Dock Ellis Throws a No-Hitter on LSD

On June 12, 1970, Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Dock Ellis threw a no-hitter against the San Diego Padres at San Diego Stadium. He walked eight batters, hit one, and allowed no hits in a 2-0 victory. Years later, Ellis revealed that he had pitched the entire game under the influence of LSD.

Ellis told the story in increasingly detailed accounts over the following decades. He said he had taken the acid on the morning of June 12, believing it was an off day. A friend pointed out that he was scheduled to pitch that afternoon. Ellis drove to the stadium, took the mound, and tried to keep the ball somewhere near the plate for nine innings.

His descriptions of the experience were vivid. He said the ball changed sizes in his hand. He saw trails following the pitches. At one point, he thought Richard Nixon was the home plate umpire. He perceived the ball as bouncing before it reached the batter, though the catcher kept putting down signals and he kept throwing.

The eight walks suggest he was not in full command. The hit batter in the eighth inning nearly opened the door for the Padres. But the defense played well behind him, and San Diego's lineup, which ranked near the bottom of the National League in most offensive categories, could not put a ball in play at the right time.

Ellis was 25 years old and already developing a reputation as one of the game's most outspoken characters. He wore hair curlers in the clubhouse. He challenged opponents openly. He would later admit to using amphetamines, marijuana, and alcohol throughout his career, in addition to the LSD.

After baseball, Ellis became a drug counselor. He worked with inmates at a prison in California and spoke publicly about addiction and recovery. He was open about the damage that drugs had done to his life and career.

He died on December 19, 2008, at age 63. The no-hitter on LSD became the story people remembered, but Ellis spent his final decades trying to make sure it served as a cautionary tale rather than a celebration.