Greg Swindell against Nolan Ryan. A pitching matchup made in Hollywood. It would be a hit on Broadway, too.
The Indians' Swindell, one of the finest young pitchers in baseball, will oppose Ryan tonight at 7:05 at the Stadium when the Tribe takes on the Texas Rangers.
The Indians are rapidly running out of special days. Bat day, ball day and cap day are history, but even they are not special when compared to tonight. This one is extra special.
Both pitchers worked in the All Star Game Tuesday. Ryan was the winner and Swindell had three strikeouts among the five outs he recorded.
The marquee value in this matchup is priceless. It matches Swindell, a lefty with speed and a good curve against a righty with ultra speed and curve. Only the hitters will not like this scenario.
The Swindell-Ryan script reminds oldtimers of the post World War II era when the Indians' Bob Feller, the premier right-hander of the time, would face Detroit's lefty ace Hal Newhouser.
Tonight's game has a left-hander who is 24 and a righty who is 42. Swindell is 11-2 with a 2.75 earned run average and 91 strikeouts. Ryan is 10-4 with and 2.91 ERA and 148 strikeouts.
Ryan, in his 22nd season in the major leagues, has a career record 4,923 strikeouts. He has hurled five no-hitters and 10 one-hitters.
Indians manager Doc Edwards will have no trouble getting pumped up for the moment. He knows the feeling. He has been there before.
He once caught Jim Bunning when the Philadelphia Phillies' right-hander faced Bob Gibson and on another occasion was behind the plate for the New York Yankees' Whitey Ford against Camilo Pascual.
"There always is excitement when you get matchups of such great pitchers," Edwards said prior to the Indians-Rangers game last night. "It's a great feeling. It's the best against the best.
"Nolan Ryan is a phenomenon, a credit to the game. He is very professional in the way he goes about his business."
Swindell relishes the opportunity.
"It's the first time I've faced him," he said. "It's a dream to pitch against him. It would be great to beat him.
"He was a childhood hero of mine. Going against the best is what it's all about in the big leagues. I won 18 games last year (18-14), but only two against the best. Nolan Ryan is the best.
"Why would you want to go against a mediocre pitcher? Going against Ryan Ryan will get the adrenaline going. He won't have a bat in his hand. He will just be pitching. I'll sit back and watch him just like everyone else."
Swindell and Ryan are from Texas. Swindell is 2-0 against the Rangers this season.
This article appeared in the Cleveland Plain Dealer in July, 1989. Reprinted with permission.