Highlighted entry:
1959
In a singular performance‚ Harvey Haddix of the Pirates pitches a perfect game against Milwaukee for 12 innings‚ only to lose in the 13th. Felix Mantilla opens the last inning by reaching base on an error. A sacrifice and an intentional walk to Hank Aaron brings up Joe Adcock‚ who hits one out of the park in right-CF for an apparent 3-0 victory. Aaron pulls a "Merkle‚" leaving the field‚ and Adcock passes him on the basepaths. Both are called out as Mantilla scores. Initially the score is 2-0 as Aaron returns and score; it is later called a 1-0 game. Lew Burdette goes all 13 innings for his 8th win‚ scattering 12 hits. As a consequence of the baserunning in the 13th‚ the Braves leave an NL-record one runner on base. Haddix's gem makes him the 9th pitcher to lose a no-hitter in extra innings; A combined effort of three Reds pitcher[s]‚ on May 26‚ 1956‚ was the last. Making Haddix's effort even more remarkable is the fact that the Braves hitters knew what was coming. In 1993‚ Bob Buhl admitted that the Braves pitchers were stealing the signs from Smoky Burgess‚ who could not crouch down all the way. They would place a towel on the bullpen fence in such a way to signal fastball or breaking ball.
And what was the response of Haddix after this unprecedented pitching performance?
"Just another loss, and that's no good," the Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher told the crowd of reporters surrounding him.
A man after my own heart...if I had one. No matter how hard you try, a loss is still "just another loss".
Sorry. That was pretty dark for a Saturday morning. Lighten up, Francis.
The link above the Haddix quote takes you to a story at jsonline.com. THIS link takes you to the Retrosheet.org box score of that game.
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