Barker hung a curveball one of his only bad pitches of the night to Bosetti to lead off the ninth, but Bosetti only got a piece of it and fouled out. And the National League would win, 5-4. [4] "I run into people almost every day who want to talk about it," Barker said in 2006. Clevelands 11-0 victory over Detroit on Aug. 15. The strike began, with one of the initial casualties being the All-Star Game, which was scheduled for Cleveland on July 14. Thats when Indians starter Len Barker tossed Doug Rader ( Texas Rangers) On Sunday, September 30, 1984, Mike Witt of the California Angels threw a perfect game against the Texas Rangers at Arlington Stadium. I was in my second season as the Tribes baseball writer for the Plain Dealer. The documentary was born out of wanting to do something All-Star-related, with this year's Midsummer Classic being played in Cleveland. The legendary Dave Duncan, then the Indians pitching coach, told Sports Illustrated at the time that he felt like something special was going to happen based on what he saw from Barker in the bullpen before the game. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. (He took flak from Paul, but the policy would end.) Barker is one of the few pitchers in baseball history who can speak with authority about that. His defense continued to help him as well. He caught Ernie Whitts fly ball, on May 15, 1981, the final out of Len Barkers perfect game, in one of the most rememberable images in Cleveland sports history; the Indians defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 3-0. 1 year ago Zach Shafron. The Blue Jays continued to march to the plate. At the conclusion of the documentary, he sounds like a fan. A lot of the Blue Jays hitters probably wished they were somewhere else too, but its not like they were likely to have a ton of success no matter who they faced. I dont have a funny bone in my right arm, he said. Hernndez was the third pitcher to throw a perfect game that season but still stands as the last man to complete the feat. 11th year as head baseball coach at Notre Dame College. Get down to the stadium.. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). Leonard Harold Barker III (born July 7, 1955 in Fort Knox, Kentucky), [1] better known as Lenny Barker or Len Barker, is a former Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher. After debuting with the Rangers in September 1976, Barker spend the next three seasons only intermittently sticking in rotations with Texas and Cleveland before going 19-12 with a gaudy 4.17 ERA and a league-high 187 strikeouts for the Indians in 1980. Barker then retired Lloyd Moseby and George Bell to end the first. For 7 2/3 innings, the 24-year McKenzie didnt allow a hit. The battery mate for Barker that evening was Ron Hassey, who went on to catch another perfect game later in his career with pitcher, Dennis Martinez, in 1991. After his playing career, Barker returned to the Cleveland area and founded a construction company with a business partner. Cleveland shortstop Tom Veryzer made a slick play on the ball, however, fielded it behind the mound and threw it to first to get Griffin. Also in the ninth, whoever was operating the Municipal Stadium scoreboard flashed a trivia tidbit about how the Blue Jays were one of only two teams in all of baseball who had never been no-hit. @indians (Bruce Drennan in dugout by then.) He then became a free agent. Overall his 1982 season was probably his best, when he went 15-11 with a 3.90 ERA (106 ERA+). He pitched the tenth perfect game in baseball history. I was with my wife Roberta at a banquet downtown in the old Stouffers Hotel on Public Square. Mike Hargrove reached first on a fielding error by first baseman John Mayberry. Mark Duncan l Associated Press With the 1981 Indians hitting just 39 homers in a 103-game, strike-shortened season, Len Barker Barker pitched his perfect game came on May 15, 1981. Partly due to this, he did not make the major leagues for good until 1979. SUMMARY Career WAR 12.6 W 74 L 76 ERA 4.34 G 248 GS 194 SV 5 IP 1323.2 SO 975 WHIP 1.361 Barker pitched four years after leaving the Tribe, retiring at the end of the 1987 season. Len Barker Position: Pitcher Bats: Right Throws: Right 6-5 , 225lb (196cm, 102kg) Born: July 7, 1955 (Age: 67-225d) in Fort Knox, KY us More bio, uniform, draft, salary info 1x All-Star 25 39 39 39 39 Become a Stathead & surf this site ad-free. Cleveland hasnt had a no-hitter since Len Barker threw a perfect game against Toronto on May 15, 1981. Thank you, Joe, for the decades of joy you have brought Cleveland sports fans, the Indians said in a posting. