Hassey, speaking to Sports Illustrated in 1981: By the fifth inning his breaking ball was so good we figured thats what wed pretty much stay with. Hed have a few bumpy starts after the perfecto, but after the seven-week players strike his early season dominance helped him make the All-Star team that year. 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 struck out 11 batters all swinging between the fourth and the ninth and didnt go to a single three-ball count. Len Barker had just thrown the 10th perfect game in major-league history. Kluber is the first Cleveland pitcher with a complete game, 11 strikeouts, no walks and no earned runs since Len Barker's perfect game in 1981. Barker's no-hitter was the 14th in club history, joining the ranks of Dennis Eckersley, Bob Lemon, Ray Caldwell, Addie Joss who tossed two and Bob Feller who threw three. That didnt pan out for them, and they released him before the 1986 season. 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. Here is a look at the only 23 men who have been perfect from the first batter until the last: Flix Hernndez (Mariners) Aug. 15, 2012 vs. Rays All hail the King. Another fastball clanked against the press box during a game in Sacramento. This was one. The documentary was born out of wanting to do something All-Star-related, with this year's Midsummer Classic being played in Cleveland. Everybody was great.9 Hassey said, Every time he goes out there with a good curveball, hes got the chance for something like this. Kuiper fielded five ground balls to contribute to the effort. That day, May 15, was one of them. Indians play-by-play announcer Matt Underwood captures the season in his hourlong documentary, "1981 Revealed," which airs periodically on SportsTime Ohio. The Indians defeated the Blue Jays 3-0, as Barker did not allow a baserunner. [2] Barker never once reached ball three against any Blue Jay hitter. Not only is that the last perfect game in Tribe history, its the last no-hitter by a Cleveland pitcher. Cleveland has the longest no-hitter drought in the majors its last one was Len Barkers perfect game in 1981. Source: Yahoo! Former Cleveland Indians Len Barker smiles between pitches during the Lake Erie Crushers 3rd annual Cleveland Sports Legends Softball Game in Avon. Indeed, the reigning AL strikeout king didnt fan a single batter until the fourth inning. He also didnt want to sit through rain delay after rain delay.1 Barker was late getting to the park after picking up his brother from the airport. This was like the next step.. 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. 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]. [2] Barker never once reached ball three against any Blue Jay hitter. Mar 28, 2021, 6:00am PST Len Kasper, shown in 2012 with former broadcast partner Jim Deshaies, surprised fans on both sides of town by switching from Cubs television to White Sox radio. He was anxious about his older brother, Chuck, who was flying in from Fort Lauderdale. I find the great thing in this world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving. Barker made the AL All-Star team in 1981. Six up, six down and on it went. Barker never once reached ball three against any Blue Jay hitter. 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 also handled Len Barkers perfect game in 1981. Barker's most notable accomplishment occurred on May 15, 1981 as a member of the Cleveland Indians. The Indians havent completed a no-hitter since Len Barkers perfect game in 1981, the longest current drought in the majors. Hes going to have an outstanding game, Duncan told manager Dave Garcia after watching him warm up in the bullpen.2. He was battling kidney disease and liver cancer. Barker threw 103 pitches, all but 19 were strikes. [3] His best season statistically was 1980, when he enjoyed career-highs in wins (19) and strikeouts (181, best in the American League). Barker's most notable accomplishment occurred on May 15, 1981, as a member of the Cleveland Indians. who claim to have attended Len Barkers perfect game of 1981. Barker never once reached ball three against any Blue Jay hitter. He ended up only needing 103 pitches in the entire game. He struck out 11 Blue Jays hitters (all of them swinging) including seven of the last 11 batters.