Ewell Blackwell (October 23, 1922 - October 29, 1996) was a right-handed
starting pitcher in
Major League Baseball. Nicknamed "The Whip" for his sidearm, snap-delivery, Blackwell played for the
Cincinnati Reds for most of his career (1942, 1946–1952).
He is considered to have been one of the greatest pitchers of his era, and starred in a six-year streak in the
All-Star Game from 1946 through 1951. He also played with the
New York Yankees (1952–1953) and finished his career with the
Kansas City Athletics (1954).
On June 18, 1947, Blackwell pitched a 6-0
no-hitter against the
Boston Braves. In his next start, June 22, against the
Brooklyn Dodgers, he took a no-hitter into the ninth inning, trying to tie the achievement of his veteran Reds teammate
Johnny Vander Meer from nine years earlier, of throwing consecutive no-hitters. However, the no-hit attempt was broken up
Eddie Stanky. The Reds won the game 4-0, but not before Blackwell, in frustration, issued a stream of
racial slurs at
Jackie Robinson.Miller, Patrick.
Sport and the Color Line: Black Athletes and Race Relations in Twentieth Century America, 2003. p 176.Robinson batted after Stanky and was in the middle of his first major league season.
In a 10-season career, Blackwell posted an 82-78 record with 839
strikeouts and a 3.30
ERA in 1321
innings pitched. In 1960, he was inducted into the......
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