Nolan Ryan made hitters look like they had entered the wrong profession. The fireballing Texan ranks first all-time in strikeouts with 5,714. To put this record in context, the next closest pitcher is Randy Johnson (retired) with 4,875, and no active pitcher is within 2,000 Ks of the Ryan Express. The undisputed strikeout king, Ryan remains etched in fans’ minds as a symbol of strength, intimidation, and domination. As such, his 1968 Topps #177 RC also remains etched in the minds of baseball collectors. Paired alongside Jerry Koosman, an overlooked star, this is one of the most iconic Topps Baseball cards of all-time.
Of the 7,125 times that SGC has graded the 1968 Topps Nolan Ryan rookie card, this is one of just 22 to achieve a Mint 9 grade. Only six copies rank higher. In short—this is one of the top-condition copies of one of the most famous baseball cards ever produced.
The certification number on this card has been checked against the third-party grader's online database and is active as of 04/02/2026.
