Dirk Lammers's Blog, page 107

Lyons, threw ’26 no-no for White Sox, born 115 years ago today

Ted LyonsTed Lyons, who threw a no-hitter for the Chicago White Sox in 1926, was born 115 years ago today.

At Fenway Park on Saturday, August 21, 1926, Lyons no-hit the Boston Red Sox for a 6-0 win. Lyons walked one and struck out two, and another Red Sox batter reached base on an error by White Sox shortstop Bill Hunnefield.

Jim Tobin, threw no-no for Boston Braves, born 103 years ago today

Jim Tobin, who threw a no-hitter for the Boston Braves in 1944, was born 103 years ago today.

The knuckleballer from Oakland no-hit the Brooklyn Dodgers for a 2-0 win at Braves Field on Thursday, April 27, 1944. Tobin had a 1-0 lead heading into the bottom of the eighth inning when he added an insurance run with his own home run.

Only four other major league pitchers have hit a home run while throwing a no-hitter:

13 of 287
Frank Mountain


 
Columbus Buckeyes (AA)


 
Thursday, June 5, 1884

Columbus Buckeyes 12, Washington Nationals 0

Capitol Grounds (Washington, D.C.)


101 of 287
Wes Ferrell


 
Cleveland Indians (AL)


 
Wednesday, April 29, 1931

Cleveland Indians 9, St. Louis Browns 0

League Park (Cleveland)


145 of 287
Earl Wilson


 
Boston Red Sox (AL)


 
Tuesday, June 26, 1962

Boston Red Sox 2, Los Angeles Angels 0

Fenway Park (Boston)


179 of 287
Rick Wise (2 home runs)


 
Philadelphia Phillies (NL)


 
Wednesday, June 23, 1971

Philadelphia Phillies 4, Cincinnati Reds 0

Riverfront Stadium (Cincinnati)

Tobin was no stranger to the home run. Just two years earlier, Tobin set a yet-to-be-duplicated mark by becoming the only pitcher to hit three home runs in game on Wednesday, May 13, 1942 — two off Chicago Cubs starter Jake Mooty and another off reliever Hi Bithorn.

Burns, threw 1884 no-hitter, born 152 years ago today

Dick BurnsDick Burns, who threw a Union Association no-hitter for the Cincinnati Outlaw Reds in 1884, was born 152 years ago today.

On Tuesday, August 26, 1884, Burns no-hit the Kansas City Cowboys for a 3-1 win at Kansas City’s Association Park. The box score shows that eight Kansas City hitters and seven Cincinnati batters reached first base on errors. Cowboys third-baseman Jack Gorman Kansas City’s lone run in the first inning.

No-no throwers Lea and Galvin hold Christmas birthdays

Pud GalvinMerry Christmas to all, and on this day we’ll also celebrate the birth of two no-hitter throwers born 100 years apart.

Charlie Lea, the only no-hitter pitcher born in France, entered the world on this day in 1956 into the town of Orleans, which sits about 69 miles southwest of Paris. Lea tossed a no-no for the Montreal Expos in 1981. On May 10, 1981, during the second game of a Sunday doubleheader at Montreal’s Olympic Stadium, Lea no-hit the San Francisco Giants for a 4-0 win.

Born 100 years before Lea was Pud Galvin, who tossed a no-no for the National League’s Buffalo Bisons in 1880. At Buffalo’s Riverside Park on Friday, August 20, 1880, Galvin no-hit the Worcester Ruby Legs for a 1-0 win, the first of his two no-hitters.

Galvin followed it up with a road no-hitter at Detroit’s Recreation Park against the Wolverines on Monday, August 4, 1884. Buffalo won 18-0 in game that still holds the record for the biggest run differential in a major league no-no.

Happy 41st birthday, Kevin Millwood

Happy 41st birthday to Kevin Millwood, who threw a no-hitter in 2003 for the Philadelphia Phillies.

At Veterans Stadium on Sunday, April 27, 2003, Millwood no-hit the San Francisco Giants for a 1-0 win. The Phillies were able to notch just four hits in the game, scoring their only run in the first inning on a Ricky Ledee homer. Millwood struck out 10 and walked three on the day.

Millwood retired after the 2012 season, winning 169 games over a 16-year career.

Happy birthday, Philip Humber

Happy 33rd birthday to Philip Humber, who threw a perfect game for the Chicago White Sox in 2012.

