More From This Game. How about a new outfielder? Category: Sports. I was with my wife Roberta at a banquet downtown in the old Stouffers Hotel on Public Square. Barker would get a smooch from Morganna the kissing bandit. 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! Not only did he record a perfect game, but he threw only 19 balls in the contest. Len Barker had a 15-11 record and a 3.90 ERA in 1982.Plain Dealer Historical Collection. While they got some decent seasons that decade from the likes of Toby Harrah, Mike Hargrove, Joe Carter, Bert Blyleven and Brett Butler and while they got a here-today-gone-tomorrow star turn from a kid named Joe Charboneau it was not a star-studded decade either. Len Barker Perfect Game | The Times Recorder | May 16, 1981 | Page 6 Who could have foreseen that the Friday evening matchup between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Cleveland Indians would be such a historic game? And WUAB announcers Joe Tait and Bruce Drennan found themselves in the middle of history. Ron Hassey singled home Hargrove for the second tally; both runs were unearned. 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.. Sports. McKenzie said the same thing happened to him last Sunday. He started out slow, Duncan said, but as he went along, his curve-ball got better and better. Hes going to have an outstanding game, Duncan told manager Dave Garcia after watching him warm up in the bullpen.2. CLEVELAND, Ohio A week ago, Tribe pitcher Triston McKenzie was perfect. 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. My body was breaking down.. R&J Promotions asked me to do a signed and numbered print honoring Cleveland Indians Len Barker and his perfect game. Watching that now serves a bit like a prequel to the 1981 documentary, because Len Barker threw the franchise's second perfect game on May 15, 1981. I would have preferred Jalen Suggs, but Mobley is OK, The pain became too much for Terry Francona, The Tribe faces reality with the trade of Cesar Hernandez, What Im hearing about the Guardians trademark status. That got WKSU sports commentator Terry Pluto thinking back to the last time a Cleveland pitcher did it: Lenny Barkers perfect game in 1981. 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. Jacoby would be a two-time All-Star who would hit 120 homers in an Indians jersey. I find the great thing in this world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving. I obviously didnt see that coming, he said. [2] Barker never once reached ball three against any Blue Jay hitter. Thank you, Joe, for the decades of joy you have brought Cleveland sports fans, the Indians said in a posting. The heat was there as it always was, but Barkers curveball looked better than ever. The battery mate for Barker that evening was Ron Hassey, who went on to catch another perfect game later in his career with pitcher, Dennis Martinez, in 1991. It was Barker who threw a perfect game on May 15, 1981. 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. And then theres 1981. In 1981, Pluto was in his second year writing for The Plain Dealer. This was one. He struck out 11 Blue Jays hitters (all of them swinging) including seven of the last 11 batters. It was probably closer to 6,000 in terms of bodies in the seats although at least 60,000 claim to have seen it. On April 16, 1978, at Fenway Park, Barker (then with the Texas Rangers) threw a pitch that sailed upward onto the screen above and behind the backstop. The celebration ensued. Thank you, Joe, for the decades of joy you have brought Cleveland sports fans, the Indians said in a posting. Barker pitched for the Texas Rangers (197678), Cleveland Indians (197983), Atlanta Braves (198385) and Milwaukee Brewers (1987). "I was a kid, I was a teenager," said Underwood, 51. His magic moment with the Indians, however, came on an otherwise routine play. The team and the city celebrated. This was the second perfect game in the Cleveland team's history. In December 2010, both Kuiper and Krukow signed six-year extensions to continue as Giants announcers. 555 N. Central Ave. #416 Barker never once reached ball three against any Blue Jay hitter. His elbow also was starting to bother him. Luis Leal started for Toronto. Len Barker Autographed Signed 1979 Game Used Baseball Glove With PSA DNA COA DER. In 1978, yet a third memorable wild pitch landed halfway up the screen behind Fenway Parks home plate. He had a form of the early Tommy John elbow reconstruction. His 30-year tenure, along with Rick Manning, is the second-longest The Indians havent completed a no-hitter since Len Barkers perfect game in 1981, the longest current drought in the majors. But I really didnt start thinking about it until the last inning. ", Kuiper, now a San Francisco Giants broadcaster, offers some of the best insight, at one point saying, "I had one guy tell me that nobody is going to show up in September, and I told him 'I've been there when it didnt matter. He struck out on three pitches. The game kept fading in and out, she said. They cut the muscle, I probably came back too fast, said Barker. I wish I could have done it. 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. 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. During an 11-year baseball career, Barker compiled 74 wins, 975 strikeouts, and a 4.34 earned run average. Scores. Shortstop Tom Veryzer charged, gloved, and threw to nip him at first base. In one of the most rememberable images in Cleveland sports history were the Indians defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 3-0, Rick caught Ernie Whitts fly ball, on May 15, 1981, the final out of Len Barkers perfect game. Harrah said, Youve got to dive in a situation like that. @indians (Bruce Drennan in dugout by then.) The game was a contrast of teams. I had been coaching my kids over the years and helped some in high school. 