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…
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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…
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Bill Monbouquette, a Boston Red Sox pitcher who threw a no-hitter on Aug. 1, 1962 against the Chicago White Sox, died one year ago today at the age of 78. The Boston Globe in 2008 detailed Monbouquette’s battle with acute myelogenous leukemia. Monbouquette threw his no-no in front of 17,185 fans at Comiskey Park. His…
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Two-time no-no thrower Warren Spahn was elected to the Hall of Fame, 43 years ago today. The southpaw from Buffalo, N.Y., spent the majority of his 21-year career with the Boston and Milwaukee Braves, compiling a 363-245 record with a 3.09 ERA. He was a 14-time All Star and won the Cy Young Award in…
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Happy birthday to three no-hitter throwers — Don Nottebart, Bobby Burke and Frank “Red” Donahue. Nottebart, born on this date in 1936, threw the first no-hitter in Houston Colt .45’s history during the franchise’s second season. At Colt Stadium, on Friday, May 17, 1963, Nottebart no-hit the Philadelphia Phillies for a 4-1 win. The Colts…
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Two pitching greats — Bob Lemon and Robin Roberts — were voted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame 40 years ago today, Lemon got his no-hitter while pitching for the Cleveland Indians on June 30, 1948, against the Tigers in Detroit. Roberts never threw a no-hitter despite leading the National League in victories for…
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