The Double No-Hitter

Fred Teney achieved the impossible on May 2, 1917. Image credits: TCDB

On Wednesday, May 2, 1917, it was cold and windy in Chicago, holding attendance at Weeghman Park, home of the Cubs, down to about 3,000 for a game against the Cincinnati Reds.

Those who braved the uncomfortable conditions would be rewarded with a once-in-a-lifetime baseball experience that will never be repeated.

Both teams' aces warmed up along the outfield foul lines (there were no bullpens in those days): righthander Fred Teney for the Reds and lefty Jim Vaughan for the Cubs. 

Fred Teney

The 6'2”, 195-pound Teney was 28. He had already won four games in the new season and would win 24 for the season and in 1919, and later pitch in a World Series for the Giants.

Jim Vaughan

Jim Vaughan, 29, was huge: 6'4” and 250 pounds. His weight would later range up to 300 pounds, which would earn him the unwelcome nickname of Hippo that would stick to him into the record books.

He had already won 20 games as early as 1914 and was the Cubs' workhorse, working about 300 innings a year.  He was 3-1 in the early going so far this year.

The Reds' lineup included two notable outfielders: Olympic gold medals winner and America's greatest athlete, Jim Thorpe, and future pro football Hall of Fame coach Earle “Greasy” Neale.

The Game

Maybe it was the chilly wind off Lake Michigan that affected the hitters more than the pitchers. Maybe it had the pitchers' offerings dancing more than usual.

Whatever it was, the batters on both teams were being set down without a hit inning after inning. So methodical was it that after about one hour and 30 minutes, nine innings had been played and neither team had made a hit. 

The Reds came up in the top of the tenth. With one out, Larry Kopf made the first hit of the day, a single to right. Neale flied to center for the second out. Hal Chase reached first on an error by Williams. Kopf went to third. Chase stole second.

Thorpe beat out an infield single, scoring Kopf. As Chase tried to score also, Vaughn got to the ball and threw to the catcher, who tagged him out. 

Fred Teney completed his 10-inning no-hitter by shutting down the Cubs in order.

Time of game: 1 hour 50 minutes.