Right hand pitcher Fred Toney pitched 12 years from 1911-1923 for the Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, New York Giants and St Louis Cardinals. He pitched for the Giants in the 1921 World Series when they beat the New York Yankees for their second WS Championship. He finished his career with a 139-102 career record and a 2.69 career ERA. For what it's worth, he owns an ERA of 23.63 in his two starts in the 1921 World Series. But it is two amazing feats that put Fred Toney in a class by himself. And they both involve no hitters.
On May 3, 1917, Toney was part of the only 9 inning double no hitter in the history of baseball. While pitching for the Reds, he threw 9 innings of hitless ball against the Cubs. Unfortunately, Cubs starter Hippo Vaughn duplicated the feat, leaving the game scoreless and hitless through 9 innings. Vaughn lost his no hitter and the lead, giving up a run and two hits in the tenth. Toney finished off the Cubs in the 10th to preserve the no hitter. In the history of MLB, Toney is the only pitcher to complete a no hitter for more than 9 innings. Harvey Haddix pitched 12 innings of perfect baseball in a game in 1959 and Pedro Martinez completed 9 perfect innings in 1995. Both pitchers eventually gave up a hit, however.
Toney also owns a more impressive record. This one occured as he pitched in the minor leagues. Toney threw a 17 inning no hitter while pitching for the Winchester Huslers of the Blue Grass League. The team was playing the Lexington Colts. The game was scoreless through 9 and occured on May 10, 1909. Toney completed 17 no hit innings with just 1 walk and struck out 19 in the game. This record will never be broken.
The interesting thing about Toney's feats is the lack of run support he got on both occasions. It has to be frustrating when a pitcher has to go out for another inning after finishing off a 9 inning no hitter. They have to have felt a sense of accomplishment and it has to take something out of them to still have to pitch. Not to mention the resentment the pitcher must feel for getting no run support. 17 no hit innings shows amazing stamina as well a great ability to keep pitching as if the game is fine. So, one of the pitchers in baseball's only 9 inning double no hitter also nearly pitched the equivalent of two no hitters in one game.
On May 3, 1917, Toney was part of the only 9 inning double no hitter in the history of baseball. While pitching for the Reds, he threw 9 innings of hitless ball against the Cubs. Unfortunately, Cubs starter Hippo Vaughn duplicated the feat, leaving the game scoreless and hitless through 9 innings. Vaughn lost his no hitter and the lead, giving up a run and two hits in the tenth. Toney finished off the Cubs in the 10th to preserve the no hitter. In the history of MLB, Toney is the only pitcher to complete a no hitter for more than 9 innings. Harvey Haddix pitched 12 innings of perfect baseball in a game in 1959 and Pedro Martinez completed 9 perfect innings in 1995. Both pitchers eventually gave up a hit, however.
Toney also owns a more impressive record. This one occured as he pitched in the minor leagues. Toney threw a 17 inning no hitter while pitching for the Winchester Huslers of the Blue Grass League. The team was playing the Lexington Colts. The game was scoreless through 9 and occured on May 10, 1909. Toney completed 17 no hit innings with just 1 walk and struck out 19 in the game. This record will never be broken.
The interesting thing about Toney's feats is the lack of run support he got on both occasions. It has to be frustrating when a pitcher has to go out for another inning after finishing off a 9 inning no hitter. They have to have felt a sense of accomplishment and it has to take something out of them to still have to pitch. Not to mention the resentment the pitcher must feel for getting no run support. 17 no hit innings shows amazing stamina as well a great ability to keep pitching as if the game is fine. So, one of the pitchers in baseball's only 9 inning double no hitter also nearly pitched the equivalent of two no hitters in one game.
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