After spending 21⁄2 full seasons with Boston, he was traded to the Phillies after the Red Sox' 1967 American League pennant-winning campaign.

After a one-game, late-season trial in 1964 and an extended audition in 1965, Ryan's major league career began in earnest in 1966.

Three years later, again as a first-string receiver who appeared in 133 games with the 1969 Phillies, he hit a career-high 12 home runs and batted .204.

[2] In 1967, appearing in a team-high 79 games as a catcher, Ryan helped the "Impossible Dream" Red Sox win the American League pennant.

[6] Ryan appeared in Game 4 of the 1967 World Series as a late-inning replacement for starting catcher Elston Howard, going hitless in two at bats against Baseball Hall of Famer Bob Gibson.

[10] He had surgery following the 1993 season on his right shoulder, the cumulative result of his years of throwing batting practice and warming-up pitchers.