56 years ago today, Ron Necciai did something cooler than you will ever do. (Unless you know how to fly).
Posted on May 13th, 2008 – 3:24 PMBy Michael Rand
So we were bored on the Internet over the weekend, which can lead some people down an unruly path. Us? It led us to Ron Necciai, a man we had never heard of but who did something pretty amazing 56 years ago today: He struck out 27 batters in a 9-inning professional game. It came for Bristol in an Appalachian League game. From the NY Times:
Only one batter put the ball in play for Welsh, a groundball out, and a passed ball in the ninth inning allowed Necciai to record a 27th strikeout. Necciai, a right-hander, struck out 24 in his next start — a two-game total of 51 strikeouts. He earned a promotion to the Carolina League and eventually an August trip to the majors with Pittsburgh. Rocket Ron, however, compiled a 1-6 major league record with a 7.08 E.R.A. He was drafted into the Army the next year, suffered an arm injury and never pitched in the majors again.
Yeah, well in the first-ever game we pitched (these were four-inning games, mind you), we struck out the first 11 batters, walked the next one, then picked him off — even though there was no leading off and no stealing bases. True story. Ron Necciai is infinitely cooler than that.
10 Responses to "56 years ago today, Ron Necciai did something cooler than you will ever do. (Unless you know how to fly)."
Coco Crisp “flies”
Yeah, well in the first-ever game we pitched (these were four-inning games, mind you), we struck out the first 11 batters, walked the next one, then picked him off — even though there was no leading off and no stealing bases.
Nostalgic much? Not only was there no leading off, there was no higher level of play. I think that’s the only way Rand avoided being drafted and injured in the Army, as a 10 year old. Did I mention that Rand played youth baseball in North Korea?
“Only one batter put the ball in play for Welsh, a groundball out, and a passed ball in the ninth inning allowed Necciai to record a 27th strikeout.”
If someone grounded out in the ninth inning, how do you record the 27th strikeout? 3 outs in and inning X 9 innings = 27 outs. Where am I missing something?
…and it’s RON Necciai headline-master-Rand
how do you know Rob Necciai didn’t also do something far cooler than you? In any event, it’s fixed.
No one could touch any of my stuff in SCH’s one and only appearance, in eighth grade. Nope, it was six consecutive balls… And then back to right field.
Joker,
It would have to be that he got a K-PB, where the runner reached first after striking out to gain the base, hence allowing a fourth batter to come to the plate in the inning and get struck out as well.
UofM: That’s exactly what happened.
How is it possible to pick someone off if there’s no leading off? I guess I could understand the catcher gunning it to 1st if batters are allowed to leave the base after the pitch crosses home (even if no bat contact) and picking him off, but you implied you (the pitcher) did it. I’m assuming you’re using the royal we to mean yourself. Explain.
alum and fan: It really shouldn’t be possible, but keep in mind this was a league of 9 and 10 year olds. There was no leading off, but for some reason the kid on first was a couple of steps off the base and not paying attention. So I threw over, and, voila. It was all downhill for me from there.