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. On May 15, 1981, Manning caught Ernie Whitts fly ball, the final out of Len Barkers perfect game, in one of the most memorable images in Cleveland sports history; the In 1981 when Len Barker pitched a perfect game for Cleveland, Duane Kuiper was the second baseman. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. More Local News to Love Start today for 50% off Expires 3/6/23. After debuting with the Rangers in September 1976, Barker spend the next three seasons only intermittently sticking in rotations with Texas and Cleveland before going 19-12 with . Manning went to third on the play and scored on Andre Thorntons sacrifice fly. Kuiper backed up Hall of famer Joe Morgan his first season in San Francisco, and batted .255 in three-plus seasons platooning at second for the Giants before being released by the club on June 28, 1985. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 1982 Fleer Len Barker/Bo Diaz Perfect Game #639 Cleveland Guardians at the best online prices at eBay! Len Barker Biography, Age, Height, Wife, Net Worth, Family It was the first game played after a lengthy players' strike, and Barker pitched two scoreless innings before 72,086 fans in his home stadium. I thought we had him in the ninth, Toronto pitcher Mark Bomback would later say. The team boasted Joe Charboneau in his sophomore season after winning Rookie of the Year honors. Barkers mother, Emogene McCurry, was listening to the game from her home in Trevose, Pennsylvania. Guerrero had an RBI single during the first inning in his lone at-bat. The 24-year He stole 168 bases. Leonard Harold Barker III (born July 7, 1955) is a former Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher. . This was the second perfect game in the Cleveland team's history. Meanwhile, Indians public-relations man Bob DiBiasio had his own challenges. He was overpowering in 1980 when he had a 19-12 record with a 4.17 ERA. Len Barker's perfect game Len Barker's perfect game; Len Barker pitched the 10th TV announcers: Cleveland: Joe Tait and Bruce Drennan: Radio: Cleveland: WWWE (3WE) 1100 AM: Barker's perfect game is the most recent no-hitter thrown by a Cleveland pitcher. Len Barker, 1981. Forty years later, Barker's perfect game still worth celebrating 1982 Fleer Len Barker/Bo Diaz Perfect Game #639 Cleveland Guardians | eBay Due to a baseball strike, the Tribe played only 103 games and the pitching staff completed 33 of its starts. He kept pitching through the pain. More Local News to Love Start today for 50% off Expires 3/6/23. $3230.75. The Indians havent completed a no-hitter since Len Barkers perfect game in 1981, the longest current drought in the majors. Select from premium Cleveland Indians Len Barker of the highest quality. The Tribe won, 3-0. Meanwhile, Butler and Jacoby went on to become All-Stars. len barker perfect game announcers - leopardi.store That is my dream goal, Kyle said. Not only is that the last perfect game in Tribe history, its the last no-hitter by a Cleveland pitcher. He also had nicknames. He scored on a single by George Bell to make the final score 4-1. After his playing career, Barker returned to the Cleveland area and founded a construction company with a business partner. But it was his curve that was breaking and giving the Jays fits. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. It would be delayed to Aug. 9. This article was published in SABRs No-Hitters (2017), edited by Bill Nowlin. I mean the ball was breaking so much Toronto kept asking to see the ball.10, The Blue Jays were accepting and complimentary in defeat. Terrys Talkin Tribe: Why DeMarlo over Sandy? Former Tribe manager Dave Garcia labeled him The Big Donkey. It was a term of endearment. Barker was a big league pitcher for 11 seasons. On a cold, damp night in Cleveland, Barker pitched the tenth official perfect game in baseball history, defeating the Toronto Blue Jays, 3-0 (the game was originally reported as the ninth perfect game in major league baseball history until the league later changed the criteria for recognizing . Those wild pitches in 1980 were no fluke. The Barker family currently resides in Geauga County east of Cleveland. Barker's Perfect Game in 1981 Remains Last No-No for Tribe He has been at the school since 2010, when he started as pitching coach. TOM HAMILTON, the Voice of the Guardians, will enter his 31st season of calling Cleveland Guardians baseball games on the radio in 2020. Cleveland hasnt had one since Len Barkers perfect game on May 15, 1981, against the Toronto Blue Jays. That clip and many others came from Underwood sifting through thousands of hours of footage. He and his wife Eva are the parents of Jared, Blake, and Jacob. Because, on that day, the budding Indians' ace hurled a perfect game, never going to ball three on any batter . The first was thrown by Addie Joss