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He also handled Len Barkers perfect game in 1981. Shortstop Tom Veryzer charged, gloved, and threw to nip him at first base. Shortly after Len Barker pitched his perfect game on May 15, 1981, WUAB Channel 43 in Cleveland ran a shortened replay of the game with then-Indians announce. His elbow also was starting to bother him. len barker perfect game announcerscape verdean stereotypescape verdean stereotypes 5-23-81 White Sox at California (Sox score 15 runs) WGN-TV broadcast. If those lack of strikeouts was because of something lacking in his fastball that night, Barker and his catcher Ron Hassey figured it out by the fourth inning. At the time he told the press when he was in the Instructional League a pitch slipped and he threw it over the press box. He just didn't do basketball. The 24-year-old McKenzie then It was the 11th perfect game in Major League Baseball history. On May 15, 1981, even as the baseball world prepared for a strike that would tear apart the season and the game, Cleveland Indians starter Len Barker made everybody happy for a day. Scores. 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. 2023 ABG-SI LLC. He set a career best the following year (3.90 ERA, 106 ERA+) while going 15-11, but from 1983 to '87, he was cuffed for a 4.88 ERA while going 20-34 and failing to live up to a five-year, $4 million contract he signed with Atlanta after being acquired for their stretch run in 1983. But a perfect game? This was like the next step.. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. But I really didnt start thinking about it until the last inning. He had a form of the early Tommy John elbow reconstruction. Underwood digs out great footage of the city - "pivotal moments," he says - as well as then-and-now interview clips with players. 0 0 Less than a minute. I was in a suit and tie. - 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. When Barkers grandmother, Tokie Lockhart of Ona, West Virginia, heard the news, she remarked, Tell Len Im Proud. If I had to run to the pitchers mound, I would have gotten it, said Manning.8. Original Len Barker Perfect Game FULL TICKET 5/15 1981 Cleveland Indians Unused See original listing Condition: -- Ended: Feb 11, 2023 , 2:51PM Price: US $499.99 Best offer accepted Shipping: $9.85 Expedited Shipping Located in: Niles, Ohio, United States Seller: ( 20416 ) | Seller's other items Sell one like this Related sponsored items My body was breaking down.. A few of the sets still may have been old black and white. Len Barker seals a perfect game Blue Jays @ Guardians May 15, 1981 | 00:07:10 Reels Share 5/15/1981: Len Barker gets the final three outs of his perfect game for the Indians against the Blue Jays More From This Game Cleveland Guardians Len Barker Epic Innings classic Cronkite School at ASU 1981 LEN BARKER PERFECT GAME (DOWNLOADED with Black Border 7/10. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. He was overpowering in 1980 when he had a 19-12 record with a 4.17 ERA. The 1981 Blue Jays may have had a lot of easy outs in that lineup, but they had no easy-out pitchers. 11th year as head baseball coach at Notre Dame College. Welcome to spring time in Cleveland. 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. He was much more concerned about his brother coming in. 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. len barker perfect game announcerscriminal minds a family affair erikacriminal minds a family affair erika He is the most down-to-earth guy youd meet.. The 24-year Still, to him, it doesnt feel like three decades have passed since he made baseball history on May Philip Humber of the Chicago White Sox pitched a perfect game against the Seattle Mariners by retiring all 27 batters he faced on Saturday, April 21, 2012, as the White Sox defeated the Mariners 40.It was the 21st perfect game in Major League Baseball (MLB) history and the third by a member of the White Sox. Duncans prediction proved prophetic; Barker never went to a three-ball count on any batter. Cleveland hasnt had a no-hitter since Len Barker threw a perfect game on May 15, 1981. All rights reserved (About Us). Partly due to this, he did not make the major leagues for good until 1979. It was Joe Tait who called the play-by-play of Len Barker's perfect game on WUAB-TV. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. In the fifth inning third baseman Toby Harrah drifted over in foul ground in pursuit of a pop fly off the bat of Willie Upshaw. We rushed to our car and arrived at the park just in time to see the final three outs and yes, write a story. Dominating. The Indians havent completed a no-hitter since Len Barkers perfect game in 1981, the longest current drought in the majors. 