(Image credits: ESPN)
In MLB history, there’s only been 302 officially recognized no-hitters. Of those 302, only 23 were perfect games. To no surprise, Nolan Ryan remains the MLB record holder in no-hitters, throwing 7 of them in his career. While I SUPPOSE that’s pretty impressive or whatever, you know how many pitchers have thrown a no-hitter while tripping on LSD? Only one. I don’t know, you can decide for yourself what’s more impressive, 7 career no-hitters, or just one, while high as a kite...something to think about, folks.
The morning of June 12th, 1970, Pirates pitcher Dock Ellis did not even know he was scheduled to start that day against the Padres. Ellis believed he was to start on the mound the following day, and so he decided to enjoy his Friday in Los Angeles visiting a friend in classic 70s’ fashion: tripping on acid. According to Ellis, it was not till about 2 PM he learned he was indeed the slated starter for the game that night, and hopped on a plane to San Diego, only to arrive at the visitors’ clubhouse 90 minutes before his first pitch.
Ellis is perhaps one of the most interesting men in baseball history. A beloved man by his teammates, he was a talented individual and one who was not afraid to speak his mind. In the turbulent times of the 70s’ both in American society and baseball, he never wavered in his beliefs. Since the beginning of his career, even down in the minor leagues, he never hesitated to speak out on the rights’ of players, a hot topic in the major league at the time. More importantly however, he was a staunch advocate of African Americans’ rights, especially in baseball. He made headlines in 1971 when after his All-Star game selection that summer, he told the media his prediction that “Major League Baseball will never allow two black aces to face one another,” a comment certainly not appreciated by the higher-ups in baseball. As a player, his outspoken nature translated on the field and in the clubhouse on many occasions. He became one of those guys who if he was on your team you loved him; if not, well, he came off as a bit...much. While to many it seemed as if Ellis was playing a character, there was a much darker side to the story.
Ellis struggled with drug and alcohol addiction throughout his life. After retiring from baseball, he admitted he was almost never sober throughout his entire career. It was no secret a majority of MLB players for a good forty years or so were using greenies, amphetamines that helped them to be more energetic and alert. Baseball historians believe about 85% of players had used greenies at one point or another. Hell, some even say Ted Williams used them. It was so commonplace if a player didn’t use them, it was coined “playing naked.” Ellis was no exception, pitching every single game of his career using amphetamines. His drug use did not end there, however. Ellis had quite the social life, and recreationally used popular drugs of the time such as cocaine and of course LSD often. His drug use was a problem that began before his professional baseball career even did.
Still, despite his own personal battles, Ellis had much success on the mound in his first 8 seasons in the major leagues with the Pirates. He made his MLB debut in 1968 at age 23, pitching in 26 games and starting in 10 of them. He pitched 104.1 innings, and accumulated a 2.50 ERA. In his second season, the Pirates gave him a permanent spot in the rotation, and by 1971, Ellis was considered Pittsburgh’s ace at age 26. From 1968 to 1975, Ellis earned 96 wins with the Pirates, and yet, one of them stands out in history more than any other.
“I started having a crazy idea in the fourth inning that Richard Nixon was the home plate umpire, and once I thought I was pitching a baseball to Jimi Hendrix, who to me was holding a guitar and swinging it over the plate,” Ellis recalls in his own memory of the infamous no-no on June 12th. “I can only remember bits and pieces of the game. I was psyched. I had a feeling of euphoria.” Sometimes he saw the ball, sometimes he didn’t; sometimes he saw Jerry May’s [the catcher] glove, sometimes he didn’t. At times the ball felt heavy, at other times it was light as a feather. By his own account, how this man managed to throw even a single pitch is astounding. Yet despite hitting a batter, walking eight men, allowing three stolen bases, loading the bases a couple times, all while with not a clue in the world as to what the score was, he managed to pull off one of the greatest feats in baseball, and was not even aware of it for most of the game! It’s one of those unofficial rules of baseball; if a pitcher is in the midst of a no-hitter, you do not mention it to them in the game. It’s considered a jinx to bring it up and in most cases, players do not even engage with the pitcher at all. For this reason, a high Dock Ellis with not a clue in the world he was throwing a no-hitter was under the impression his teammates were angry with him, hence why they were “ignoring” him, as he assumed they too were aware he was tripping on acid in the middle of a game. By the seventh inning, Ellis was made aware of the no-no he had going, though due to his hazy recollection and conflicting sources, it’s unknown if he realized it on his own, or then-Pirates rookie Dave Cash blew it and commented on the pitcher’s performance to him, as some had reported. Regardless, as the game progressed, Ellis looked better and better every inning. In the bottom of the ninth with two outs and no runners on base, Ellis completed his no-hitter with Padres pinch hitter Ed Spiezio left looking on a 3-2 pitch.
It was not until over ten years after the no-hitter and four years after he retired, Ellis admitted to pitching on LSD on June 12th, 1970. While some doubt the legitimacy of his claim, those closest to him, including his friend Scipio Spinks, a pitcher for the Houston Astros at the time, said there’s not a doubt in their minds’ Ellis was telling the truth. Ellis has gone on to say he wishes he never took LSD that day, as it “robbed him of his greatest professional memory.”
After Ellis retired from baseball in 1980, he finally went and got help for his substance abuse problems. After his own recovery, he became a counselor to those who shared the same struggles. At age 63, he passed away in December 2008 due to a liver ailment. Dock Ellis surely lived no easy life. While he was certainly a complicated man, he was one who used his outspoken nature and life experiences to help others. One of baseball's best "characters," there was a reason he was so loved by those who knew him best. And while there will certainly be more no-hitters in baseball, there will never be another Dock Ellis.
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