Sellout Crowd Sees Rangers Retire Ryan’s No. 34 Jersey

These days, Nolan Ryan doesn’t get many standing ovations as banker, rancher and state parks and wildlife commissioner.

So baseball’s strikeout king was especially moved Sunday when the retirement of his No. 34 by the Texas Rangers brought a sellout crowd at The Ballpark in Arlington to its feet four times.

“Those are very special moments; it’s hard to describe,” said Ryan, flashing his trademark aw-shucks look of embarrassment. “After you’ve been removed from it for a while as I’ve been, it means even more. It makes you think about how much you miss it.”

The Rangers are the second team to retire Ryan’s number, but only the first this month. The Astros will put No. 34 to rest Sept. 29, which will make Ryan the first player so honored by three teams.

The first team to do it was California, which hung up the No. 30 Ryan wore for them between 1972-79 in 1993, his final season.

Ryan became the first Rangers player to have his number set aside.

A video montage to the song “Unforgettable” was played, then Ryan came out of the Texas dugout with his wife, two sons and daughter for an extended ovation. The cheers continued before, during and after he spoke.

To commemorate the honor in Arlington, the Rangers unveiled a sign on the facing of the right-field upper deck that reads ‘34 Nolan Ryan 34.’