Jim Maloney

Infobox MLB retired
name=Jim Maloney
position=Pitcher
bats=Left
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1940|6|2
Fresno, California
debutdate=July 27
debutyear=by|1960
debutteam=Cincinnati Reds
finaldate=September 21
finalyear=by|1971
finalteam=California Angels
stat1label=Win-Loss record
stat1value=134-84
stat2label=Earned run average
stat2value=3.19
stat3label=Strikeouts
stat3value=1,605
teams=
* Cincinnati Reds (by|1960-by|1970)
* California Angels (by|1971)
highlights=
* All-Star selection (1965)
* Threw three no-hitters

James William Maloney (born June 2, 1940 in Fresno, California) is a former righthanded pitcher in Major League Baseball who played with the Cincinnati Reds (1960-70) and California Angels (1971). One of the hardest-throwing pitchers of his era, Maloney boasted a fastball clocked at 99 miles per hour, threw two no-hitters, won 10 or more games from 1963 to 1969, and struck out more than 200 batters for four consecutive seasons (1963-66). He won 23 games in 1963 and 20 in 1966.

But Maloney was overshadowed by eventual Baseball Hall of Fame pitchers Sandy Koufax, Bob Gibson, Juan Marichal, Don Drysdale and other National League contemporaries. Arm miseries shortened his career, robbing him of the chance to pitch for the "Big Red Machine" -- the fabled Cincinnati NL dynasty from 1970-76. Maloney was able to pitch in only seven games for the by|1970 Reds, and was winless in three starts.

Maloney attended Fresno State University and the University of California, Berkeley before signing with Cincinnati. Over his career, he won 134 games (all with the Reds) and lost 84, with an ERA of 3.19. In 1973, he was elected to the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame.

No Hitters

Maloney pitched two games in which he gave up no hits through nine innings in 1965, while going on to win 20 games that year. His first hitless nine-inning performance in 1965 was on June 14 against the New York Mets. It lasted 10 innings, including 18 strike outs, but Johnny Lewis led off with a home run in the 11th inning (Maloney lost the game 1-0). At the time, that game was officially recognized as a no-hitter, but the rules were later changed to omit no-hit games that were broken up in extra innings. His first official no-hitter came in August 19 against the Cubs, which he won 1-0, and his second came on April 30, 1969, in which he beat the Astros 10-0 at Crosley Field. The very next day, Don Wilson returned the favor on the Reds, pitching "his" second career no-hitter. The double no-hit feat was the second in Major League history, the first having been accomplished by Gaylord Perry and Ray Washburn—in September of just the year before.

ee also

* List of Major League Baseball no-hitters

ources

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