Who is Nolan Ryan Might as well ask who is America. After twenty-seven major league seasons in the limelight, the man who has been called the last true sports hero stands as a national phenomenon-a phenomenon whose media portrayal tells America something important about itself. pSeven no-hitters. Over three hundred wins. Over fifty-five hundred strikeouts. More than fifty major league records. A Texas highway named for him. Forty-six years old at retirement, and still throwing the ball at over ninety miles per hour. The record speaks for itself. A hero. p But there's more to Ryan than the record. There's the image. And the business. The portrayal of this future Hall of Famer as a devoted husband, strong father, and off-season cowboy has been used to sell jeans, athletic shoes, pain relievers, and other products. pIn this fascinating analysis of Ryan's career and the media hype surrounding it, Nick Trujillo examines his significance as a sports hero and celebrity in American culture. Ea