The Night a Pitcher Threw a No-Hitter… While tripping on LSD

On June 12, 1970, Dock Ellis of the Pittsburgh Pirates delivered one of the most unbelievable performances in baseball history: a no-hitter against the San Diego Padres at San Diego Stadium. What made it legendary wasn’t just the result. It was how Ellis got there. According to Ellis himself, he took LSD earlier that day—believing he was off and still in Los Angeles. When he realized, he was scheduled to pitch in San Diego, he rushed to the ballpark and took the mound while still under the influence. What followed was pure chaos… and baseball immortality.

The Box Score Oddity

Ellis didn’t dominate the Padres with pinpoint control. In fact, his line was one of the wildest ever recorded in a no-hitter:

• 0 hits allowed

• 8 walks

• 1 hit batter

• 1 wild pitch

• 9 strikeouts

He threw 138 pitches and was often unsure of what he was seeing. Ellis later said he sometimes couldn’t even feel the baseball in his hand and had trouble locating the catcher. At one point, he believed the opposing batters were trying to bunt at him.

Yet somehow, through a mix of raw stuff, adrenaline, and sheer unpredictability, the Padres never recorded a hit.

The 1970 Season Context

The 1970 Pirates were one of the National League’s most exciting teams:

• Record: 89–73

• Finish: 1st place, NL East

• Manager: Danny Murtaugh

• Stars: Roberto Clemente, Willie Stargell, Al Oliver

Ellis finished the season 13–10 with a 3.21 ERA, establishing himself as a key arm in a rotation that would help the Pirates capture the 1971 World Series the following year.

The Card That Tells the Story

Dock Ellis appears in the 1971 Topps Dock Ellis #85 card, issued the season after his famous no-hitter.

About the 1971 Topps Set

• Total cards: 752

• Design: Bold black borders with colorful team names

• Distribution: Wax packs, rack packs, and vending boxes

• Original pack price: 10 cents for 7 cards

The black borders looked sharp, but they chipped easily. High-grade examples are very hard to find today, making the set a favorite among vintage collectors.

Ellis’s card doesn’t mention the LSD story—Topps stayed far away from anything controversial—but collectors who know the history understand exactly what it represents. It’s a cardboard reminder of one of baseball’s most bizarre and unforgettable games.

A Legend That Grew Over Time

Interestingly, the full story didn’t become widely known until years later, when Ellis spoke openly about it after his playing career. The tale eventually inspired documentaries, books, and even an animated short film recreating the game. Today, it stands as one of the most talked-about no-hitters in Major League history—not for dominance, but for the sheer improbability of it all.

Why Collectors Love This Card

The 1971 Dock Ellis card combines:

• A visually iconic set design

• A pitcher with a cult-hero story

• One of the most unusual achievements in baseball history

For collectors, it’s more than a common card.It’s a conversation piece.

And in the hobby, stories are often worth as much as statistics.

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