Dirk Lammers's Blog, page 18
March 2, 2020
Braves no-hit Georgia Tech, 15 years ago today
Five Atlanta Braves pitchers threw a Grapefruit League no-hitter against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, 15 years ago today.
On Wednesday, March 2, 2005, at Kissimmee’s Cracker Jack Stadium, rookie Zach Miner started off by throwing two innings of no-hit ball. Daniel Curtis, Macey McBride and Anthony Lerew each held the Yellow Jackets hitless during their stints, and Kevin Berry finished up the feat with a perfect ninth.
The Braves scored 12 runs on 19 hits in the shutout victory, capitalizing on homers from Chipper Jones and Raul Mondesi. The Yellow Jackets reached base five times on walks.
February 29, 2020
Kelly, Maxie and Niekro combine for leap-day no-no, 56 years ago today
The majors’ earliest no-hitter occurred on a leap day 56 years ago today.
On February 29, 1964, Dick Kelley, who wound up spending five years with the Braves before joining the San Diego Padres, got it started by tossing three innings of no-hit ball against the University of Miami Hurricanes. Larry Maxie, who wouldn’t make the Braves squad until 1969 and then lasted only two games, pitched another three innings at West Palm Beach’s Palm Beach Municipal Stadium without giving up a hit.
A young knuckleballer by the name of Phil Niekro then took the ball and finished out the game with a three-inning save to secure the 1-0 victory. Niekro enjoyed a Hall of Fame career with 318 wins and 274 losses. He tossed his own regular-season no-hitter on Sunday, August 5, 1973, against the Padres at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium for a 9-0 victory.
February 26, 2020
Happy birthday, Grover Cleveland Alexander
One of the greatest pitchers to not throw a no-hitter was born 133 years ago today.
Grover Cleveland Alexander compiled a 373-208 record with a 2.56 ERA over a 20-year career with the Philadelphia Phillies, the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals.
“Ol’ Pete” threw five career one-hitters but was unable to keep a zero in the H column, at least as a starter. He came close on June 5, 1915, dominating the St. Louis Cardinals through 8⅔ innings when Cardinals shortstop Artie Butler popped a single into short center field. Alexander held on for a 3-0 complete-game one-hit shutout for his second one-hitter.
Alexander took a no-hitter against the Brooklyn Robins into the eighth inning 21 days later, but that one was broken up by a Zack Wheat single, resulting in another one-hitter. “Ol’ Pete” threw his fourth career one-hitter on July 5 of that season, then helped the Phillies clinch the National League pennant with his fifth one-hitter, marred onlt by a Sherwood Magee single in the fourth.
Alexander recorded a truly amazing save in an eight-inning no-hit relief appearance on May 13, 1911. He took the ball for the ninth inning in a Phillies-Reds game tied at 4 and kept Cincinnati hitless until his team won on a 16th-inning walkoff single by Pat Moran.
February 20, 2020
No-no birthdays for Verlander, Wright, Wilson and Davenport
Happy birthday to four no-no pitchers: Justin Verlander, who threw two no-nos for the Detroit Tigers and one for the Houston Astros; Clyde Wright, who threw one for the California Angels; Jim Wilson, who tossed one for the Milwaukee Braves; and Dave Davenport, who threw one for the St. Louis Terriers of the Federal League.
Verlander, who turns 37 today, threw his on:
Tuesday, June 12, 2007 — Detroit Tigers 4, Milwaukee Brewers 0, Comerica Park (Detroit)Saturday, May 7, 2011 — Detroit Tigers 9, Toronto Blue Jays 0, Rogers Centre (Toronto)Sunday, Sept. 1, 2019 — Houston Astros 2, Toronto Blue Jays 0, Rogers Centre (Toronto)
Wright, who turns 78, threw his on:
Friday, July 3, 1970 — California Angels 4, Oakland Athletics 0, Anaheim Stadium (Anaheim)
Wilson, born 98 years ago on this day, threw his on:
Sunday, June 12, 1954 — Milwaukee Braves 2, Philadelphia Phillies 0, Milwaukee County Stadium (Milwaukee)
Davenport, born 130 years ago on this day, threw his on:
Tuesday, September 7, 1915 (First game of doubleheader) — St. Louis Terriers 3, Chicago Chi-Feds/Whales 0, Handlan’s Park (St. Louis)
February 19, 2020
Happy birthday, Dave Stewart
A happy 63rd birthday to Dave Stewart, who threw a no-hitter for the Oakland Athletics on June 29, 1990.
Later that evening, Fernando Valenzuela threw a no-hitter for the Los Angeles Dodgers, marking just the second time over baseball’s history that two no-nos have been thrown on the same day.
The A’s are recognizing Stewart by retiring his number 34, although the number was already taken out of the rotation in honor of Hall of Fame closer Rollie Fingers.
