Dirk Lammers's Blog, page 109
November 30, 2015
Happy birthday to Vin Scully, who’s called 20 no-nos
Happy 88th birthday to the legendary Vin Scully, who has called far more no-hitters than any other baseball broadcaster.
Scully has sat behind the microphone for an unprecedented 20 no-hitters and three perfect games over his 65 year career. The longtime Dodgers play caller, who was born in the Bronx, announced earlier this year that 2016 would be his last year behind the mic.
November 29, 2015
Jake Weimer, threw 7-inning Reds no-no, born on this date
Jake WeimerThe Cincinnati Reds’ Jake Weimer, who threw a 7-inning no-hitter in 1906, was born 142 years ago today.
During the second game of a Friday doubleheader on August 24, 1906, Weimer no-hit the Brooklyn Superbas at the Palace of the Fans during a planned seven-inning nightcap.
“The second game was a case of ‘nothing doing’ for the Superbas,” according to a report for the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, “[Doc] Casey, by being hit in the first and [Harry] McIntire, by means of a pass in the third, being the only ones of the visitors to get a look-in on Weimer’s delivery.”
November 28, 2015
Happy birthday Dave Righetti
Happy 57th birthday to Dave Righetti, who in 1983 became the first New York Yankees pitcher to throw a no-hitter since Don Larsen tossed a perfecto in the ’56 World Series.
On Monday, July 4, 1983, in front of more than 41,000 fans at Yankee Stadium, Righetti no-hit the Boston Red Sox for a 4-0 win. Righetti struck out nine and walked four in the game, catching the pesky Wade Boggs lunging for a breaking ball to complete the no-no.
Since 2000, Righetti has served as pitching coach for the San Francisco Giants, a team that has recorded five no-hitters since 2009.
November 27, 2015
“Bullet” Joe Bush, threw 1916 no-no, born 123 years ago today
“Bullet” Joe Bush“Bullet” Joe Bush, who threw a no-hitter for the Philadelphia Athletics in 1916, was born 123 years ago today.
On Saturday, August 26, 1916, at Shibe Park, Bush held the Cleveland Indians hitless en route to a 5-0 win. Bush allowed his only base runner in the first inning by issuing a walk to Jack Graney. Bush struck out seven Cleveland batters to complete the no-no, which was witnessed by some 10,000 fans.
November 26, 2015
Available for pre-order now
My book, Baseball’s No-Hit Wonders: More than a Century of Pitching’s Greatest Feats (Unbridled Books), debuts in March and is available for preorder. The book honors such legendary pitchers as Cy Young, Bob Feller, Nolan Ryan and Sandy Koufax, while introducing readers to other eccentrics and one-shot wonders who have thrown no-hitters.
TODAY ONLY — Use the Amazon coupon code HOLIDAY30 for an extra 30 percent off your preorder!
Amazon.com
Indie Books
Barnes & Noble
Click here to view the embedded video.
CYBER MONDAY SALE – 30 percent off!
My book, Baseball’s No-Hit Wonders: More than a Century of Pitching’s Greatest Feats (Unbridled Books), debuts in March and is available for preorder. The book honors such legendary pitchers as Cy Young, Bob Feller, Nolan Ryan and Sandy Koufax, while introducing readers to other eccentrics and one-shot wonders who have thrown no-hitters.
TODAY ONLY — Use the Amazon coupon code HOLIDAY30 for an extra 30 percent off your preorder!
Amazon.com
Indie Books
Barnes & Noble
Click here to view the embedded video.
USE COUPON CODE ‘HOLIDAY30’
My book, Baseball’s No-Hit Wonders: More than a Century of Pitching’s Greatest Feats (Unbridled Books), debuts in March and is available for preorder. The book honors such legendary pitchers as Cy Young, Bob Feller, Nolan Ryan and Sandy Koufax, while introducing readers to other eccentrics and one-shot wonders who have thrown no-hitters.
Amazon.com
Indie Books
Barnes & Noble
Click here to view the embedded video.
Baseball’s No-Hit Wonders
My book, Baseball’s No-Hit Wonders: More than a Century of Pitching’s Greatest Feats (Unbridled Books), debuts in March and is available for preorder. The book honors such legendary pitchers as Cy Young, Bob Feller, Nolan Ryan and Sandy Koufax, while introducing readers to other eccentrics and one-shot wonders who have thrown no-hitters.
Amazon.com
Indie Books
Barnes & Noble
Click here to view the embedded video.
Happy 32nd birthday Matt Garza, threw Rays’ only no-no
Happy 32nd birthday to Matt Garza, who threw the only no-hitter in Tampa Bay Rays history.
On Monday, July 26, 2010, at Tropicana Field, Garza no-hit the Detroit Tigers for a 5-0 win. The Tigers’ Max Scherzer was also working on a no-hitter that night but lost it on a Matt Joyce grand slam in the sixth.
Garza’s no-hitter came just three months after another team exited the no no-no club — the Colorado Rockies. On April 17 of that year, Ubaldo Jiménez tossed a no-hitter at Turner Field for a 4-0 win over the Atlanta Braves.
With the Rockies and Rays getting their first no-nos, that left the New York Mets and the San Diego Padres as the only major league franchises without one.
Santana kicked the Mets out of the club in June 2012, and the Padres continue to await their
November 23, 2015
Ken Johnson, threw a no-hitter and lost, dies at age 82
Ken Johnson of the Colt .45’s.Ken Johnson, the only major league pitcher to throw a nine-inning no-hitter yet lose, died Saturday in Alexandria, Louisiana, at the age of 82.
I had the honor of interviewing Johnson on May 2014 as I was just beginning to write Baseball’s No-Hit Wonders. He talked with me about that April 23, 1964 Houston Colt .45’s game against the Cincinnati Reds at Colt Stadium, in which he threw nine innings of no-hit ball yet lost 1-0.
The Reds clawed for that run on a ninth-inning bunt attempt by Pete Rose in which Johnson threw the ball into the outfield (it apparently wasn’t taboo to bunt to break up a no-no back then). After Rose advanced to third on a ground out, Vada Pinson stepped to the plate and hit a routine two-out grounder to second that was booted by Nellie Fox, allowing Rose to score.
The game remains the only nine-inning no-hitter lost by a single pitcher. The Orioles tandem of Steve Barber and Stu Miller duplicated the feat three years later.
Johnson seemed touched that someone still wanted to talk at length about that game.
“I can’t believe anyone still remembers,” Johnson told me.
We do remember, and we mourn the loss of a kind and generous man.
Memorial services are planned for Tuesday evening at New Life Community Church in Alexandria. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the church.
