On August 22, 1989, pitcher Nolan Ryan of the Texas Rangers struck out Rickey Henderson of the Oakland Athletics to record his 5,000th career strikeout. No other major league pitcher has reached that milestone. The achievement highlighted Ryan’s longevity and power as a pitcher. The crowd in Arlington gave a long ovation, and Henderson later said there was no shame in being the 5,000th strikeout. Ryan’s record has become one of the most unbreakable marks in baseball. The game stands out in the memory of fans and historians of the sport.
