TURN BACK THE CLOCK-1968: BACK-TO-BACK NO-HITTERS!

Today’s “Turn Back the Clock” card celebrates those two straight magical days in September, 1968, when Gaylord Perry no-hit the St. Louis Cardinals, only to have Cardinals pitcher Ray Washburn return the favor the very next day:

Of course, being the “year of the pitcher”, anything regarding pitching feats was possible (can you imagine if Koufax was still playing that season?!), but two straight no-no’s? Just amazing!
On September 17th, Gaylord Perry faced none other than pitcher of the universe that season, Bob Gibson.
But it would be Perry to come out on top that day, (helping to explain just HOW Gibson could have lost nine games that year), allowing only two balls hit out of the infield that day, winning the game 1-0 on a home run by none other than Ron Hunt in the first inning!
Perry walked two, while striking out nine on his way into the baseball record books, collecting his 15th win of the season and lowering his earned run average to 2.46.
Not to be outdone, and with the National League pennant already in the bag for the Cardinals, Ray Washburn took to the mound the very next day and kept the Giants hitless himself, though walking five batters.
Curt Flood and Mike Shannon each drove in a run, giving Washburn all the offensive support he needed that historic day.
What is amazing is that he lowered his ERA to a sparkling 2.28 to go along with Gibson’s incredible 1.13, yet the Giants losing pitcher that day was none other than Bobby Bolin, who allowed two runs to the Cardinals, “ballooning” HIS ERA to 1.96!
Again, the “year of the pitcher” indeed!
Imagine getting to see that season unfold! Wish I could have...

A CAREER CAPPING MISSING CARD: 1971 RAY WASHBURN

Merry Christmas everyone! Hope you are all well and also gearing up for the new year. Was a bit strange going to the in-laws yesterday for Christmas Eve in my shorts and a t-shirt! Balmy Northeast this year...
Today I serve up a “missing” or “Career-Capping” 1971 Topps card for former no-hit pitcher Ray Washburn.
Take a look:

A “Bonus-Baby” when signed by the St. Louis Cardinals back in 1960, Washburn was closing out a 10 year career in 1970 with 35 appearances for the Cincinnati Reds, the only games he’d appear in outside the Cardinals as a Pro.
He posted a 4-4 record while sporting a rough 6.93 Earned Run Average, mainly as an arm out of the bullpen.
His best season was 1968, the “Year of the Pitcher”, when he went 14-8 with a sparkling 2.26 ERA and four shutouts, helping the Cardinals to the World Series, but unfortunately would lose, to the Detroit Tigers in seven games.
He’d also go and pitch a no-hitter against the San Francisco Giants that season, on September 18th, which came a day after Gaylord Perry did the very same thing against the Cardinals! This was the first time in Major League history where there were no-hitters on consecutive days between two teams.
Easily the highlight of his career, Washburn would end up 72- 64, with a 3.53 ERA and 10 shutouts over 239 games, 166 of which were starts, and 1210 innings of Major League work.