nolan ryan (he's a hero to us all)
Singer: jerry jeff walker
well
our story starts in texas
where he's tempered by the heat
that skinny alvin boy believes his fastball can't be heat
so he brings it and he brings it and it passes every test
they're talkin' he's a wild man might be the fastest in the west
well
he's drafted by new york
he's gonna pitch up there in shea
with those amazing mets
he'll help them take it all the way
he gets a world series ring
he stays modest
he don't boast
now it's off to california
where he'll make history on the coast
nolan ryan
he's a hero to us all
nolan ryan
he stands straight
he stands tall
he don't mess around boys
he just throws a mean fast ball
tom morgan is the angel
gets nolan in second gear
then he pitches four no-hitters in about as many years
he's working for gene autry
they're calling him the ryan express
he throws one ball a hundred
now he's the fastest in the west
but after eight years on the left coast
he says he wants to come home
so he signs on with the astros
he'll bring magic to the dome
as he throws his fifth no-hitter
they're talkin' about he might be the best
in texas people know
he's the fastest in the west
now he's a texas ranger
but he don't tote no gun
he'll mow you down with the heater
you smell leather
hear it hum
he throws a sixth no-hitter
the oakland a's just met big tex
now they're gonna judge all the rest
boys
against the fastest in the west
now let's count up some numbers
he's forty-three years of age
he's got 5200 strike-outs
six no-hitters to date
there's 57 shut-outs
right up against 300 wins
and on the very first ballot
the hall of fame's gotta take him in