![On This Day in Pittsburgh History: June 12, 1970
nhatrang:
Pitching under the influence of LSD, Dock Ellis pitched a no-hitter against the Padres on June 12, 1970. Ellis had taken the drug believing he had the day off. He threw a no-hitter despite being unable to feel the ball or see the batter or catcher clearly. Ellis said his catcher Jerry May wore reflective tape on his fingers which helped him see May’s signals. Ellis walked eight batters and struck out six, and was aided by excellent fielding plays by second baseman Bill Mazeroski and center fielder Matty Alou.
As Ellis recounted it:
“I can only remember bits and pieces of the game. I was psyched. I had a feeling of euphoria. I was zeroed in on the [catcher’s] glove, but I didn’t hit the glove too much. I remember hitting a couple of batters, and the bases were loaded two or three times. The ball was small sometimes, the ball was large sometimes, sometimes I saw the catcher, sometimes I didn’t. Sometimes, I tried to stare the hitter down and throw while I was looking at him. I chewed my gum until it turned to powder. 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. They say I had about three to four fielding chances. I remember diving out of the way of a ball I thought was a line drive. I jumped, but the ball wasn’t hit hard and never reached me.”](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mc6b2t3Z9d1qzq8wko1_500.jpg)
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: June 12, 1970
Pitching under the influence of LSD, Dock Ellis pitched a no-hitter against the Padres on June 12, 1970. Ellis had taken the drug believing he had the day off. He threw a no-hitter despite being unable to feel the ball or see the batter or catcher clearly. Ellis said his catcher Jerry May wore reflective tape on his fingers which helped him see May’s signals. Ellis walked eight batters and struck out six, and was aided by excellent fielding plays by second baseman Bill Mazeroski and center fielder Matty Alou.
As Ellis recounted it:
“I can only remember bits and pieces of the game. I was psyched. I had a feeling of euphoria. I was zeroed in on the [catcher’s] glove, but I didn’t hit the glove too much. I remember hitting a couple of batters, and the bases were loaded two or three times. The ball was small sometimes, the ball was large sometimes, sometimes I saw the catcher, sometimes I didn’t. Sometimes, I tried to stare the hitter down and throw while I was looking at him. I chewed my gum until it turned to powder. 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. They say I had about three to four fielding chances. I remember diving out of the way of a ball I thought was a line drive. I jumped, but the ball wasn’t hit hard and never reached me.”
![mightyflynn:
Forbes Field, 1912
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Detroit Publishing Company via Shorpy. [View full size.]](http://24.media.tumblr.com/85f64be1c71134f5fd44a80ecdeeda82/tumblr_mo35qjY64z1qzniimo1_500.jpg)
Forbes Field, 1912
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Detroit Publishing Company via Shorpy. [View full size.]
![Forbes Field at Night, Pittsburgh. Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania (via)
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: June 4, 1940
The Pirates played their first night game in Forbes Field. [Historic Pittsburgh]](http://24.media.tumblr.com/afbbbeef8a6c877bd928d55f5abfec76/tumblr_mnvid2q5O91qakblyo1_500.png)
Forbes Field at Night, Pittsburgh. Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania (via)
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: June 4, 1940
The Pirates played their first night game in Forbes Field. [Historic Pittsburgh]
![Harvey Haddix pitching for the Pittsburgh Pirates (via)
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: May 26, 1959
In what many experts call the greatest pitching performance in history, Harvey Haddix — suffering with a flu and sore throat — hurls a 12-inning perfect game for the Pirates but loses in the 13th inning 0-1 on a Don Hoak fielding error to the Braves as lightning storms threaten the end of the game. [Wikipedia]](http://25.media.tumblr.com/f94eeae4bcfe394b69edc74a9a241e6a/tumblr_mndmaakOFZ1qakblyo1_500.jpg)
Harvey Haddix pitching for the Pittsburgh Pirates (via)
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: May 26, 1959
