And WUAB announcers Joe Tait and Bruce Drennan found themselves in the middle of history. But a perfect game? Speed always was a big part of his game. Once in a while, I pitched well, Other times, I was throwing 80-82 mph.. It would be Clevelands first since Len Barker threw a ITS BASKETBALL TIME AT THE Q!!!. The game was a contrast of teams. Barker serves as the head coach for Division II Notre Dame College in South Euclid. When Barker was in the Texas Rangers farm system, he once heaved a pitch that soared over the screen backstop in a spring training practice field. Longest No-Hitter Droughts By Team. Ron Hassey singled home Hargrove for the second tally; both runs were unearned. Bo Diaz would be the only other Indian on the team. He was anxious about his older brother, Chuck, who was flying in from Fort Lauderdale. The documentary was born out of wanting to do something All-Star-related, with this year's Midsummer Classic being played in Cleveland. Partly due to this, he did not make the major leagues for good until 1979. The 1981 Blue Jays may have had a lot of easy outs in that lineup, but they had no easy-out pitchers. Barker had to face nine "position" hitters. Kuiper fielded five ground balls to contribute to the effort. My stomach was a wreck, he told Sports Illustrated. I had been coaching my kids over the years and helped some in high school. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. The game kept fading in and out, she said. In 1978, yet a third memorable wild pitch landed halfway up the screen behind Fenway Parks home plate. Rick Manning led off the Cleveland first with a single. At the time, Barker's accomplishment drew . Duncans prediction proved prophetic; Barker never went to a three-ball count on any batter. In the second inning Cleveland centerfielder Rick Manning had to make a long run to haul in a sinking liner off the bat of Damaso Garcia. Joe Tait. All Rights Reserved. Who could have foreseen that the Friday evening matchup between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Cleveland Indians would be such a historic game? It was the first game played after a lengthy players' strike, and Barker pitched two scoreless innings before 72,086 fans in his home stadium. The challenge was the footage often was defined generally - a label might say only "Indians.". That is my dream goal, Kyle said. The game was. Associated Press file Len Barker signs autographs for fans on May 16, 1981, the day after he pitched a perfect game against the Toronto Blue Jays. In his 30 seasons since 1990, Hamilton has called all 92 postseason games the Guardians have played over that span, including three World Series' (1995, 1997, 2016). TOM HAMILTON, the Voice of the Guardians, will enter his 31st season of calling Cleveland Guardians baseball games on the radio in 2020. The record for most game days between no-hitters is 535, connecting Bobby Burkes August 8, 1931 no-hitter for the Washington Senators to Paul Deans September 21, 1934 no-no for the St. Louis Cardinals. 9 Terry Pluto, Barkers Night, Cleveland Plain Dealer, May 16, 1981: 6-C. 13 Associated Press, Son Makes History, but Mrs. Barker Loses Game in 9th, Cleveland Plain Dealer, May 17, 1981: 8-B. Barker's most notable accomplishment occurred on May 15, 1981 as a member of the Cleveland Indians. On a cold, damp night in Cleveland, Barker pitched the tenth official perfect game in baseball history, defeating the Toronto Blue Jays, 3-0 (the game was originally reported as the ninth perfect game in major league baseball history until the league later changed the criteria for recognizing . He is the most down-to-earth guy youd meet.. Leonard Harold Barker III (born July 7, 1955) is a former Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher. When you have a no-hitter going, guys stop sitting by you, said Barker. That's why some of his clients are startled when they find him swinging a hammer in their home. Len Barker Cleveland Indians pitcher, pitched perfect game May 15, 1981 1979-1983 Municipal Stadium was largely empty the night Indians pitcher Len Barker blanked the Toronto Blue Jays. He was overpowering in 1980 when he had a 19-12 record with a 4.17 ERA. I had just signed that big contract and felt I owed it to the Braves to keep pitching.. Shop Len Barker Perfect Game Box Score Inscribed ROMLB Baseball and more authentic, autographed and game-used items at Amazon's Sports He caught a fly ball off the bat of Ernie Whitt for the final out of pitcher Len Barkers perfect game over the Toronto Blue Jays on May 15, 1981, at the old Stadium. I say, 'No, it's something to be proud of.' Barker was the first perfect game pitcher who did not come to bat during the entire game, with the American League having adopted the designated hitter in 1973. It was probably closer to 6,000 in terms of bodies in the seats although at least 60,000 claim to have seen it. In 1981, Len Barker pitched the Indians play-by-play announcer Matt Underwood has captured the tone of Cleveland in 1981, when a baseball strike hit, the Indians hosted the All-Star Game, and Len Barker was perfect. Barker's perfect game is the most recent no-hitter thrown by a Cleveland pitcher. DEDICATED: He was a fixture during the regular season and performed at three All-Star Games, three World Series and was there the night Len Barker pitched a perfect game for Cleveland in 1981. More From This Game. Kuiper returned to broadcast for the Giants in 1994, where he has remained since. 