on October 2, 1908, against Chicago. If a baseball season can be viewed as a smooth sail across calm waters until season's end, 1981 was a turbulent storm that shook players, fans and the league to a standstill. I could throw anything, anywhere I wanted. When he had it, he was great. Barker's no-hitter was the 14th in club history, joining the ranks of Dennis Eckersley, Bob Lemon, Ray Caldwell, Addie Joss who tossed two and Bob Feller who threw three. Len Barker had just thrown the 10th perfect game in major-league history. Leonard Harold Barker III (born July 7, 1955) [1] is a former Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher. Castro hit a ball sharply to shallow right on McKenzies 100th pitch. He noticed Barker drop the ball and said, he was so nervous. Arguably the clubs greatest highlight of the entire decade took place on this day in 1981. On May 15, 1981, Manning caught Ernie Whitt's fly ball, the final out of Len Barker's perfect game, in one of the most memorable images in Cleveland sports history; the Indians defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 3-0. Joe Tait (L) with fellow Cleveland Indians broadcaster Bruce Drennan, called the play-by-play at Cleveland Municipal Stadium. Barker, however, basically flamed out. He lays out the delayed All-Star Game played in Cleveland that year, and describes one of the greatest games in Indians history. Len Barker. At the time, Barker's accomplishment drew . He also handled Len Barkers perfect game in 1981. Duncans prediction proved prophetic; Barker never went to a three-ball count on any batter. During an 11-year baseball career, Barker compiled 74 wins, 975 TV announcer Fred McCleod being the other. Scores. Associated Press file Len Barker signs autographs for fans on May 16, 1981, the day after he pitched a perfect game against the Toronto Blue Jays. The final out of the game was a flyout caught by Rick Manning in short center field. It was the first perfect game in the majors since Catfish Hunter, then of the Oakland As, beat the Minnesota Twins on May 8, 1968. This material may not On May 15, 1981, Len Barker of the Cleveland Indians threw a perfect game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Cleveland Stadium, the tenth perfect game in Major League Baseball history. Barker serves as the head coach for Division II Notre Dame College in South Euclid. He looked awesome to me, said Woods of Barker.6 It was the last of 11 strikeouts for Barker; all of them were of the swinging variety. But I thought one of us would throw a no-hitter back then.. Baseball in Cleveland in the 1980s was a pretty dreary affair. Tag: Len Barker Perfect Game FOD Fireballs Observations of the Day May 10th through 18th 2021. Len Barker in 2010, his first season at Notre Dame College when he was the pitching coach. [1] The Indians defeated the Blue Jays 30, as Barker did not allow a baserunner. From 1983 through 1987 he posted a 4.88 ERA while going 20-34. Catfish Hunter had been the last to record a perfect game, on May 8, 1968, against Minnesota. 5 Bob Sudyk, Perfecto, The Sporting News, May 30, 1981: 11. Date: Jul 28, 2011. He reached a two-ball count on only eight Toronto batters. I had a construction business for a long time, said Barker. He also handled Len Barkers perfect game in 1981. As of the start of the 2016 season, Barkers gem was the last no-hitter thrown by a Cleveland pitcher. Third Baseman Toby Harrah dove into the stands to catch a Willie Upshaw foul pop in the fifth. The perfect game was almost over on the first play of the game when Torontos speedy infielder, Alfredo Griffin, hit a slow roller that died between the mound and second base. His control also had vastly improved. He struck out 11 Blue Jays hitters (all of them swinging) including seven of the last 11 batters. Len Barker tossed the last no-hitter for the Indians over 30 years ago. On May 15, 1981, Len Barker of the Cleveland Indians threw a perfect game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Cleveland Stadium, the tenth perfect game in Major League Baseball history. My curve was the best pitch that night, he recalled. The first was thrown by Addie Joss on October 2, 1908, against Chicago. Welcome to spring time in Cleveland. He grounded out and struck out in his two at-bats; in the ninth inning, he was pinch-hit for by Alvis Woods, who struck out. Not only did he record a perfect game, but he threw only 19 balls in the contest. Find Cleveland Indians Len Barker stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. On August 28 Ted Turner and the Braves, who were fighting to win a second straight NL West crown, acquired him for Brett Butler, Brook Jacoby, and Rick Behenna.

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