Rick Wise was a Madison High School phenom in Portland, Ore., who was signed by Phillies scout Glenn Elliott on June 16, 1963, after leading his team to its first state championship. His signing bonus: $12,000. This was two years before the summer Draft began. He then headed for the Bakersfield Bears in the Class A California League to begin his professional career.

The 17-year-old finished his first season 6-3 with a 2.63 ERA over 12 games (nine starts). He struck out 98 in 65 innings while walking only 23.

• Phillies Alumni

Career

Made his Major League debut, April 18, 1964 ... Wise went on to an 18-year career in the Majors with the Phillies (1964, 1966-71), Cardinals (1972-73), Red Sox (1974-77), Indians (1978-79) and Padres (1980-82). Final record: 188-181, 3.69 ERA for 506 games (455 starts) ... Most wins in the Majors came with the 1975 Red Sox (19-12). Winning pitcher in Game 6 of the 1975 World Series.

Did You Know?

As a 12-year-old, he pitched in the Little League World Series. Three years later, he pitched the second no-hitter in Babe Ruth League World Series history.

1964

Major League Baseball had a bonus rule in effect in 1964. When a Major League team signed an amateur player to a contract with a signing bonus in excess of $4,000, the team was required to keep that player on their 25-man roster for a full season. If a club chose to send a player to the Minor Leagues, the player had to clear waivers. The rule was abolished in 1965 when MLB initiated the Draft.

Wise and outfielder John Briggs spent the entire season in the Major Leagues. Two others, RHP Darrell Sutherland (Mets) and LHP Jim Roberts (Pirates) were claimed on waivers.

“My first Spring Training was 1964 with the big club. Wore No. 62. Stayed at the Jack Tar Hotel like all the players,” Wise remembers. “Being a rookie, I’m sure I had a roommate, but I can’t recall who. All rookies dressed in a narrow row of lockers at Jack Russell Stadium, 'Rookie Row.' It was so tight you needed a shoehorn to get to your locker.

“We weren’t picked to do good. Gene Mauch liked to play small ball, bunting early in games,” said Wise. “We played good baseball from the beginning. Sound fundamentals. Everyone had a role to play, and we played at a high level for a long time. Then for 10 games everything went wrong.

“A lot of weird stuff happened. … Ruiz stole home with Frank Robinson at bat,” he recalled. “That started it. Popups fell in, balls bounced over fielder’s gloves, Tony [Taylor] dropped a double play ball, [Johnny] Callison hit three homers in a game and we lost. Key runs scored on passed balls. Rico Carty’s bases-loaded triple won a game in the ninth inning.

“The Cardinals and Reds didn’t lose during our spin. We won the last two games of the season in Cincinnati and knocked the Reds out of the World Series. The Cardinals lost two games to the Mets. They rallied to clinch on the last day. Bob Gibson pitched in relief on two days’ rest.

“It was a bitter pill to swallow for everybody. As a rookie, I was making $7,000. A World Series share would have doubled that.”

When right-handed reliever Ryne Duren was sold to Cincinnati in May, Wise switched to No. 18.

Nuggets

MLB debut came on April 18 in Wrigley, pitching in relief in the fifth inning. First batter he faced was Ernie Banks, who doubled.

June 21, 1964, Game 2 vs. Mets at Shea Stadium. His first start in the Majors came after Jim Bunning had pitched a perfect game vs. the Mets in the first game. “I was in the clubhouse during that game, watching on TV and knew what was happening. When the game ended, the players and media filled the clubhouse. I wanted to go warm up, but couldn’t find a baseball,” he chuckled. “I remember walking a batter in the fourth inning, which drew a big cheer from the Mets fans, their first baserunner.” He allowed three hits, two unearned runs, walked three in six innings. Johnny Klippstein followed with three hitless innings. Allowing only three hits set a Major League record for fewest in a doubleheader.

June 23, 1971: Became the first and only pitcher in Major League history to hit two home runs while pitching a no-hitter, a 4-0 win in Cincinnati. Only a sixth-inning walk to Dave Concepcion kept him from a perfect game. He threw 95 pitches (56 fastballs and 39 breaking pitches). “While batting in the fifth inning, Ross Grimsley left a slider up in the zone, and I hit it for a home run to left field. I led off the eighth inning against Clay Carroll. Home run number two to left-center ... “In the bottom of the ninth, Pete Rose came to the plate and stood between me and a no-hitter. He was the last hitter you wanted to see with one out remaining in a no-no. The count went to 3-2 and I went with a fastball, low and away -- a semi-line drive to John Vukovich at third and the game was complete. My greatest game ever!” Time of game for this gem: 1:53. After the game, he was interviewed by Richie Ashburn.

Aug. 28, 1971, G2, Phillies 7, Giants 3, Veterans Stadium. Complete game for Wise with 11 strikeouts. He drove in five runs on a grand slam and a solo home run.

Sept. 18, 1971: He set a Phillies record by retiring 32 consecutive Cubs in a 4-3, 12-inning win at Veterans Stadium. He allowed a home run in the second inning and not another baserunner until two out in the 12th inning. His pitching line: 12 innings, 5 hits, 3 runs, 2 earned, 0 walks, 10 strikeouts. He faced 41 batters. In the bottom of the 12th, with the bases loaded and one out, Wise won his own game with a single to right, his third hit of the night.

Personal

Rick and the late Susan Lakey were married for 54 years. She died Feb. 3, 2021. They raised a son and a daughter. Rick, 78, lives in Beaverton, Ore. In addition to his children, there are four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.