May 5 is also the 70th anniversary of Leon Day’s Opening Day no-hitter in the Negro National League. On Sunday, May 5, 1946, Day no-hit the Philadelphia Stars at Newark’s Ruppert Stadium for a 2-0 win, allowing just three runners to reach first via a pair of walks and an error. He struck out six…
Colin Rea made a go of it, but the rookie right-hander just missed throwing the first no-hitter in San Diego Padres history on Thursday night. With a shift behind him, Rea gave up a seventh-inning single to the New York Mets’ Yoenis Céspedes that went right through where the second baseman normally would be stationed.…
Happy birthday to a couple of old-time no-no pitchers, Lee Richmond and “Chief” Bender. Richmond, born on this date in 1857, threw the majors’ first perfect game. The Worcester Ruby Legs southpaw retired 27 Cleveland Blues in a row on Saturday, June 12, 1880 during a National League match up at the Worcester Driving Park…
Los Angeles Angels rookie Bo Belinsky threw one of the majors’ three May 5 no-hitters, 54 years ago today. On May 5, 1962, Los Angeles Angels rookie Bo Belinsky no-hit the Baltimore Orioles for a 2-0 win that launched the former Trenton pool shark into Hollywood stardom. On this date in 1917, the St. Louis…
“Smokey” Joe Williams tossed a Negro Leagues no-hitter for the New York Lincoln Giants, 97 years ago today. On May 4, 1919, during the first game of a Sunday doubleheader, Williams no-hit the Brooklyn Royal Giants for a 1-0 victory. The hard throwing righty from Seguin, Texas, who also took on the nickname “Cyclone” Joe,…
The Cleveland Indians’ John Farrell lost a no-hitter in the ninth inning, 27 years ago today. Farrell, who is now the manager of the Boston Red Sox, was no-hitting the Kansas City Royals through eight on May 4, 1989, when the Royals’ Kevin Seitzer led off the ninth by dropping a fly ball the dropped…