No hitter. Ken Holtzman gets Hank Aaron to closeout the no-hitter

Ken Holtzman former Chicago Cubs Pitcher has passed away April 2024 at the age of 78. Known for tossing two no-hitters for the #Cubs including a no hitter in which he did not strike out even one batter.

[@Buddycoop1]

First memories as a four year old was watching the Cubs in Chicago and Billy was my favorite. Watching this is amazing. He never took his eyes off that ball and adjusted asap to catch it. I don't think people realize how the wind will affect balls at Wrigley. Thank God Hank hit it Billy's way.

[@deloreswillis9224]

Yayyyyyyyyyy

[@rayray4192]

Hank Aaron hitting with no batting gloves, no elbow pads, no jewelry. Hank did not flip his bat when he hit a homer or do a dance. A real baseball player.

[@SteveAustin-jp3ev]

I ai

[@SteveAustin-jp3ev]

I agree

[@rayray4192]

@@SteveAustin-jp3ev Corey Seager won his second World Series MVP. He acts with class and humility. That can’t be said for Garcia who is a pompous ass.

[@SteveAustin-jp3ev]

@@rayray4192 what does this comment by you have do do with me ? I just agreed with your Hank Aaron comment.

[@rayray4192]

@@SteveAustin-jp3ev my last comment has nothing to do with you.

[@buddmannable]

RIP Kenny......At one time Kenny lived in Lincolnshire, IL and in the off season he would come into the sporting goods store where I worked. (I was in Highschool). He was one of the nicest. most down to earth guys I ever met. Talked to everyone.

[@blabberer8950]

Must be different than most pro sports athletes I have met. That is good to hear. I met Patrick Mahomes in his wife last year standing in line for a restaurant in KC. They of course got through right away and acted annoyed people were excited to see them. You never really know someone's persona by interviews on TV, do ya? Anyhow thanks for sharing.

[@bradcrawford1998]

B​@@blabberer8950Patricks wife is a BITCH, period. She acts like she's the star. There have been many negative things said about Brittney on social media. While some may be fabricated I'm sure some are true. She likes drawing attention to herself 😤😤😤

[@robertmasina7388]

Even though Ken Holtzman didn't see any post season play with the Cubs, he got his 3 World Series rings with the Oakland A's in 1972, 1973, and 1974.

[@digitalmojave]

He actually had a fourth ring with the Yankees in '77, though he didn't pitch in that postseason.

[@oshea41]

Second basemen was thisclose to blowing that grounder.

[@derrickgreen2035]

I was there with my uncle and two of my cousins. I was 14 years old never will forget it. When Aaron hit that fly ball I put my head down to write in my scorecard homerun then I heard the crowd and look up and Willaims had the ball. I also had the privilege to be in attendance when Mark Buehrle pitched a perfect game.

[@skipwin9895]

how many lotteries have you won?

[@derrickgreen2035]

@skipwin9895 😀😃😀 unfortunately no lottery wins yet

[@billbeliakoff5589]

I'll always remember Jack Brickhouse and his enthusiasm doing Cubs games. The Cubs could losing 20 - O in the ninth and he'd still find a way to make the game exciting.

[@psymar]

Harry Caray too.

[@shaystern2453]

that morry is a lie

[@thegoose0m1]

Was at this game. Was my first big league game, I was 7 years old. I still remember that catch Billy Williams made in the left field ivy. Santo hit a homer to knock in the Cubs' 3 runs....

[@IknowtheLord]

Great pitcher for the Cubs in the 60"s. Lived in Wilmette at that time. Watched on WGN all the time. I remember Jack Brickhouse and Lou Boudreau well.❤️❤

[@jamesd242]

Lou did the radio, innings 1-3 and 7-9

[@scottforesman7968]

This was my first MLB game-live. Went with my Dad. We sat on the 3rd base side. Much that I do remember. I remember Santo's home run, the bleach-bums in the outfield seats with their yellow hats, the last out with Aaron, and the police lining the field after the game. WOW.

[@debbiebuonafede7677]

I was one of those Bleacher Bum w a yellow hat.

