Harvey Haddix near perfect game – podcast

Harvey Haddix near perfect game – podcast

On May 26, 1959, Harvey Haddix of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitched 12 perfect innings against the Milwaukee Braves, but lost the perfect game, no-hitter and the game in the 13th inning at County Stadium in Milwaukee. In a somewhat confusing ending, the Braves were first credited with a 2-0 victory, but the final was changed to 1-0 following a review by National League president Warren Giles. The Braves were two-time defending National League champions and would finish second in 1959. Their lineup featured Hall of Famers Eddie Mathews and Henry Aaron.

Haddix retired the first 36 batters he faced and through 12 innings had thrown just 104 pitches. Perfection came to an end in the bottom of the 13th when the leadoff hitter, Felix Mantilla bounced a ball to third baseman Don Hoak. Hoak’s throw to first was in the dirt and couldn’t be handled by first baseman Rocky Nelson. The next batter, Mathews, laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Mantilla to second. (There’s a strategy you would never see today; a slugger like Mathews, bunting). Aaron was then walked intentionally to set up double play possibility with the slow-footed Joe Adcock coming to bat. The confusion started when Adcock hit Haddix’s second pitch over the fence in right center. Mantilla scored, but Aaron, not realizing Adcock’s hit had left the park and assuming the game was over, started running off the field after rounding second. Adcock thus passed him on the bases while running out his apparent home run. After initial debate among the umpires the score was finalized at 2-0, but the next day Giles ruled the final score to be 1-0.

Haddix’s final line was 12.2 innings pitched, one hit, one unearned run, one walk and eight strikeouts. During the first 12 innings, he only went to a three-ball count once, and that was with no.2 hitter Mathews in the first inning. The Pirates played that day with three of their best hitters, right fielder Roberto Clemente, shortstop Dick Groat and first baseman Dick Stuart out of the lineup. Lost in the glow of Haddix’s performance was that of Braves starter Lew Burdette, who pitched a complete game, 13 inning shutout, allowing 12 hits.

To make Haddix’s game even more impressive, years later Braves pitcher Bob Buhl revealed that the bullpen was stealing signs from catcher Smokey Burgess and signalling the batters as to what pitch was coming. Haddix threw only fastballs and sliders; a towel was hung over the outfield fence if a fastball was coming. Reportedly Aaron was the only Braves batter who refused to acknowledge the signals.

Not only did Haddix lose the game, but in 1991 he was stripped of official recognition of his no hit accomplishment when MLB’s Committee for Statistical Accuracy announced that a no-hitter would be redefined as “a game in which a pitcher or pitchers complete a game of nine innings or more without allowing a hit.” When made aware that he was being removed from the record books, Haddix’s simple response was, “It’s okay. I know what I did.”

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