Haddix perfect through 12, 53 years ago today

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.)

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