In what many experts call the greatest pitching performance in history, Harvey Haddix — suffering with a flu and sore throat — hurls a 12-inning perfect game for the Pirates but loses in the 13th inning 0-1 on a Don Hoak fielding error to the Braves as lightning storms threaten the end of the game. [Wikipedia]
![On This Day in Pittsburgh History: May 7, 1925
Glenn Wright completes only the fifth unassisted triple play in MLB history when he throws out future hall of famers Jim Bottomley and Rogers Hornsby of St. Louis in the 9th inning at Forbes Field. [Wikipedia]](http://24.media.tumblr.com/e7fdb775fe3838dd8c9598813a5854ef/tumblr_mm4k0gdb0q1qakblyo1_500.png)
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: May 7, 1925
Glenn Wright completes only the fifth unassisted triple play in MLB history when he throws out future hall of famers Jim Bottomley and Rogers Hornsby of St. Louis in the 9th inning at Forbes Field. [Wikipedia]
![On This Day in Pittsburgh History: April 18, 1947
A record opening-day crowd at Forbes Field — 38,216, including Bing Crosby — saw the Pittsburgh Pirates, under new ownership, defeat Cincinnati, 12-11. [Historic Pittsburgh]](http://24.media.tumblr.com/0ed403a6d41c9750235e9f110db6af29/tumblr_mlh3ai4Ngo1qakblyo1_500.jpg)
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: April 18, 1947
A record opening-day crowd at Forbes Field — 38,216, including Bing Crosby — saw the Pittsburgh Pirates, under new ownership, defeat Cincinnati, 12-11. [Historic Pittsburgh]
Pirates fans celebrate 1960 World Series victory, Pittsburgh, Pa. Photo by George Silk.
(Source: mightyflynn)
![Barney Dreyfuss (via Pittsburgh-Post Gazette)
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: February 5, 1932
Bernhard “Barney” Dreyfuss, president and owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates since 1899 and an organizer of the first World Series, died at the age of 66 at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. [Historic Pittsburgh]](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lyq9ngVxEz1qakblyo1_500.jpg)
Barney Dreyfuss (via Pittsburgh-Post Gazette)
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: February 5, 1932
Bernhard “Barney” Dreyfuss, president and owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates since 1899 and an organizer of the first World Series, died at the age of 66 at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. [Historic Pittsburgh]
(Source: thepittsburghhistoryjournal)
![On This Day in Pittsburgh History: January 15, 1972
Bill Benswanger, president and chief executive of the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1932 through 1946, dies at 79. [Wikipedia; Baseball Fever]](http://24.media.tumblr.com/397d300b56d930d7313f5e27c1e6ea75/tumblr_mgoaxmNSV01qakblyo1_500.jpg)
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: January 15, 1972
Bill Benswanger, president and chief executive of the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1932 through 1946, dies at 79. [Wikipedia; Baseball Fever]
Best of Pittsburgh History: 2012
Fred Rogers - February 19, 1968 - “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” the longest-running program on public television, premieres in America.
Fallingwater - May 23, 1966 - Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater, built for magnant Edgar Kaufmann, is deemed a National Landmark.
Roberto Clemente - July 25, 1956 - At Forbes Field against the Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates star Roberto Clemente hits Major League Baseball’s first (and to date, only) walk-off inside-the-park grand slam.
Andy Warhol - As a student at the Carnegie Institute of Technology, Pittsburgh, c. 1947. Phillip Pearstein.
Civic Arena - 1961-2012. Rest in peace. We miss you tremendously.
Sabre “Mother” Washington - Two girls with Washington, a former slave, in the early 1950s. Teenie Harris. One of the girls, a neighbor of Washington’s, discovered the photograph years later. Washington, who grew up in South Carolina before moving to Pittsburgh, passed away in 1960 at the age of 113.
Cathedral of Learning - June 7, 1937 - As the climax of a weeklong celebration of the 150th anniversary of its founding, the University of Pittsburgh celebrated the completion of its 42-story Cathedral of Learning a decade after construction on the building started.
Kid at Cotton Candy Booth - Possibly at Westview Park in Pittsburgh, 1945. Teenie Harris.
Thank you for reading, everyone. Happy New Year 2013!
