There’s always that guy.
You know him. He’s that guy who messes up your team’s no-hitter.
It was 50 years ago when Minnesota’s Cesar Tovar became that “guy” twice during the 1969 season with both hits coming in the ninth against the Baltimore Orioles.
On May 15, Dave McNally was unbeaten with five wins in eight starts as he dominated the Minnesota Twins in a 6-0 victory.
McNally had a perfect game going until the fifth when he walked Leo Cardenas. Tony Oliva also received a free pass in the seventh.
With one out in the ninth, Tovar spoiled McNally’s effort for a no-hitter.
A two-run triple by Andy Etchebarren in the second off Twins starter Jim Kaat was all of the offense the Orioles would need.
McNally, who was a three-time all-star, finished the season with a 20-7 record as the Orioles eventually fell to the New York Mets in the World Series.
Next Victim
Mike Cuellar was the next victim for Tovar as he broke up the Baltimore lefty’s no-hitter by leading off the ninth inning with a single on Aug. 10.
Cuellar walked three and fanned eight as he blanked the Twins 2-0.
Minnesota’s Jim Perry allowed just four hits, but the problem was that two of them were solo home runs by Boog Powell and Elrdo Hendricks.
Finishing the 1969 season at 23-11, Cuellar was named the Cy Young Award winner along with Denny McLain of the Detroit Tigers.
Tovar ended 1969 with a team-high 45 stolen bases for the Twins as they won the American League West title before losing in the playoffs to the Orioles. Tovar batted .288 with 11 homers and 52 RBI.
Five Times
In addition to the pair of games in 1969, Tovar had three other contests where he got his team’s only hit.
The first time was against Barry Moore of Washington as the Senators beat the Twins 3-0 on April 30, 1967. Tovar singled in the sixth.
With a bunt single to lead off the game, Tovar ruined what would have been a no-hitter for Dick Bosman of Washington in a 1-0 loss by the Twins On Aug. 13, 1970.
In 1975, Tovar had a sixth-inning single for Texas against New York’s Catfish Hunter as the Yankees beat the Rangers 6-0 on May 31.
A Second with Five
Cincinnati’s Eddie Milner became the second player in baseball history to break-up five no-hitters when he tied Tovar in 1986.
Milner also did it twice in 1982 and then again in 1983 and 1984.