I can hardly say there are too many things that happened 22 years ago that I have full recollection of. One of them happened on July 1st, 1990. Andy Hawkins, who had more success in his career pitching for the San Diego Padres than the New York Yankees, threw a no-hitter for the Yankees against the Chicago White Sox. He managed to lose the game, but he lost the game clearly because of his defense. MLB took the no-hitter away when it clarified the rule a year later. The guy did his job, so he deserves credit for accomplishing the feat.
The Yankees failed to score throughout the game giving Hawkins, and his teammates little margin for error. A scoreless tie going into the bottom of the 8th, Hawkins retired the first two While Sox batters. Then Sammy Sosa hit a routine ground ball to 3B Mike Blowers which was misplayed for an error. It was obvious the error got to Hawkins who walked the next two batters to load the bases. Ivan Caledron then hit a fly ball to right field which bounced off the glove of RF Jesse Barfield for an error allowing the game's first runs. The very next batter hit a fly ball to LF which was dropped by Jim Leyritz making it 4-0. Since the game was played in Chicago, the White Sox did not need another time at bat. That sole reason cost Hawkins a no-hitter.
Personally, I don't think the ruling was fair. If he was pitching at home, he gets credit for the no-hitter. He loses out because of the home team not batting when they have the lead in the bottom of the 9th inning. And talk about unlucky, three two-out errors are responsible for the 4 unearned runs that decide the game. No-hitters that have had as many as six pitchers count, and there have been plenty pitchers that have given up runs while throwing a no-hitter. I don't see MLB doing anything about this, but it still is an injustice. Perhaps not as much of an injustice than what happened to Detroit's Armando Galarraga.
The Yankees failed to score throughout the game giving Hawkins, and his teammates little margin for error. A scoreless tie going into the bottom of the 8th, Hawkins retired the first two While Sox batters. Then Sammy Sosa hit a routine ground ball to 3B Mike Blowers which was misplayed for an error. It was obvious the error got to Hawkins who walked the next two batters to load the bases. Ivan Caledron then hit a fly ball to right field which bounced off the glove of RF Jesse Barfield for an error allowing the game's first runs. The very next batter hit a fly ball to LF which was dropped by Jim Leyritz making it 4-0. Since the game was played in Chicago, the White Sox did not need another time at bat. That sole reason cost Hawkins a no-hitter.
Personally, I don't think the ruling was fair. If he was pitching at home, he gets credit for the no-hitter. He loses out because of the home team not batting when they have the lead in the bottom of the 9th inning. And talk about unlucky, three two-out errors are responsible for the 4 unearned runs that decide the game. No-hitters that have had as many as six pitchers count, and there have been plenty pitchers that have given up runs while throwing a no-hitter. I don't see MLB doing anything about this, but it still is an injustice. Perhaps not as much of an injustice than what happened to Detroit's Armando Galarraga.
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