Andy Hawkins no-hits ‘68 Chisox

9/3 - Yankee Stadium - Bronx, NY
The most unlikely of candidates to throw a no hitter would have been Andy Hawkins in 1990.  In fact he threw one in real life.  Hawkins' real life no hitter was also vs the White Sox, but the results of that game bordered on the bizare.  You see Hawkins actually LOST his no hitter to Chicago by a score of 4-0.  Aided by some poor Yankee fielding and some Chicago style wind Hawkins, who was dominant up until the 9th inning, became the tragic victim.  The results of the game actually forced then MLB commissioner Fay Vincent to change the definition of what a no hitter was.  Hawkins had his teammates to thank for his debacle.  Third Baseman Mike Blowers booted a ball hit by Sammy Sosa.  Jim Leyritz and Jesse Barfield couldn't negotiate the wind and dropped balls that helped account for more runs being scored.  All in all you'd have to say the "Baseball G-d's" owed Hawkins one.
This would be the day that the 1990 version of Andy Hawkins would get the one that he was owed.  Of course those same "Baseball G-d's" couldn't give it all to him as evidenced by the 4th inning error by shortstop Alvaro Espinza on a Luis Aparicio grounder.  Without that error Hawkins would have had himself the even rarer perfect game.  To make the game even more exciting, Hawkins had to defend a 1-0 lead, which he received in the 4th inning when Mike Blowers singled home Mel Hall with 2 out.  How appropriate that Blowers, who's poor glove play helped crush Hawkins' no-no bid in real life, would be the catalyst for the lone run he'd receive here.  Jack Fisher would be the unwilling footnote in this game, because he pitched so well (1 ER in 7 2/3 IP), and on any other day would have been the victory.  In essence Fisher was to Hawkins what Maglie was to Larsen.  After the game I had to check the boxscore to see who the MVP was and to my surprise Mike Blowers was given the nod.  I scratch my head and wonder how Blowers could trump a man (Hawkins) who just tossed a no hitter and was ever so close to a perfecto.

Box score is below:

Hawkins, A No Hits 68 Chicago (A)!