![On This Day in Pittsburgh History: December 31, 1972
Roberto Clemente, Pirates outfielder, died in the crash of a cargo plane on mercy mission to Managua, Nicaragua. [Historic Pittsburgh]](http://25.media.tumblr.com/dd2c158ea0efa2e37381b45249804354/tumblr_mfpc3wPeYE1qakblyo1_500.jpg)
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: December 31, 1972
Roberto Clemente, Pirates outfielder, died in the crash of a cargo plane on mercy mission to Managua, Nicaragua. [Historic Pittsburgh]
![On This Day in Pittsburgh History: December 9, 1992
Carl Barger, former president of the Pittsburgh Pirates, dies while at a meeting of the baseball owners. [Historic Pittsburgh; Allegheny Times]](http://24.media.tumblr.com/165241c4e4289ea246fa36b8d97631ab/tumblr_merq94nm4u1qakblyo1_500.png)
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: December 9, 1992
Carl Barger, former president of the Pittsburgh Pirates, dies while at a meeting of the baseball owners. [Historic Pittsburgh; Allegheny Times]
![On This Day in Pittsburgh History: December 6, 1955
Pittsburgh Pirates legend Honus Wagner passes away in Carnegie. [Wikipedia; From Deep Right Field]](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_meerzqJGKQ1qakblyo1_500.jpg)
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: December 6, 1955
Pittsburgh Pirates legend Honus Wagner passes away in Carnegie. [Wikipedia; From Deep Right Field]
![On This Day in Pittsburgh History: November 28, 1958
Sale of Forbes Field to University of Pittsburgh is approved; the Pirates will stay on for five years, until new Northside stadium is built. In reality, the Pirates stayed on not for five but for twelve years, until Three Rivers Stadium opened in 1970. [Historic Pittsburgh]](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mdge03RrHm1qakblyo1_500.jpg)
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: November 28, 1958
Sale of Forbes Field to University of Pittsburgh is approved; the Pirates will stay on for five years, until new Northside stadium is built. In reality, the Pirates stayed on not for five but for twelve years, until Three Rivers Stadium opened in 1970. [Historic Pittsburgh]
Roberto Clemente was a member of the Montreal Royals, the minor-league (AAA) affiliate of the Brooklyn Dodgers. 1954.
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: November 22, 1954
Roberto Clemente is drafted #1 by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: June 12, 1970
Pitching under the influence of LSD, Dock Ellis pitched a no-hitter against the Padres on June 12, 1970. Ellis had taken the drug believing he had the day off. He threw a no-hitter despite being unable to feel the ball or see the batter or catcher clearly. Ellis said his catcher Jerry May wore reflective tape on his fingers which helped him see May’s signals. Ellis walked eight batters and struck out six, and was aided by excellent fielding plays by second baseman Bill Mazeroski and center fielder Matty Alou.
As Ellis recounted it:
“I can only remember bits and pieces of the game. I was psyched. I had a feeling of euphoria. I was zeroed in on the [catcher’s] glove, but I didn’t hit the glove too much. I remember hitting a couple of batters, and the bases were loaded two or three times. The ball was small sometimes, the ball was large sometimes, sometimes I saw the catcher, sometimes I didn’t. Sometimes, I tried to stare the hitter down and throw while I was looking at him. I chewed my gum until it turned to powder. 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. They say I had about three to four fielding chances. I remember diving out of the way of a ball I thought was a line drive. I jumped, but the ball wasn’t hit hard and never reached me.”
Forbes Field, 1912
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Detroit Publishing Company via Shorpy. [View full size.]
