The Main Event
- May 5, 1893 – Ed Stein pitches a one-hitter to lead the Brooklyn Grooms to a 3 – 1 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.
- May 5, 1904 – At Huntington Avenue Grounds, Cy Young of the Boston Americans hurls the second of his three no-hitters, a 3 – 0 perfect game against the Philadelphia Athletics and Rube Waddell. Young will eventually complete 24 straight hitless innings, still the record, and 45 shutout innings in a row, a record until broken by Jack Coombs‘ 53 scoreless frames in 1910.
- May 5, 1946 – Leon Day, pitching for the Newark Eagles, throws an Opening Day no-hitter against the Philadelphia Stars, winning, 2 – 0. It is the last nine-inning no-hitter in the Negro Leagues.
Pitching Masterpieces Across Three Eras
The three games played on May 5 in 1893, 1904, and 1946 are connected by one clear theme: dominant pitching performances that left Philadelphia hitters frustrated and overwhelmed. Yet while all three games revolved around elite work on the mound, the circumstances, pressure, and historical significance of each contest were very different. Together, they offer a fascinating snapshot of how baseball evolved from the rough-and-tumble 19th century game into the more polished and nationally celebrated sport it became by the mid-20th century.
The earliest game came in 1893 when Ed Stein led the Brooklyn Grooms to a 3-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies with a one-hitter. By modern standards, a one-hit game is extraordinary. In the 1890s, when errors were common and fields were often uneven, it was even harder to keep hitters completely quiet. Stein’s outing stood out because offenses in that era frequently exploded for crooked numbers. Pitchers worked quickly, fielders played on rough infields, and gloves offered far less protection and control than modern equipment.
Unlike the later no-hitters on this list, Stein did allow a run, which means the Phillies found some way to manufacture offense despite barely touching him. That detail actually makes the game feel especially representative of 19th century baseball. Teams often relied on aggressive baserunning, bunts, stolen bases, or defensive miscues to score. A controversial play or shaky fielding sequence could easily swing momentum because official scoring standards were not nearly as refined as they are today.
Cy Young meets perfection
The 1904 game featuring Cy Young is the clear heavyweight among these three performances. Young’s perfect game against the Philadelphia Athletics remains one of the defining pitching achievements in baseball history. Unlike a one-hitter or even many no-hitters, a perfect game leaves absolutely no room for error. No hits, no walks, no baserunners of any kind. Every batter is retired.
What makes the performance even more impressive is the opponent. The Athletics were managed by Connie Mack and featured Hall of Fame pitcher Rube Waddell on the other side. Waddell was one of the most overpowering pitchers of his generation, so Young was not merely dominating in a low-pressure mismatch. He was locked in a duel with another elite arm. Boston only scored three runs, meaning Young had to maintain perfection throughout a tight contest where a single mistake could have changed everything.
Young’s performance also carried larger historical weight because it was part of his streak of 24 consecutive hitless innings and 45 straight scoreless innings. Those records transformed the game from a single memorable afternoon into part of a legendary run of dominance. It elevated the outing from simply great to mythic.
The Day the Stars Aligned
The 1946 no-hitter by Leon Day for the Newark Eagles against the Philadelphia Stars carried a different kind of significance. By then, baseball strategy and athleticism had evolved dramatically, and Negro League competition was filled with elite talent that often did not receive the mainstream recognition it deserved at the time. Day’s Opening Day no-hitter was not just an outstanding performance. It became historically important as the last nine-inning no-hitter in Negro League history.
Unlike Young’s perfect game, Day did allow baserunners, but he never allowed a hit and kept the Stars off the scoreboard in a tight 2-0 victory. Opening Day games can be unpredictable because pitchers are still building endurance and hitters are fresh and eager. That makes a no-hitter in the very first game of the season especially impressive.
Negro League games were also known for aggressive offensive pressure. Speed, bunting, hit-and-run tactics, and daring baserunning constantly tested defenses. That means Day and the Newark defense likely faced several tense moments where one misplayed ball could have ended the bid. Defensive excellence was essential in preserving no-hitters during this era, especially given inconsistent field conditions and relentless offensive creativity.
Taken together, these three games show how dominant pitching can transcend generations while still reflecting the unique style of each baseball era. Stein’s gritty one-hitter reflected the unpredictable nature of 1890s baseball. Young’s perfect game showcased absolute mastery at the dawn of modern baseball history. Day’s no-hitter stood as both a brilliant personal achievement and an important chapter in Negro League legacy. Each game silenced Philadelphia bats, but each did so in a way that revealed something deeper about the time in which it was played.
May 5 is known for other pitching events; some good, some bad, some just weird.
Philadelphia Baseball Events for May 5
- May 5, 1896 – Dan Brouthers hits a home run in a 9-5 victory over St. Louis. The Phils become the 10th team for which Brouthers hit one out, setting a long-standing record.
- May 5, 1938 – Pitcher Harold Kelleher pitched the eighth inning of a game against the Cubs, facing 16 batters and giving up 12 runs, both NL records for a single inning by one pitcher. The Cubs won 21-2. Wayne LeMaster gets the loss-even though he threw only three pitches to the leadoff hitter before leaving with an arm injury.
- May 5, 1965 – Jim Bunning does it all — he throws a four-hit shutout and hits a home run to score the only run in a 1-0 win over Warren Spahn and New York.
- May 5, 1978 – Closing out a game at the Vet, Tug McGraw had a full count on New York’s Lenny Randle. When the next pitch was high and outside, Randle didn’t move towards first and umpire John Kibler didn’t signal the walk. So McGraw got the ball back and threw another pitch, which Randle smacked to left for a triple. McGraw struck out the next two batters to end the game.
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Philadelphia Baseball Birthdays for May 5
- Tom Vickery (born 1867) – Made his MLB debut (1890) and played his final MLB season (1893) with the Phillies, but played for the Cubs and Baltimore in the two seasons in between. The right-hander went 28-26, 3.76 in his two stints with the Phillies, making 57 starts and two relief appearances.
- Charles Bender (born 1884) – Better known as “Chief”, the Hall of Fame right-hander pitched 12 seasons with the Athletics and two with the Phillies. He went 208-111 with the two teams and posted a 2.35 ERA for his time in Philadelphia.
- Jose Pagan (born 1935) – An infielder/outfielder, Pagan played the final season of his 15-year career with the Phillies and hit just .205.
- Larry Hisle (born 1947) – The Phillies drafted Hisle in the second round of the 1965 Draft. The right-hand hitting outfielder played his first four seasons with the Phillies, hitting 30 home runs with 104 RBI and a .236/.316/.397/.713 slash line. Also played for Minnesota and Milwaukee.
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