real-life John Dutton from Yellowstone. If you have not watched the recent Netflix documentary produced by Nolan’s son Reid call “Facing Nolan”… put it on your “to-do” list this weekend. Here is the movie teaser.

Although there are so many clips I could share that demonstrate how tough Nolan was (and likely still is)… I had to show the clip from 1993 when 26-year old Robin Ventura charged the mound on the 46-year old Nolan Ryan and got his ass whooped.

NOTE: In 1993 Robin Ventura had a hell of a year with close to 100 walks, RBI and runs.

The man is a legend… watch him come straight after noted fastball basher Dave Parker in the 1979 All Star Game back in the days when the All Star Game was the only time (pre-cable) you got to see stars from other cities.

NOTE: Although he struck out like dog against Nolan, Parker was named the 1979 All-Star Game MVP with two great assists in right field.

Nolan is the No-Hitter King… with a record seven no-nos. Here is a video of #5 against the Dodgers on September 26, 1981. Hearing Vin Scully call the ninth inning gives me goosebumps and will put a smile on the face of baseball fans that followed the game during the 80s.

NOTE: In the game, Astros’ right fielder Terry Puhl “saved” the day when he chased down a hard hit gapper by Mike Scioscia.

The man is a Hall of Famer… here is his induction speech from 1999. That year Nolan was honored alongside Robin Yount, Orlando Cepeda and my favorite player of all-time… George Brett.

Thanks to Jerry Jeff Walker for giving this song to us in homage to one of the game’s greats!