RICHMOND, Va. — It’s a shame that no video evidence of this game exists … and believe me, I’ve looked!
Since the original tale of Dock Ellis pitching a no-hitter on LSD was told by Bob Smizik in The Pittsburgh Press — he was tipped off about Dock’s feat by David ‘Squiggy’ Lander, of all people, at spring training in 1984 — many people have offered opinions whether or not the events of June 12, 1970, truly occurred as Ellis himself would later describe them. Knowing what a character he was, I myself choose to believe him. It’s just a lot more fun that way.
But as entertaining as the story of the LSD-aided no-hitter is, it shouldn’t obscure what a complex and important figure Ellis was to baseball in the 1970s. The excellent ‘No-No: A Dockumentary‘ tells his story in great detail, and is well worth a watch. In fact, flip it on next time the Pirates give up a half-dozen runs in the first inning. It will no doubt make for far more satisfying viewing!
ROB ULLMAN / DKPS
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