Comments on: 25 Years Later: Milt Wilcox’s Near-Perfect Game

By: Bob

Bob — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 01:16:57 +0000

I was at that game. Aside from almost witnessing a piece of history, what I remember most is that when the Sox changed pitchers, a car from a local dealership would drive along the warning track. Every time the car was showered with beer. Classic.

By: RoadDog

RoadDog — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 00:05:55 +0000

I was at that game. Even though I was a Sox fan I was pulling for Wilcox at the end.

I even almost got into a verbal fight with two Sox fans behing me who cheered when Hairston got the hit. Imagine seeing a perfect game!! And we missed it by one lousy out.

We didn’t even get a no-hitter.

By: DAVE SIMMS

DAVE SIMMS — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 14:18:51 +0000

MILT AND I GREW UP TOGETHER IN DEL CITY, OKLAHOMA..I WAS TRAVELING TO MY IN-LAWS IN ARKANSAS WHILE THE GAME WAS ON…..WHEN I ARRIVED IN HOT SPRINGS MY FATHER-IN-LAW SAID TO ME,” MILT CAME WITHIN ONE PITCH OF THE HALL OF FAME”………

By: DAVE SIMMS

DAVE SIMMS — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 14:17:48 +0000

MILT AND I GREW UP TOGETHER IN DEL CITY, OKLAHOMA..I WAS TRAVELING TO MY IN-LAWS IN ARKANSAS WHEN THE GAME WAS ON…..WHEN I ARRIVED IN HOT SPRINGS MY FATHER-IN-LAW SAID TO ME,” MILT CAME WITHIN ONE PITCH OF THE HALL OF FAME”………

By: Jeff H

Jeff H — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 00:38:39 +0000

“Twenty-six batters in a row and Jerry Hairston will come on to bat…
“…and a base hit up the middle!…
“Twenty six batters in a row and he hit it on a line!”

George Kell
Verbatim. I can still hear him.
GK was the best ever.

By: Donna Aikin

Donna Aikin — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 03:53:36 +0000

I was just telling my grandson about that special game because Hairston’s son plays for his favorite team, the Devil Rays. I will never forget that game. I heard it on the radio and when Milt’s perfect game was lost, I cried my eyes out. I later heard Milt say that he thought the fans felt even worse than he did. I know I did.

By: Ti m D

Ti m D — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 20:07:54 +0000

I watched that entire game with a Sox fan who was very unhappy. You will recall that the Sox were pretty good then, and they usually beat the Tigers. Anyway Milt pitched one of the great games I ever saw. The pitch he threw to Hairston seemed like the only ball he threw down the middle all night. You could just see it kind of hang out over the middle of the plate, a good pitch to hit. He had been painting the black all night and it was really noticeable that he had made a bad pitch even before Hairtson swung. I saw an interview with Verlander where he said he had to take a few seconds to compose himself before the last batter in his no-hitter. He had to stop and focus himself on the hitter and how to get him out. I would imagine if Milt had it to do over again he would have thrown that first pitch to Hairston low and outside.

A great game, by a pitcher who was very consistent and obtained for nothing off the scrapheap at the recommendation of Sparky Anderson.

By: Slashpyne

Slashpyne — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 19:11:04 +0000

I remember that game well. I was in high school and out on a date with my girlfriend. I turned on the radio around the 6th inning, heard Milt had a no-hitter going, raced to her house in Frankfort,Mi and watched the rest of the game. I was crushed when Hairston ruined the perfect game. Milt was one of my favorites…

By: A. Dubbin

A. Dubbin — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 23:02:09 +0000

Well done. I enjoyed that article. Funny that Gibby was busy jinxing the pitcher, and he wasn’t even in the starting lineup!