Record Six Pitchers Combine on First No-Hitter Against New York Yankees in 45 Years

The Associated Press ^ | Jun 11, 2003 | Ronald Blum

[Pharmboy]

NEW YORK (AP) - A record six Houston Astros pitchers combined Wednesday night on the first no-hitter against the New York Yankees in 45 years. Houston was forced to use its bullpen after starter Roy Oswalt was injured. Relievers Pete Munro, Kirk Saarloos, Brad Lidge, Octavio Dotel and Billy Wagner finished to lead the Astros over the Yankees 8-0.

It was the most pitchers ever to combine on a no-hitter in major league history - four had twice done the trick. The Yankees had gone 6,980 games - the longest streak in major league history - without being no-hit, since Hoyt Wilhelm's 1-0 victory for Baltimore on Sept. 20, 1958.

The last time New York was held hitless at Yankee Stadium was on Aug. 25, 1952, by Detroit's Virgil Trucks.

The closest New York came to a hit was in the fifth inning, when Alfonso Soriano sent a fly ball into short left field. Lance Berkman ran in, stuck out his glove and made a tumbling catch.

Third baseman Geoff Blum made a barehanded pickup on Juan Rivera in the third inning and threw him out at first.

Astros pitchers combined for 13 strikeouts, including four by Dotel in the eighth - which tied the major league record for an inning.

Soriano reached during the inning when he struck out on a wild pitch.

AP-ES-06-11-03 2209EDT

[Pharmboy]

Here's a record that's stood for a while:

On August 3, 1914 Les Nunamaker, Yankees catcher, becomes the only player in the twentieth century to gun down three runners attempting to steal in one inning.

[speedy]

That third guy was asking for it.

[Alberta's Child]

I seem to remember two players named Lyman Bostock and Donnie Moore (maybe both of the Angels, oddly enough) who died untimely deaths within the last 15-20 years.

And you left out those three pitchers for the Indians who died in the boating accident a few years back, too.

[Pharmboy]

Well, they always have said that catchers were the toughest guys on the diamond; if true, less likely to back down in confrontations and more likely to do risky stuff. Makes sense, but pure speculation.

[speedy]

Actually Bostock was murdered in what was an attempt to kill someone else in the car with him by an in-law. I know Bostock's cousin. They are a classy family and Lyman had a potentially fine career snuffed out.

[hellinahandcart]

I remember the Righetti no-hitter well. Because it was blacked out on television here.

Going out onto the street was like stepping out of a time machine into the 50s. Everywhere I looked, people were crowded around transistor radios, listening to the game and yelling their heads off.

I remember Abbott's no-hitter really well too, because, well, he had one arm. Interesting to watch.

I missed Gooden's. But I remember my reaction to hearing "Dwight Gooden pitched a no-hitter tonight" on the eleven o'clock news-- it was "Get out of here, he did NOT..."

[Alberta's Child]

Sorry -- my bad. I didn't realize you were only listing catchers.

That Bo Diaz incident belongs in a documentary about bizarre deaths.

[pupdog]

The one that I still think is the most likely to never fall was the pitcher who pitched 188 consecutive complete games (no, I don't remember who). As someone else said, just 2 in a row is rare these days.

[speedy]

Another guy killed in mid-career was Pirate pitcher Bob Moose in an auto accident. Likewise Angel shortstop Mike Miley. Cubs second baseman Ken Hubbs was killed in a plane crash at a young age in 1964, paving the way for Glenn Beckert.

[Alberta's Child]

Connie Mack's 50 consecutive years managing the same team belongs at or near the top of any list of "Records that Will Never Be Broken."

[Pharmboy]

When I did the search for the NH's, I came upon this bizarre catcher's page in the encyclopedia.

[Alberta's Child]

Just think about that -- 50 years managing one team! Imagine a team having one manager from 1953 to 2003.

[Pharmboy]

How many World Series did he win?

[Pharmboy]

Managerial Record Glossary

Year League Team G W L WP Finish

---

1894 National Lg Pittsbgh 23 12 10 .545 7
1895 National Lg Pittsbgh 135 71 61 .538 7
1896 National Lg Pittsbgh 131 66 63 .512 6

