May 1, 1991: Nolan Ryan and Rickey Henderson both make baseball history

There are too many incredibly memorable regular-season days in Major League Baseball history to count (that's what happens when teams play 162 games a season), but no question on the very short list of the most memorable was May 1, 1991 – 29 years ago Friday. Two all-time greats, Nolan Ryan and Rickey Henderson, had magical moments.

Henderson's Oakland A's were home to the New York Yankees that night, and in the third inning Henderson stole third off Yankees pitcher Tim Leary and catcher Matt Nokes. It was Henderson's 939th career stolen base, passing Hall of Famer Lou Brock for the most in MLB history.

Back then, stolen bases were a big deal and a huge part of baseball – that's just not the case today. Henderson finished his career with a whopping 1,406 steals, and that record will never be touched. The active player with the most? Rajai Davis with 415. Mallex Smith led the majors last year with 46. Rickey would usually have that many by the All-Star break.

However, Henderson's feat was overshadowed later that night in Arlington, Texas, when the 44-year-old Ryan of the Rangers no-hit the Toronto Blue Jays, his seventh career no-no; no other pitcher has more than four and the active leader is Houston's Justin Verlander with three. It was the first no-hitter by a Rangers pitcher in Arlington Stadium.

"It was the most rewarding no-hitter of them all because it came in front of my fans on Arlington Appreciation Night, my career is complete now. I got one for the fans in Arlington," said Ryan afterward.

Ryan threw a complete-game shutout vs. the Blue Jays, with 16 strikeouts and two walks. He whiffed fellow future Hall of Famer Roberto Alomar to end the game.

It wasn't the first time that Henderson was overshadowed on the same day by Ryan. On Aug. 22, 1989, Henderson was the victim of Ryan's 5000th career strikeout. After the game, Henderson told The New York Times, "It was an honor to be the 5,000th. As Davey Lopes says, 'If he ain't struck you out, you ain't nobody.'"

Ryan finished his career with an incredible 5,714 strikeouts; Hall of Famer Randy Johnson is second with 4,875. The active leader is Verlander with 3,006.