Ken Johnson dies at 82, was only pitcher to throw nine-inning no-hitter and lose
Ken Johsnon, the pitcher behind one of baseball’s most notable anomolies, has died at age 82.
Johnson’s son, Kenneth Jr., confirmed the news to the New York Times on Wednesday, stating his father had battled Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases in his later years and ultimately died from a kidney infection on Nov. 21.
Johnson leaves behind a notable legacy in baseball, though not necessarily for the totality of his career. Johnson spent parts of 13 seasons (1958-70) in the big leagues, suiting up for seven different teams (Athletics, Reds, Astros, Braves, Yankees, Cubs and Expos) while posting a respectable 3.46 ERA over 1,737.1 innings. It’s a career worthy a cap tip, but it’s his remarkable performance on April 23, 1964 that will be most remembered in baseball lore.
While pitching for the Houston Colts .45’s, Johnson allowed no hits to the Cincinnati Reds, yet still took the loss in the game. That marks the only time in MLB history that a pitcher lost despite throwing a nine-inning no-hitter.
As one could easily imagine, the circumstances behind the outing were quite unique. Ironically, right in the middle of it was baseball’s all-time hit king, Pete Rose. Though Rose obviously did not increase his hit total during that game, he did attempt to bunt his way on base in the ninth inning, which in today’s game would be frowned upon due to the unwritten rules of baseball that “prohibit” bunting late in the game to break up a no-hitter.
In the first inning, it’s fine for some reason. But not so much later in the game, and especially not in the ninth inning, regardless of how close the score might be. It’s the type of rule Rose would disregard if it improved his team’s chance of winning, and he had no qualms doing so here, ultimately reaching base after Johnson fielded it and threw wildly to first base.
Two batters later, Rose would come around to score the game’s only run following an error by second baseman Nellie Fox.
In total, Johnson allowed four baserunners, including a pair of walks that occurred before the ninth inning. He wasn’t close to perfection, and he wasn’t close to victory either, as it turned out. The Colt .45s went down in the ninth inning against Cincinnati starter Joe Nuxhall, who went the distance allowing five hits.
“I pitched the best game of my life and still lost,” Johnson said after the game. “A hell of a way to get into the record books.”
There have been five occurrences of teams failing to win despite not allowing a hit in the modern era. The most recent came in 2008, when the Angels no-hit the Dodgers for eight innings and lost 1-0. But those all involved relievers. Johnson was the only pitcher to complete the game and lose.
It’s not the result Johnson wanted, but it ensured that his name and that performance will stand the test of time. He’ll always be the first in this unfortunate and unlucky section of baseball history, and chances are he’ll be the first and only for a good long time to come. That small slice of history likely won’t ease the pain of his friends and family right now, but it guarantees Ken Johnson will be remembered forever.
More MLB coverage from Yahoo Sports:
– – – – – – –
Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Townie813