1901 American Lg Phildlpa 137 74 62 .544 4
1902 American Lg Phildlpa 137 83 53 .610 AL 1
1903 American Lg Phildlpa 137 75 60 .556 2
1904 American Lg Phildlpa 155 81 70 .536 5
1905 American Lg Phildlpa 152 92 56 .622 AL 1
1906 American Lg Phildlpa 149 78 67 .538 4
1907 American Lg Phildlpa 150 88 57 .607 2
1908 American Lg Phildlpa 157 68 85 .444 6
1909 American Lg Phildlpa 153 95 58 .621 2
1910 American Lg Phildlpa 155 102 48 .680 WS 1
1911 American Lg Phildlpa 152 101 50 .669 WS 1
1912 American Lg Phildlpa 153 90 62 .592 3
1913 American Lg Phildlpa 153 96 57 .627 WS 1
1914 American Lg Phildlpa 158 99 53 .651 AL 1
1915 American Lg Phildlpa 154 43 109 .283 8
1916 American Lg Phildlpa 154 36 117 .235 8
1917 American Lg Phildlpa 154 55 98 .359 8
1918 American Lg Phildlpa 130 52 76 .406 8
1919 American Lg Phildlpa 140 36 104 .257 8
1920 American Lg Phildlpa 156 48 106 .312 8
1921 American Lg Phildlpa 155 53 100 .346 8
1922 American Lg Phildlpa 155 65 89 .422 7
1923 American Lg Phildlpa 153 69 83 .454 6
1924 American Lg Phildlpa 152 71 81 .467 5
1925 American Lg Phildlpa 153 88 64 .579 2
1926 American Lg Phildlpa 150 83 67 .553 3
1927 American Lg Phildlpa 155 91 63 .591 2
1928 American Lg Phildlpa 153 98 55 .641 2
1929 American Lg Phildlpa 151 104 46 .693 WS 1
1930 American Lg Phildlpa 154 102 52 .662 WS 1
1931 American Lg Phildlpa 153 107 45 .704 AL 1
1932 American Lg Phildlpa 154 94 60 .610 2
1933 American Lg Phildlpa 152 79 72 .523 3
1934 American Lg Phildlpa 153 68 82 .453 5
1935 American Lg Phildlpa 149 58 91 .389 8
1936 American Lg Phildlpa 154 53 100 .346 8
1937 American Lg Phildlpa 120 39 80 .328 7
1938 American Lg Phildlpa 154 53 99 .349 8
1939 American Lg Phildlpa 62 25 37 .403 7
1940 American Lg Phildlpa 154 54 100 .351 8
1941 American Lg Phildlpa 154 64 90 .416 8
1942 American Lg Phildlpa 154 55 99 .357 8
1943 American Lg Phildlpa 155 49 105 .318 8
1944 American Lg Phildlpa 155 72 82 .468 5
1945 American Lg Phildlpa 153 52 98 .347 8
1946 American Lg Phildlpa 155 49 105 .318 8
1947 American Lg Phildlpa 156 78 76 .506 5
1948 American Lg Phildlpa 154 84 70 .545 4
1949 American Lg Phildlpa 154 81 73 .526 5
1950 American Lg Phildlpa 154 52 102 .338 8

---

Phildlpa 7466 3582 3814 .484
Pittsbgh 289 149 134 .527

---

TOTAL 7755 3731 3948 .486

NL or AL under Finish means team won pennant.

[Alberta's Child]

I don't think he won too many -- I believe the Philadelphia A's were a pretty bad team for the most part. I'd have to look that up, though.

[speedy]

Another that will never be equalled is the stunt by Gene Conely and Pumpsie Green of the Red Sox, who suddenly left the team together in mid-season to make a visit to Israel. They were missing for several days before people figured out what had happened.

[Alberta's Child]

Another that will never be equalled is the stunt by Gene Conely and Pumpsie Green of the Red Sox, who suddenly left the team together in mid-season to make a visit to Israel.

There were two Yankee pitchers in the early 1970s who traded their wives for each other.

And their kids, and their homes, and all of their possessions, too.

You can't make that sh!t up. LOL.

[speedy]

Yep -- Fritz Peterson and Mike Kekich. And one of the two has stayed together, I think the Petersons. Nothing like a good trade.

[pupdog]

There were two Yankee pitchers in the early 1970s who traded their wives for each other.

Wow. I think I needed this thread right now. I'd forgotten how much I loved baseball. :-) There's just a grand, mythic quality to it that isn't present in any other sport.

[Alberta's Child]

The Fourth of July aspect of Righetti's no-hitter made it surreal, especially since July 4th also happens to be George Steinbrenner's birthday.

Righetti's no-hitter was not the most memorable accomplishment in his career, in my mind.

After he became the team's closer I remember a game in which he pitched very poorly, blew a save, and was taken out of the game. He was so p!ssed off at himself that as the manager came walking out of the dugout to replace him, he turned and heaved the baseball out into the right-field stands at Yankee Stadium. I couldn't believe what I had just witnessed -- until that moment, I would have sworn that it was physically impossible for a human being to throw an object that far. LOL!