Drugs and sports have become joined at the hip in recent years. While most cases are of the performance-enhancing sort, psychedelics have also made their way in between the lines.
Just ask Dock Ellis.
It was June 12, 1970. Ellis — a starting pitcher for MLB’s Pittsburgh Pirates —was relaxing in the Los Angeles home of his buddy Al Rambo.
Though his team was in San Diego for a four-game series, Ellis woke up and dropped some acid.
His girlfriend was thumbing though the paper when she noticed the day’s probable starters. Ellis was pitching in game one of a doubleheader.
He had four hours to get down to San Diego and to get ready for his start.
Ellis said he didn’t remember traveling from Los Angeles to San Diego, but he made it to the stadium on time.
Still tripping, he went on to throw a no-hitter in his team’s 2-0 win. Though he walked eight batters, Ellis still earned one of the most peculiar victories in baseball history.
Reach the reporter at Alex.Espinoza@asu.edu.
