High Heat (36 page)

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Authors: Tim Wendel

BOOK: High Heat
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Still, I'm comfortable with my choice. When it comes to the gift of high heat, and what can truly be accomplished with such a boon seemingly handed down from above, none did better than “the Express.”
The Top Twelve
NOLAN RYAN
′ Nicknamed ′The Express′
′ Recorded seven no-hitters and 12 one-hitters
′ Struck out a record 383 in 1973
′ Hall of Fame: 1999
′ President of Texas Rangers
Photo courtesy of the National Baseball Hall of Fame Library, Cooperstown, NY
STEVE DALKOWSKI
′ Nicknamed ′White Lightning′
′ Never reached the major leagues
′ Was the basis for the character Nuke LaLoosh in the movie
Bull Durham
Photo courtesy of the National Baseball Hall of Fame Library, Cooperstown, NY
BOB FELLER
′ Nicknamed ′Rapid Robert′
′ Pitched three no-hitters and 12 one-hitters
′ Led the American League in victories six times
′ Hall of Fame: 1962
Photo courtesy of the National Baseball Hall of Fame Library, Cooperstown, NY
WALTER JOHNSON
′ Nicknamed ′Barney′ and ′The Big Train′
′ Part of the original class in the Hall of Fame—1936
′ Won 417 games, often with a losing team behind him
Photo courtesy of the National Baseball Hall of Fame Library, Cooperstown, NY
SANDY KOUFAX
′ Had four no-hitters in four years, capped by a perfect game in 1965
′ Fanned 18 in a game twice
′ Hall of Fame: 1972
Photo courtesy of the National Baseball Hall of Fame Library, Cooperstown, NY
BILLY WAGNER
′ Knicknamed ′The Kid′
′ Played at Ferrum College, where he averaged a record 19.1 strikeouts per 9 innings pitched
′ Randy Johnson taught him how to throw a slider
Photo courtesy of the National Baseball Hall of Fame Library, Cooperstown, NY

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