Baseball History: Tom Drees Fires Third No Hitter of the Year

Several major league pitchers have fired two no hitters in a season, with Johnny Vander Meer throwing his in consecutive outings. Not only did Tom Drees match Vander Meer, but on this day in 1989, the minor leaguer became the first pitcher in baseball history with three no hitters in a season.

There is something about a no hitter that captures the imagination. Fans remember Johnny Vander Meer because of his consecutive no hitters. Nolan Ryan became a legend not only for his strikeouts, but because he was a threat to throw a no hitter any time he set foot on the mound. Dock Ellis threw one of the more infamous no hitters in baseball history when he threw his while on LSD.

For all of the memorable moments that have come due to the no hitter, there was one pitcher who out did them all. In 1989, Tom Drees, a somewhat middling prospect in the White Sox system, carved his name into baseball history. On this day, he threw his third no hitter of the year, shutting down the Las Vegas Stars 5-0 in the first game of a double header.

Drees’ first two no hitters mirrored Vander Meer’s accomplishment. He fired his on May 23 and May 28, the second one being a seven inning contest. That performance got the 26 year old minor league veteran on the cover of Baseball America, a worthy honor for the Vancouver Canadians pitcher.

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His third no hitter may have been the most difficult one. He faced a stars lineup that had future All Stars Carlos Baerga and Sandy Alomar. Other players on the roster included major leaguers Shane Mack, Thomas Howard, and Jerald Clark. It was not an easy lineup that Drees had to face that day.

For the year, he finished with a 12-11 record with a 3.37 ERA and a 1.271 WHiP. In his 168.1 innings, he issued 72 walks while striking out 66 batters. He was not called up to the majors that season, despite his impressive accomplishments, making his debut in 1991 instead. He struggled in his four major league games, allowing ten runs on ten hits and six walks in 7.1 innings. That would be his only major league action, as hip issues forced Drees to retire in 1993.

Next: Chad Bettis returns to the majors

Tom Drees made his mark on baseball history on this day in 1989. The White Sox farmhand fired his third no hitter of the year, setting the record.