NO-HITTERS SPECIAL SUB-SET: PHIL NIEKRO. AUGUST 5TH, 1973

Next up in my on-going journey celebrating no-hitters through the 1970’s is the very first gem tossed for the Braves after relocating to Atlanta, Hall of Famer Phil Niekro’s No-No tossed against the San Diego Padres on August 5th:

Niekro used a mix of fastballs and sliders during the first seven or so innings of the no-hitter, then switched to a heavy knuckleball for the final two innings, striking out four while walking three, improving his record to 11-5 and lowering his earned run average to 3.44 in the 9-0 win.
Dusty Baker and Frank Tepedino both helped the cause with two RBIs each, while lead-off hitter Ralp Garr went 3-for-3 with three runs scored for the bulk of the Braves offense.
Niekro finished his no-hitter on this Sunday afternoon in just under 2 1/2 hours in front of only 8,748 in attendance watching two teams struggling to stay out of the basement, the Padres at 37-73 and the Braves at 52-64.