The Rangers are getting creative with their promotions this season.
In a callback to an iconic moment in club history, the team is giving away a replica blood-stained Nolan Ryan throwback jersey to fans in attendance for their May 29 game against the Royals.
The jersey harkens back to Sept. 8, 1990, when the Hall of Fame flamethrower pitched with blood dripping from his lip.
In the second inning that day, Ryan misplayed a sharp ground ball off the bat of the Royals’ Bo Jackson.
The grounder ricocheted off Ryan’s glove and into his face before getting the out at first.
But Ryan didn’t let a little blood take him out of the game.
Ryan stayed on the mound, throwing seven scoreless innings, with the red blood stains on his chest, adding to his legend and giving the franchise a unique promo opportunity decades later.
MLB’s all-time strikeouts leader will also be honored with a bobblehead giveaway of his iconic on-field fight with Robin Ventura on July 20, 1993, against the White Sox.
A 1965 draft pick and member of the 1969 Miracle Mets, Ryan, born in Refugio, Texas, played the final five years of his 27-season big league career with the Rangers.
In 1989, Ryan made his eighth and final All-Star team of his career at 42 years old, as he posted a 3.20 ERA over 32 starts with Texas.
He had his No. 34 retired by the Rangers in 1996 and was inducted in the National Baseball Hall of Fame three years later.
After his playing days, Ryan served as the Rangers’ president and CEO for six seasons (2008-13).
