On This Date in Sports July 1, 1951: Bob No Hit Feller
In collaboration with the Sportsecyclopedia.com
Bob Feller of the Cleveland Indians becomes the third pitcher to have three career no-hitters in a 2-1 win over the Detroit Tigers at Municipal Stadium. Previously Larry Corcoran who tossed no-hitters in (1880, 1882, and 1884) and Cy Young in 1897, 1904, and 1908 were the only pitchers with three no-hit games. Feller had previously thrown no-hitters in 1940 and 1946.
Robert Feller was born on November 3, 1918, in Van Meter, Iowa. A star in high school, Feller was signed and made his debut with the Cleveland Indians at the age of 17 in 1936, striking out 15 batters in his debut. Bob Feller quickly became one of baseball’s biggest stars. In 1939, Feller won 24 games and finished third in MVP voting.
Bob Feller tossed the first no-hitter of his career on April 16, 1940, against the Chicago White Sox. It was on Opening Day at Comiskey Park. It remains the only no-hitter that has been thrown on the first game of the season. Feller enlisted in the Navy after the attack on Pearl Harbor and served for three and a half years on the USS Alabama as a Gun Captain. He kept his arm in shape by throwing a baseball alongside the ship's cannons.
After returning to the Indians in 1945, Bob Feller again became the top pitcher in the game in 1946, tossing his second no-hitter against the New York Yankees in the Bronx on April 30th. Bob Feller was a crucial part of the Indians' 1948 World Championship team but began to show wear and tear over the next two seasons as he dealt with a sore shoulder. To adjust to the loss of velocity on his fastball, Feller began relying on a slider and had a resurgent year in 1951, leading the American League in wins for the sixth and final time in his career.
Managed by Al Lopez, the Indians were off to a decent start at 36-30, while the Tigers were threading water at 31-32 for Red Rolfe. It was a Sunday doubleheader at Municipal Stadium as Bob Feller holding of 10-2 was opposed by Bob Cain, who began the day at 6-5. After the first three Tigers grounded out, the Indians got the first two runners on base with hits by Dale Mitchell and Bobby Avila. Mitchell would score on a grounder by Luke Easter.
After the first nine batters were retired, Johnny Lipon reached base on an error by shortstop Ray Boone in the fourth inning. Lipon would steal second and advanced to third on an error by Bob Feller, whose pickoff attempt sailed. Hoot Evers would tie the game on a sacrifice fly. The game remained tied until the eighth inning when Sam Champion had a one-out triple. He would score on a single by Easter, giving Cleveland a 2-1 lead heading into the ninth inning.
Bob Feller had allowed three walks and had four strikeouts as the ace of the Tribe sought to complete his third no-hitter. Charlie Keller and George Kell each flew out to begin the inning, as Vic Wertz struck out looking for Feller's fifth strikeout to end the game. Since Feller retired, Sandy Koufax, with four, Nolan Ryan with seven, and Justin Verlander have joined the three no-hitter club.