His Keen Focus Put Him At The Top Of His Game; Mastery On The Mound: Major-league exercising, tough work ethic helped Nolan Ryan nail more than 50 pitching records.(LEADERS & SUCCESS)(BEST OF LEADERS & SUCCESS)

Byline: PHILIP MICHAELS

While other pitchers hung out in the locker room, Nolan Ryan was training like a man half his age.

Ryan, who pitched until he was 46, credits much of his mastery on the mound to his daily training regimen between starts. He'd cycle for up to 45 minutes, sprint for another 20 and often lift weights.

"There's no doubt in my mind that if it hadn't been for that weight room, I would have been out of the game many years ago," Ryan once said. "Not only has it helped me prevent injury, but it's also kept me strong so I could continue to hold up over the long grind."

He didn't just hold up. He also scored some eye-popping statistics during his 27-year career, which ended in 1993. Ryan recorded 324 wins with the New York Mets, California Angels, Houston Astros and Texas Rangers. He struck out 5,714 batters and threw seven no-hitters -- both major league bests. In fact, Ryan holds or shares more than 50 pitching records.

Former Rangers general manager Tom Grieve recalls looking across the field during spring training and seeing Ryan -- then in his 40s -- jogging up and down the stadium steps. He'd also spy Ryan in the training room, diligently riding a stationary bike to build up stamina.

At an age when many baseball players had long since retired, Ryan still took the mound with the desire and focus of an All-Star.