THE GREAT NO-HITTERS

A book devoted to that ""almost mystical feat"" which the author of The Jock Empire contends is as much a matter of luck as of skill. How else can one explain why Hippo Vaughn, Ernie Koob and Clyde Shoun tossed no-hitters whereas Hall-of-Famers Grover Cleveland Alexander, Lefty Grove and Whitey Ford did not? Admittedly, several of the game's most heralded hurlers have done the trick more than once--Sandy Koufax and Nolan Ryan (four times each); Cy Young and Bob Feller (thrice); Christy Mathewson and Warren Spahn (twice). Yet Don Larsen's perfect outing in the 1956 World Series was one of the few highlights in an otherwise mediocre (81-91) fourteen-year career. And Johnny Vander Meer's consecutive no-hitters in 1938 were two wins for a southpaw who finished in the majors with an overall losing record. Fans of baseball trivia may care to relive some of the most memorable moments in the lives of Harvey Haddix, Bobo Holloman and Bo Belinsky. No hit, just a bunt from the record books.