NO-HITTERS SPECIAL SUB-SET: MILT PAPPAS, SEPTEMBER 2ND, 1972

Time to add one of the more famous no-hitters of the decade to the long-running sub-set of gems of the 1970’s, that of Chicago Cubs pitcher Milt Pappas and his near-perfect game on September 2nd, 1972:

Pappas took the mound against the San Diego Padres on that afternoon, and proceeded to set each and every batter down one by one.
In the meantime, with the help of Don Kessinger and his three runs batted in, along with one each by Jose Cardenal, Bill North, Carmen Fanzone and Jim Hickman, the Cubs gave Pappas a healthy eight run lead going into the ninth inning, perfect game intact.
In the top of the ninth, Pappas got lead-off hitter Johnny Jeter to line out to the outfield, followed by a groundout to short by Fred Kendall.
The stage was set for Pappas to throw the first perfect game since Jim Hunters gem in 1968, and up came light-hitter Larry Stahl to pinch-hit for pitcher Al Severinson.
With young Bruce Froemming umpiring behind the plate, Pappas worked the count to 3-2, then proceeded to throw a ball that Stahl took, but could have gone either way.
Froemming called a ball to the shock of everyone in Wrigley Field, most of all Pappas, and the place went nuts.
Pappas settled down eventually and proceeded to get the next batter Garry Jestadt to pop-out to the second baseman to secure the no-hitter, but for years Pappas would say he could never appreciate or enjoy the no-hitter because of what he felt was a missed call for that third strike.
Years later Pappas and Froemming would joke about that day, but Pappas would still say the “missed” call hurt, denying him of a special place in Major League history.
Nevertheless, Pappas would throw the last Cubs no-hitter until Carlos Zambrano threw one in 2008, a span of 36 years.

MISSING IN ACTION- "IN ACTION" #58: MILT PAPPAS

Here’s a missing 1972 “In-Action” card for former pitcher Milt Pappas, who sadly passed away a couple of months ago:

Pappas was in the middle of a career resurgence of sorts in the early 1970’s, as he posted two straight 17-win seasons for the Cubbies after a nice long career that began in 1957 with the Baltimore Orioles.
Oddly enough the 1972 season, his second to last season as a Major League pitcher, could arguably considered his best, when he went 17-7 with a 2.77 earned run average and three shutouts over 29 starts and 10 complete games.
On September 2 of that season he pitched a near perfect game when he no-hit the San Diego Padres, giving up a walk to the 27th batter after having him 2-2, with Pappas fuming that home plate umpire called the last two borderline pitches balls.
Reportedly Pappas was STILL angry about it decades later before he passed.
After being released by the Cubs before the 1974 season he decided to retire, at the young age of only 33 and already winning over 200 games.
He was actually the very first pitcher to win 200+ games without posting a 20-win season (since joined by many).
For his 17-year career Pappas finished with a 209-164 record along with a nice 3.40 ERA and 1728 strikeouts over 520 appearances, 465 of them starts, with 43 shutouts.

THEN AND NOW #34: MILT PAPPAS 1974

Next up on my "Then and Now" series is former pitcher Milt Pappas, who put together a nice 17-year career before retiring after the 1973 season.

Check out the card:

Pappas was one of those few guys that actually had a "career capper" card of sorts since he retired AFTER Topps set up their set for the new year.

In this case, Pappas appears in the '74 set even though he was already done with Major League ball.

Therefore that is why I have him here on a 1974 template, which came out nice and clean.

Pappas was only 34 years old when he retired, even with the 17-year career, as he came up with the Baltimore Orioles as an 18-year old back in 1957.

Though never a 20-game winner or big strikeout guy, he did have consistent, solid years that led him to a 209-164 record with a 3.40 E.R.A., 43 shutouts and 1728 strikeouts as he pitched for the Orioles, Reds, Braves and Cubs.

A little historical footnote: when Pappas won his 200th game in 1972, he became the first pitcher in Major League history to reach that mark without a 20-win season.