More evidence of how “the game” has changed. Can you imagine a hitter today coming to the plate with two outs in the ninth inning of a no-hitter – with a table leg for a bat? Well, on a July 15, 1973, Detroit Tigers first baseman Norm Cash did exactly that.
Norm Cash bat rack?
Nolan Ryan was putting the finishing touches on his second career no-hitter (and second no-hitter of 1973) – a 6-0 California Angels’ win over the Tigers at Tiger Stadium in front of 41,411 fans. With two outs in the ninth, Cash (who had struck out two times and grounded out second to first in three previous at-bats) put a punctuation mark on Ryan’s excellence and the Tigers’ futility by coming to the plate brandishing a table leg (form the Tiger clubhouse). Umpire Ron Luciano, was having none of it and sent Cash back to the dugout for a more traditional “stick.” Using his usual bat, Cash popped out to the shortstop and Ryan’s no-hitter went into the record books.
There was good reason for Cash to try an unconventional approach to his last at bat. In that game, Ryan racked up 17 strikeouts – a record for Ks in a no-hitter that still stands – and had struck out the side in the second, fourth and seventh innings. The Tigers, who drew four walks, had hit only four fair balls out of the infield. In today’s game, Cash’s attempt at humor probably would merit an instant ejection, angry protests on the field, media outrage and a wave of irate blog post and tweets. For me, I just wish I had been there. Really, what we need in baseball is more smilin’ and less stylin’.
A few tidbits about Ryan and his second 1973 no-hitter:
Over the first seven innings, Detroit starter Jim Perry was also tossing a great game – having given up just 4 hits, 3 walks and one run. The Angels broke through for five runs on Perry and two relievers in the eighth inning.
Ryan came into the game with a losing record on the season (10-11) and for his career (58-64).
The game took only 2 hours and 21 minutes to complete. Ryan’s no-hitter was one of his career major league record 7 no-hit games and the 17 strikeouts were part of his 1973 single season (since 1900) record 383 Ks.
Ryan’s no-hitter came in the first year of the DH in the American League. If he’d had the chance to face the pitcher, he might have recorded another strikeout or two.
The win was part of Ryan’s first-ever 20-win season (21-16 in 1973) – one of only two 20-victory campaigns for the Hall of Famer (he went 22-16 in 1974).
In his eight years with the Angels, Ryan led the NL in strikeouts 7 times, as well as in walks 6 times and wild pitches 3 times.
The Tiger line-up wasn’t exactly overpowering, the highest average among starters on July 15 was .267 (the AL average that year was .259, the Tigers averaged .254, Minnesota led the league at .270). Detroit, however, was 48-43 on July 15 and finished eight games over .500 for the year.
While Cash was a four-time All Star, he is best known for his 1961 season, when he won the batting title with a .361 average, while posting 119 runs scored, 41 HRs and 132 RBI. In 1962, Cash become the answer to a trivia question, as his average dropped 118 points to .243, the largest next-year decline ever for a batting champion. In his 17-tear major league career, outside of that 1961 season, Cash – while a steady and solid performer –never recorded another season of 100 runs, 40 HRs, 100 RBI nor a .300 or better average.
