In a remarkable display of talent and endurance, Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers put on a show for the ages in Game 3 of the World Series against the Milwaukee Brewers. However, some argue that his performance, while unprecedented, does not quite match the sheer improbability and cultural significance of another legendary outing from baseball’s past.
Want to know what people are really saying? Don’t miss the buzz from Reddit at the end!
Shohei Ohtani’s Unparalleled Pitching and Hitting Masterclass
On October 17th, Shohei Ohtani etched his name into the annals of baseball history with a performance that defied belief. The Japanese phenom took the mound for the Dodgers and proceeded to dominate the Brewers’ lineup, tossing six shutout innings and racking up 10 strikeouts. But Ohtani’s brilliance extended far beyond the pitcher’s mound. In a feat never before accomplished, he stepped up to the plate and launched three towering home runs, including one that sailed out of the confines of Dodger Stadium. Ohtani’s three homers surpassed the total number of playoff homers hit by any other pitcher in their entire career, cementing his status as a true two-way superstar.
The Greatest Game Ever Pitched?
While Ohtani’s performance was undoubtedly historic and awe-inspiring, some baseball aficionados argue that it does not quite eclipse the sheer improbability and cultural significance of another legendary outing from the game’s past. To throw a no-hitter is an impressive feat in its own right. To throw a no-hitter while high on LSD is ‘like a perfect game times a million,’ as Chris Isenberg, producer of an animated short on Dock Ellis, said to the New York Times. “Jack Chorley” The game in question took place on June 12, 1970, when Dock Ellis of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitched a no-hitter against the San Diego Padres while under the influence of LSD.
Dock Ellis’ Psychedelic No-Hitter: A Trip Through Baseball History
Ellis had unwittingly ingested a tab of LSD earlier that day, not realizing he was scheduled to pitch. He caught a last-minute flight to San Diego, donned his uniform, and proceeded to throw the 174th no-hitter in MLB history. During the surreal outing, Ellis experienced vivid hallucinations, including seeing the home plate umpire as Richard Nixon, Jimi Hendrix batting with his guitar, and the baseball changing sizes. At one point, he thought he had scored a touchdown on first base. To deliver precise, unhittable pitches while under the influence of a mind-bending psychedelic known for its paranoia-inducing and world-altering effects is deemed inconceivable by many baseball historians and fans.
Payroll Disparity: Leveling the Playing Field
While Ohtani’s performance was undoubtedly remarkable, some argue that it was achieved with the advantage of playing for the team with the highest payroll in the league, more than three times higher than the Brewers’. In contrast, Dock Ellis’s no-hitter on LSD is seen as a more sublime and storybook moment, capturing the countercultural milieu of the late 1960s and early 1970s. It represents a triumph of sheer determination and skill over the mind-altering effects of a powerful psychedelic, a feat that transcends the boundaries of the game itself.
Countercultural Legends: When Baseball Met the 1960s
Dock Ellis’s psychedelic no-hitter is not just a baseball legend, but a cultural touchstone that encapsulates the spirit of the 1960s counterculture movement. It serves as a reminder that even in the most unlikely of circumstances, the human spirit can overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles. While Shohei Ohtani’s performance was undoubtedly historic and will be remembered for generations to come, Dock Ellis’s no-hitter on LSD remains a truly sublime and storybook moment, a testament to the power of the human mind and the enduring allure of baseball’s rich tapestry of tales.
What People Are Saying About Dock Ellis’ Legendary Psychedelic No-Hitter
While Shohei Ohtani’s recent World Series performance was undoubtedly historic and awe-inspiring, some baseball fans argue that it does not quite eclipse the sheer improbability and cultural significance of another legendary outing from the game’s past – Dock Ellis’ psychedelic no-hitter. [QUOTE_START]’To throw a no-hitter is an impressive feat in its own right. To throw a no-hitter while high on LSD is ‘like a perfect game times a million,’ as Chris Isenberg, producer of an animated short on Dock Ellis, said to the New York Times.[QUOTE_END]
On June 12, 1970, Dock Ellis of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitched a no-hitter against the San Diego Padres while under the influence of LSD. Throwing precise, unhittable pitches while experiencing vivid hallucinations, including seeing the home plate umpire as Richard Nixon and Jimi Hendrix batting with his guitar, is deemed inconceivable by many baseball historians and fans.