Happy 152nd birthday to Charlie “Pretzels” Getzien, who threw a six-inning rain-shortened no-hitter for the National League’s Detroit Wolverines in 1884. Getzien tossed six innings of no-hit ball against the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday, October 1, 1884, at Detroit’s Recreation Park. The Wolverines were leading 1-0 when Milt Scott and Getzien hit back-to-back singles in…
Twenty-one years ago today, the Los Angeles Dodgers introduced 26-year-old Hideo Nomo as the team’s newest pitcher. The five-time Japanese all-star was the first major league player from that country to appear in a U.S. major league game. Nomo threw one no-hitter for the Los Angeles Dodgers and followed it up five years later with…
Today would be the 71st birthday of Don Wilson, who threw no-hitters for the Houston Astros in 1967 and 1969. The right-handed flamethrower, who pitched one game in 1966, was a mainstay of the Houston rotation from 1967 to 1974, winning 104 games. He died of accidental asphyxiation in his home on Jan. 5, 1975…
Three Rivers Stadium, which hosted no-hitters by Bob Gibson, John Candelaria and Francisco Cordova/Ricardo Rincon, was imploded 15 years ago today. The Pirates made Three Rivers the team’s home from 1970 through 2000, and the ballpark fared much better in no-nos than the Bucs’ previous home. Forbes Field, the Pirates’ home from 1909 through 1970,…
Allie Reynolds, who tossed a pair of no-hitters for the New York Yankees in 1951, was born 99 years ago today. The Bethany, Oklahoma, native threw both of his no-hitters in a 2½-month span during the 1951 season, in which he posted a 17-8 record. He improved on that for 1952, going 20-8 with an…
Satchel Paige became the first Negro Leagues star voted into the Hall of Fame, 45 years ago today. Paige was the first player to be selected by a 10-person committee honoring the contributions of the Negro Leagues to baseball’s history. Paige may have thrown dozens of no-hitters in barnstorming, semipro and minor league games. But…