Los Angeles Angels’ Mount Rushmore
By Jason Reed
Nolan Ryan
As much as I wanted to shy away from the Franchise Four list in using Nolan Ryan, I couldn’t do it. I tried to be different and avoid using three of the same players, but the evidence for Nolan Ryan is irrefutable. Ryan was dominant in his time as an Angel. Statistically, Ryan is marginally the second best pitcher in franchise history. Ryan ranks second in WAR as an Angel, with a 45.2 mark compared to Chuck Finley’s 46.0.
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In comparison, Finley pitched in 145 more games than Ryan as an Angel. This means that Ryan was 67% as efficient as Finley was in his time on the mound. Other staggering stats is his 9.97 k/9 ratio, meaning Ryan averaged just about 10 strike outs per game, and his 3.07 ERA. Ryan leads the franchise in strike outs, is third in total wins, and is first in ERA of pitchers with over 1500 innings pitched.
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Ryan’s most memorable moments may have come either in Houston or in Arlington, but his time spent in California was excellent. Ryan’s ten seasons as a halo has earned him a retired number, a Mount Rushmore inclusion, and a warm welcoming whenever he enters Anaheim. The Angels may not be the most storied franchise in baseball, but their Mount Rushmore certainly is noteworthy.