[@stephenkammerling9479]

​@@debbiebuonafede7677That catch by Williams was not final out of the no-hitter. I think it occurred in 7th inning. I don't know who made the final out, but I think it was an infield grounder.

[@gwhiz6958]

Was there, still have program. On a normal day Bad Henry's blast was Waveland-bound. Oddly enough, Santo's homer in first cut through same wind.

[@daniellinehan63]

The peak of a magical season, then......!

[@yragj6556]

Two weeks later I was back in school and the Cubs were in 2nd place.

[@jorgejohnson451]

@@yragj6556Three weeks later.

[@frankzorro7353]

What an unbelievable moment for me, thank you so much. I was 8 years old and a huge cub fan. This was the exact day our family moved from Palatine, Illinois to Indiana. I was glued to this 9 “ b&w and jumping up so many times dodging the big guys moving our stuff. What a tremendous memory grinding my teeth when Aaron, Baker or Carty came to bat. Not positive on the lineup but whatever it was awesome.

[@robertflick259]

I was there, in standing room behind home plate with my beloved late mom and my friend. I am going to the game a week from Sunday. Only my 2nd Wrigley game in 54 years.

[@phillogan3405]

Worth watching just to hear Jack Brickhouse again.

[@raulrizo-patron4311]

2nd baseman's heart stopped breathing as the ball approached him and he almost passed out trying to field it. his body literally locked up. hilarious

[@millypoo7713]

Amazing thing about this no-hitter... Ken Holtzman had 0 strikeouts tossing this gem.

[@richardgerlach5156]

That is amazing!

[@MrRodneywilliam]

I threw two no hitters in high school, and I actually lost one of those games?

[@johnperrigo6474]

That would never happen in today's game. Strikeouts are all too common.

[@charleswinokoor6023]

That’s a hell of a stat.

[@michaelelliott1212]

I'm left-handed. Ken Holzman was my favorite pitcher.

[@scottn.3250]

I'm glad the A's got him. He and Blue Moon Odom (and Darold Knowles) pitched above their weight in the postseason. Unfortunately, as great as he was during the regular season, Vida Blue underperformed in the postseason.

[@litaheffley6990]

Awesome 👌 cool 😎 watched it great 👍 love the cubs my family 👪 ❤ does too

[@paulallen9158]

A family member made it possible for me to sit in the announcers booth while Kenny Holtzman was charting pitches. He was a cool guy to me, letting me order my hot dog before he ordered his.

[@billbernardi7819]

That was my first year as a Cubs fan. I was 11 at the time. Loved Jack Brickhouse and WGN! I wish today’s baseball broadcasts would go back to the single announcer instead of the way they do it today, with 2 or 3 people in the booth and some bimbo in the stands talking nonstop.

[@Maurice895]

Billy saves the day.

[@steverichter9525]

RIP Ken Holtzman.

[@jerryking45]

Throwing a no-hitter in which he didn’t strike out a single batter😮😮😮😮😮. That’s a staggering fact!

[@peterwall583]

Wow that is unbelievable

[@ckcox9244]

I was there, you can see me at the 18 second mark, I'm the kid in the yellow cap

[@dan-vv8gs]

😂

[@JohnFord-il7uj]

Never should have traded Holzman, or of course brock. We could have had the cardnals success in the 1960,s . Never saw the great Billy Williams make a bone headed play in the outfield or bases. Only struck out about every 10 at bats. Couldn't pay him enough in this era. God bless all those guys and good cubs fans. John. F.

[@brianwatt3754]

Saw this entire game on WGN!

[@davidscanlon1244]

If the wind was blowing out, that balls down Kenmore.

[@bobbyg433]

No center field camera yet?

[@jonhowe2960]

Hank: "Hey ump, if you're gonna add half a foot to the strike zone, you should give me a heads up."

[@jimhays4711]

Listened to this game on the radio in my cousin's basement, while drinking a few Old Style cold ones.

[@haroldfloyd5518]

He was never glamorous, but for my money Henry was the best ever. Maybe not as fast as Willie or as strong as Mickey but just consistently great year after year. Very odd to see Hank jawing with the umpire - I’m sure the ump was surprised too.

