Fifty years ago today, Los Angeles Dodgers aces Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale refused to report to camp in Vero Beach, Florida, and began their holdout for a multi-year deal giving them a total of $1 million. The dispute was apparently over the length of the contract more than the pitchers’ potential $167,000 annual salaries,…
Hilton Smith and Bernardo Baró, two Negro League pitchers who threw no-hitters, were both born on this date. Baró, born on this date in 1896 in Cárdenas, Cuba, tossed a no-no for the Cuban Stars of Havana during the first game of a Sunday doubleheader on July 21, 1918. Baró held the Indianapolis ABCs hitless…
Happy 32nd birthday to the Detroit Tigers’ Anibal Sánchez, who threw a no-hitter for the Florida Marlins in 2006. On Wednesday, September 6, 2006, Sánchez no-hit the Arizona Diamondbacks for a 2-0 win at Pro Player Stadium. His feat broke the longest no-hitter drought in Major League baseball history in terms of number of games…
Happy 129th birthday to Grover Cleveland Alexander, one of the greatest pitchers not to throw a no-hitter. Alexander compiled a 373-208 record with a 2.56 ERA over a 20-year career with the Philadelphia Phillies, the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals. “Ol’ Pete” came close to a no-no in 1915. He was dominating the…
The Philadelphia Phillies traded no-no pitcher Rick Wise to the St. Louis Cardinals for Steve Carlton, 44 years ago today. The February 25, 1972, trade came in the offseason following Wise’s no-no. On Wednesday, June 23, 1971, at Riverfront Stadium, Wise no-hit the Cincinnati Reds for a 4-0 Phillies win. Wise pitched 11 more years…
Adonis Terry, who threw two early no-hitters for the Brooklyn franchise that became eventually the Dodgers, died 101 years ago today. Terry took the mound for the Brooklyn Grays on Saturday, July 24, 1886, to face the St. Louis Browns in an American Association match-up. He held the Browns hitless at Washington Park for a…