Linthicum

Back in 1959, Harvey Haddix pitched 12 innings of perfect baseball but lost his no-hitter, and game, in the 13th inning. From 1959 to 1991, he was recognized as having pitched a no-hitter. However, in 1991, the definition of a no-hitter was changed and his name was removed from the list of pitchers that threw a no-hitter. No consideration given to an asterisk as was quickly attached to Roger Maris breaking Babe Ruth's 60 home run record. Harvey Haddix responded to the change by saying, "It's O.K., I know what I did.

I felt very strongly about the "unfairness" of the 1991 action that I wrote a letter to the Baseball Commissioner's office. Surprisingly, I received a response .... explaining their reasoning behind the decision. So, you can pitch a 9 inning no-hitter and get credit for it but you can't get credit for a no-hitter by pitching 12 innings of no hit no run baseball, if you lose it in the 13th inning. But that's life. Someone always comes along and makes a change just to make a change. Why after 32 years did they have to take it away from him. Couldn't they have grandfathered him into the record books.

I'm still upset about it. And, I'm not related to Harvey Haddix.

IDguy Loc: Idaho

Peace be with you.

medphotog Loc: Witness protection land

Yup, the Kitten got hosed on that one. Wonder how many time he thought "thanks for the offensive support there guys." Kinda' like Charlie Brown at Halloween... I got a rock.

LWW Loc: Banana Republic of America

Harvey’s gem is still generally recognized by baseball historians as the greatest pitched game of all time.

ottopj Loc: Annapolis, MD USA

He got screwed!

Leo_B Loc: Houston suburb

That totally sucks. I'd make a comment about who and how and why they did it but it would be political and not fit so I'll just leave it out in left field and say I wasn't aware of this but find it absolutely wrong and disapprove.

CWGordon

Who said life was gonna be fair?
I was a Roger Maris fan, they forgot to count HR hit in rain-shortened games which, of course, don’t count. He had the Babe there. It might have been 2-1, or something close, but he did get screwed. Only record w/an asterisk at the time. Removed, of course, after his death, if I remember correctly.
“tilting at windmills” isn’t it?

Dannj

Haddix got screwed on a technicality but he, along with knowledgeable baseball people, knows what he did. I’m willing to bet that his no-hitter gets talked about more than many others.
As for Maris, the asterisk was championed by then Commissioner Ford Frick. He was an “old school” guy who didn’t want Ruth besmirched.

wapiti Loc: round rock, texas

I remember this event very well. I could be mistaken, but I recall that Joe Adcock broke it up and won the game for the braves.

CWGordon

Yes, it was Ford Frick, a lover and admirer of the Babe, who screwed
Maris. Good memory, there. I want
to take nothing away from Ruth who was one of the greatest pitchers of
all-time, along with being one of the games’ best hitters, but Roger should have been immediately given “that” record w/no asterisk. Haddix should have been given more credit for his
feat, as well. But, as I said, who says life is going to be fair?

Minitman Loc: Centreville, Virginia

Bud Selig had, to my mind, some strange ideas - including the change on no hitters. While Haddix's game being "erased" from official baseball history, I think Selig's biggest blunder was refusing to change the impossibly bad call Jimmy Joyce made on the last out of a Tigers game costing the pitcher (forgot his name) a perfect game. While you couldn't change it if this was in the middle of a game, it should have been the last out and the next batter was out so it was a no brainer to everyone except Bud Selig who obviously thought supporting a horrible call by an umpire was more important that getting it right - still burns me.

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

I've always had an issue with someone pitching a "No Hitter". I've watched and many of the batters smash the heck out of the ball and if the outfielder did not jump up against the wall with his arm extended to catch it that would have been a Home Run. How could that be a 'no hit'..?

To me it should be called a "No Baser" for no one gets on a base. A 'No Hitter' to me would be where the bat never touches a ball other than a foul hit.

Of course I'm the kind of guy that calls an "Ace" and ace and a "Spade" a spade.

LWW Loc: Banana Republic of America

That wasn’t about defending Ruth, although many fans hated Maria because the deemed it to be ‘RUTH’S RECORD,’ so much as it was defending the record.

What is done over 162 games cannot be compared accurately time what was done over 154 games.

HADDIX OTOH met the 9 inning criteria plus 3 more.

CWGordon

There were, as I recall, other records that fell when the 162 game schedule came into being. I believe one was the stolen base record. No asterisk there. Other record similarly were not subject to question, as was the HR record. It is somewhat obvious that Frick had a bias and only when it came to Ruth. Aaron was a great HR and BA hitter. He had the longer season (later in career) to hit more HR. No one said diddly about that, nor should they have. But, they should not have hated and screwed Maris, either.
Was it Lou Brock who took the stolen base record from Ty Cobb? Not too sure about that one. I guess I am in the 4th turn re:memory or maybe in the 156th game!

Minitman Loc: Centreville, Virginia

I was initially for Maris' asterisk until I realized the record is for most home runs in a season - no mention of number of games. That controversy seems to have been overshadowed by the Barry Bonds steroid discussion. The area where it seems we will have continuing controversy is the MVP - most VALUABLE player. At times this has been awarded to the BEST player (as an example, Ernie Banks twice for 7th place Cubs teams - subtract Banks and they finish 8th?) Most VALUABLE example is Sandy Koufax - without him Dodgers definitely don't sweep the Yankees in the 1963 World Series (Dodgers won't be in it). So, the controversy over the definition of valuable will continue apparently forever.