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.
