Steve Barber---1967
Forty-one years ago Steve Barber
pitched in one of the most bizarre no-
hitters in Major League history.
It was April 30, 1967 when the
southpaw took the mound at home
versus Detroit. Given just a 1-0 lead,
Barber took a no-hit bid into the ninth
inning despite having a day of
wildness. Barber walked the first two
hitters in the ninth, before he retired
the next two batters. Barber then
unleashed a wild pitch to allow the
tying run to score, before issuing
another free pass, prompting
manager Hank Bauer to make a call
to the bullpen. Right-hander Stu
Miller would eventually record the
final out, but not before an error by
second baseman Mark Belanger
(yes, at second base, as he replaced
Charlie Lau to begin the inning) on
Don Wert’s ground ball that allowed
the eventual winning run to score.
Barber's line that afternoon: 8-2/3
innings, 10 walks, two hit batters, a
wild pitch and a throwing error.
Tough loss, but he had mostly
himself to blame.
The two-time All-Star selection (1963
& 1966) posted a 121-106, 3.36
mark from 1960 to 1974, hurling for
the Orioles, Yankeers, Pilots, Cubs,
Braves, Angels and Giants. Barber
set his career watermark by going 20-
13 for Baltimore in 1963, but the
hard-thrower never fully reached his
potential over the long haul as he
walked nearly one batter every two
innings during his career--- though
most of them came on April 30, 1967.
5/4/08
pitched in one of the most bizarre no-
hitters in Major League history.
It was April 30, 1967 when the
southpaw took the mound at home
versus Detroit. Given just a 1-0 lead,
Barber took a no-hit bid into the ninth
inning despite having a day of
wildness. Barber walked the first two
hitters in the ninth, before he retired
the next two batters. Barber then
unleashed a wild pitch to allow the
tying run to score, before issuing
another free pass, prompting
manager Hank Bauer to make a call
to the bullpen. Right-hander Stu
Miller would eventually record the
final out, but not before an error by
second baseman Mark Belanger
(yes, at second base, as he replaced
Charlie Lau to begin the inning) on
Don Wert’s ground ball that allowed
the eventual winning run to score.
Barber's line that afternoon: 8-2/3
innings, 10 walks, two hit batters, a
wild pitch and a throwing error.
Tough loss, but he had mostly
himself to blame.
The two-time All-Star selection (1963
& 1966) posted a 121-106, 3.36
mark from 1960 to 1974, hurling for
the Orioles, Yankeers, Pilots, Cubs,
Braves, Angels and Giants. Barber
set his career watermark by going 20-
13 for Baltimore in 1963, but the
hard-thrower never fully reached his
potential over the long haul as he
walked nearly one batter every two
innings during his career--- though
most of them came on April 30, 1967.
5/4/08