![Forbes Field at Night, Pittsburgh. Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania (via)
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: June 4, 1940
The Pirates played their first night game in Forbes Field. [Historic Pittsburgh]](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4uvt1SfHH1qakblyo1_1280.png)
Forbes Field at Night, Pittsburgh. Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania (via)
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: June 4, 1940
The Pirates played their first night game in Forbes Field. [Historic Pittsburgh]
![Harvey Haddix pitching for the Pittsburgh Pirates (via)
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: May 26, 1959
In what many experts call the greatest pitching performance in history, Harvey Haddix — suffering with a flu and sore throat — hurls a 12-inning perfect game for the Pirates but loses in the 13th inning 0-1 on a Don Hoak fielding error to the Braves as lightning storms threaten the end of the game. [Wikipedia]](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4gcxdQQXb1qakblyo1_500.jpg)
Harvey Haddix pitching for the Pittsburgh Pirates (via)
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: May 26, 1959
In what many experts call the greatest pitching performance in history, Harvey Haddix — suffering with a flu and sore throat — hurls a 12-inning perfect game for the Pirates but loses in the 13th inning 0-1 on a Don Hoak fielding error to the Braves as lightning storms threaten the end of the game. [Wikipedia]
![On This Day in Pittsburgh History: May 7, 1925
Glenn Wright completes only the fifth unassisted triple play in MLB history when he throws out future hall of famers Jim Bottomley and Rogers Hornsby of St. Louis in the 9th inning at Forbes Field. [Wikipedia]](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m39c17X9FM1qakblyo1_500.png)
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: May 7, 1925
Glenn Wright completes only the fifth unassisted triple play in MLB history when he throws out future hall of famers Jim Bottomley and Rogers Hornsby of St. Louis in the 9th inning at Forbes Field. [Wikipedia]
![On This Day in Pittsburgh History: April 18, 1947
A record opening-day crowd at Forbes Field — 38,216, including Bing Crosby — saw the Pittsburgh Pirates, under new ownership, defeat Cincinnati, 12-11. [Historic Pittsburgh]](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m1wv04FIlZ1qakblyo1_r1_1280.jpg)
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: April 18, 1947
A record opening-day crowd at Forbes Field — 38,216, including Bing Crosby — saw the Pittsburgh Pirates, under new ownership, defeat Cincinnati, 12-11. [Historic Pittsburgh]
Pirates fans celebrate 1960 World Series victory, Pittsburgh, Pa. Photo by George Silk.
(Source: mightyflynn)
Barney Dreyfuss (via Pittsburgh-Post Gazette)
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: February 5, 1932
Bernhard “Barney” Dreyfuss, president and owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates since 1899 and an organizer of the first World Series, died at the age of 66 at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. [Historic Pittsburgh]
(Source: thepittsburghhistoryjournal)
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: January 15, 1972
Bill Benswanger, president and chief executive of the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1932 through 1946, dies at 79. [Wikipedia; Baseball Fever]
Best of Pittsburgh History: 2012
Fred Rogers - February 19, 1968 - “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” the longest-running program on public television, premieres in America.
Fallingwater - May 23, 1966 - Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater, built for magnant Edgar Kaufmann, is deemed a National Landmark.
Roberto Clemente - July 25, 1956 - At Forbes Field against the Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates star Roberto Clemente hits Major League Baseball’s first (and to date, only) walk-off inside-the-park grand slam.
Andy Warhol - As a student at the Carnegie Institute of Technology, Pittsburgh, c. 1947. Phillip Pearstein.
Civic Arena - 1961-2012. Rest in peace. We miss you tremendously.
Sabre “Mother” Washington - Two girls with Washington, a former slave, in the early 1950s. Teenie Harris. One of the girls, a neighbor of Washington’s, discovered the photograph years later. Washington, who grew up in South Carolina before moving to Pittsburgh, passed away in 1960 at the age of 113.
Cathedral of Learning - June 7, 1937 - As the climax of a weeklong celebration of the 150th anniversary of its founding, the University of Pittsburgh celebrated the completion of its 42-story Cathedral of Learning a decade after construction on the building started.
Kid at Cotton Candy Booth - Possibly at Westview Park in Pittsburgh, 1945. Teenie Harris.
Thank you for reading, everyone. Happy New Year 2013!
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: December 31, 1972
Roberto Clemente, Pirates outfielder, died in the crash of a cargo plane on mercy mission to Managua, Nicaragua. [Historic Pittsburgh]
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: December 9, 1992
Carl Barger, former president of the Pittsburgh Pirates, dies while at a meeting of the baseball owners. [Historic Pittsburgh; Allegheny Times]
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: December 6, 1955
Pittsburgh Pirates legend Honus Wagner passes away in Carnegie. [Wikipedia; From Deep Right Field]
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: November 28, 1958
Sale of Forbes Field to University of Pittsburgh is approved; the Pirates will stay on for five years, until new Northside stadium is built. In reality, the Pirates stayed on not for five but for twelve years, until Three Rivers Stadium opened in 1970. [Historic Pittsburgh]
Roberto Clemente was a member of the Montreal Royals, the minor-league (AAA) affiliate of the Brooklyn Dodgers. 1954.
On This Day in Pittsburgh History: November 22, 1954
Roberto Clemente is drafted #1 by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
