Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Bobo Holloman Pitches No-Hitter in First Major League Game

Bobo Holloman played for one season in the American League with the St. Louis Browns in 1953. In 22 career games, Holloman pitched 65.1 innings and posted a win-loss record of 3–7 and a 5.23 earned run average (ERA).

Bobo Holloman 

Holloman served in World War II before starting his professional baseball career. From 1946 to 1952, he gradually rose up the minor leagues, and got a spring training invitation from the Chicago Cubs in 1950. After the 1952 season, he was signed by the St. Louis Browns, who played him on the major league roster. He made his debut April 18, and in his first start on May 6, he threw a no-hitter, one of two players to do so in his first start. Holloman played in 22 games that season for the Browns before being released. He spent the rest of 1953 and 1954 in the minor leagues before retiring from the game. (Click on all photos to enlarge)

Monday, May 5, 2014

Mets Break Record of Browns Set in 1914

When Jenrry Mejia grounded out to end the third inning Saturday night, he helped Mets pitchers make history. Said Mets pitchers have, at this writing, begun the 2014 season by going 0-for-46 at the plate. That's a modern-day record (i.e., from 1900 onward).
The current Mets had been tied with the 1914 St. Louis Browns, whose pitchers went hitless in their first 45 ABs of the season. The 1932 Red Sox check in at third with a 0-for-44 start.

Browns No-Hit Trivia on Today's Date

1917 — Bob Groom of the Browns duplicated teammate Ernie Koob's feat of the previous day by pitching a 3-0 no-hit victory against the Chicago White Sox in the second game of a doubleheader in St. Louis.
1953 — Bobo Holloman of the St. Louis Browns pitched a 6-0 no-hitter against the Philadelphia Athletics in his first major league start. He never pitched another complete game in the majors.