February 16, 2020
Happy birthday to Colonels’ Sanders
Happy 155th birthday to Ben Sanders, who threw a no-hitter for the Louisville Colonels on Monday, August 22, 1892.
The Colonels that day beat the Baltimore Orioles 6-2 in a game played at Louisville’s Eclipse Park.
Both ball clubs finished near the bottom of the National League standings in 1892, with the Colonels posting a 63-89 record and the Orioles faring much worse at 46-101.
February 12, 2020
No-no thrower Don Wilson born 75 years ago today
Today would be the 75th 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 when he left his car running after pulling into his garage. His son, who was upstairs, also died.
The Astros retired Wilson’s No. 40 in 1975.
Here are Wilson’s no-nos:
Sunday, June 18, 1967
Houston Astros 2, Atlanta Braves 0
Astrodome (Houston)
Thursday, May 1, 1969
Houston Astros 4, Cincinnati Reds 0
Crosley Field (Cincinnati)
February 4, 2020
David Welch tosses ABL no-no, 9 years ago today
Syndey Blue Sox pitcher David Welch threw the first no-hitter in the history of the current-day Australian Baseball League, nine years ago today.
On Feb. 4, 2011, in Game 1 of a best-of-three playoff series, Welch no-hit the Adelaide Bite for an 8-0 win in front of 1,162 fans at Blacktown Olympic Park. The 27-year-old southpaw walked three batters while striking out 10.
Welch’s 2011 playoff performance was actually the third time he had been a part of a no-hitter during his pro career. On Friday, Aug. 5, 2005, Welch threw two innings of a four-pitcher no-hitter for the Helena Brewers during the Pioneer League squad’s 11-0 win over the Billings Mustangs. Welch followed that with a AA seven-inning no-hitter on June 2, 2008 — his 25th birthday — leading his Huntsville Stars to victory over the Chattanooga Lookouts.
But the Aussie right-hander never was able to take his no-no prowess to the show, and Welch returned to his home country after playing four games of the 2010 season in the Mexican League. He retired from the game in July 2011, five months after his ABL playoff no-no.
You can view our list of Australian no-hitters, and also check out some of our other international no-hitters lists.
‘Schoolboy’ Johnny Taylor born 104 years ago today
“Schoolboy” Johnny Taylor, who no-hit Satchel Paige’s Dominican All-Stars in 1937, was born 104 years ago today.
Taylor, a New York Cubans pitcher, was representing the Negro All-Star Team on Sunday, September 19, 1937, during a benefit All-Star game at the Polo Grounds. Taylor held Paige’s team hitless and issued just two bases on balls. Paige allowed two runs on eight hits, with the damaging one coming on a two-run home run by Jim West in the eighth inning.
Taylor, a native of Hartford, holds the Connecticut state record for strikeouts in a nine-inning game. In his final high school game in 1933, Taylor fanned 25 batters in a game on June 2, 1933, according to the Hartford Courant.
January 31, 2020
Happy birthday Nolan Ryan
Wishing a very happy birthday to Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan, who turns 73 today.
Ryan holds the major league record for no-hitters with seven. He tied Sandy Koufax’s mark of four no-hitters in 1975, broke the record in 1981 and added sixth and seventh no-nos in 1990 and 1991.
Here are Ryan’s no-nos:
1
Nolan Ryan
California Angels (AL)
Tuesday, May 15, 1973
California Angels 3, Kansas City Royals 0
Royals Stadium (Kansas City)
(His first of seven no-hitters)
2
Nolan Ryan
California Angels (AL)
Sunday, July 15, 1973
California Angels 6, Detroit Tigers 0
Tiger Stadium (Detroit)
(His second of seven no-hitters)
3
Nolan Ryan
California Angels (AL)
Saturday, September 28, 1974
California Angels 4, Minnesota Twins 0
Anaheim Stadium (Anaheim)
(His third of seven no-hitters)
4
Nolan Ryan
California Angels (AL)
Sunday, June 1, 1975
California Angels 1, Baltimore Orioles 0
Anaheim Stadium (Anaheim)
(His fourth of seven no-hitters tying Sandy Koufax for most career no-hitters. Ryan would throw his fifth in 1981 and add two more to retire with seven.)
5
Nolan Ryan
Houston Astros (NL)
Saturday, September 26, 1981
Houston Astros 5, Los Angeles Dodgers 0
Astrodome (Houston)
(His fifth of seven no-hitters, setting a new major league record with one more than Sandy Koufax.)
6
Nolan Ryan
Texas Rangers (AL)
Monday, June 11, 1990
Texas Rangers 5, Oakland Athletics 0
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum (Oakland)
(His sixth of seven no-hitters, adding to his major league record.
7
Nolan Ryan
Texas Rangers (AL)
Wednesday, May 1, 1991
Texas Rangers 3, Toronto Blue Jays 0
Arlington Stadium (Texas)
(His seventh of seven no-hitters, finalizing his major league record.)
