The Pittsburgh Pirates’ John Candelaria threw the city of Pittsburgh’s first no-hitter since the old Federal League, 44 years ago today.
The 23-year-old southpaw dominated the Dodgers on Monday, August 9, 1976, using 101 pitches to no-hit Los Angeles for a 2-0 win at Three Rivers Stadium. Candelaria faced 30 batters, with two Dodgers reaching on errors and another reaching on a walk.
It was the first no-hitter in Pittsburgh since the Chicago Chi-Feds/Whales’ Claude Hendrix no-hit the Pittsburgh Rebels on Saturday, May 15, 1915 for a 10-0 win at Exposition Park.
Candelaria boasts another odd pitching accomplishment. He is the only pitcher to face just 27 batters in a game yet give up four hits. The oddity occurred on July 25, 1982, with Candelaria’s Pittsburgh Pirates facing the Atlanta Braves at Three Rivers.
Candelaria lost his no-hitter in the first inning on a one-out Rafael Ramirez single, but catcher Steve Nicosia threw him out on a steal attempt. Bob Horner led off the second inning with a single to right, but Rufino Linares grounded into a 6-3 double-play. Horner also led off the eighth with a single to right, but this time Linares grounded into a 4-6-3 double-play.
Glenn Hubbard got the game’s fourth hit in the ninth with a lead-off infield single, but Bruce Benedict cleared the bases with by hitting into a 6-4-3 double-play.