[3]. I dont have a funny bone in my right arm, he said. Tait was made the team's Vice President of Broadcast Services in 1987. I had a giant spur in the ligament. He caught Ernie Whitts fly ball, on May 15, 1981, the final out of Len Barkers perfect game, in one of the most rememberable images in Cleveland sports history; the Indians defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 3-0. On Friday, May 15, 1981, Len Barker of the Cleveland Indians threw a perfect game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Cleveland Stadium, the 10th perfect game in Major League Baseball history. Catfish Hunter had been the last to record a perfect game, on May 8, 1968, against Minnesota. Barker was selected for the 1981 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, held in Cleveland on August 9. Rick has the longest tenure of Joe Tait called Len Baker's perfect game in 1981. Barker's perfect game is the most recent no-hitter thrown by a Cleveland pitcher. If you can help us improve this game story,contact us. This article related to a baseball league, competition or tournament is a stub. DUNEDIN., Fla. Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. left the spring training game against Tampa Bay with right knee discomfort. Five weeks into the 1981 campaign - on a misty, 49-degree night at Cleveland Stadium, Len Barker took the mound for the Indians. After his playing career, Barker returned to the Cleveland area and founded a construction company with a business partner. He again led the AL in strikeouts and again had a sub-100 ERA+. The game was. 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. That clip and many others came from Underwood sifting through thousands of hours of footage. Stories. It would be delayed to Aug. 9. 1 ago. He also handled Len Barkers perfect game in 1981. The legendary Dave Duncan, then the Indians pitching coach, told Sports Illustrated at the time that he felt like something special was going to happen based on what he saw from Barker in the bullpen before the game. 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. Cleveland sat atop the American Leagues East Division. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Now the bow needed to be drawn to check for further balancing of limbs. From 1980-82, he had a 42-30 record with a 3.98 ERA. He has been head coach since 2012.The Plain Dealer. R&J Promotions asked me to do a signed and numbered print honoring Cleveland Indians Len Barker and his perfect game. The first was thrown by Addie Joss on October 2, 1908, against Chicago. He signed with the Montreal Expos a few weeks later and spent the season with their top affiliate, the Indianapolis Indians. After a rough start to the 1983 season, Barker was involved in a trade that would end up being his second-biggest claim to fame, primarily because of how lopsided the deal was. 5-23-81 White Sox at California (Sox score 15 runs) WGN-TV broadcast. Cleveland hasn't had a no-hitter since Len Barker threw a perfect game against Toronto on May 15, 1981. In that abbreviated season, Mike Hargrove hit .317. 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. The 6-foot-5, 230-pound Barker had a high leg kick and upbeat personality. Associated Press file Len Barker signs autographs for fans on May 16, 1981, the day after he pitched a perfect game against the Toronto Blue Jays. Clevelands 11-0 victory over Detroit on Aug. 15. But I wondered, Would this guy have a big league attitude? It was just the opposite. Lenny Barker made it look easy.12 (Stieb got a degree of revenge against Cleveland, pitching a no-hitter against the Indians on September 2, 1990, at Cleveland Stadium. The Indians finished .500 or better just twice that decade. And (catcher) Ron Hassey called a great game. It would be Clevelands first since Len Barker threw a ITS BASKETBALL TIME AT THE Q!!!. 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. Toronto was the weakest-hitting club in the major leagues heading into that game, with a team batting average of .218. Which two teams had never been involved in a no-hitter? He was 26. There's great footage of the Strat-O-Matic game held in the stadium - a creative response to the strike but a move not seen as favorable by league officials. Best-selling Len Barker products on sale for a limited. Terrys Talkin Tribe: Why DeMarlo over Sandy? Underwood uses clips of the city, the stadium (seen often as a cavernous expanse of empty seats) and smart interviews. They would complete their 26th through their 35th straight seasons without a postseason appearance (that streak would go to 41 before they won the AL pennant in 1995). Barker continued to pitch with an aching elbow in 1983. 