[@dougbrowne9890]

When baseball was fun. Thanks for sharing.

[@coachfive9656]

Wow listen to the stadium sounds dope You never see ball parks like this anymore Love watching the OG’s play

[@user-yg1mh1sz8n]

I remember watching this game. It was the first no hitter i watched. Glad it was my cubbies 😂😂

[@mikefitz6957]

Damn good catch by Williams.

[@kencummings953]

He had a better one three years later to help preserve Milt Pappas' no hitter (which should have been a perfect game)

[@generalbullmoose]

2:01 - You heard them mention that Bill Heath had been the catcher, but left in the 8th due to injury. Fact: This was Bill Heath's last MLB game.

[@nunyabidnez2729]

I saw many a player furiously trying to pick the ball out of those vines. It often looked like a weed wacker as the vine leaves went flying.

[@stephenkammerling9479]

The proper thing to do with a ball in the vines at Wrigley Field is to raise your arms up, likely facing toward the umpires, and they'll call it a ground rule double if they agree ballis in the vines. If fielder digs into the vines looking for it, the play continues.

[@kendallevans4079]

Ken Holtzman was a good hitter for a pitcher in that day. I think he had a few dingers too.

[@michaelleroy9281]

After this no hitter by Ken Holtzman which was on August 19 1969 things started heading the way down for the Cubs

[@billsiems6514]

Yes - the Cubs were about 2 weeks away from the wheels starting to fall off. After winning a twi-night doubleheader in Cincy, Maloney shut them out in the final game of the series, even though the Cubs hit rockets off him all night. Then, they came home for a weekend 3-game series with the Pirates - and were swept! The 3rd game, Willie Stargell hit the infamous 9th inning HR off Phil Regan to tie the game and the Cubs lost in 11. Hundley could not hang on to a 3rd strike foul tip, and Stargell unloaded afterward. That cut the Cubs' lead in the NL East to 2 1/2 games, going into NY for 2 games, and Philly for 2. We know the rest - black cat game; Selma's pickoff attempt at 3rd base that went down the foul line. Wheels off, out of 1st place, never to return. But how exciting it was until September!

[@us-Bahn]

Fabulous. Two tough Henry Aaron at bats. Fans streaming the field! Where’s Hundley?

[@pshphx]

I was 9 at the time favorite player was Hank Aaron, he flicked his wrist the ball went miles

[@carlweaver3243]

It was all downhill for the Cubs after this game. 4 days earlier, the Mets started their streak of winning 38 of their last 49 games to win the division.

[@billsiems6514]

I saw the handwriting on the wall as the Mets got hot, and Steve Carlton struck out 19 batters against them - but Ron Swoboda hit two 2-run HRs and the Mets won the game, 4-3. Then, later they beat the Phillies in a twi-night doubleheader by 1-0 scores in both games, with the pitchers, Jerry Koosman and Don Cardwell, singling in the runs in each game. I just figured - "That's it!"

[@carlweaver3243]

@@billsiems6514 There's a book by Rick Talley about the '69 Cubs. He was a Beat Writer for one of the Papers in Chicago back then. In it, there's a Chapter devoted to Holtzman where He says that He was talking to Banks one night late in the season while on a Road Trip and Ernie told Him that the Cubs were Not going to win the Pennant because Durocher and a few other Players were playing Scared. Leo was supposed to be this Great Manager and all He did was run the Starters in to the Ground and Overused Jenkins, Holtzman and Hands and Regan.

[@Demy1970]

When baseball was great to watch

[@us-Bahn]

That was a tough final play for Glenn Beckert at 2nd. Aaron’s grounder nearly handcuffed him.

[@timburr4453]

wow that was so close initially...looked like it would go out and the ball drifted into the left field well where he made the catch right in the ivy!

[@miketheyunggod2534]

Caught in the well.

[@pocobull]

Until Joe Blanton homered in the 2008 WS, Ken Holtzman was the last pitcher to hit a home run in a WS game

[@elwoodblues6663]

aug 19th 1965 maloney no hitter also

[@mcmanwich]

"The Andy Frain ushers are having a terrible time trying to contain them!!"

