From the Annals of the Baseball Legends –  In 1983, Nolan Ryan recorded strikeout number 3509 while pitching for the Houston Astros in a game against the Montreal Expos at Olympic Stadium.  Ryan, nicknamed the Ryan Express, broke Walter Johnson’s career strikeout record which had stood for 55 years since 1927.   ”I don’t get too excited about anything,” Ryan said after pitching the Astros to a 4-2 victory and striking out 5 batters. ”I was more relieved than anything else. Now I can sit back and relax and get more satisfaction out of it.” Ryan broke the record by striking out Brad Mills, a pinch-hitter, looking on a 1-2 curveball in the eighth inning.