However, the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) pitcher to ever play the game of baseball, Nolan Ryan, threw a consistent, blistering, 100.8 mph heater for an astounding 27 years, back in the 1970s—before the advent of today’s advanced training methodologies, nutrition, sophisticated strength training, sports medicine, and steroids. Ryan single-handedly put the category of power pitcher on the map.
The man is a legend, a folk hero, and “Facing Ryan” tells his story via the players who faced him in his nearly three decades’ worth of pitcher-batter Wild West shootouts. Out on the mound, Nolan Ryan was the most intimidating sheriff in town.
‘Facing Nolan’
Bradley Jackson’s documentary “Facing Nolan” tells the story of this tall-drink-of-water Texan from a small town, who married his high school sweetheart, Ruth, in 1967, and followed his dream of playing Major League Baseball (MLB), as well as his other dream of being a rancher. Nolan pitched for four MLB teams over a 27-year career, operated his cattle ranch during the off-season, and set absolutely ridiculous records for no-hitters and strikeouts that remain untouched to the present day.American Folk Hero
Like all mythological characters, especially ones like Paul Bunyan and Pecos Bill, tales of their mighty deeds start snowballing and end up outrageous and cartoon-ish centuries later, and so “Facing Nolan” nips certain elements of the “Ryan Express” mythos in the bud.One such instance of this is the fondly told tale about how Ryan developed his 100 mph fastball as a paperboy, wanging copies of The Houston Post from his bike onto subscribers’ doorsteps in and around his childhood home in Alvin, Texas. Right-hander Ryan explains that it wasn’t from a bike; it was from his dad’s car, and he had to toss the papers with his left hand. So *poof*—there goes that myth.
From Mets to Angels
Ryan began his professional baseball life with the New York Mets in 1966, and even though he was a part of the team that won the 1969 World Series, he was inconsistent and had very little personal success.Angels to Astros to Rangers
Ryan signed with the Houston Astros in 1980. Finally back in his home state, he became the face of the franchise and the first professional athlete to earn a one-million-dollar salary. His astounding records continued to pile up.
After leaving the Astros at the age of 42, Ryan signed as a free agent with the Texas Rangers in 1989—the same time George W. Bush, one of the film’s interviewees, was part owner and CEO.
At the end of his career (1989 to 1993), Ryan went on to pitch his heretofore unimaginable sixth and seventh no-hitters, a feat that will never again be repeated. He retired after his strikeout number reached a ridiculous 5,714. To put that in proper perspective, another legendary pitcher, Randy Johnson, says: “I’m second to him in strikeouts, and he’s got a thousand more strikeouts than me.”
Talking Heads
The film unfolds in highlight-reel fashion, and Ryan’s four decades of thrilling athleticism are underscored by plentiful anecdotes from a wealth of all-star interviewees, as well as the extensive Ryan family themselves.Pete Rose, George Brett, Dave Winfield, Rod Carew, Cal Ripken Jr., and other world-class players who batted against him describe Ryan, in assorted ways, as “the most intimidating pitcher in the history of the game.” One player recalls Ryan himself casually admitting, “Once I cross that white line, I don’t even like myself.”
Not Exclusively for Baseball Fans
Even viewers without a love for, or in-depth knowledge of, baseball will be engrossed and entertained by Jackson’s celebratory film. Does it sometimes border on hagiography? Not really. The man was simply so good that nothing but superlatives can be used to describe his life, not to mention that witnessing him with his family, a classic alpha-turned-benign patriarchal grandfather, is very heartwarming.Like soft-spoken Texan Ryan himself, “Facing Nolan” is just direct and to the point. The highlights and statistics speak for themselves. America’s tastes in sports may have shifted over the decades from the more easygoing ballpark to the dramatic, violent gridiron, and what used to be “America’s favorite pastime” is currently more football than baseball, but “Facing Nolan” hearkens back to a wonderful chapter of American sports history.
“Facing Nolan” first premiered for one night only on March 12, 2022, through Fathom Events, ending the day as the No. 1 movie in Texas and the No. 7 movie in North America.
