On Dock Ellis

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Psychedelic culture loves its mythic stories. This is, arguably, the greatest of them all. In 1970, the story goes, Dock was unaware that the team was playing a double header that day let alone that he was to pitch one of the games. He dropped some acid while in his hotel room with his girlfriend when the two of them realized that “oh shit. i have to pitch today.” It was too late to turn back at that point, so he did what any self respecting athlete would do – he suited up and showed up. The results we all know – he overcame 8 early walks and then notched a no hitter. His only no hitter of his 12 year professional baseball career.

Dock Ellis died yesterday at 63. He went 138-119 with a 3.46 ERA from 1968-79, spending most of his career with the Pirates. After his baseball career he went on to become an anti addiction counselor for young athletes.