In 1959, in a game against the Milwaukee Braves, Haddix pitched 12 perfect innings, and lost the game in the 13thfollowing an error, an intentional walk, and a home run. Despite the loss, nobody had ever pitched 12 perfect innings before, and nobody has ever done it since. It is perhaps one of the most incredible performances ever by a hurler.
Haddix was a lot more than that game.
The lefthander broke into the Majors with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1952 for nine Games, and in the year after, he began a three-year run of All-Stars and was the runner-up for the Rookie of the Year. Haddix was traded to Philadelphia during the 1956 season, and while he had a losing record in 1957 (10-13), he led the National League in FIP (2.94) and SO/BB (3.49).
Haddix was then traded to Cincinnati, where he only played for one year, but he again was the league-leader in SO/BB (2.56), and he won his first of three straight Gold Gloves. Haddix was then traded to the Pirates in 1959, where he had that 12-inning gem. The southpaw was first that season in WHIP (1.061) and H/9 (7.6), and he would help the Pirates win the World Series in 1960.
He played five more years, with the last two being with the Baltimore Orioles. Haddix went 136-112 with 1,575 Strikeouts.
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