Lynn Nolan Ryan Jr. is one of the most amazing physical specimens to have ever lived. The things that Nolan Ryan accomplished and proved possible in his record 27 year Major League Baseball career as a player will probably never be matched or exceeded. Now, it's certainly true that Nolan Ryan was physically, and genetically talented; but many, many baseball players have come and have gone that were just as physically talented as Nolan Ryan; but only Nolan Ryan has the kind of statistics that nobody else ever has, or ever will rival.

Having exceptional physical ability is certainly something that can not be learned; however, there are many, many things that Nolan Ryan did learn that allowed him to reach statistical and performance levels that are so outrageous as to be discouraging, surely, for most with the same level of physical ability. What's the difference between Nolan Ryan, and someone like, Dwight Gooden, or Roger Clemens? Well, besides the physical ability, continued performance on the level like that that Nolan Ryan displayed into his mid 40's, takes a dedication to training and conditioning that must come from within.

You have to have the drive, the competitive spirit, the will to overcome. Dwight Gooden had every bit the physical ability of Nolan Ryan; and so did Roger Clemens. It could be argued, and often is, that Roger Clemens was the best pitcher of the modern age. Does the Roger Clemens winning percentage and Cy Young awards prove his superiority over Nolan Ryan? Sure, Roger Clemens has some statistically amazing seasons, but if you are just looking to be impressed by power, you look more at Nolan Ryan than you do Roger Clemens.

Ryan threw harder for longer, also had one of the greatest curve balls in the history of baseball, and had to make fewer adjustments in his style in order to pitch for more seasons than Roger Clemens did. Though Roger Clemens had outstanding control, and plenty of velocity, He never threw a no hitter at all, and Ryan's seven no hitters spaced out over so many seasons clearly indicate that Ryan was a more powerful and dominating pitcher over more seasons than Clemens was in even his best seasons.

My issue with Roger Clemens is that he'd cheated in his career via substances, just like Barry Bonds did, Jose Canseco did, and many, many others did. Nolan Ryan has never been accused of having chemically cheated; the person that his team mates, and others around him in the MLB community knew him to be precludes such an outrageous accusation upon his character. Everyone who ever knew him knew how hard he'd worked. His physical workout routine was the thing that legends are made on, all on it's own.