THE REAL SIDD FINCH :

27 K's brought fleeting fame (Jon Saraceno, 5/12/2002, USA Today)

Branch Rickey once called him one of the three best pitchers he had ever seen, a man "destined for greatness." When you consider that Christy Mathewson and Dizzy Dean won a combined 523 games, that is some endorsement.

As it turned out, [Ron] Necciai's major league career lasted two months and produced one imminently forgettable victory for the lowly 1952 Pittsburgh Pirates. But he is more than a footnote in baseball history because, 50 years ago today, he was responsible for one of the most memorable, dramatic nights in history. He accomplished something no man has, before or since.

He struck out 27.

In nine innings.

His fastball was singing...

Posted by Orrin Judd at May 14, 2002 6:37 AM