Cleveland’s Dick Bosman throws a no-hitter and comes just one error, his own, away from a perfect game as the Indians knock off the Oakland A’s, 4-0.
Bosman struck out four and allowed just one base runner in throwing the first no-hitter for the Indians since Sonny Siebert tossed his on June 10, 1966. He was sailing along, aided by a two-run home run from Joe Lis in the third, when his errant throw to first base with two outs in the fourth inning allowed Oakland catcher Sal Bando to reach on error and advance to second. He advanced no further, as Bosman came back to strike out Reggie Jackson to end the inning.
Buddy Bell and Tommy McCraw each drove in runs in the bottom of the fourth to give the Indians their winning 4-0 margin.
In memorable fashion in the ninth, facing the 28th batter of the game, Bosman struck out Bill North to end the ballgame.
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Other news of the day…
1909 – Cleveland shortstop Neal Ball completes the first modern era unassisted triple play in Major League Baseball history in a 6-1 win by the Naps over the Boston Red Sox. The Sox would claim the second game of the doubleheader, 3-2.
1910 – Longtime Cleveland pitcher Cy Young earns his 500th career win in a 5-4 win over the Washington Senators in eleven innings. The pitching legend is 43 years old.
1915 – Indians catcher Steve O’Neill is on the wrong side of history, as he allows a Major League record eight stolen bases in the first inning, to the Washington Senators. The Indians would lose the contest, 11-4.
1936 – Bob Feller makes his Major League debut in a relief appearance against the Washington Senators. The 17-year-old phenom works one inning, allowing no runs and no hits while walking a pair.
1964 – Luis Tiant makes his Major League debut on the mound and notches eleven strikeouts in a four-hit, 3-0 win over New York at Yankees Stadium, defeating Whitey Ford. Tiant got the call to the Majors after starting the Triple-A season 15-1.
1987 – Indians catcher Yan Gomes is born in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He became the first Major Leaguer born in Brazil when he made his debut in 2012.
1989 – For the second time this season and fourth time in his career, the Indians’ Joe Carter hits three home runs in a game as Cleveland defeats Minnesota, 10-1. He drives in six runs in the game and now has five home runs in his last two games, tying a Major League record.
1998 – Elmer Valo, a former Indians outfielder during his 20-year playing career and later a coach for the club, passes away in Palmerton, Pennsylvania. He was 77.
2002 – Cleveland sends left-handed starting pitcher Chuck Finley to the St. Louis Cardinals for outfield prospect Coco Crisp and minor league first baseman Luis Garcia.