60 YEARS AGO TODAY:
8/19/65 - Cincinnati Reds pitcher Jim Maloney throws his second no-hitter of the season, this time beating Chicago Cubs, 1-0 in ten innings. (Ironically, he lost his first no hitter by a score of 1-0 in the 11th inning against The New York Mets earlier that same year!)
At the time, nine innings of no hit baseball constituted an official no hitter. This rule has since been changed, but thanks to the rules in place at the time, Maloney still gets credit for his remarkable performance. He had also pitched three one-hitters up to that point. (He also made The National League All Star Team that season.)
In his no hitter against The Cubs, Maloney walked TEN … and hit a batter … yet The Cubs were still unable to score. It was the most base runners allowed in a no hit game since 1901!
Maloney is an oft-forgotten pitching great who, in addition to pitching THREE no hitters, also had two 20 game winning seasons. He would pitch a THIRD no hitter against the Houston Astros in 1969. The following night, Don Wilson of The Astros no hit The Reds … the second time in major league history where back-to-back no hitters were thrown by the same two ball clubs.
Also on 8/19, The Yardbirds begin their first US tour
