Ryan strikes out 5,000

On April 22, 1989, Nolan Ryan became the first, and remains the only, Major League Baseball pitcher to strike out 5,000 batters when the Texas Ranger faced Oakland Athletics star Rickey Henderson. Ryan entered the game 14-7 with 219 strikeouts, and needed six to reach the milestone. Henderson, who retired as the all-time walks leader, led off the top…