Nolan Ryan announced his retirement from his position as CEO of baseball's Texas Rangers, according to a release from the team on Oct. 17.
Ryan, 66, was hired as the team's president in 2008 and was named CEO in 2011. During Ryan's tenure in the Texas Rangers' senior management, the team made its first-ever World Series appearances in 2010 and 2011.
"This is the right time for me to step down from my role of overseeing the Rangers organization," Ryan said in a statement. "I'm extremely proud of what this organization has accomplished."
Ryan, a native of Refugio, spent most of his early years in Alvin, near Houston, where he keeps a ranch. During a multi-decade career as a pitcher in Major League Baseball, Ryan established himself as one of the best strikeout pitchers in the history of the game.
Ryan played for the New York Mets (1966, 1968-71), California Angels (1972-79), Houston Astros (1980-88) and Texas Rangers (1989-93). Ryan recorded an all-time record seven no-hitters and tops the all-time major-league strikeout list with 5,714.
A Hall of Famer and eight-time All-Star, Ryan has had his number retired by the Angels, Astros and Rangers. His lone World Series victory came as a member of the 1969 Mets. Ryan never won a Cy Young Award.
Following his retirement, Ryan became an entrepreneur and baseball executive, with roles and interests in minor-league baseball before his front-office tenure with the Rangers.
Ryan's announcement follows months of speculation about his future role with the club. Ryan was relieved of his position of team president in March. Various reports cited friction between Ryan and Rangers general manager Jon Daniels.
"This organization is in good hands," Ryan said in today's statement. "I am leaving with a lot of great memories from my tenure here and know the organization will continue to thrive in the years to come."
