WHAT ARE THE ODDS?
I’ve been to approximately 60 Cleveland Indians games and seen three no-hitters. What are the odds on that? Call the Freakonomics guy.
I am a fair-weather fan! For two of the three no-hitters, I didn’t even know who the players were. Like now, I can’t name any of the Guardians players.
I saw Toronto’s Dave Stieb no-hit the Tribe in 1990. I didn’t know any of the Cleveland players then. I saw Cleveland’s Dick Bosman throw a no-hitter in 1974; again, I didn’t know any of the Cleveland players except Buddy Bell, who I recognized as Gus Bell’s son.
1966 — my first no-hitter. Sonny Siebert, 2-0, against the Senators. I knew the players. I was in high school: Azcue, Alvis, Davalillo, Wagner, Colavito.

Francona batted .363 in 1959 but was 34 at-bats shy of the minimum needed, so the batting title went to Harvey Kuenn.
I used to get free tickets to the games in high school for straight A’s. I didn’t get straight A’s but the Cleveland Press (which gave out the free tix) didn’t care about a B or two, as long as if you provided a written explanation. “This class is AP,” etc.
By the way, I’m uneasy with the fine-print mention of “Harvey Kuenn” in the photo caption above. April 19, 1960. What a dark day. Frankie Lane unloaded The Rock for Kuenn. That was the day I learned life isn’t fair. Still adjusting.
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Visiting my daughter and grandson in Seattle in August. We have tickets to the Mariners. I find baseball dull for the most part and probably won’t make it through 9 innings.
Football thats a different story. Used to have season tickets to the Patriots. Saw a Rabbi on the Patriot train once. (Reform)
I got the free Tribe tickets once, when I scored all As in my last grading period at Elyria HS. Never used them, though, for lack of transportation to Cleveland. I was also a big fan of The Rock. I even imitated the way he warmed up when I was playing Little League baseball in Barberton. I was hardly the only one…
Hey Bert,
I was your cousin-in-law for a hot minute when I was married to Margie G. in the 70’s. A friend sent me a link to one of your blog posts. Two memories: I was at Sonny Siebert’s no-hitter too—what are the odds of that? And I believe you gave me my first Harvey Pekar comic. I still have almost a complete set of American Splendor. Living in Boston now.
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