Perhaps the Biggest “Shaft Job” in Baseball History

| July 21, 2013

Somewhat over twenty-three years ago, one of the strangest games in baseball history occurred.  A man pitched a complete game.  He gave up no hits.

He lost the game 4-0.  And although he was originally credited with pitching a no-hitter, in a final ironic after-the-fact shafting that credit was taken away from him about a year later.  Today he is not even officially recognized as having pitched a no-hitter.

The game occurred on July 1, 1990, at the original Comiskey Park.  The visiting team was the NY Yankees.

The starting pitcher for the White Sox that day was Greg Hibbard.  Andy Hawkins started for the Yankees.

Both pitchers were “on”.  Each had a perfect game early.  Both were perfect through four innings; Hibbard continued his try for perfection in the top of the fifth.

In the fifth, Hawkins got a bit wild, and the White Sox threatened.  With two outs, he walked a batter; a passed ball moved the runner to second.   A second White Sox player reached on a second walk.  But Hawkins got the next batter to fly out to deep left, preserving his no-hitter.

Hibbard’s no-hitter ended in the top of the next inning.  With one out, he gave up consecutive singles.  But he was able to get the next two batters on a popup and a strikeout, keeping the game tied 0-0.

Hawkins pitched a perfect sixth.

Hibbard’s 7th inning was to be his last for the day.  He again gave up two singles – this time with two outs – but got the third out to preserve the scoreless tie.

Hawkins’ 7th opened with a walk.  He then retired the second batter on a fly ball.  The man who’d walked was caught stealing for the second out, and a strikeout ended the inning – and preserved Hawkins’ chance for a no-hitter.

Barry Jones relieved for the White Sox to start the top of the eighth.  The first Yankee batter reached on an error.  The next three went in order.

Hawkins started the bottom of the eighth.  He retired the first two Sox batters on pop flies.

Then the wheels fell off.

The next batter reached on an error, then stole second.  Hawkins – perhaps feeling the pressure – walked the next two batters, loading the bases.

The next batter hit a fly to the left fielder.  It appeared that the inning was over.

It wasn’t.  The left fielder missed the ball – E7.  Three unearned runs scored.

The next batter also hit a fly to the outfield – this time to deep center-right.  Again, the fielder couldn’t handle it cleanly (E9).  Another unearned run scored.

Hawkins induced the next batter to pop up.  Mercifully, the inning was over.  But while Hawkins had still not given up a hit, his team was now behind 4-0 with one at bat left.

Another Sox receiver, Scott Radinsky, opened the ninth.  He got the first Yankee batter to fly out to center; the second reached on an error.  But the next batter grounded into a double play, ending the inning – and the game.

So, we have a rare but not unheard of thing, right?  A man pitched a no-hitter, but lost on unearned runs?  It’s rare, but it happens.  But he still has credit for pitching a no-hitter, right?

Actually, no.

Hawkins did get credit for pitching a complete game.  At the time, he was also credited with pitching a no-hitter.

However, Major League Baseball in 1991 redefined an official no-hitter as follows:  “An official no-hit game occurs when a pitcher (or pitchers) allows no hits during the entire course of a game, which consists of at least nine innings.

Because the Yankees were the visiting team, the White Sox batted last in each inning.  Since they were ahead 4-0 before batting in the ninth, they didn’t bat in the ninth.

That means Hawkins only pitched eight innings.  And that means he indeed is credited with a complete-game loss – but does not today get credit for having pitched an official no-hitter.

So Hawkins lost his no-hitter twice.  The first time, he lost the game.  And a year later, when MLB redefined an official no-hitter – he lost it again.

Talk about getting the shaft.

 

Author’s Note:  a similar thing has happened three other times in MLB history.  However, in each case the impact on the pitcher involved was less. 

On June 21, 1890, Silver King of the Chicago Pirates of the Players League no-hit the Brooklyn Ward’s Wonders as the visiting team’s pitcher, but lost 1-0.  On April 12, 1992, Matt Young of the Boston Red Sox no-hit the Cleveland Indians for eight innings as the pitcher for the visiting team, but lost 2-0 on unearned runs.  On June 28, 2008, Jared Weaver and José Arredondo of the visiting California Angels combined for eight innings of no-hit baseball against the Los Angeles Dodgers.  The Angels lost the game 1-0 on an unearned run.  These cases also are not regarded were as official no-hitters.  However, in the first case Silver King never knew that his no-hitter had been taken away from him over a century later.  And the latter two cases were games that occurred after the rules change – and thus were never officially considered no-hitters in the first place.

July 1, 1990, was the only time Andy Hawkins pitched a complete game in which he did not give up a hit.

Category: Baseball, Historical

16 Comments
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O-4E

Yeah..that sucks

The Dock Ellis & The LSD No-No is a classic

JP76er

I was at that game! Still have the ticket stub and scorecard. The wind is what gave the Sox their runs. Two dropped fly balls.

Devtun

Hey that was the 1990 Yankees for ya…one of the worst seasons in NYY history – doormats/finished in da cellar.
Too bad Hawkins could’t come close to pitching like that day consistently, he could have had a longer career than his 9 or so years.
Andy Hawkins also pitched a 12 inning loss that season -could be a modern record for innings from a starting picher.

Kenneth

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKY5fmDGVLs

This video reflects my feelings about this post.

Kenneth

How do you tell? They’re all wearing long trousers.

Devtun

@4

Ichiro = Gordon Levitt…well ok, I laughed – sure is a resemblance. Never thought a Japanese man could pass off as a Jewish American…Heck, I suppose its plausible.

NHSparky

To be fair, Hondo–to be credited with an “official” no-hitter, the pitcher has to go 9 innings. He only did 8. But the fact he gave up 5 walks in that game certainly didn’t help his cause.

korea95

I’d like to hear The Hawk’s call on that one,
Then again, knowing how The Hawk calls a game, maybe not.

Just An Old Dog

Ha The Washington Senators.. :”Washington.. 1st in War,, first in peace.. and Last in the American League East,,

Jabatam

I remember that game and have the 1991 Score baseball card that commemorated his no-hitter. I didn’t know MLB changed their rules and took it away from him

sid

A favorable Yankee article from this blog???? Shocking! I now expect the next article to endorse making bullets illegal as they are not constitutionally protected.

Jonn Lilyea

Actually, sid, I’m a Yankees fan, just not as fanatical about it as others who are fanatical about another rival team.

68W58

It wouldn’t necessarily have to be unearned runs that could cost a pitcher a no-hitter this way: a walk to start an inning, a stolen base, a bunt (or whatever other than an error to advance the runner) and a sac fly would get an earned run without a hit.

Anyway, it’s an interesting story, that I did not know so thanks for that Hondo. I’m at Camp Parks for a school and I went to see the Giants play the D-Backs the other night (it is not supposed to be in the 50s in July, but I guess that’s par for the cours here in San Fransiscold), going to see the A’s when they get back from their road trip.