The sport of baseball is filled with lore throughout the decades of being played in ballparks across the United States. However, one of the most unique and iconic stories remains Dock Ellis’ no-hitter.
The Pittsburgh Pirates’ pitcher alleges to have achieved this feat under the influence of LSD. A no-hitter is very difficult to complete at any level, especially in the MLB, so recording a no-hitter while high on acid instantly launched Ellis into stardom.
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Dock Ellis’ no-hitter was recorded on June 12th, 1970, at San Diego Stadium. The Pirates pitcher stated in a 1984 interview that he was under the influence of LSD during his only career no-hitter, although this claim has never been verified.
Ellis commented on the state of mind he found himself in against the Padres lineup that night.
“I can only remember bits and pieces of the game. I had a feeling of euphoria. I was zeroed in on the glove, but I didn’t hit the glove too much,” Ellis told a Pittsburgh Press reporter. “I remember hitting a couple of batters, and the bases were loaded two or three times.”
Ellis bounced around several different MLB teams during his 12-year career. He also dealt with various drug and alcohol addictions, leading to heart disease and a failing liver, culminating in his death at age 63 in 2008.
One year after Ellis’ passing, director James Blagden released a five-minute animated short titled Dock Ellis & The LSD No-No in 2009. The film celebrates his iconic achievement and earned a 7.4 rating on IMDb.
Ellis wound up with a 3.46 ERA and a 138-119 record as an MLB pitcher. In 1971, one year after his no-hitter, the Pirates’ starting pitcher would earn his lone All-Star nomination, going 19-9 with a 3.06 ERA.
Following his MLB career, Ellis entered rehab and succeeded in achieving sobriety. It allowed him to become a counselor, which led to Ellis being hired as the director of a substance abuse program at the California Institute for Behavioral Medicine. Ellis would give counsel to MLB players to help them overcome their addiction, as well as being tapped as a motivational speaker to steer youth and prison inmates away from pursuing drugs and alcohol.
While Ellis will always be known for his no-hitter thrown on acid, his effort to get clean and help others is an uplifting story that deserves to be recognized. He never romanticized his performance against the Padres, opting for sobriety and building a quiet legacy through positive actions.