2022 World Cup. [2] Barker never once reached ball three against any Blue Jay hitter. len barker perfect game announcerscan you use snoo without sleep sackcan you use snoo without sleep sack The legendary Dave Duncan, then the Indians pitching coach, told Sports Illustrated at the time that he felt like something special was going to happen based on what he saw from Barker in the bullpen before the game. I thought we had him in the ninth, Toronto pitcher Mark Bomback would later say. I had a giant spur in the ligament. Castro hit a ball sharply to shallow right on McKenzies 100th pitch. Barker is one of the few pitchers in baseball history who can speak with authority about that. He scored on a single by George Bell to make the final score 4-1. Another fastball clanked against the press box during a game in Sacramento. As of the start of the 2016 season, Barkers gem was the last no-hitter thrown by a Cleveland pitcher. On May 15, 1981, Len Barker of the Cleveland Indians threw a perfect game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Cleveland Stadium, the tenth perfect game in Major League Baseball history. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. Cleveland hasnt had a no-hitter since Len Barker threw a perfect game against Toronto on May 15, 1981. Sports. "WKYC was kind enough to let us use their archives," he said. 5 Bob Sudyk, Perfecto, The Sporting News, May 30, 1981: 11. If they did, the late Joe Tait and Bruce Drennan called the action on Channel 43. I could throw it any time, almost anywhere I wanted for a strike.. The event was notable on two accounts: It was the first game played after a lengthy players' strike and gave Barker the opportunity to pitch two scoreless innings before 72,086 fans in his home stadium. Years later many more Tribe fans would swear they were there. He also has three children, Carly, Troy and Lyle with his previous wife, Bonnie. I could throw anything, anywhere I wanted. Or a baserunner in what became Clevelands 11-0 victory over Detroit on Aug. 15. Ironically, 1981 was not his best season in the big leagues. At the time he told the press when he was in the Instructional League a pitch slipped and he threw it over the press box. But I thought one of us would throw a no-hitter back then.. It wasnt breaking much, but the rotation was so tight it was almost the perfect curve.. His arm grew worse. I was so nervous at the end that I dropped the ball on the mound one time. Still, to him, it doesn't feel like three decades have passed since he made baseball history on May 15, 1981, by pitching a perfect game against Toronto. We have good kids. Len Barker's perfect game on May 15, 1981, is the last no-hitter by anyone in a Cleveland uniform. Phone: 602.496.1460 Ernie Whitt pinch-hit for Buck Martinez. Cleveland sat atop the American Leagues East Division. I had total command. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. I knew that I had good stuff, maybe awesome stuff, said Barker. Baseball in Cleveland in the 1980s was a pretty dreary affair. Lenny didnt want to come to the park, said his wife, Bonnie. CLEVELAND, Ohio - Indians fans, by generation, have their share of memorable seasons to recall: Most recently, 2016, for the World Series. Forty years ago,. Not only did he record a perfect game, but he threw only 19 balls in the contest. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. [1] The Indians defeated the Blue Jays 3-0, as Barker did not allow a baserunner. Guerrero is on the Dominican Republic roster for this months World Baseball Classic. 0 0 Less than a minute. Hed have a few bumpy starts after the perfecto, but after the seven-week players strike his early season dominance helped him make the All-Star team that year. len barker perfect game announcersguardrail common sensorguardrail common sensor Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 1982 Fleer Len Barker/Bo Diaz Perfect Game #639 Cleveland Guardians at the best online prices at eBay! Terry Pluto looks back on Lenny Barker's perfect game 40 years ago, the last time a Cleveland pitcher recorded a no-hitter. He made out financially, however. The first was thrown by Addie Joss on October 2, 1908, against Chicago. Faces 27 men, retires them all, eleven strikeouts. This is, unfortunately, the second amazing Wine & Gold announcer to pass away in recent times. Barker was a hard thrower, who early in his career struggled with his control. This article related to a baseball league, competition or tournament is a stub. Unless someone can throw one in the next nine days, the no-no-hit streak will reach a full 40 . In the Blue Jays second, Damaso Garcia sent a line drive to left-center that Manning ran down and snared for the final out. By 1981, he carried several starts into the fifth inning without allowing a hit. Former Tribe manager Dave Garcia labeled him The Big Donkey. It was a term of endearment. The slugger hit .274 with 32 homers and 97 RBIs in 160 games last year. len barker perfect game announcersrob roy macgregor grandchildrenrob roy macgregor grandchildren On that cool night in Cleveland, Barker shut down the Blue Jays. Then when they flashed the trivia question (on the center-field scoreboard), I was sure he was jinxed.15 The trivia question, which