That day, May 15, was one of them. Some teammates called him Large Lenny.. Certainly not the 7,290 who sat through a misty, wet game that began with a first-pitch temperature of 47 degrees, which fell to the 30s by the time the final out was recorded. He threw 246 1/3 innings, leading the American League with 187 strikeouts and 14 wild pitches. He also had nicknames. "WKYC was kind enough to let us use their archives," he said. Mike Hargrove reached first on a fielding error by first baseman John Mayberry. Bruce Zimmermann (2-4) allowed five runs and 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings. His arm grew worse. Terrys Talkin Tribe: Why DeMarlo over Sandy? Len Barker seals a perfect game. Lenny Barker made it look easy.12 (Stieb got a degree of revenge against Cleveland, pitching a no-hitter against the Indians on September 2, 1990, at Cleveland Stadium. Barker continued to pitch with an aching elbow in 1983. By the ninth inning we decided if there was going to be a base hit, it would have to come off a breaking pitch.. Warming the bow up slowly over a period of 5-10 minutes by drawing it further and further, the bow was brought to a 35 inch draw. It wasnt breaking much, but the rotation was so tight it was almost the perfect curve.. He was overpowering in 1980 when he had a 19-12 record with a 4.17 ERA. Hes going to have an outstanding game, Duncan told manager Dave Garcia after watching him warm up in the bullpen.2. len barker perfect game announcerscriminal minds a family affair erikacriminal minds a family affair erika During an 11-year baseball career, Barker compiled 74 wins, 975 TV announcer Fred McCleod being the other. Or a baserunner in what became Clevelands 11-0 victory over Detroit on Aug. 15. On Friday, May 15, 1981, Len Barker of the Cleveland Indians threw a perfect game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Cleveland Stadium, the 10th perfect game in Major League Baseball history. This is, unfortunately, the second amazing Wine & Gold announcer to pass away in recent times. Finally another pinch hitter, Ernie Whitt, lofted a fly ball to center that Rick Manning caught for the final out. Home. Elwell ended up at a golf course, hunched over the front seat of the car, listening to the remainder of the game. I was in my second season as the Tribes baseball writer for the Plain Dealer. It was Humber's first career complete game, although he had come Castro hit a ball sharply to shallow right on McKenzies 100th pitch. He pitched the tenth perfect game in baseball history. CLEVELAND, Ohio - Indians fans, by generation, have their share of memorable seasons to recall: Most recently, 2016, for the World Series. It became awesome. 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. Manning has the longest tenure of any television announcer in team history. The 24-year-old McKenzie then It was the 11th perfect game in Major League Baseball history. (Milo Stewart Jr./National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum) 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. Let's break it down a bit further. That got WKSU sports commentator Terry Pluto thinking back to the last time a Cleveland pitcher did it: Lenny Barkers perfect game in 1981. I was concentrating like crazy to keep myself together.5, Bosetti stepped in to the batters box to lead off the ninth for Toronto. I was so nervous at the end that I dropped the ball on the mound one time. 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. The game was. They had also struggled against the Indians already, with new Indians ace Bert Blyleven having taken a no-hitter into the ninth inning against Toronto only nine days earlier. This was like the next step.. Len Barker's perfect game on May 15, 1981, is the last no-hitter by anyone in a Cleveland uniform. Indians president Gabe Paul's policy of not allowing women in the clubhouse was broken that night when DiBiasio escorted Toronto sportswriter Alison Gordon into the clubhouse. It got to the point where it felt like someone was stabbing my elbow on every pitch, said Barker. The front of Len Barker's 1981 Topps card. Rick has worked as a color commentator since 1990 for Indians telecasts. CLEVELAND, Ohio A week ago, Tribe pitcher Triston McKenzie was perfect. Through the Tribes Fantasy Camp, he met Dave Armstrong a former Vice President at Notre Dame College. His 30-year tenure, along with Rick Manning, is the second-longest The Indians havent completed a no-hitter since Len Barkers perfect game in 1981, the longest current drought in the majors. Indians play-by-play announcer Matt Underwood has captured the tone of Cleveland in 1981, when a baseball strike hit, the Indians hosted the All-Star Game, and Len Barker was perfect.. Baltimore Orioles pitcher Tanner Scott played for Barker at Notre Dame. Thats when Indians starter Len Barker tossed a perfect game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Municipal Stadium. It was probably closer to 6,000 in terms of bodies in the seats although at least 60,000 claim to have seen it. The 6-foot-5, 230-pound Barker had a high leg kick and upbeat personality. "While labor discord hovered over baseball like a dark storm cloud there was sunny optimism that 1981 would be the year of the Indians," viewers hear. "It became kind of a treasure hunt," Underwood said. 