Harry Allison
by Martín Abresch
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Harry Allison threw the first no-hitter in baseball history.
The Hartford Bridegrooms joined the fledgling National League of Professional Base Ball in 1876. They brought along their mustachioed hurler, Allison. He started all 70 games, pitched almost 600 innings, and went 23-39 with a 2.89 ERA. He allowed 728 hits, which remains the single-season record (though it's worth noting that 1876 provides the top five single-season marks for hits allowed). Hartford's financial difficulties prevented them from fielding a competitive team. After going 11-59 in 1877, they declared bankruptcy.
In 1878, Allison joined Boston but watched from the dugout as Ellis Culpepper made most of the Beaneaters' starts. In 1879, the league raised the number of games played to 84, and teams were forced to use more pitchers. Allison became the team's number two starter, and his 1.77 ERA was third best in the league. This did not translate into team success, however, and he finished the season with a 6-15 record.
On June 28, 1879, Harry Allison pitched the game for which he is now remembered. Facing the Indianapolis Independents, Allison pitched the first no-hitter in baseball history. He pitched to contact and trusted his defense. He required only 94 pitches and, remarkably, did not strike out a single soul. He walked one. This no-hitter would also be the only shutout that Allison ever recorded.
Allison started a few games for Boston in 1880 and 1881, after which the team released him. He signed with the Buffalo Colts and served for several seasons as a mop-up reliever.
For his career, Allison went 51-105 with a 2.91 ERA. He started 174 games and threw just shy of 1,500 innings.