What is arguably the most dominant pitching performance in Major League history happened 53 years ago, and Harvey Haddix doesn’t have an official perfect game to show for it … or a no-hitter … or a shutout … or a win.
On May 26, 1959, the Pittsburgh Pirates starter threw a perfect game through 12, retiring the first 36 Milwaukee Braves batters he faced. Haddix lost the perfect game in the top of the 13th when Pirates third-baseman Don Hoak committed an error, letting Felix Mantilla reach first. After a sacrifice bunt by Eddie Mathews and an intentional walk to Hank Aaron, Haddix lost the no hitter (and the game) on a Joe Adcock walkoff homer. (Only a la Robin Ventura it wasn’t recorded as a homer because Aaron left the field after Mantilla scored, and Adcock passed him, making it a 1-0 win on a double.)