6 Dennis Lustig, Barker Family, Cleveland Plain Dealer, May 16, 1981: 6-C. 7 Lustig, Blue Jays, Cleveland Plain Dealer, May 16, 1981: 6-C. 8 Tony Grossi, Barker Hurls Perfect Game, Cleveland Plain Dealer, May 16, 1981: 1. Once in a while, I pitched well, Other times, I was throwing 80-82 mph.. R&J Promotions asked me to do a signed and numbered print honoring Cleveland Indians Len Barker and his perfect game. Another fastball clanked against the press box during a game in Sacramento. Len Barker has pitched a perfect ball game. Barker was the first perfect game pitcher who did not come to bat during the entire game, with the American League having adopted the designated hitter in 1973. The final out of the game was a fly ball caught by Rick Manning in short center field. In the seventh inning, Kuiper went to his left, took three steps, and then threw to first base to nip the speedy Griffin. len barker perfect game announcersblack soul gameblack soul game His fastball was sizzling in the 95 mph range. In 1984, he went 78 with a 3.85 ERA before missing the last two months of the season with an elbow injury. Terry Pluto looks back on Lenny Barker's perfect game 40 years ago, the last time a Cleveland pitcher recorded a no-hitter. 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. Hernndez was the third pitcher to throw a perfect game that season but still stands as the last man to complete the feat. It was the last no-hitter in the stadiums history.). Beat writer Terry Pluto had a conflict that evening and the paper assigned a green reporter just two years out of Ohio University named Tony Grossi to write up the ballgame. It is the first time in my life (24 years) that Ive seen a perfect game. It was five years after his perfect game. Indians play-by-play announcer Matt Underwood captures the season in his hourlong documentary, "1981 Revealed," which airs periodically on SportsTime Ohio. I work for a great school and this is a great place to live., Former Indians pitcher Len Barker keeps an close eye on his pitchers at Notre Dame College.The Plain Dealer, The storied career of Dick Schafrath includes wrestling a bear, Browns scribbles after first preseason game, Terrys Talkin Browns: Stefanski calling plays, Joe Schobert traded, Browns Training Camp Scribbles: Jadeveon Clowney, Donovan Peoples-Jones. TOM HAMILTON, the Voice of the Guardians, will enter his 31st season of calling Cleveland Guardians baseball games on the radio in 2020. Len Barker Cleveland Indians pitcher, pitched perfect game May 15, 1981 1979-1983 Municipal Stadium was largely empty the night Indians pitcher Len Barker blanked the Toronto Blue Jays. He struck out 11 Blue Jays hitters (all of them swinging) including seven of the last 11 batters. The season began with sports fans' memories fresh from the Browns' divisional playoff game in January that made the play 'Red Right 88' infamous in Cleveland. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. 6-11-81 New York at White Sox (Last game before labor strike) WGN-TV broadcast. Because of the situation, it makes those plays seem better than they actually were. Dave Garcia replaced left fielder Joe Charboneau with rookie Larry Littleton in the bottom of the ninth inning. (Milo Stewart Jr./National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum) In December 2010, both Kuiper and Krukow signed six-year extensions to continue as Giants announcers. He ended up only needing 103 pitches in the entire game. I was with my wife Roberta at a banquet downtown in the old Stouffers Hotel on Public Square. Cleveland hasnt had a no-hitter since Len Barker threw a perfect game against Toronto on May 15, 1981. On May 15, 1981, Len Barker pitched a perfect game against the Toronto Blue Jays with Kuiper at second base. Barker did not pitch as well after the new contract was signed. The other challenge was a technical one: Only a few machines were available for Underwood to view the 3/4-inch tape. Find great deals on eBay for len barker perfect game. Underwood uses clips of the city, the stadium (seen often as a cavernous expanse of empty seats) and smart interviews. Select from premium Cleveland Indians Len Barker of the highest quality. 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. Guerrero had an RBI single during the first inning in his lone at-bat. Its breaking quick and hard. $3230.75. Footage of Duane Kuiper, his announcer partner Rick Manning and others are shown from 38 years ago, and Underwood revisits many of them today. 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. This article related to sports in Ohio is a stub. McKenzie said the same thing happened to him last Sunday. The 24-year He stole 168 bases. The bow was placed on a tillering wall and the bow slowly drawn only a few inches at a time. Clevelands 11-0 victory over Detroit on Aug. 15. Cleveland has the longest no-hitter drought in the majors its last one was Len Barkers perfect game in 1981. More From This Game. This article was published in SABRs No-Hitters (2017), edited by Bill Nowlin. 