Bill Dinneen, no-no pitcher, 5-time no-no ump, born 143 years ago today

Today would be the 143rd birthday of Boston Americans’ pitcher Bill Dinneen, who threw a no-hitter and called five of such feats from behind the plate.

Dinneen no-hit the White Sox at Boston’s Huntington Avenue Grounds during the first game of a doubleheader on Wednesday, September 27, 1905. Boston topped Chicago 2-0, and Dinneen struck out six.

Dinneen retired in 1909 after pitching 12 seasons and compiling a 170-177 record with a 3.01 ERA. He transitioned into the role of a major-league umpire and stood behind the plate for five no-hitters:

1
Charles “Chief” Bender



Philadelphia Athletics (AL)



Thursday, May 12, 1910
Philadelphia Athletics 4, Cleveland Naps 0
Shibe Park (Philadelphia)


2
George Mullin



Detroit Tigers (AL)



Thursday, July 4, 1912 (Second game of doubleheader)
Detroit Tigers 7, St. Louis Browns 0
Navin Field (Detroit)


3
Hubert “Dutch” Leonard



Boston Red Sox (AL)



Monday, June 3, 1918
Boston Red Sox 5, Detroit Tigers 0
Navin Field (Detroit)
(Leonard’s second of two no-hitters)


4
“Sad” Sam Jones



New York Yankees (AL)



Tuesday, September 4, 1923
New York Yankees 2, Philadelphia Athletics 0
Shibe Park (Philadelphia)
(Jones becomes the first MLB pitcher to throw a no hitter without a single strikeout.)


5
Howard Ehmke



Boston Red Sox (AL)



Friday, September 7, 1923
Boston Red Sox 4, Philadelphia Athletics 0
Shibe Park (Philadelphia)