The Ryan Express rolls through Detroit

Exactly two months to the day after throwing his first no-hitter in 1973, California’s Nolan Ryan pitches another one 51 years ago today in Detroit as he strikes out 17 batters in a 6-0 victory before a Sunday afternoon crowd of 41,411 at Tiger Stadium.

Ryan, seen here after the game with Angels manager Bobby Winkles, records all 17 of his strikeouts before the end of the eighth inning.

Ryan ends up with a record seven no-hitters during his Hall of Fame career from 1966-93.

Each of those seven no-hitters is caught by a different catcher with Art Kusnyer behind the plate for this one 51 years ago today.

As for the Tigers, cleanup hitter and first baseman Norm Cash best sums up Detroit’s resignation in facing Ryan on this day in 1973 as he comes to the plate with two outs in the ninth inning carrying a piano leg instead of a bat.

Unamused, plate umpire Ron Luciano tells Cash to go get a more conventional piece of wood.

Like a real bat.

“Why not?” Cash asks Luciano about using the piano leg. “I won’t hit him anyway.”

Cash then pops out to shortstop Rudy Meoli to end the game.