Pitching a no-hitter is an extremely troublesome enterprise. Up to now, there have solely been 322 no-hitters in MLB historical past. As pitching is about talent, within the vacuum of 1 recreation, luck performs an enormous function.
An surprising gust of wind can push the ball simply outdoors the vary of an outfielder’s glove. An uneven patch of grime may cause the ball to bounce awkwardly simply previous a diving shortstop. The components outdoors of a pitcher’s management are why a few of the greatest gamers to throw a baseball have by no means had a no-hitter.
All of this build-up illustrates simply how particular Pittsburgh Pirate pitcher Dock Ellis’ 1970 no-hitter was. Not solely did Ellis must have the precise pace and motion on his pitches and the luck concerned with fielding routine floor balls and pop flys — however he additionally needed to do all this in the course of an intense LSD journey.
What follows is the story of how Dock Ellis made baseball and psychedelic historical past.
Dock Ellis Makes Historical past: A Wild LA Evening
The night time earlier than that fateful recreation, Ellis visited a buddy in Los Angeles. He spent the night time ingesting and partying, including LSD to the combination at one level.
Ellis awakened the subsequent morning in a daze. He couldn’t work out what time it was, not to mention the date. Most significantly, Ellis forgot that he needed to pitch a recreation in San Diego later that afternoon.
In a short lived state of *idgaf*, Ellis took one other drop of acid at midday. Two hours into his journey, Ellis’ girlfriend (and journey accomplice) checked out a newspaper and sprung up saying “Dock, you’re pitching today!”
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The reminder got here simply in time as Ellis was in a position to make it to the airport to catch a flight to San Diego. A brief hour later and Ellis was at San Diego Stadium — a full 90 minutes earlier than he was set to hit the mound. And whereas microdosing psychedelics has a popularity for heightening consciousness and bettering self-expression, Ellis knew his macro-dose set him up for a wild journey. What he didn’t know was that this wild journey would make historical past, not solely within the realm of psychedelics however on the planet of baseball as effectively.
Flip On, Tune In, No-Hit
The truth that Ellis managed to pitch that night time, not to mention pitch a no-hitter, is nothing in need of a small miracle. Ellis recollects not having the ability to really feel the ball or see the alerts his catcher was throwing. As Ellis put it,“I was zeroed in on the [catcher’s] glove, but I didn’t hit the glove too much.”
Because the innings glided by, Ellis’ LSD journey acquired an increasing number of intense. By the fourth inning, Ellis began hallucinating, seeing Richard Nixon instead of the house plate umpire, imagining that he was “…pitching a baseball to Jimi Hendrix.” The rock and roll legend, naturally, “…was holding a guitar and swinging it over the plate.”
In his excessive state, Ellis hit a batter and walked seven extra. Some batters even made contact along with his wild pitches, inflicting a frazzled Ellis to leap out of the way in which in concern. Equal elements confused and euphoric, Ellis remembers chewing his gum till it “… turned to powder.” Nonetheless, on the finish of 9 innings, not a single San Diego Padre batter was in a position to get successful.
Ellis’s ultimate stat line for the night time was 9 innings pitched, 8 complete walks, 1 hit batter, 6 strikeouts, and — most significantly — 0 hits.
Dock Ellis’ Legacy
After 12 years, 5 groups, and 1 all-star recreation look — Dock Ellis retired within the spring of 1980. In 1984, Ellis was lastly prepared to inform the world about his spectacular feat. He sat down with San Francisco LSD publication Lysergic World and shared the total particulars of his legendary efficiency.
Up to now, the MLB has not launched the total footage of Ellis’ no-hitter. Nevertheless, you possibly can watch some clips from the 2014 documentary in regards to the efficiency No No: A Dockumentary.
Although the LSD no-hitter would come to outline Ellis — who handed away in 2008 — and his MLB profession, he was way more than that. Ellis’ was an activist who steadily spoke out in regards to the MLB’s points with institutionalized racism. After spending his taking part in profession coping with substance points associated to amphetamines, Ellis’ acquired sober after retirement and devoted his time to serving to prisoners kick their very own addictions.
