Since we didn’t get a no-hitter in 2009 (or a post-season berth, or even a winning season), we decided to use the off-season to celebrate the Mets’ one-hitters from No. 1 to No. 33. Here’s the first installment.
Al Jackson
June 22, 1962 – New York Mets 2, Houston Colt .45s 0 – The Polo Grounds – opener of a twi-night doubleheader
No-no killed by Joey Amalfitano single in first
The expansion New York Mets had a 2-12 record when lefty Al Jackson pitched the club’s first shutout – an April 29, 1962, 8-0 win over the Philadelphia Phillies. The Mets’ second shutout, also with Jackson on the mound, would also be the franchise’s first one-hitter.
Jackson retired the game’s first batter but let Joey Amalfitano reach base on a single to left for the Mets’ 65th no no-hitter. After walking Norm Larker, Jackson retired the next 22 batters before issuing a ninth-inning leadoff base-on-balls to pinch-hitter Pidge Browne. Jackson closed out the ninth with three straight outs for the complete-game shutout.
Jackson had a little help in the field during the game, according to an AP report from that day. Richie Ashburn made a leaping catch at the right field fence in the fifth to rob Jim Pendelton of a hit, and shortstop Elio Chacon made a backhand grab behind second, flipped the ball to second baseman Charlie Neal who made the throw to first to get Hal Smith.
You mentioned you didn’t know the exact date of the John Mitchell perfect game for the Tidewater Tides. It’s June 27, 1988. Here’s the newspaper article: http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1298&dat=19880628&id=ZOMPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=RosDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5105,5512133
Thanks Craig. Just added the info.
my first baseball game – i didn’t know at the age of 10 the significance of a one hitter. my big brother who took me to the game didn’t say a word about it so i thought it was normal. i totally forgot about it until 35 years later when i decided to look up the box score and man was i surprised! thank you, al.