So today we begin with one of the earliest no-hitters in history, which also happened to be for a new franchise playing in only their ninth game ever, Bill Stoneman and his gem against the Philadelphia Phillies on April 17th, 1969:
The Expos, who were at Connie Mack Stadium sporting a record of 3-5 over their first eight games, had Stoneman starting his third game of the season, with the first two forgettable as he gave up eleven runs over nine combined innings, with six of those being unearned due to shoddy fielding behind him.
But on this day everything fell into place as he’d go on to strikeout eight batters, though walking five, picking up his first win of the year and entering the record books, giving the new franchise a quick moment in Major League history with their first no-hitter.
The Expos went on to win the game 7-0, as opposing starter Jerry Johnson gave up four runs over eight innings before relievers let the game get out of control with another three runs in the ninth inning.
Ironically, Stoneman went on to toss yet another no-hitter, this one at the END of a season, on October 2nd, 1972, joining (especially at the time) a very exclusive club of multiple-no-hit pitchers with yet ANOTHER 7-0 win, this one over the New York Mets.
Despite the heroics here, Stoneman went on to win only 54 games over his eight-year career, finishing up 54-85 with an ERA of 4.08 over 245 appearances and 1236.1 innings pitched, with the 1971 easily his finest when he went 17-16 with an ERA of 3.15 and 251 strikeouts, along with three shutouts over 39 appearances and 294.2 innings.