[@64yanks]

They should’ve used the mayor Daley ushers

[@davanmani556]

But Daley wanted to show he was “southside” though the Hamburg Club was Northside.

[@jamesm.3967]

This was the pinnacle of 69…😮

[@mykofreder1682]

These are the highlights because it was regular season and done, the 111-win 2022 Dodgers team that was 1 and done did more than that this team ever did. They get the comeback team award for coming back from being bad.

[@jimregula9705]

I was there with my Dad!

[@drbonesshow1]

Great arm by Billy Williams.

[@graciemaemarie11jones16]

greatest ever world series pitcher. ken holtzman....

[@PlaceStillMatters]

I saw Hank draw a four-pitch walk. Aaron let the umpire know that was ‘Ball 1”. Still, it’s always a big deal to hold a club hitless.

[@eddiecharlie77]

Sad to say that this was their last celebration of the year, they couldn't hold on to first place being overtaken by the Miracle Mets

[@derekdestep40]

What year did the cubs put names of n their uniforms 😊

[@jeffteyrosado9966]

Was that kenny holtsman

[@buddyvilla7393]

Gene Oliver?? Where was Randy Hundley?? Is that Jack Brickhouse on the call??

[@coilmanjoe]

RIP, Ken!

[@skorzeny012]

Wait till night until you point your camera at the TV

[@billymatthews7346]

Against the Atlanta Braves....⚾️

[@s.henrlllpoklookout5069]

Fun fact: Hank Aaron is one of a very few batters to be the last out in 2 no hitters. Another one was Ted Williams

[@kingcassius2586]

Wasn't Harvey Kuenn another one?

[@s.henrlllpoklookout5069]

@@kingcassius2586 yep. Against Sandy Koufax both times

[@derekdestep40]

RIP Kenny

[@USMC-cv5sd]

I think moat of today's leftys would have walked Hank.

[@alanstrong55]

Striking out Hank Aaron was like striking out Dale Mitchell. Not easy. Hank was far better but Dale held his own.

[@SteveAustin-jp3ev]

Fans get tackled beaten by cops in present baseball if they run on field

[@charleswinokoor6023]

Piano Trends?

[@HariSeldon913]

Holtzman lucked out - he didn't have to face Uecker since Bob had retired two years previous. Uecker normally caught Niekro, who started for Atlanta in that game.

[@mikefitz6957]

Ball three, strike two.... Who was this announcer? Nobody tells the count that way...

[@EBthere]

The great Jack Brickhouse.

[@carlweaver3243]

Ball Three, Strike Two Two Outs, Nobody On Ninth Inning The Wind Up Here's The Pitch Watch It Strike Threeeee And The Ballgame Is Allllll Over The Final Score The Cubs 2 The Mets 1 Back With The Highlights In Just A Moment Williams in Left Phillips in Center Savage in Right The Infield Third to First of Santo, Kessinger, Beckert and Banks The Battery of Jenkins and Hundley There's a Liner......Caught by Santo Oh Brother Atta Boy, Ronnie Ok, Here's the Cubs Lineup Kessinger at Short Beckert at Second Williams in Left Santo at Third Banks at First Savage in Right Hundley behind the Plate Phillips in Center And Fergie on the Mound That's the way Jack Brickhouse would describe a baseball game

[@mikefitz6957]

@@carlweaver3243 niiice!

[@Nestor123057]

I know. That caught my attention too. I don't recall ever hearing the count announced like that.

[@sanford943]

As they would say on PTI melancholy trails. Holzman died today

[@Demy1970]

Chicago fans have another excuse to jump on the field, not as good though of Disco Sucks night.

[@skipwin9895]

Thats weird that Hank Aaron was allowed to bat twice in the ninth inning.

[@shaystern2453]

brickhouse was not very good

[@PatrickMcGee-cm5yc]

Lol. Umpire strike call changed that whole at bat for Hank. And Hank let him know his call was horse shit. Which it was. Umpire got caught up in the no hit moment. Possible racism involved. So ya I wasn’t born yesterday to see and understand all this BS!!!!! And yes I am a white dude!!!!!😜