This post is a day late. 41 years ago yesterday Tom Seaver, of the hated New York Mets ("hated" being a redundancy), took a perfect game into the ninth inning against the Cubs at Shea Stadium. With one out, Jimmy Qualls hit a clean single to left, breaking up the perfecto, and establishing himself in the hearts of Cubs fans everywhere.
A little over six years later, on September 24, 1975, Seaver took another no-hit bid into the ninth inning against the Cubs. This one was at the Friendly Confines. Seaver got the first two batters out, but then, up came "Tarzan" Joe Wallis. (He got the nickname from jumping into motel swimming pools from second floor balconies.) With two outs, and two strikes, Joe Wallis became Jimmy Qualls and hit a single into right center. (Seaver left the game after ten innings, having given up three hits. Rick Reuschel also pitched ten innings, giving up five hits. The Cubs won the game in the eleventh, 1 to 0.)
Jimmy Qualls and Joe Wallis. Two Cubs heroes.
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