El Cardquistador

Nolan Ryan’s seven no-hitters are amazing. I don’t feel like anyone will ever surpass this record. Ryan did not accomplish this without the effort of the teams he played on, and one thing I don’t hear celebrated enough is the contrition the catcher showed in these amazing feats. Up until I started researching for this article, I couldn’t have named one of these catchers.  

So who were the catchers?

On May 15, 1973, Ryan tossed his first no-hitter against the Kansas City Royals. The catcher was Jeff Torborg. Jeff, while not a HOF-level player, is still said to be well-respected and went on to have a pretty successful managerial career with the Indians. The Indians made several playoff appearances under his management.

If you wish to celebrate his contribution to Ryan’s first no-hitter there are several nice cards from the late 60s and early 70s you can add to your collection for not much money, but the 1973 Topps seems like an obvious choice.

On July 15, 1973, Ryan recorded his second no-hitter against the Detroit Tigers in a 6-0 victory for the California Angels. This time, Art Kusnyer was behind the plate. Kusnyer was known for his solid defensive abilities rather than his offensive prowess. His role in this game is often overlooked, but as Ryan’s battery mate, his contribution was critical.

While Kusnyer doesn’t have a 1973 Topps card, his 1972 Topps card is a great, affordable way to honor his part in Ryan’s journey.

Next up is September 28, 1974, when Ryan no-hit the Minnesota Twins in another 6-0 victory. Tom Egan was his catcher, a player who had developed a great rapport with Ryan over the years. Egan’s handling of the flame-throwing pitcher was key in guiding Ryan to his third no-hitter. Though Egan’s career was relatively quiet after this, his place in this historic moment cements his legacy.

Collectors might seek out his 1974 Topps card for a piece of this milestone.

On June 1, 1975, Ryan threw his fourth no-hitter against the Baltimore Orioles, edging them out 1-0. The man behind the mask was Ellie Rodriguez, a two-time All-Star who caught for several teams throughout his career. Rodriguez’s ability to manage Ryan’s explosive fastball and off-speed pitches on that day was critical to the Angels’ victory.

His cards are not particularly sought after in the hobby, but they can be found at great value, especially his 1975 Topps card, which commemorates the season of this historic no-hitter.

Fast forward to September 26, 1981, with Ryan now on the Houston Astros, no-hitting the Los Angeles Dodgers in a 5-0 game. Alan Ashby, a steady presence for Houston, caught this masterpiece. Ashby was known for his leadership and game management, and his ability to catch a no-hitter in a pressure-packed situation like this underscores his skill as a catcher.

Ashby has several cards from the early 1980s that are easily collectible, with the 1981 Topps card marking the season of this achievement.

Moving into the 1990s, Ryan threw his sixth no-hitter on June 11, 1990, against the Oakland Athletics, winning 5-0. John Russell was the catcher for this game, another under-the-radar player who played a significant role in this historic performance. Russell, like many of Ryan’s other catchers, was known more for his defense than for his bat.

His 1990 Topps card is a great addition for those looking to honor his contribution.

Finally, on May 1, 1991, Nolan Ryan made history with his seventh and final no-hitter, defeating the Toronto Blue Jays 3-0. The catcher that day was Mike Stanley, who was primarily known for his offensive skills but proved his versatility by managing one of the game’s most intimidating pitchers through nine hitless innings.

Stanley’s 1991 Topps card marks the year of this momentous game and is a must-have for collectors who want to commemorate the last no-hitter of Ryan’s legendary career.