Warren Spahn fires no hitter at 40
On April 28, 1961 – 1961: Just turned 40, Warren Spahn picks up where he left off at 39. The Milwaukee Braves left-hander, who threw the first no-hitter of his career against Philadelphia last September, throws his second today, beating the San Francisco Giants, 1-0.
“I wasn’t as nervous this time as the last time,” Spahn says.
He is the second 40-something to pitch a no-hitter, with only Cy Young being older (Young was 41 when he pitched his third, in 1908). In winning his 290th game, Spahn uses a mixture of sliders, fastballs and screwballs to boost his all-time National League record for shutouts among left-handers to 52.
Only two Giants reach base — Chuck Hiller and Willie McCovey — and both are retired on double plays started by Spahn. The future Hall of Famer strikes out five and faces only 27 batters. He nails down his gem by retiring pinch-hitter Joe Amalfitano on a grounder before a crowd of just 8,518 in Milwaukee.
The only run Spahn needs is provided by Hank Aaron’s single that scores Frank Bolling in the first inning.
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