The greatest perfect non-perfect game was thrown by Harvey Haddix on May 26, 1959. Going up against the Milwaukee Braves who just won two straight pennants and a world series and featured Hank Aaron, Eddie Matthews, and Joe Adcock in the lineup, Haddix pitched what many considered to be the greatest game ever pitched. Through 12 innings, he struck out 8 and much more than that, he was perfect, with the main problem being that his team did not score a run for him despite the chances and when Haddix specifically told them to score runs.
Lew Burdette matched Haddix in runs given up through 13, but not in hits, as the pirates recorded 12 hits off him and couldn’t score once. Somehow he hadn’t completely lost his mind and went out for the 13th where the perfect game eneded on a throwing error. Eddie Mathews would bunt mantilla to 2nd, Hank Aaron would be intentionally walked, then it all came to an end when Joe AdCock hit one over the right center fence to end the game and no hitter. It actually was later ruled a one run double as Aaron thought the ball stayed in the fence and let Adcock pass him.
Either way, Haddix was given one of the most heartbreaking losses in one of the best performances ever. And what made it even more incredible is that 3 decades later, the Braves admitted that they were stealing Haddix signs, and they still couldn’t manage a base runner until the 13th. An incredible effort that was no longer recognized as a no hitter after 1991. Though haddix holds the record for the most consecutive outs to start a game and the best excuse to slap your teammates.
What’s Happening
Arkansas’ late collapse allows LSU to make CWS finals.
Coastal Carolina wins their 26th straight game over Louisville to advance to CWS finals.
Buss family sells Lakers for record $10 billion. The most ever for a pro US sports team.
This Day In Sports History
1846: First officially recognized baseball game played at Hoboken, New Jersey between NY Nines and Knickerbockers.
1970: Jim Bouton’s controversial “Ball Four” book, following the behind the scenes of MLB players is released.
1973: Pete Rose and Willie Davis record 2,000th hit in same day.
1990: Gary Carter catches 1,862nd game to pass Al Lopez for NL record.
1999: Dallas Stars win 1st Stanley Cup with triple OT game 6 win.
2006: Carolina Hurricanes win 1st Stanley Cup in 7 games.
2016: Cleveland Cavaliers win 1st NBA title after coming back from 3-1 deficit against the Warriors.
Random Stat Of The Day
The all time hit king on Thursdays is the former all time hit king in Ty Cobb. In 418 games, he recorded 572 hits. The top 5 in Cobb, Speaker, Collins, Musial, and Simmons at the top in part because they played more frequently on Thursday. Although Simmons only played in 319 Thursday games and recorded 440 hits, so he just had an act for showing up on Thursdays for some reason.