had been selected that morning? In the fourth inning, Barker struck out Moseby and Bell, his first two strikeouts of the game. Free and fast shipping on 100% authentic Len Barker sports memorabilia, collectibles and authentic autographs. From 1983 through 1987 he posted a 4.88 ERA while going 20-34. Emmanuel Clase worked a perfect ninth for his eighth save in 10 chances. Well, everybody except for the Toronto Blue Jays. The Indians defeated the Blue Jays 30, as Barker did not allow a baserunner. [1] On a cold, damp night in Cleveland, Barker pitched the tenth official perfect game in baseball history, defeating the Toronto Blue Jays, 30 (the game was originally reported as the ninth perfect game in major league baseball history[4] until the league later changed the criteria for recognizing a perfect game). I was thinking about going up and pointing to center field to show Barker where I was going to hit the ball, said Whitt. My big pitch was my curveball. The team boasted Joe Charboneau in his sophomore season after winning Rookie of the Year honors. He also handled Len Barkers perfect game in 1981. I dont have a funny bone in my right arm, he said. The Indians havent completed a no-hitter since Len Barkers perfect game in 1981, the longest current drought in the majors. Barker pitched four years after leaving the Tribe, retiring at the end of the 1987 season. And the National League would win, 5-4. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Leonard Harold Barker III (born July 7, 1955) is a former Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher.He pitched the tenth perfect game in baseball history. cleveland.com. That also meant it was the first perfect game against a lineup with a DH. Elwell ended up at a golf course, hunched over the front seat of the car, listening to the remainder of the game. Register now to join us on March 10-12, 2023, in Phoenix, AZ. It was Humber's first career complete game, although he had come Castro hit a ball sharply to shallow right on McKenzies 100th pitch. Which he had actually done once in Boston in 1978. There's great footage here, including announcer Bruce Drennan interviewing Barker as a team rejoices. I thought it might upset Barkers concentration.7 Whitt did hit the ball to center field, just not too deep. Len Barker has pitched a perfect ball game. During an 11-year baseball career, Barker compiled 74 wins, 975 The 24-year Barker was selected for the 1981 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, held in Cleveland on August 9. Grossi, who eventually went on to cover the Cleveland Browns and the NFL for the Plain Dealer and later ESPN, saw his byline crisscross the country. Barker never once reached ball three against any Blue Jay hitter. Entdecke 1985 Fleer Len Barker signierte Baseballkarte in groer Auswahl Vergleichen Angebote und Preise Online kaufen bei eBay Kostenlose Lieferung fr viele Artikel! While he gave up five runs in six and a third in his first start of the season on April 15 he had tossed a seven-hit shutout against the Royals on April 22. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. It came back in the eighth inning, but then we lost it in the ninth.13 Unlike Bill Elwell, Emogene did not leave her home in search of better reception. Jacoby would be a two-time All-Star who would hit 120 homers in an Indians jersey. Which two teams had never been involved in a no-hitter? A perfect game for Lenny Barker! Partly due to this, he did not make the major leagues for good until 1979.[2]. Warming the bow up slowly over a period of 5-10 minutes by drawing it further and further, the bow was brought to a 35 inch draw. Len Barker being mobbed on the field, the Cleveland Indians win it, 3-0. 5-23-81 White Sox at California (Sox score 15 runs) WGN-TV broadcast. The answer? Rick has worked as a color commentator since 1990 for Indians telecasts. Cronkite School at ASU Barker's pitching was so consistent that he never once reached ball three against any Blue Jay hitter! His magic moment with the Indians, however, came on an otherwise routine play. The final out of the game was a fly ball caught by Rick Manning in short center field. Manning went to third on the play and scored on Andre Thorntons sacrifice fly. If you have to lose Im glad to lose to a guy who pitched a perfect game to beat me, said Toronto starter Luis Leal. Meanwhile, Indians public-relations man Bob DiBiasio had his own challenges. Cleveland has the longest no-hitter drought in the majors its last one was Len Barkers perfect game in 1981. The wind pushed it to the seats, but Harrah was not to be deterred. The Indians defeated the Blue Jays 30, as Barker did not allow a baserunner. Heres the SportsTime Ohio schedule for 1981 Revealed (subject to change, with more dates in the works): If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Munch Bishop: A man with a big heart has major heart surgery. Barker's no-hitter was the 14th in club history, joining the ranks of Dennis Eckersley, Bob Lemon, Ray Caldwell, Addie Joss who tossed two and Bob Feller who threw three. Moseby was credited with a double. I hope he does better next time.14 I thought we had him in the ninth, Toronto pitcher Mark Bomback said. Not only is that the last perfect game in Tribe history, it's the last no-hitter by a Cleveland pitcher. 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