32 in a row, A Game to Remember
As a rookie in 1964, Rick Wise won his first game on June 21 at Shea Stadium, the second game of a Sunday afternoon doubleheader. No one noticed because it followed Jim Bunning’s perfect game. Seven years later, the 25-year-old Wise got big-time notice for his right arm and big bat.
Fans remember his no-hitter in Cincinnati, 4-0, on June 23, 1971. Even more noteworthy, he became the first pitcher to hit a pair of home runs while tossing a no-no. It hasn’t been matched.
Well, later that same season, Wise did something no one had done in Phillies history. It, too, hasn’t been matched.
His 16th win came on Saturday, Sept. 18, against the Chicago Cubs at Veterans Stadium. In this game, Wise retired 32 consecutive batters, four short of the Major League record held by the Pirates' Harvey Haddix in 1959. Curt Simmons, Robin Roberts and Jim Bunning had games with the Phillies in which they retired 27 consecutive batters. Roy Halladay joined that trio with his 2010 perfect game. Thanks to extra innings, Wise went beyond 27.
Pat Bourque’s two-run homer in the first inning and a solo shot by Frank Fernandez in the second inning put the Cubs on top, 3-1. Chicago never crossed home plate again.
More important, the Cubs didn’t get another baserunner until Ron Santo singled with two out in the 12th inning. Hector Torres was the first out in the second inning. The 32nd consecutive out was Bourque.
Once again, Wise’s bat came into play. He was 3-for-6 and drove in the winning run. With Willie Montanez on third with one out, Don Money and Ron Stone were walked intentionally to get to Wise, who drilled a game-winning single to right field.
“After the homer by Fernandez to start the second inning, I got a visit from pitching coach [Ray Rippelmeyer]. Don’t remember what he said but something clicked and I retired 32 in a row,” recalls Wise.
His pitching line: 12 innings, 5 hits, 3 runs, 2 earned, 0 walks, 10 strikeouts. He faced 41 batters. Pitch counts hadn’t been invented. Let’s say he averaged five pitchers per batter. That would amount to 205 pitches.
In addition to 10 strikeouts, there were 11 ground-ball outs, six infield popups or line drives and only five fly balls to the outfield. Tim McCarver was the catcher (he was also behind the plate for the no-hitter). The game took 2:59 to complete. Attendance was 7,740.
One other noteworthy nugget from that game. In the bottom of the 12th inning, Willie Montanez reached first an infield single and advanced to second on a throwing error by Santo. 20-year-old Greg Luzinski laid down a sacrifice bunt, moving Montanez to third base. It was the only sacrifice bunt of Luzinski’s career.