1 Russell Schneider, Wife and Brother Are Among Joyous Fans, Cleveland Plain Dealer, May 16, 1981: 1-C. 3 Burt Graeff, Ah, that was perfect! Cleveland Press, May 16, 1981: A56. Pinch-hitter Ernie Whitt ended the game by flying out to center fielder Rick Manning, setting off a celebration and capping the first perfect game in the majors since Catfish Hunter of the As blanked the Twins on May 8, 1968. I had just picked up a writing award when someone came to our table and said, Its the seventh inning, Barkers got a no-hitter going. Joe Tait (L) with fellow Cleveland Indians broadcaster Bruce Drennan, called the play-by-play at Cleveland Municipal Stadium. Indeed, he had flirted with two no-hitters in 1980 before they were broken up late. You never know if making a catch in the early innings will or wont mean something later.3 In the sixth inning, second baseman Duane Kuiper ranged to his right on a one-hop groundball to throw out Rick Bosetti. He was 26. He started out slow, Duncan said, but as he went along, his curve-ball got better and better. Barker pitched reasonably well down the stretch, notching a 3.82 ERA despite only going 13 in his six starts after the trade. Barker struck out 11 Blue Jays in the 3-0 win. Len looks back at working with Ron Hassey, "I felt really comfortable with Ron Hassey. He also has three children, Carly, Troy and Lyle with his previous wife, Bonnie. $2099.99. Close. Baseball in Cleveland in the 1980s was a pretty dreary affair. Barker was traded, along with Bobby Bonds, from the Rangers to the Indians for Jim Kern and Larvell Blanks on October 3, 1978. But my knees went. He scored on a single by George Bell to make the final score 4-1. Which he had actually done once in Boston in 1978. I had both of them replaced. I obviously didnt see that coming, he said. The celebration ensued. After the season, the Braves signed Barker to one of the richest contracts for a pitcher in baseball history to that time, $4 million over five years.[2]. Manning has the longest tenure of any television announcer in team history. R&J Promotions asked me to do a signed and numbered print honoring Cleveland Indians Len Barker and his perfect game. Rick has the longest tenure of Joe Tait called Len Baker's perfect game in 1981. Len Barker being mobbed on the field, the Cleveland Indians win it, 3-0. Barkers mother, Emogene McCurry, was listening to the game from her home in Trevose, Pennsylvania. [1] On a cold, damp night in Cleveland, Barker pitched the tenth official perfect game in baseball history, defeating the Toronto Blue Jays, 30 (the game was originally reported as the ninth perfect game in major league baseball history[4] until the league later changed the criteria for recognizing a perfect game). Catfish Hunter had been the last to record a perfect game, on May 8, 1968, against Minnesota. His velocity dropping, his curve not as sharp. It was Barker who threw a perfect game on May 15, 1981. I could throw anything, anywhere I wanted. He also handled Len Barkers perfect game in 1981. (He took flak from Paul, but the policy would end.) I wish I could have done it. He kept pitching through the pain. Barker was a rental in 1983, poised to hit free agency, but the Braves signed him to a $4 million contract before the 1984 season. Munch Bishop: A man with a big heart has major heart surgery. It got to the point where it felt like someone was stabbing my elbow on every pitch, said Barker. 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. He pitched the tenth perfect game in baseball history. That starting staff included Bert Blyleven, John Denny, Rick Waits and Barker. I was concentrating like crazy to keep myself together.5, Bosetti stepped in to the batters box to lead off the ninth for Toronto. As Barker took the mound, his nerves were understandably getting the best of him. Contact SABR, LnRiLWZpZWxke21hcmdpbi1ib3R0b206MC43NmVtfS50Yi1maWVsZC0tbGVmdHt0ZXh0LWFsaWduOmxlZnR9LnRiLWZpZWxkLS1jZW50ZXJ7dGV4dC1hbGlnbjpjZW50ZXJ9LnRiLWZpZWxkLS1yaWdodHt0ZXh0LWFsaWduOnJpZ2h0fS50Yi1maWVsZF9fc2t5cGVfcHJldmlld3twYWRkaW5nOjEwcHggMjBweDtib3JkZXItcmFkaXVzOjNweDtjb2xvcjojZmZmO2JhY2tncm91bmQ6IzAwYWZlZTtkaXNwbGF5OmlubGluZS1ibG9ja311bC5nbGlkZV9fc2xpZGVze21hcmdpbjowfQ==, LnRiLWhlYWRpbmcuaGFzLWJhY2tncm91bmR7cGFkZGluZzowfQ==, 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, https://sabr.org/sites/default/files/Screen%20Shot%202018-10-18%20at%2012.25.04%20PM.png, /wp-content/uploads/2020/02/sabr_logo.png, May 15, 1981: Clevelands Len Barker makes history with perfect game against Blue Jays. My curve was the best pitch that night, he recalled. I remember when I was hired (in 2012) as athletic director, said Notre Dames Scott Swain. Sports. This article related to a baseball league, competition or tournament is a stub. Then Detroits Harold Castro lined a single with two outs in the eighth. 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 thinking about going up and pointing to center field to show Barker where I was going to hit the ball, said Whitt. "I was a kid, I was a teenager," said Underwood, 51. Free shipping for many products! Castro hit a ball sharply to shallow right on McKenzies 100th pitch. 