I'd like to introduce a new feature here at BDB. Periodically I will be offering a look back at a classic Dodger moment. I will try to be creative in the process and avoid the obvious ones. We all loved Gibby's shot in '88 but we've all seen it a thousand times. I will try to help you look back fondly at memories you might have forgotten. Coming up with my first one was easy because it's one of my favorite games of all-time.
In 1996, Hideo Nomo had what was arguably the greatest season of his MLB career. He equaled his career high with wins at 16, had his 2nd highest strikeout total at 234 and his 3rd lowest ERA at 3.19. He was also a workhorse, going 228+ innings pitched. But what made his season truly memorable was his performance on the night of Sept. 17th. That would be the night when Hideo Nomo of the Dodgers would make history by throwing a no-hitter in Coors Field. Keep in mind that this was classic Coors Field. No humidor to soften the balls and even the playing field. The 1996 Rockies were also an offensive juggernaut powered by Vinny Castilla, Andres Galarraga and Ellis Burks. All of whom hit for 40 or more HR during the 1996 season. Also in the lineup that night was Dante Bichette. No slouch himself, Bichette hit 31 HR and drove in 141 that year. This was a potent lineup and it was especially brutal on their home turf in Coors Field.
To make matters worse, the start of the game was delayed by 2 hours due to rain and even when play commenced the conditions were less than ideal. There was light rain for much of the early innings and the field was muddy enough that heavy doses of sand were applied around home plate and the pitchers mound. The conditions around the pitching rubber were so bad that Nomo was forced to abandon his famous "Tornado windup" that many felt was the key to his success.
Nomo struggled early on, walking men in the 1st, 2nd and 4th innings. But he seemed to get stronger as the game progressed and allowed just one baserunner after the 4th, a lead-off walk to Eric Young in the 6th. An LA Daily News article recapping the no-no offered this quote from Bichette about Nomo's late inning dominance:
"The first couple times up, I was seeing the ball and I felt I was close to getting him", Bichette said. "After that, I said, We're not going to get a hit off this guy tonight".
Bichette was right of course as Nomo went on the finish the job getting Ellis Burks with his trademark forkball to end it in the 9th. His final line was 9 IP, 0 H, 4 BB 8 K. The Dodgers offered more than enough run support to give Nomo a 9-0 victory in the most historic of nights. A full boxscore of the game can be found here on the Baseball Almanac webpage. it's hard to sum up just how great an achievement this was. The early days of Coors Field featured numerous blowouts and high scoring affairs but few ever dreamed it would see a gem like this one. The Colorado fans were so overwhelmed by the performance that they gave Nomo a standing ovation when he stayed in the game to hit for himself in the top of the 9th. It was a night of legends and one that baseball author, Rich Westcott summed up far better than I could myself in his book, No-Hitter.
"A pitcher has about as much chance of firing a no-hitter against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field in Denver as someone would have sliding down Pike's Peak in a canoe."
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