Phil Niekro threw three innings of a Milwaukee Braves exhibition no-hitter against the University of Miami Hurricanes in February 1964.
Three Milwaukee Braves rookies joined forces to no-hit the University of Miami for a Grapefruit League leap-day no-no, 54 years ago.
The feat occurred on Saturday, February 29, 1964, at West Palm Beach Municipal Stadium. Dick Kelley, who wound up spending five years with the Braves before joining the San Diego Padres, began the game with three innings of no-hit work. Larry Maxie, who wouldn’t make the Braves squad until 1969 and then lasted only two games, pitched another three innings without giving up a hit.
A young knuckleballer by the name of Phil Niekro then took the ball and finished out the game with a three-inning save to secure the 1-0 victory. Niekro enjoyed a Hall of Fame career with 318 wins and 274 losses. He tossed his own regular-season no-hitter on Sunday, August 5, 1973, against the Padres at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium for a 9-0 victory.
