The 1-0 no-hitter would end up being the only win he’d post for the Baltimore Orioles after coming over from the Cleveland Indians on waivers.
And it would end up being the last time the Yankees were no-hit in a complete game by a pitcher (the Houston Astros combined for a no-hitter against the Yanks in 2003).
As a kid growing up a Yankee fan during the 1970’s and 1980’s, we’d always be reminded of the “last time the Yanks were no-hit” every time a starter was getting close (Moose Haas, Nolan Ryan, etc).
Before I ever even knew of the incredible career of Wilhelm, I knew of him just for this one fact.
It wasn’t the most memorable of seasons for the future Hall of Famer by any means, as he’d post a combined 3-10 record, though he’d pair that with a great 2.34 ERA, but certainly had one heck of a memorable moment.
Wilhelm would end up pitching 21 seasons in the big leagues, and keep in mind he didn’t start playing until he was 29 years old!
He finished his brilliant career with a 143-122 record with a sparkling 2.52 ERA over 1070 games, the first pitcher to reach 1000 appearances, before retiring after the 1972 season at the ripe old age of 49.
Between 1964 and 1968 the HIGHEST ERA he’d post was 1.99 in ‘64. That’s five straight seasons of a sub-2.00 ERA, all while with the Chicago White Sox.
I also always found it amusing that during his 21-year career he only pitched enough innings in any one season to qualify for the ERA crown twice, in 1952 and 1959, and he led the league in that department both times.
Awesome....
