As Chicago Cubs fans celebrate Jake Arrieta’s no-hitter last night against the Los Angeles Dodgers, we also commemorate the 100-year anniversary of Cubs pitcher Jimmy Lavender’s no-hitter against the New York Giants.
Lavender’s gem came during the first game of a Tuesday, August 31, 1915 doubleheader at the Polo Grounds.
The Giants’ Fred Merkle, immortalized by a 1908 baserunning blunder that became known as “Merkle’s Boner,” was the only New Yorker to reach first base this game—once on a second-inning error by Bob Fisher and another on Lavender’s only walk in the eighth. Merkle never reached second.
Also throwing a no-hitter on this date is the Chicago White Sox’s Vern Kennedy, who no-hit the Cleveland Indians on Saturday, August 31, 1935 at Comiskey Park — 80 years ago today.