9 TSN broadcast of the perfect game, accessed via YouTube.com. This was a lot different than Lennys, Hassey said. I had total command. In 1981, Len Barker pitched the 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. More than 700 games weren't played for two months that summer as players and owners wrestled over free-agency compensation. In 1982, he was 15-11 with a 3.90 ERA, completing 10 of 33 starts covering 244 2/3 innings. Torontos speedy shortstop, Alfredo Griffin, led off the game and tapped a groundball over the pitchers mound. Ironically, 1981 was not his best season in the big leagues. It would be Clevelands first since Len Barker threw a ITS BASKETBALL TIME AT THE Q!!!. Everybody was great.9 Hassey said, Every time he goes out there with a good curveball, hes got the chance for something like this. Of the eighteen men in major league history who have thrown a perfect game, four have a lifetime losing record: Lee Richmond (75-100), who threw the first-ever major league perfect game in 1880; Charlie Robertson (49-90), the only White Sox player to hurl a perfect game before Mark Buehrles masterpiece yesterday; Don Larsen (81-91), author of the The legendary Cavaliers basketball announcer passed away at the age of 83. The move backfired as Lloyd Moseby lifted Blylevens first offering to left field and Littleton misplayed it. He has been at the school since 2010, when he started as pitching coach. Who could have foreseen that the Friday evening matchup between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Cleveland Indians would be such a historic game? 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. The first was thrown by Addie Joss on October 2, 1908, against Chicago. Barker throwing a no-hitter wasnt a huge surprise. He was the voice of Mount Union football for more than 30 years, and as any Indians fan can tell you, was also behind the mic for Len Barkers perfect game in 1981. Barker, who was 25 at the time, was tall 64 and had consistent mid-90s gas, which was fairly rare in baseball in those days. It's a special thing."[6]. He was placing it right where I aimed it. Then when they flashed the trivia question (on the center-field scoreboard), I was sure he was jinxed.15 The trivia question, which had been selected that morning? The final out of the game was a flyout caught by Rick Manning in short center field. Cleveland hasnt had a no-hitter since Len Barker threw a perfect game against Toronto on May 15, 1981. DUNEDIN., Fla. Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. left the spring training game against Tampa Bay with right knee discomfort. Hassey, who also caught Len Barkers perfect game of May 15, 1981, became the first major-league catcher to handle two of them. Bert Blyleven won 11 games and John Denny 10. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. After his playing career, Barker returned to the Cleveland area and founded a construction company with a business partner. It was Joe Tait who called the play-by-play of Len Barker's perfect game on WUAB-TV. Nobody showed up anyway. SEATTLE (AP) Clevelands Zach Plesac lost his no-hit bid with no outs in the eighth inning when Seattles J.P. Crawford lined a clean single to center Thursday night. Find Cleveland Indians Len Barker stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. How about a new outfielder? He again led the AL in strikeouts and again had a sub-100 ERA+. But I wondered, Would this guy have a big league attitude? It was just the opposite. "Everyone says, 'You're probably tired of talking about it.' 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. Entdecke 1985 Fleer Len Barker signierte Baseballkarte in groer Auswahl Vergleichen Angebote und Preise Online kaufen bei eBay Kostenlose Lieferung fr viele Artikel! By 1981, he carried several starts into the fifth inning without allowing a hit. It was that long ago. 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. The Indians havent completed a no-hitter since Len Barkers perfect game in 1981, the longest current drought in the majors. Ron Hassey, Barker's catcher, would catch Dennis Martnez's perfect game in 1991, thus becoming the only catcher, to date, to catch two perfect games. The Blue Jays were scuffling at the bottom of the division, and riding a 21-inning scoreless streak. He is now in his 11th year as head baseball coach at Notre Dame College in South Euclid. 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. Cleveland has the longest no-hitter drought in the majors its last one was Len Barkers perfect game in 1981. Only 7,290 fans paid to get in to see the Tribe take on the visiting Blue Jays that evening and many of them were disguised as empty seats. Al Woods pinch-hit for Danny Ainge. Barker pitched for the Texas Rangers (197678), Cleveland Indians (197983), Atlanta Braves (198385) and Milwaukee Brewers (1987). 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). The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Time of game: two hours, nine minutes. They cut the muscle, I probably came back too fast, said Barker. Youre nervous. Counting on a comeback, Atlanta signed him to a 5-year, $4.5 million deal. I never had it in my mind he would do it until he did it. The answer? I had a construction business for a long time, said Barker. There are no excuses for stopping the game we love while squabbling how to divvy it up, he said. Barker has a 200-243 record at the Division II school, 128-107 in the Mountain East Conference. The announced crowd was 7,290 at old Municipal Stadium. My wife was in her best dress, the same one she wore to our wedding in 1977. He had an 8-13 record and 5.11 ERA. Barker's most notable accomplishment occurred on May 15, 1981, as a member of the Cleveland Indians. PHILLIES 10, ANGELS 0 You The 24-year Bieber struck out 11. After the seven-week players' strike, Barker went on to make the All-Star team for the only time in his career and he again led the AL in strikeouts, although his 3.91 ERA amounted to just a 94 ERA+.