Baseball History: Bugs Raymond Throws Two No Hitters on Same Day

Johnny Vander Meer will be remembered in baseball history as the only pitcher to throw consecutive no hitters in the majors. On this day in 1905, minor league pitcher Bugs Raymond outdid Vander Meer.

One of the greatest accomplishments in baseball history belongs to Johnny Vander Meer. In 1938, Vander Meer etched his name into the record books, as he became the only player to throw consecutive no hitters. It is a feat that may not only never be duplicated at the major league level, but may be impossible to break.

However, Vander Meer was not the first player to throw consecutive no hitters. That honor belongs to minor league pitcher Bugs Raymond, who accomplished the feat on this day in 1905. His achievement was even more impressive than Vander Meer’s, as Raymond threw his no hitters on the same day.

Pitching for the Charleston Sea Gulls in the South Atlantic League, the former major leaguer dominated. Raymond pitched both ends of a double header, and threw a a no hitter in the both games. It was a performance that will go down in baseball history as amongst the greatest in a single day.

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A gifted pitcher who was considered to be the best spitballer of his time when sober, Raymond had frequent sojourns with the bottle. Raymond’s alcoholism was such that teammate Rube Marquard claimed that the spitballer never actually spat on the ball, but rather breathed on it to make the ball drunk as well.

Raymond made his way back to the majors in 1907, and won 15 or more games in 1908 and 1909. However, his alcoholism got the best of him, and he would begin to struggle. He would show up to the ballpark drunk with greater frequency, finally earning the ire of manager John McGraw. After being told he had better show up on time the following day, Raymond appeared at the park two hours late in his regular clothes. That would be the end of his major league career, as McGraw handed Raymond his uniform and told him that he was done. A little over an hour later, that uniform was hanging in the window of a saloon, where Raymond was tending bar.

His story does not have a happy ending. Raymond drifted back to Chicago, playing on semi-pro teams and working at odd jobs. During one such game, an angry fan named Fred Cigranz charged the field, where he pummeled Raymond and beat him with a bat. After a stint in the hospital, Raymond was discharged, but began complaining of headaches. He passed away on September 7, 1912, at just 30 years old, due to injuries suffered in the fight.

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Bugs Raymond has his promising career derailed by his alcoholism. However, on this day in 1905, he ensured that his name would be remembered in baseball history.