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). He reached a two-ball count on only eight Toronto batters. But I wondered, Would this guy have a big league attitude? It was just the opposite. Joe Tait. When Barker was in the Texas Rangers farm system, he once heaved a pitch that soared over the screen backstop in a spring training practice field. 2016 NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Qualifying Standards 2009-2016 NCAA Division I, II, and III Indoor and Outdoor Qualifying Standards 2013 UAA Outdoor Performance List (The University Athletic Association is made up of NCAA Division 3 schools . I really enjoy it.. Free and fast shipping on 100% authentic Len Barker sports memorabilia, collectibles and authentic autographs. He noticed Barker drop the ball and said, he was so nervous. He also had nicknames. But a perfect game? I had a construction business for a long time, said Barker. 6-11-81 New York at White Sox (Last game before labor strike) WGN-TV broadcast. On Monday, October 8, 1956, in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series, pitcher Don Larsen of the New York Yankees threw a perfect game against the Brooklyn Dodgers at Yankee Stadium.It was the first postseason no-hitter since Claude Grier did so in the 1926 Colored World Series.Larsen's perfect game is the only perfect game in the history of the World Series; it was the first perfect You can watch the historic moment tonight at 7p.m. Robert E. Dorksen, The Plain Dealer. UPDATED: 9:19 a.m. Monday, Aug. 26, to add upcoming air dates. Welcome to spring time in Cleveland. The late-'90s years when the Indians owned the top of the division. Barker pitched reasonably well down the stretch, notching a 3.82 ERA despite only going 13 in his six starts after the trade. It was that long ago. Barker never once reached ball three against any Blue Jay hitter. The bow was placed on a tillering wall and the bow slowly drawn only a few inches at a time. 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. That also meant it was the first perfect game against a lineup with a DH. Cleveland has the longest no-hitter drought in the majors its last one was Len Barkers perfect game in 1981. I could throw it any time, almost anywhere I wanted for a strike.. len barker perfect game announcerscape verdean stereotypescape verdean stereotypes Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. I was thinking about going up and pointing to center field to show Barker where I was going to hit the ball, said Whitt. 43, May 15, 1981. 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. Warming the bow up slowly over a period of 5-10 minutes by drawing it further and further, the bow was brought to a 35 inch draw. I hope he does better the next time.". Watch. 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. Indeed, he had flirted with two no-hitters in 1980 before they were broken up late. Indeed, the reigning AL strikeout king didnt fan a single batter until the fourth inning. All rights reserved (About Us). Tait was made the team's Vice President of Broadcast Services in 1987. Leonard Harold Barker III (born July 7, 1955)[1] is a former Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher. He signed with the Montreal Expos a few weeks later and spent the season with their top affiliate, the Indianapolis Indians. 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. When he had it, he was great. Al Woods pinch-hit for Danny Ainge. 30 Jan 2023 21:37:00 Dennis Manoloff (@dmansworld474) March 10, 2021 on SportsTime Ohio! I dont have a funny bone in my right arm, he said. He is the most down-to-earth guy youd meet.. Barker threw 103 pitches, all but 19 were strikes. Barker was selected for the 1981 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, held in Cleveland on August 9. More than 700 games weren't played for two months that summer as players and owners wrestled over free-agency compensation. 9 Terry Pluto, Barkers Night, Cleveland Plain Dealer, May 16, 1981: 6-C. 13 Associated Press, Son Makes History, but Mrs. Barker Loses Game in 9th, Cleveland Plain Dealer, May 17, 1981: 8-B. My curve was the best pitch that night, he recalled. Follow Cleveland Guardians Team History, Regular Season Results, Postseason results, and more on ESPN.com 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. Certainly not the Cleveland Plain Dealer. He is now in his 11th year as head baseball coach at Notre Dame College in South Euclid. $3230.75. If you can help us improve this game story,contact us. 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. Now, most just say they saw it on TV.. Former Tribe manager Dave Garcia labeled him The Big Donkey. It was a term of endearment. Well, everybody except for the Toronto Blue Jays. Castro hit a ball sharply to shallow right on McKenzies 100th pitch. PHILLIES 10, ANGELS 0 You The 24-year Bieber struck out 11. When he didnt have it, however, he might throw the ball over the backstop. My big pitch was my curveball. Best-selling Len Barker products on sale for a limited. Moseby was credited with a double. If you have to lose Im glad to lose to a guy who pitched a perfect game to beat me, said Toronto starter Luis Leal. Still, the night made him a legend here. Elwell ended up at a golf course, hunched over the front seat of the car, listening to the remainder of the game. Manning went to third on the play and scored on Andre Thorntons sacrifice fly. This is, unfortunately, the second amazing Wine & Gold announcer to pass away in recent times. who claim to have attended Len Barkers perfect game of 1981. He was overpowering in 1980 when he had a 19-12 record with a 4.17 ERA. Always said his arm was fine. When he pitched poorly, hed say, I was awful, just terrible., Len Barker at Tribe Fest 2019.Marc Bona, cleveland.com. Barker has a 200-243 record at the Division II school, 128-107 in the Mountain East Conference. The Indians havent completed a no-hitter since Len Barkers [] Wish You Were Here Productions and The Don Larsen Foundation held a "Perfect Evening" supporting The Don Larsen Foundation and celebrating the 50th anniversary of Don's legendary World Series Perfect Game.