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 19,275 times that PSA has assessed this card, this is one of just 38 to achieve a NM-MT+ 8.5 grade. Only 166 copies rank higher.
The certification number on this card has been checked against the third-party grader's online database and is active as of 06/01/2026.
