Justin Verlander Throws A No-No

Just finished watching Justin Verlander put the finishing touches on a no-hitter against Milwaukee in Detroit. He struck out a career-high 12 in the 4-0 win and received a face full of shaving cream from closer Todd Jones as reward for his efforts. Congratulations to Verlander, no-hitters always make us happy because they remind us that any random Tuesday night game is 27 outs away from history and also because Verlander's on our roto team and he continues to avoid the sophomore jinx with aplomb. A few more notes about the no-no:

• It was the first one thrown by a Tiger since Jack Morris did the trick during the magical 1984 season and the first one thrown by a Tiger in Detroit since Virgil Trucks in 1952.
• It was the first ever no-hitter thrown at Comerica Park, the last no-hitter at Tiger Stadium was thrown by Nolan Ryan in 1973. It was Ryan's second career no-hitter and his second no-hitter that summer.
• It was the fourth no-hitter thrown on June 12. Lee Richmond did the trick 127 years ago for the Worcester Ruby Legs when he threw a 1-0 perfect game against the Cleveland Blues. He probably beat Jim McCormick in the process since McCormick started 74 of 85 games for the Blues that year. Richmond was joined by Jim Wilson of the Milwaukee Braves in 1954 and Dock Ellis in 1970.
• That last no-hitter is pretty famous. Ellis claims to have been high on LSD when he beat the Padres 2-0. If this is news to you check out this interview with Ellis from the Dallas Observer two years ago. He walked eight Friars that day and in his defense he likely couldn't see the catcher's mitt what with all the dancing faeries and swirling circles dominating his field of vision. He also didn't think he was starting that day. When he woke up he thought it was Thursday until his lady told him it was, in fact, Friday and he was slated to start the first game of a twinbill. All in all taking LSD before a start might not have been the strangest thing Ellis ever did. He used to walk around with curlers in his hair and once attempted to hit every member of the Cincinnati Reds in a 1974 start. He hit three, walked Tony Perez and was pulled two pitches into Johnny Bench's at-bat.

No word on what, if any, influence Verlander was under this evening. There's also little chance he's as batshit crazy as Dock Ellis. But they share a piece of baseball history from now until our robot overlords destory all records of the game we call baseball.

(AP Photo/Duane Burleson)