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…
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…
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…
Cliff Chambers, who threw a 1951 no-hitter for the Pittsburgh Pirates, was born 94 years ago today. During the second game of a Sunday, May 6, 1951, doubleheader at Braves Field, Chambers no-hit the Boston Braves for a 3-0 win. Chambers walked twice as many batters (8) as he struck out (4) and threw two…
Pitchers Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez and John Smoltz were elected into the Hall of Fame, one year ago today. Johnson, who won 303 games and lost 166 over a 22-year-career, threw two no-hitters. His first was a 1990 no-no for the Seattle Mariners, the first in that franchise’s history. His second was a 2004 perfect…
No-no thrower Bill Dinneen jumped from the National League’s Boston Beaneaters to the AL’s Boston Americans, 114 years ago today. Dinneen began his major league career with the National League’s now-defunct Washington Senators in 1898 before pitching for the Beaneaters (now the Braves) in 1900 and 1901. His no-hitter for the Boston Americans (now the…