This Day in History: Dock Ellis Throws a No-Hitter on Acid

On June 12, 1970, Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Dock Ellis famously threw the first and only no-hitter of his career against the San Diego Padres. The twist? He did it all while under the influence of LSD. This story has become a legendary part of baseball folklore, but what really happened that day?

Dock Ellis was a colourful and eccentric pitcher, to say the least. He wore curlers in his hair during games, he once plunked the first three batters in a row to protest the beaning of a teammate the game prior, and he was a vocal advocate for black and Latino players in a time when that wasn't the norm. Ellis was also known to experiment with drugs and alcohol, and he later admitted to taking LSD the day he pitched the no-hitter.

Ellis himself has said that he had no idea he was pitching a game that day until he saw a newspaper headline about it. He had taken LSD the day before, intending to go to a party, and ended up taking more the morning of the game thinking he was pitching the next day. But Ellis wasn't one to back down from a challenge, so he took the mound and proceeded to throw the game of his life.

Ellis's recollection of the game is hazy, to say the least, but he has said that he had trouble seeing the catcher's signals and that the ball looked like it was coming at him in slow-motion. Ellis walked eight batters that day and hit one, but the Padres couldn't get a hit, and the Pirates won 2-0. After the game, Ellis famously said, "I never saw such a crowd in my life. It was electric. I felt like a hummingbird." Ellis's performance on LSD has become an iconic moment in baseball history, and his persona is memorable to this day, more than 50 years later.

Ellis's no-hitter is just one part of his fascinating life story. He was a trailblazer on and off the field, and he continued to fight for social justice long after his playing days were over. Ellis passed away in 2008, but his legacy lives on. His game on LSD is a reminder of the power of the human mind, for better or for worse.

In the end, Dock Ellis's LSD-fueled no-hitter is a story that will always be remembered by baseball fans. It's a tale of triumph and tragedy, of unconventional thinking and individuality. Ellis's willingness to take the mound under the influence of LSD may have been reckless, but it also shows just how far a person can push themselves under pressure. Ellis will always be remembered for his no-hitter, but he should also be remembered for his impeccable vibes.