30 Jan 2023 21:37:00 As Barker took the mound, his nerves were understandably getting the best of him. len barker perfect game announcerssennheiser warranty canadasennheiser warranty canada To read more Games Project stories from this book, click here. Emmanuel Clase worked a perfect ninth for his eighth save in 10 chances. This was in 1980, a year before Barker's perfect game. Which he had actually done once in Boston in 1978. On May 15, 1981, Manning caught Ernie Whitts fly ball, the final out of Len Barkers perfect game, in one of the most memorable images in Cleveland sports history; the In 1981 when Len Barker pitched a perfect game for Cleveland, Duane Kuiper was the second baseman. Arguably the clubs greatest highlight of the entire decade took place on this day in 1981. On Friday, May 15, 1981, Len Barker of the Cleveland Indians threw a perfect game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Cleveland Stadium, the 10th perfect game in Major League Baseball history. (He took flak from Paul, but the policy would end.) 1981 9/26 Dodgers at Astros 7.5/10 RYAN 5th NO HITTER. Find great deals on eBay for len barker perfect game. But a perfect game? During an 11-year baseball career, Barker compiled 74 wins, 975 The 24-year Barker was selected for the 1981 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, held in Cleveland on August 9. That was a bit deceptive, however, as his ERA was an unremarkable 4.17 (99 ERA+) and he had also led the league in wild pitches. So are they. foretees login broken sound; len barker perfect game announcers. That was the pattern through the first three innings, in fact atom balls as Barker was, intentionally or not, pitching to contact. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 1982 Fleer Len Barker/Bo Diaz Perfect Game #639 Cleveland Guardians at the best online prices at eBay! The Indians havent completed a no-hitter since Len Barkers perfect game in 1981, the longest current drought in the majors. I say, 'No, it's something to be proud of.' His arm grew worse. 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. Leonard Harold Barker III (born July 7, 1955) [1] is a former Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher. Thats when Indians starter Len Barker tossed a perfect game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Municipal Stadium. Len Barker pitched a Perfect Game on May 15, 1981 for the Cleveland Indians against the Toronto Blue Jays (3-0). 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. Kuiper quips: "You had to kind of stay in shape. FOD Saying of the Day. Forty years ago, Barker was so precise he didnt have a single 3-ball count. "I was a kid, I was a teenager," said Underwood, 51. As Ohio Governor Mike DeWine noted in a tweet offering condolences to Tait's wife Jean and family, Tait called Len Barker's perfect game in While Tait was best known for doing NBA basketball and Major League Baseball, he also called TV broadcasts of football games at University of Mount Union, and called some high school basketball games on Elyria radio station WEOL. Category: Sports. Len Barker: May 15, 1981 Bettmann / Getty Images Barker was the first pitcher to throw a perfect game against an opposing team that was using the designated hitter. Through the Tribes Fantasy Camp, he met Dave Armstrong a former Vice President at Notre Dame College. 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+. Speed always was a big part of his game. Game of the Week; Big 22; Indy 500 Cleveland hasnt had a no-hitter since Len Barker threw a perfect game on May 15, 1981. That also meant it was the first perfect game against a lineup with a DH. Sun-Times Media ''Traitor." That's the tweet Len Kasper has received dozens of times since announcing he was leaving Cubs TV for White Sox radio. Free shipping for many products! In 1982, he was 15-11 with a 3.90 ERA, completing 10 of 33 starts covering 244 2/3 innings. May 15, 1981 | 00:07:10. add . Free and fast shipping on 100% authentic Len Barker sports memorabilia, collectibles and authentic autographs. 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 Not only did he record a perfect game, but he threw only 19 balls in the contest. He also had nicknames. - 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. This was a lot different than Lennys, Hassey said. I remember when I was hired (in 2012) as athletic director, said Notre Dames Scott Swain. Barker would later admit that while he was cruising in innings one through eight, he began to feel the pressure in the ninth. You start to feel it when its that close.. That's why some of his clients are startled when they find him swinging a hammer in their home. I had both of them replaced. 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. 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. Len Barker, an unheralded right-hander for the Indians, gained a piece of baseball history when he pitched a perfect game against the Toronto Blue Jays in 1981. It wasnt breaking much, but the rotation was so tight it was almost the perfect curve.. Barker, however, basically flamed out. It was probably closer to 6,000 in terms of bodies in the seats although at least 60,000 claim to have seen it. The final out of the game was a flyout caught by Rick Manning in short center field. 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. 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. I had a construction business for a long time, said Barker. Why not? thought Barker.