Tom Gorman
Mark Freeman
George Brunet
Warren Spahn
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April 22, 1959: The light-hitting Chicago White Sox scored eleven runs in the 7th inning against the Athletics in Kansas City. That's not so unusual, but what was odd was the fact that the Sox scored the eleven runs on only one hit.
Here's how the inning played out.
--With Tom Gorman (a future major league umpire) on the mound for the A's, Ray Boone reached base when SS Joe DeMaestri threw a grounder wide to first.
--Al Smith bunted to sacrifice the runner to second but was safe when 3B Hal Smith fumbled the roller.
--Johnny Callison singled to right field, scoring Boone. When Roger Maris misplayed the ball, Smith scored and Callison wound up on third.
--After his fielders committed errors on the first three batters, Gorman walked Luis Aparicio, who then stole second.
--When P Bob Shaw walked to fill the bases, KC manager Harry Craft summoned Mark Freeman, another righthander, from the bullpen.
--The new pitcher walked Earl Torgeson to force in a run.
--Freeman then walked Nellie Fox to bring in run #4.
--Jim Rivera bounced to the mound, and Freeman threw home to get the first out of the inning.
--Sherman Lollar walked, forcing in run #5. Craft brought in pitcher #3, southpaw George Brunet.
--Boone, batting for the second time in the inning, walked to force in run #6.
--Smith also walked. Run #7.
--Breaking the pattern, Brunet hit Callison with a pitch. Run #8.
--Aparicio walked. Run #9.
--P Shaw fanned for the second out.
--Bubba Church pinch hit for Torgeson and drew a walk. Run #10.
--Fox also walked. Run #11.
--Landis tapped
to the mound, and Brunet threw to first to mercifully end the 45-minute inning.
Total: 11 runs, 1 hit, nine walks, one hit batter, three errors, three left on base.
The great Braves southpaw Warren Spahn won 363 games in his Hall of Fame career. His major league career delayed by World War II, he pitched from age 25 in 1946 to age 44 in 1965. Despite his great success - he won 20 or more games in 11 seasons - he had never pitched a no-hitter, not even in the minors, until 1960. He had just missed a no-no twice. In 1951, P Al Brazle - of all people - hit a pop fly single in back of second base for the only hit for the Cardinals.
Two years later,
Richie Ashburn beat out a high hopper to the mound in the 7th inning to ruin what would have been a perfect game against the Phillies.
Finally, on September 16, 1960, Spahn handcuffed the Phils 4-0. The only two batters to reach base did so on walks. The 39-year-old Buffalo native struck out 15 batters, the most of his career for one game.
Spahn didn't have to wait very long for his second no-hitter. In his fifth start of the following season, he twirled the only no-hitter of that season in either league. It came at home in Milwaukee against the San Francisco Giants, one of the heaviest hitting teams in the league. He faced the minimum of 27 batters, but two walks spoiled his perfect game. The masterpiece occured five days after Spahnie's 40th birthday. That made him the second oldest pitcher in history to throw a no-hitter. The immortal Cy Young did so when he was 41. |
Roger Maris
Johnny Callison
Harry Craft
Richie Ashburn
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