Orioles game of 21 June 1956: double one-hitter

[O for the Seventies]

Another question concerning the dim dead past.

I have just discovered that on 21 June 1956, the Orioles lost to the Chicago White Sox 1-0, a game in which each team managed only one hit. Chicago scored the game's only run in the first (off Connie Johnson) on an RBI double by Nellie Fox. The Orioles' only hit off Jack Harshman was a seventh-inning leadoff double by Gus Triandos, who was then retired trying to advance to third on a ground ball as the rally died. Harshman completed his one-hit shutout while Johnson got one inning of help from George Zuverink to complete a combined one-hitter.

Now I know about the one-hit-game when Sandy Koufax threw a perfect game, beating Bob Hendley's one-hitter, and I know about the game in which Fred Toney and Hippo Vaughan duelled no-hitters through nine which ended up being a no-hitter vs a two-hitter, but this Orioles game is the only one I've ever heard of in which each team got a single hit.

My attempts at googling up any other games of this sort have been frustrating, and I'm hoping that someone more adept than I can find out other instances in which each opposing team completed one-hitters.

[SNAFU]

The best game I could come up with was the game played on April 30, 1967 versus the Tigers, when both teams combined for 2 hits. But the Tigers didn't have any of them, but still beat the O's 2-1, as Steve Barber and Stu Miller combined for a no-hitter in a losing effort.

Barber pitched with 2 outs in the 9th and uncorked a wild pitch to tie the game. Mgr. Hank Bauer removed him and brought in Stu Miller. Second-baseman Mark Belanger muffed a toss from shortstop Luis Aparicio for a forceout to allow the winning run to score.

Barber's line consisted of 144 pitches, 10 walks, 2 K's, 2 HBP, 0 hits, and 1 WP in 8 and 2/3 innings.

[ziptop]

I think Jack Harshman later pitched for the Orioles. I'd forgotten all about Connie Johnson, but not George Zuverink. Hadn't forgotten about Nellie Fox or Early Wynn either. Pence for the Giants chokes up and reminded me of Nellie Fox.

I would have never thought the Blade muffed a ball.

[maumau]

I think Jack Harshman later pitched for the Orioles. I'd forgotten all about Connie Johnson, but not George Zuverink.

Hsrshman did pitch for the O's, and did some pinch hitting as well, being "a good hittin' pitcher.' I think he also was a pitcher who didn't always bat ninth. If I'm not mistaken, Johnson also pitched for the White Sox. Paul Richards liked some of his old White Sox players. Connie was one of the better Oriole pitchers of the era.

[O for the Seventies]

For anyone who cares, I used some on-line help and have a complete answer to this question, at least since 1917: There have been six major league games (9+ innings) since 1917 in which the teams combined for two or fewer hits. Four of these games involved the Orioles/Browns.

One Hit:

The famous 9 September 1965 game in which Sandy Koufax threw his perfect game (4th no-hitter), defeating Bob Hendley of the Cubs 1-0. The only hit was Lou Johnson's 7th inning double, which did not impact the scoring. Los Angeles got their run in the 5th when Lou Johnson walked, moved to second on a bunt, stole third and scored when the catcher's (Chris Krug) throw went into left field.

Two Hits:

1. 2 May 1917: the famous double no-hit game between the Reds' Fred Toney (W) and the Cub's Hippo Vaughn (L). Each pitcher pitched nine innings of no-hit no-run ball. In the tenth Larry Kopf got the first hit for the Reds, later scoring on a single by football Hall of Famer Jim Thorpe.

2. 23 April 1952: St. Louis Browns 1, Cleveland 0. Winning pitcher Bob Cain, Losing pitcher Bob Feller. Each pitcher threw a complete-game one-hitter. Browns' only hit was first inning triple by Bobby Young (who was the Orioles opening day 2b-man in 1954), who scored on an error. Luke Easter's 5th inning single was Tribe's only hit.

3. 21 June 1956: the game which prompted this thread. Chicago 1, Baltimore 0, WP - Jack Harshman, LP - Connie Johnson. One hit per team, Nellie Fox 2B, Gus Triandos 2B, Fox's hit was RBI.

4. 12 September 1964: Baltimore Orioles 1, Kansas City 0. Winner: 20-year old Frank Bertaina, making his second ML start and earning his first win (not too many wins followed). Losing pitcher - Bob Meyer, whom I've never heard of. Each pitched a CG one-hitter, each hit was by a catcher. Doc Edwards of the A's doubled in the fifth; John Orsino doubled in the eighth, moved to third on Bertaina's bunt, and scored on Jackie Brandt's Sac fly.

5. 30 April 1967 (game one): Detroit Tigers 2, Baltimore Orioles 1. Baltimore got two singles (Etchebarren and F. Robinson) which had nothing to do with their run: they scored in the bottom of the 8th on three walks by Earl Wilson followed by a Sac fly by Luis Aparicio. Steve Barber took the 1-0 lead and no-hitter in the ninth, but walked two, a sac bunt followed, and a wild pitch tied the game. Following an intentional walk, Stu Miller entered and induced a DP grounder which Aparicio fielded, but second baseman Mark Belanger dropped his relay for an error as the go-ahead run scored. Awful ending. Fred Gladding retired the Birds in order in the bottom of the ninth.