RetroSimba

Keith Hernandez provided the biggest challenge to Tom Seaver in his bid to pitch a no-hitter against the Cardinals.

On June 16, 1978, Seaver got the lone no-hitter of his 20-year major-league career in a 4-0 Reds victory over the Cardinals at Cincinnati.

Hernandez twice came close to getting singles, but skillful plays by second baseman Joe Morgan and shortstop Dave Concepcion turned the sharp shots into outs.

Hernandez also almost ruined Seaver’s shutout, drawing a walk and advancing to third with one out before being left stranded.

Early jam

In 1978, Seaver, 33, was in his second season with the Reds. He’d pitched five one-hitters in 11 seasons with the Mets before they traded him to Cincinnati in June 1977.

Facing the Cardinals for the second time in 1978, Seaver retired the first four batters before Hernandez walked with one out in the second. When Hernandez stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by catcher Don Werner, the Cardinals were positioned to score, but Jerry Morales struck out and, after Ken Reitz walked, Mike Phillips grounded out, ending the threat.

In the fourth, Hernandez hit a one-hop smash between first and second. Morgan moved to his left, snared the ball and threw out Hernandez.

“It wasn’t a tough play if I get to it,” Morgan said to the Cincinnati Enquirer. “The only question was if I’d get to it on the AstroTurf.”

Said Seaver: “Joe has a lot of smarts. He knows how to play the hitters. That was a case of intelligence getting you an out rather than raw ability.”

The Reds scored three runs in the fifth against John Denny on a two-run double by Pete Rose and a RBI-double by Morgan. A home run by Dan Driessen leading off the sixth gave the Reds a 4-0 lead.

Bearing down

In the seventh, Hernandez hit a low rocket that caromed off Seaver’s glove and deflected to Concepcion, who fielded the ball and threw out Hernandez.

“Even if Seaver doesn’t touch the ball, I think I make the play at first,” Concepcion said to The Sporting News.

Seaver survived another scare in the eighth when Morales hit a high chopper off the plate. Third baseman Ray Knight, who’d entered the game as a defensive replacement for Rose, fielded the ball and fired a throw to first to nip Morales.

Seaver retired 19 in a row before walking Jerry Mumphrey to open the ninth. “After that walk, I told myself, ‘Wait a minute, pal, you can lose this game,’ ” Seaver said.

Up next for the Cardinals were Lou Brock, Garry Templeton and George Hendrick. Ted Simmons and Hernandez awaited after that. “If I had to get down to Simmons and Hernandez, I knew the game would be in jeopardy,” Seaver said to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Savvy Seaver

Brock worked the count to 2-and-1, fouled off four pitches and flied out to left. Templeton followed with a ground ball to Concepcion, who tossed to Morgan at second for the forceout of Mumphrey.

Seaver got ahead of the count, 1-and-2, on Hendrick before getting him to ground out to Driessen at first, securing the no-hitter and giving the Reds a 4-0 victory. Video of last out

“I did have a good sinker most of the way and my fastball came along later,” said Seaver. “I had my best stuff at the end.”

The no-hitter “was more a matter of skill over power,” wrote Bob Hertzel of the Enquirer.

Werner, catching in place of Johnny Bench, who had an ailing back, said Seaver called all the pitches. “Tom runs the show out there,” Werner said. “I was more of a spectator.” Boxscore

The no-hitter was the first by a Reds pitcher at Riverfront Stadium. It also was the first by a Reds pitcher since Jim Maloney versus the Astros in April 1969.

Seaver’s no-hitter was the first pitched against the Cardinals since Gaylord Perry of the Giants did it in September 1968.

“If it has to happen,” said Cardinals manager Ken Boyer, “at least it happened to a real pro.”

In 51 career starts against the Cardinals, Seaver was 25-13 with a 2.69 ERA, 21 complete games and four shutouts.

Here is a link to a game video of Seaver’s no-hitter.