Clay Buchholz’s Unforgettable No-Hitter

“Doesn’t matter if he throws a no-hitter, he’s going back down.” That’s what Red Sox manager Terry Francona said before rookie Clay Buchholz’s major-league debut in August 2007. The 23-year-old right-hander won that first start but was quickly returned to Triple-A Pawtucket, as planned.

Less than two weeks later, Buchholz got a surprise call-up. On September 1, with just one big-league start under his belt, he was asked to face the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park. What followed was one of the most remarkable nights in Red Sox history.

Boston, looking to snap a four-game skid, gave Buchholz early support. Kevin Youkilis scored in the second, then David Ortiz’s double highlighted a three-run fourth. In the sixth, Youkilis launched a three-run homer to stretch the lead to 8-0. Meanwhile, Buchholz settled in. By the seventh inning, the Fenway crowd of 36,819 began to buzz, aware they were watching history.

The rookie showed poise beyond his years. He retired hitters with a dazzling changeup and leaned on catcher Jason Varitek’s veteran game-calling. Dustin Pedroia’s diving stop in the seventh preserved the no-hitter, and by the eighth Buchholz was at 102 pitches – already a career high. General manager Theo Epstein admitted later he worried about the count, but Francona let his young pitcher finish.

In the ninth, Buchholz needed just 13 pitches. He struck out Brian Roberts, got Corey Patterson on a liner to center, and froze Nick Markakis with a curveball for the final out. Fenway erupted – a rookie had thrown a no-hitter, the first in Red Sox history.

“This is what you dream about growing up,” Buchholz said afterward. “You dream about perfect games and no-hitters … it’s unreal.”

It was the third no-hitter Varitek had caught, adding to Hideo Nomo’s in 2001 and Derek Lowe’s in 2002. He later added Jon Lester’s in 2008, tying Carlos Ruiz for most no-hitters caught by an AL/NL backstop.

For Buchholz, the night cemented his place in baseball lore. He became only the third pitcher in modern MLB history to throw a no-hitter in one of his first two career starts – a feat no other Red Sox rookie had accomplished.

On a September night in 2007, the kid who was supposed to be just a fill-in delivered one of the greatest debuts Fenway had ever seen.

Parts of this article came from: September 1, 2007: Red Sox rookie Clay Buchholz no-hits Orioles in his second big-league start That was written by Bill Nowlin

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Which piscine seraph finished as runner-up in league MVP voting four times in a seven-year stretch?

Hint: #1 He finished even closer an additional three other times.

Hint: #2 He was the twenty-fifth player drafted his year, but no player drafted ahead of him has since played as many major league games.

September1, 1919 in the first of two Labor Day games‚ Babe Ruth allows 10 Washington hits but wins 2–1. Helping his own cause, Ruth drives home one run with a triple. The win is his last as a pitcher in a Red Sox uniform.

September 1, 1936 -- Detroit's Schoolboy Rowe fires his second two-hit game in 8 days‚ beating the A's‚ 4 - 1. Rowe beat the Red Sox on August 25th by a 5 - 0 score. Philadelphia is saved from a shutout when Bob Johnson blasts his 22nd home run in the 9th inning. All of Detroit's runs come in a hitless 4th when they use 5 walks‚ a fielder's choice and error.

September 1, 1941 -- At Fenway Park‚ the Boston Red Sox sweep two from the Washington Senators‚ 13 - 9 and 10 - 3. Ted Williams has only 5 official at bats‚ but has 3 hits - all homers - to take over the American League lead from Charlie Keller. Ted walks 4 times.

September 1, 1954 - - At Crosley Field‚ the Redlegs' Ted Kluszewski hits 2 home runs to break his own club mark of 40 homers. He will wind up with 49 for the season. Despite the Klu clouts‚ Cincinnati loses to Philadelphia‚ 9 - 3. In a pre-game stunt‚ Reds catcher Hobie Landrith catches a ball dropped out of a helicopter hovering some 500-600 feet over the field. 

September 1, 1969 New York Mets vs Los Angeles Dodgers

September 1, 1971, the Pittsburgh Pirates field the first all-black lineup in major league history. The lineup, which includes future Hall of Famers Roberto Clemente and Willie Stargell, helps the Pirates defeat the Philadelphia Phillies, 10-7, at Three Rivers Stadium. Rennie Stennett (2B), Gene Clines (CF), Roberto Clemente (RF), Willie Stargell (LF), Manny Sanguillen (C), Dave Cash (3B), Al Oliver (1B), Jackie Hernandez (SS), Dock Ellis (SP).

September 1, 1975, Tom Seaver strikes out Manny Sanguillen in the seventh inning to become the first pitcher to strike out at least 200 batters in eight consecutive seasons. Seaver recorded ten strikeouts in the Mets' 3-0 triumph over Pittsburgh.

September 1, 1975 -- It is "Bob Gibson Day" in St. Louis‚ as dignitaries‚ including August Busch and Bowie Kuhn‚ honor the 39-year-old pitcher. The Cards‚ led by Lou Brock‚ then drill the Cubs‚ 6 - 3. Brock has 3 singles‚ 3 stolen bases‚ and scores 3 times.

September 1, 1978 Houston Astros vs Chicago Cubs

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September 1, 1979 Cincinnati Reds vs Montreal Expos - David Palmer vs Tom Seaver

September 1, 1983 -- Entering the game with 286 strikeouts, Lynchburg right-hander Dwight Gooden strikes out a dozen batters in the first six frames of a scheduled seven-inning against Hagerstown, needing two more in the last frame to record 300 for the season. After the leadoff batter grounds out, the 18 year-old phenom whiffs the next two Suns hitters to secure to the 1-0 victory, reaching the lofty plateau in 191 innings.

September 1, 1984 Minnesota Twins vs Toronto Blue Jays

September 1, 1989, Commissioner Bart Giamatti dies from a heart attack at the age of 51. Giamatti’s death occurs only eight days after he made headlines by banning Cincinnati Reds manager Pete Rose from baseball for gambling. Giamatti had been elected commissioner in 1988.

September 1, 1998 -- St Louis Cardinal firstbaseman Mark McGwire, in a 7-1 victory over Florida, hits his 56th and 57th home runs of the season‚to break Hack Wilson's National League single season home run record of 56. Big Mac's seventh inning shot ties the 1930 mark set by the Hall of Fame Cubs' outfielder, and he establishes a new record in the ninth, hitting a Don Pall pitch 472 feet over the center field wall at Miami's Pro Player Stadium. McGwire also eclipses Babe Ruth’s record of 114 homers in consecutive seasons set in 1927-1928.

September 1, 1999 -- Due to the union chief Richie Phillips' ill-advised ploy to use mass resignations to force the owners into a new collective bargaining agreement, twenty-two of baseball's regular 68 umpires find themselves unemployed. In a deal mediated by U.S. District Judge J. Curtis Joyner, the Umpires Association agrees to a deal, costing those members their jobs, but allows for an arbitration proceeding that could permit some of the displaced umps back into the game at some point.

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