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Haddix’s feat still great 50 years later

News-Sun archives/Harvey Haddix pitched for the Cincinnati Redlegs in 1959 and was a pitching coach in Cincinnati in 1969. He was part of two World Series champions, the 1960 Pirates as a pitcher and the 1979 Pirates as a pitching coach.

News-Sun archives News-Sun archives/Harvey Haddix pitched for the Cincinnati Redlegs in 1959 and was a pitching coach in Cincinnati in 1969. He was part of two World Series champions, the 1960 Pirates as a pitcher and the 1979 Pirates as a pitching coach.

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By David Jablonski, Staff Writer Updated 8:16 AM Tuesday, May 26, 2009

SPRINGFIELD — Marcia Haddix pulls out the videotape and pops it into the VCR. She rewinds. She fast forwards. She knows the clip is on it somewhere.

Then there he is, her late husband Harvey, giving his last television interview in 1993 just months before his death in 1994. Even in poor health, suffering from emphysema at age 68, his personality shines through. One of Clark County’s greatest athletes, Haddix had more going for him than a great curveball.

“He was a talker,” says Marcia, who still lives in Springfield. “He loved to talk.”

Fifty years after he pitched what many believe to be the greatest game in baseball history, everyone is talking about Harvey Haddix again.

On May 26, 1959, the Medway-born and Westville-raised Haddix, who lived much of his life on a farm in South Vienna, hurled 12 perfect innings for the Pittsburgh Pirates — no hits, no runs, no walks — against the Milwaukee Braves. He then lost the game 1-0 in the 13th inning and became all the more famous because of it.

Haddix was 33 then. He still had a long, successful career in baseball ahead of him, both as a pitcher and pitching coach. But in 1969, in 1989, in 2009, the first thing that comes to mind when you think Harvey Haddix is that one game.

Haddix didn’t mind that. He said often that someone mentioned the game to him every day of his life. He knew he became more popular because he lost the game, and he never shied away from the spotlight.

“I can say right now,” says Harvey as the tape rolls and Marcia watches, “I wouldn’t trade what I’ve done for anything in the world. It’s the greatest feeling in the world, especially being a little guy like me and going against those big strong guys.”

For one night, Haddix stood taller than any pitcher ever has.

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0351 or djablonski@coxohio.com.

Haddix events

Tuesday, May 26: Free program, “The Greatest Game Ever Pitched,” at 7 p.m. at 809 E. Lawn Ave. in Urbana.

Saturday, May 30: — The Clark County Historical Society and the Springfield/Clark County Baseball Hall of Fame will celebrate, “The Greatest Game Ever Pitched,” with a program at 2 p.m. at the Heritage Center of Clark County. Former big leaguers will be among those in attendance. For ticket info, call 324-0657.

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