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- Series: Pilgrims
- City: New York
- Team: Highlanders
- League: American League
James Leslie Vaughn (1888-1966) threw to his catcher for an easy out in the tenth inning of a game against Cincinnati one cold afternoon in Chicago. The catcher stood with his hands at his side, the ball bounced off his chest protector and Hippo’s no-hit bid ended, along with the ballgame. The opposing pitcher, Fred Toney, recorded three more outs to get his own no-hitter. Vaughn’s response after such a curious debacle?: “…I wasn’t sore, I’s just lost another ballgame, that’s all.” Clearly Vaughn shed any disappointment as he went out the next season and led the Cubs and the league, winning the “triple crown” for pitchers. Hippo was one of the premier hurlers in baseball over a six year span but his loss to the Reds in the game’s only “double-no-hitter” will forever leave an indelible mark.
- Recorded five 20-win seasons en route to 178 career victories
- Pitched for NY 1908-12, Washington in 1912 and the Cubs from 1913-1921
- No one knows how this strong 6’4” 215 lb workhorse acquired the unflattering nickname