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. Dennis Manoloff (@dmansworld474) March 10, 2021 on SportsTime Ohio! Dave Garcia replaced left fielder Joe Charboneau with rookie Larry Littleton in the bottom of the ninth inning. He reached a two-ball count on only eight Toronto batters. Indeed, the reigning AL strikeout king didnt fan a single batter until the fourth inning. I had both of them replaced. He made out financially, however. He pitched the tenth perfect game in baseball history. I say, 'No, it's something to be proud of.' That didnt pan out for them, and they released him before the 1986 season. He last pitched in the majors for the Brewers in 1987, working in 11 games. The Indians defeated the Blue Jays 30, as Barker did not allow a baserunner. Follow Cleveland Guardians Team History, Regular Season Results, Postseason results, and more on ESPN.com broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The first was thrown by Addie Joss on October 2, 1908, against Chicago. The Indians havent completed a no-hitter since Len Barkers perfect game in 1981, the longest current drought in the majors. As of the start of the 2016 season, Barkers gem was the last no-hitter thrown by a Cleveland pitcher. During an 11-year baseball career, Barker compiled 74 wins, 975 The 24-year Barker was selected for the 1981 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, held in Cleveland on August 9. Leonard Harold Barker III (born July 7, 1955)[1] is a former Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher. Joe Tait. The 24-year He stole 168 bases. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Thank you, Joe, for the decades of joy you have brought Cleveland sports fans, the Indians said in a posting. They dont even talk to you on the bench. PHILLIES 10, ANGELS 0 You The 24-year Bieber struck out 11. [1] The trade was initiated by the Braves, who were in a tight race for first in the National League West Division with the Los Angeles Dodgers. 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 fly ball caught by Rick Manning in short center field. Terry Pluto looks back on Lenny Barker's perfect game 40 years ago, the last time a Cleveland pitcher recorded a no-hitter. The next year, Barker's ERA ballooned to 6.35, and he only managed a 29 record. It used to be all these people who claimed they were there, said Barker. He lays out the delayed All-Star Game played in Cleveland that year, and describes one of the greatest games in Indians history. DETROIT (AP) Harold Castro of the Detroit Tigers knocked a clean single to right field to end a perfect game bid by Clevelands Triston McKenzie with two outs in the eighth inning Sunday. len barker perfect game announcers. The wind pushed it to the seats, but Harrah was not to be deterred. His elbow also was starting to bother him. Barker's pitching was so consistent on that night that he never reached ball three against any Blue Jays hitter. Len Barker had a 15-11 record and a 3.90 ERA in 1982.Plain Dealer Historical Collection. He is the most down-to-earth guy youd meet.. He has been at the school since 2010, when he started as pitching coach. Shop with confidence. We rushed to our car and arrived at the park just in time to see the final three outs and yes, write a story. It's a special thing."[6]. On May 15, 1981, Len Barker took control and threw a perfect game for the Tribe! Castro hit a ball sharply to shallow right on McKenzies 100th pitch. Barker's perfecto was the first in the majors since 1968, and just the eighth of the modern era at that time. 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. Len Barker. Partly due to this, he did not make the major leagues for good until 1979. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Tait called Cleveland Indians games for 15 seasons. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. If you have to lose Im glad to lose to a guy who pitched a perfect game to beat me, said Toronto starter Luis Leal. - Herb Score's call of Barker's perfect game The Cleveland Indians recorded the last no-hitter and perfect game in team history on May 15, 1981. Meanwhile, Butler and Jacoby went on to become All-Stars. Our team has a 3.2 grade point average over the last few years, he said. Five weeks into the 1981 campaign - on a misty, 49-degree night at Cleveland Stadium, Len Barker took the mound for the Indians. 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. Butler would go on to star for the Indians, Giants, and Dodgers over the course of a 17-year career that would not end until 1997. Ernie Whitt pinch-hit for Buck Martinez. Barker, however, basically flamed out. 43, May 15, 1981. Former Tribe manager Dave Garcia labeled him The Big Donkey. It was a term of endearment. Im very happy for him.11 Pitcher Dave Stieb said, Im jealous. Underwood cut his teeth on sports docs with his "Addie Joss: Revealed," in 2017, a brilliant short film detailing the well-liked Indians pitcher who threw the first perfect game in team history. Watch. He also handled Len Barkers perfect game in 1981. But my knees went. Shortstop Tom Veryzer charged, gloved, and threw to nip him at first base. That kid had to be thinking about a perfect game, said Len Barker. This article was published in SABRs No-Hitters (2017), edited by Bill Nowlin. Len Barker pitched a Perfect Game on May 15, 1981 for the Cleveland Indians against the Toronto Blue Jays (3-0). He had a form of the early Tommy John elbow reconstruction. Hed have a few bumpy starts after the perfecto, but after the seven-week players strike his early season dominance helped him make the All-Star team that year. Register now to join us on March 10-12, 2023, in Phoenix, AZ.