KEN JOHNSON - TRADING/SPORTS CARD SIGNED - HFSID 283618

KEN JOHNSON
Large 3x5¼ Topps sports card show in Houston Colt .45 colors, signed "God Bless You", by the only loser of a 9-inning no hitter game!
Sports Card Signed: "God Bless You/Ken Johnson". Color, 3x5¼. Topps card no. 2 with stats in newspaper story format on verso. Headed on verso: "Heartbreaking Defeat/Johnson Hurls No-Hitter, Loses!". ©Topps Chewing Gum, Inc. Johnson (1933-2015), was a major league pitcher from 1958 to 1970, mostly with the Kansas City Athletics, Houston Colt .45s and Atlanta Braves. He placed in the National League Top 10 for strikeouts once (1962), games started once (1964) and complete games (1966). As a Cincinnati Red in 1961, he managed to keep the New York Yankees scoreless as a relief pitcher in the second inning of the World Series' Game 5; the Reds went on to lose the game and the series. Johnson also has the dubious distinction of being the first pitcher to lose a complete game no-hitter, on April 23, 1964 against the Cincinnati Reds. Johnson, who was pitching for the Houston Colt .45s, let Pete Rose get to second after scooping up a bunt and then throwing wide to first. Charlie Hustle reached third on a sacrifice fly, then made it home after second baseman Nellie Fox botted a grounder from Vada Pinson. The Colt .45s weren't able to score in the bottom of the ninth, serving Johnson a loss chaser with his no-hitter. Lightly toned and bowed. Otherwise, fine condition.