So Cal's All-Time Roster: No. 30

His Hall of Fame plaque has him wearing a Texas Rangers logo cap. It also notes he started his career with the New York Mets ('66, '68-'71), and continued on with Houston ('80-'88) and Texas ('89-'93) before hanging up his spurs. But his eight-year run with the Angels, where he learned how to control his fastball and develop into the most dominant pitcher of his era, is what remains magical in Anaheim. Traded from the Mets to the Angels (along with pitcher Don Rose, catcher Francisco Estrada and outfielder Leroy Stanton) for the fan favorite Jim Fregosi, Ryan went 19-16 in his first season with the Angels, despite a 2.28 ERA, (second-lowest in franchise history) with a remarkable 329 strikeouts (a third more than the runnerup). In 39 games, he had nine shutouts. The next season: 21-16, 2.87 ERA, a major-league record 383 strikeouts (breaking Sandy Koufax's record) and two no hitters -- and no Cy Young Award (it went to Jim Palmer, he of 22-9, 2.40 ERA). In '74, Ryan was 22-16 (tying a franchise record for most wins), 2.89, 367 Ks and a no-hitter -- and no Cy Young (it went to Catfish Hunter, he of 25-12, 2.49).
His fastball was "officially" clocked by the Guinness Book of World Records at 101.8 miles per hour in a game played on August 20, 1974 vs. the Chicago White Sox. But he still hadn't reached the playoffs.
That didn't happen until his final year with the franchise, 1979, when he started Game 1 of the ALCS against Palmer and the Orioles. The Angels lost in 10 innings. He was supposed to pitch in Game 5, but the Angels were eliminated by then.
Now a free agent, what was he going to do? Ryan wanted $1 million a year. Angels GM Buzzie Bavasi said that for a pitcher coming off a 16-14 season, he could replace him with two 8-7 pitchers, adding, "I think my plumber could do that." So Ryan left to Houston, and the Angels ...
Aw, just forget it.
After leaving the Angels, he threw three more no-hitters (seven in all), finished as the greatest strike out pitcher in big-league history (5,714). Although his 324 wins are among the top 15 of all time (tied with Don Sutton), Ryan's 292 losses are third, he's first in walks allowed (2,795), first in wild pitches (277) and ninth in hit batters (158). Ryan is also one of two pitchers in MLB history to give up ten grand slam home runs.
But we'll stop with the negatives. That only makes us sound like Bavasi.

First runner-up:
==Maury Wills, Dodgers (1959-'66, '70-'72)

Here's a shot from the UCLA library of Wills being given his first jersey by manager Walter Alston. Both numbers should be retired by now. But Wills' No. 30 isn't, because he isn't in the Hall of Fame. A spark plug for the Dodgers' championship teams in the mid-1960's, having established the single-season stolen base record of 104 in 1962 and winning NL MVP, Wills revived the stolen base as part of baseball strategy. Wills also outstole all of the other teams in 1962. The Washington Senators were the biggest competitor with 99. The fans at Dodger Stadium would chant, "Go! Go! Go!" anytime he got on base. And he usually went, no matter what the score (almost always a tight game). A winner of the Gold Glove Award in 1961 and 1962, Wills was selected five times for the All-Star Game. In his first full season in the majors, 1960, he led NL shortstops with 40 errors. But he also hit a surprising .295 and led the NL with 50 stolen bases. His six straight seasons leading the NL in steals set the NL record, and he tied the NL record for most years leading in singles, four (1963-67). He was traded to the Pirates in '66 and played third base. The Expos took him in the '69 expansion draft. But he came back to L.A. in a trade with Manny Mota for Ron Fairly and Paul Popovich. In 1972, he gave up the shortstop job to Bill Russell.

Second runner-up:
==Rogie Vachon, Kings (1971-78)

Montreal was where his career started, sharing the spotlight with Gump Worsley and winning the Stanley Cup in '68 and '69. But in 1971-72, Vachon requested a trade after he allowed four goals in his only period of action. He was given a new lease on life when the Kings grabbed him in Nov. '71. He recorded 32 of his 51 career shutouts with the Kings, and was a two-time selection to the NHL Second All-Star Team. Vachon became the most popular figure in franchise history and was selected the team's most valuable player four times in five years between 1973-'77. In 1974-75 the Kings set a franchise record with 105 points and a fourth place finish in the NHL's overall standings. That season, Vachon's 1.41 goals-against mark in the first 17 games -- the best start in the league since Jacques Plante in 1957-58. Unfortunately, the team was eliminated in the first round by a Toronto team that underachieved in the regular season. Vachon went on to close out his career with two seasons each in Detroit and Boston and retired following the 1981-82 season with a career goals-against mark of 2.99. Vachon became the Kings coach and GM in 1983-84, and the team retired his number -- the first -- in '85.

Third runner-ups:
==Curtis Rowe, UCLA basketball ('68-'71)
==Lawrence McCutcheon, Rams ('72-'79)

Other No. 30s:
==Bo Kimble, Loyola Marymount basketball ('87-90), Clippers ('90-'92)
==Darren Daye, UCLA basketball ('79-'83)
==Tracy Murray, UCLA basketball ('89-'92)
==Don Sutton, Angels ('85-'87)
==Pam McGee, USC women’s basketball ('81-'84)
==Devon White, Angels ('85-'90)
==Dokie Williams, UCLA football ('78-'81)
==Terry Sawchuk, Kings ('67-'68)
==Lucious Harris, Long Beach State basketball ('90-'93)

Sports Illustrated's pick for the all-time No. 30: Ryan

Did we miss anyone?
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