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…
Crews began demolishing Brooklyn’s Ebbets Field, home to seven no-hitters, 56 years ago today. Five of those no-hitters were thrown by Brooklyn Robins/Dodgers, and the other two were thrown by opponents. The one thrown by Cincinnati’s Johnny Vander Meer completed his second consecutive no-no, a seemingly unbreakable major league record. Carl Erskine is the only…
Steve Barber, who threw 8⅔ innings of a 9-inning no-hit loss in 1967, was born 78 years ago today. On Sunday, April 30, 1967, during the first game of doubleheader at Memorial Stadium, Barber held the Detroit Tigers hitless through eight innings despite struggling with his control. He entered the ninth with a 1-0 lead,…
Hall of Famer Tom Seaver signed a New York Mets contract for $172,000 per year to become the highest paid player, 42 years ago today. But that money couldn’t buy the Mets a no-hitter, as “Tom Terrific” couldn’t accomplish the feat until after he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds. The no-no occurred on Friday,…