On Saturday, April 21, 2012, Humber retired all 27 Seattle Mariners he faced for a 4-0 win at Safeco Field. He struck out nine batters and completed the feat using just 96 pitches.

Humber hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2013. Last month, he signed as a free agent with the San Diego Padres.

Barney, threw no-hitter for 1948 Dodgers, born 101 years ago today

Rex BarneyRex Barney, who threw a no-hitter for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1948, was born 101 years ago today.

Barney no-hit the New York Giants at the Polo Grounds on Thursday, September 9, 1948 for a 2-0 win.

He got off to a rocky start, walking leadoff hitter Jack Lohrke and then letting Sid Gordon reach on his own wild throw to second error. He then walked Johnny Mize to load the bases, but worked out of the jam by getting Willard Marshall to hit into a 4-6-3 double play.

He struck out four and walked no more batters to complete the no-no, which he apparently predicted earlier, according to the Brooklyn Daily Eagle.

“Honey, I’ll pitch a no-hitter before the season’s over,” he told his wife. “I just feel it. I’ve missed a no-hitter this year but I’ll make it yet. Watch and see!”

‘Honest’ John Clapp, caught first no-hitter, died 111 years ago today

“Honest” John Clapp“Honest” John Clapp, who caught the major’s first officially recognized no-hitter in 1876, died 111 years ago today.

Clapp, the catcher for the National League’s St. Louis Brown Stockings, was behind the plate for George Washington Bradley’s 2-0 no-no over the Hartford Dark Blues at St. Louis’ Grand Avenue Ball Grounds on Saturday, July 15, 1876.

Clapp, an Ithaca, New York-native who played in the NL from 1872-1883, batted .305 during the 1876 season.

Christy Mathewson joins Giants, 115 years ago today

Christy MathewsonTwo-time no-no thrower and eventual Hall of Famer Christy Mathewson became a member of the New York Giants, 115 years ago today.

On December 15, 1900, the Cincinnati Reds dealt Mathewson to the Giants for Amos Rusie, an eight-time 20-game winner who hadn’t played ball since the 1898 season. The two pitchers were responsible for the first three no-hitters in Giants’ history:

1
Amos Rusie


 
New York Giants (NL)


 
Friday, July 31, 1891
New York Giants 6, Brooklyn Grooms 0
Polo Grounds (New York)

2
Christy Mathewson


 
New York Giants (NL)


 
Monday, July 15, 1901
New York Giants 5, St. Louis Cardinals 0
Robison Field (St. Louis)
(His first of two no-hitters)


3
Christy Mathewson


 
New York Giants (NL)


 
Tuesday, June 13, 1905
New York Giants 1, Chicago Cubs 0
West Side Park (Chicago)
(His second of two no-hitters)

Rusie appeared in just three games for the Reds, yielding 21 earned runs in 22 innings before retiring.

Oddly, Mathewson’s playing career also ended in Cincinnati. On July 20, 1916, the Reds named Mathewson their new player-manager, sending Buck Herzog and Red Killefer to the Giants in exchange for Mathewson, Bill McKechnie and Edd Roush.

Mathewson took the mound just once in a Reds uniform. During the nightcap of a September 4, 1916, doubleheader against the Cubs on “Mordecai Brown Day” at Weeghman Park, Mathewson faced the 40-year-old Brown, another future Hall of Famer, and eked out a 10-8 win. Mathewson gave up eight earned runs on 15 hits for his 373rd career victory.

‘Toothpick’ Sam Jones, first African-American to throw MLB no-hitter, born 90 years ago today

“Toothpick” Sam Jones"Toothpick" Sam Jones, the first African-American to throw a Major League Baseball no-hitter, was born 90 years ago today.

Jones, pitching for the Chicago Cubs on May 12, 1955, no-hit the Pittsburgh Pirates for a 4-0 win at Wrigley Field. He completed an accomplishment that likely would have been preceded by such Negro Leagues greats as Dick "Cannonball" Redding, "Bullet" Joe Rogan, Leon Day and Satchel Paige had baseball integrated earlier.

Jones also pitched a rain-shortened 7-inning no-hitter while he was a member of the 1959 San Francisco Giants. On Friday, September 26, 1959, Jones held the St. Louis Cardinals hitless through 7 at Busch Stadium before the game was called with two out in the top of the eighth due to rain. The Giants were awarded a 4-0 victory.