July 9
Larry Dierker Finally gets his no hitter
July 9 , 1976 — – Larry Dierker tosses the fifth no-hitter in franchise history, a 6-0 gem over Montreal . He supports his own cause with a sacrifice fly while batterymate Ed Herrmann drives in two, one on his first National League homer . Dierker fans Pepe Mangual and Jim Lyttle before Mike Jorgensen taps out to first for the final out. He improves his record to 8-8. Dierker, who had previously thrown two one-hitters, strikes out eight, including the first two in the 9th.
Joe Kerrigan’s first major-league appearance was a relief stint for the Expos had an interesting circumstance, “I knocked [Dierker] down with a pitch in the eighth inning,” Kerrigan later remembered, “and all the fans were booing me.”
More on Larry
Larry Dierker used his fastball, curveball, screwball, slider, and changeup to reach double figures in victories nine times, and in 1969 became the first Astro to win 20. Coveted by 18 ML teams, the 6′ 4″ Hollywood, CA native signed with Houston and debuted on his 18th birthday in 1964. By 1969 Dierker had become the anchor of a staff that featured Don Wilson, Denny Lemaster, and Tom Griffin. Dierker, along with Jim Wynn, was one of the few highlights on a mediocre Astros squad.
His 1967 campaign was shortened by military service, and in 1973 he suffered a shoulder injury. On July 9, 1976 Dierker no-hit the Expos; the Montreal manager was Karl Kuehl, who had signed him. “I didn’t think I would ever do it,” exclaimed Dierker upon finally pitching a no-hitter after four near-misses. He left the Astros in 1976 as their career leader in virtually every pitching department.
Dierker remained close to the Astros organization after retiring in 1977. After two years spent working in the team’s front office, he was hired as the Astros’ radio and TV color commentator in 1979. In 1997 Dierker was named to replace Terry Collins (fired after a string of second-place finishes) as the team’s manager, leading the team to an 84-78 record and a spot in the postseason for the first time in eleven years. Although Dierker’s club was swept in three games by the NL East champion Atlanta Braves, it was an impressive showing for a rookie manager who’d never before skippered a team at any level.
The following season, the Astros held a comfortable lead in the NL Central in late July when they traded several minor league prospects to Seattle for dominating lefthander Randy Johnson. Propelled by Johnson’s 10-1 run as an Astro, Houston streaked to a club-record 102 wins and found themselves favored by many to reach the World Series. Their dreams of a pennant came to a sudden halt, however, when San Diego’s pitching staff shut down the hard-hitting Astros and defeated them three games to one in the Division Series. Dierker received some consolation after the season when he was named National League Manager of the Year.
Dierker’s popularity in Houston was never more evident than in June, 1999, when he collapsed with a grand mal seizure in the Astros dugout during a game with San Diego. The game was suspended as Dierker was rushed to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with a dislodged collection of blood vessels in his brain. A month after his surgery, Dierker returned to the team and was greeted in his first game back by a sea of well-wishers; most of the Astrodome fans wore Hawaiian shirts (Dierker’s favored off-duty apparel) and leis in honor of their beloved skipper.
Did you know?
July 9, 1946 – With seven Red Sox teammates on the American League squad, Ted Williams stages a power show with two homers, two singles, a walk, 4 runs scored, and 4 RBI to lead the AL to a 12 – 0 laugher over the National League at Fenway Park. The highlight of the 1946 All-Star Game is Williams’s home run off a Rip Sewell blooper pitch.
TRIVIA:
Who holds the record for the most runs batted in by a Yankee shortstop in one season?
Hint: #1 His teammates called him “Broadway” and with good reason.
ALSO:
July 9 1951 – At a joint meeting between players and owners, agreement is reached on night curfews and the retention of the reserve clause. Nineteen years later, Curt Flood would challange the clause and in 1972 a players strike forced owners into arbitration which eventually lead to the beginning of Free Agency after the 1975 season.
July 9, 1969, At Shea Stadium in front of record, 59,083 fans 24-year-old Tom Seaver of the New York Mets comes within two outs of pitching a perfect game.
Seaver surrenders a bloop single to Jimmy Qualls of the Chicago Cubs, Qualls was hitting 242 at the time. Seaver will settle for a one-hitter, will take a no-hitter into the ninth inning three times for the Mets, will finally get his no-no in 1978 against St. Louis pitching for the Reds.
July 9, 1973 — Interrupting Board Chairman M. Donald Grant’s pep talk during a team meeting, Mets reliever Tug McGraw shouts out the words, “Ya Gotta Believe,” which will become the rallying cry for the club, climbing out of the cellar en route to the NL pennant. Although New York beats Houston, 2-1, in 12 innings, their closer’s words of encouragement will not immediately light a fire under the team, as they will continue to struggle until the middle of August.
July 9, 1991 Cal Ripken Jr.’s three-run home run lifts the American League to a 4 – 2 win over the National League in the annual All-Star Game. Andre Dawson homers for the NLers who lose for the 4th straight year. Ripken, who also won the pre-All-Star Game Home Run Derby, is named the game’s MVP. Tony LaRussa becomes the first manager with three straight All-Star victories.
July 9 1996 – The National League blanks the American League 6-0. In al All-Star game in Phillies Veteran stadium In a game that nearly saw the end of Cal Ripkens consecutive game streak. All-Star teammate Roberto Hernandez accidently break Ripken’s nose the night before during a group photo mishap. Much to Hernandez’s relief Ripken took batting practice and played in the next days mid-summer classic.
July 9, 2011 Derek Jeter becomes the 28th member of the 3000 hit club with a 5-for-5 day against the Tampa Bay Rays at New Yankee Stadium. The second of the 5 hits, a homer off David Price in the 3rd inning, gets him to the milestone. He then adds two singles and a double as the Yankees defeat the Rays, 5 – 4.
