Jul 19 2008
No-Hitters
My friend Cameron, once had a very bad month. Early in April, while visiting Boston he had the option of going to watch the Red Sox play in Fenway. Instead, he chose to drink the afternoon away and missed Hideo Nomo’s no-hitter. Later that month, after losing his bankroll at the casino, a kind friend offered him $5 to bet an 180-1 shot at a game of Sic Bo. Cameron decided to wait one more roll…he shouldn’t have!
I often pose the question to people: Would you rather the $900 or have seen the no-hitter?
Nearly everyone chooses the $900 without a second thought. I, on the otherhand, would choose the no-hitter.
To me a no-hitter is the ultimate performance in all of professional sports. An athlete must have a perfect combination of skill and mental strength as well as incredible luck to throw a no-hitter. It is why only 256 have happened in the history of Major League Baseball. It differs from an amazing feat in basketball, football, soccer and hockey in that a no-hitter is a defined event. Record 27 outs without allowing a hit. Simple and pure.
Any individual performing an accomplishment at it’s absolute pinnacle is so rare that to enjoy it for even a few seconds is worth remembering. Watching that feat unfold over three hours with 40,000 people takes the no-hitter to an entirely different level. It is years of dedication, hard work, blood and sweat accumulating into a perfect moment in time.
Whenever I arrive at a ballpark, the possibility that this could be my first no-hitter is always in the back of my mind. On a baseball road trip, I came within 3 outs of seeing Eric Milton throw a no-hitter. Only a Doug Glanville mental mistake cost him his bid (and almost the game.) It is likely the closest I will ever get to seeing a no-hitter.
I hope not.