No-No-Nieves

When Juan Nieves took the mound in Baltimore on April 15, 1987 he was just 22 years old but he already had 45 professional wins under his belt. 

Nieves signed as an 18-year-old with the Brewers in 1983 and tore through the minor leagues. He went 7-1 in the Midwest League in his first professional season, then followed that up by going 10-4 in 1984 in the California League. By 1986 he was in the big leagues where he won 11 games as a rookie for Milwaukee. But the highlight came in his second start of the year in 1987 thanks to a little help from his left fielder and his centerfielder.  

Eddie Murray led off the top of the second inning for the Orioles and hit a flare to left field that looked like it would drop. But Jim Paciorek used every inch of his wasn’t 6’3″ frame to reel it in, the ball just reaching the webbing of his glove. 

“I didn’t get a real good jump on the ball,” said Paciorek, who was making his first major league start. “But I play with a lot of enthusiasm out there. I just went after it and caught it. I didn’t know it would become so important.” 

Nieves enjoyed two other fine defensive plays in the ensuing innings but the real drama came with two out in the 9th. 

Once again, it was Eddie Murray at the plate and he lifted a fly ball to center field where Robin Yount made a diving catch to give the Brewers the first no-hitter in team history. 

“I knew he had it,” said Nieves, “That’s Robin. I think I’m going to drink a couple big bottles of champagne, then I think it will hit me. The hardest thing to do is to pitch a no-hitter against the Orioles. They have a great lineup.” 

Unfortunately for Nieves, the 1987 no-hitter became the highlight of his career. He suffered a shoulder injury in 1988 and his big league career was over by the end of the season.