Wishing a very happy birthday to Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan, who turns 69 today. Ryan holds the major league record for no-hitters with seven. He tied Sandy Koufax’s mark of four no-hitters in 1975 and broke the record in 1981. Here are Ryan’s no-nos: 1 Nolan Ryan California Angels (AL) Tuesday,…
Harvey Haddix, who threw 12 perfect innings for Pittsburgh in 1959 only to lose in the 13th, was traded to the Pirates 57 years ago today. On January 30, 1959, the Cincinnati Reds sent Haddix, catcher Smoky Burgess and third baseman Don Hoak to the Pirates for third baseman Frank Thomas, right-handed pitcher Whammy Douglas,…
Two pitchers who threw no-hitters – Christy Mathewson, and Walter Johnson – were voted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame 80 years ago today. Mathewson and Johnson joined Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth and Honus Wagner as the Hall’s inaugural Class of 1936. The results were announced to the press four days after the vote.…
"Salida Tom" Hughes, who threw a 1916 no-hitter for the Boston Braves and lost another one in extras for the 1910 New York Highlanders, was born 132 years ago today. The right-hander from Coal Creek, Colorado, threw nine innings of no-hit ball for the Highlanders (later renamed the Yankees) on August 30, 1910, but entered…
The date was Aug. 30, 1973, and Hanshin Tigers pitcher Yutaka Enatsu dug into the Hanshin Koshien Stadium batter’s box in the 11th inning with hopes of breaking a scoreless tie. Enatsu was Hanshin’s 25-year-old strikeout ace, and the southpaw had been holding the Chunichi Dragons hitless over 11 innings of work. Unfortunately, his Tigers…
Happy birthday to “Mr. Baseball” Bob Uecker, who once played in a no-hitter. I got to interview Uecker at Miller Park last summer while researching my book Baseball’s No-Hit Wonders, which is set for release on March 15. We talked a lot about the right way to call a no-hitter as a broadcaster (he’s in…