A Stone’s throw away from history

Montreal's Bill Stoneman delivers the final pitch of his no-hitter against the Philadelphia Phillies 55 years ago tonight at old Connie Mack Stadium in North Philly.

Deron Johnson is the Phillies' last hope, but he bounces this pitch to shortstop Maury Wills for the final out of the Expos' 7-0 victory before a Thursday night crowd of 6,496.

The no-hitter is the last thrown at 61-year-old Connie Mack Stadium before the ballpark closes after the 1970 season.

Stoneman’s final line includes eight strikeouts and five walks with those walks coming over the first eight innings before Stoneman pitches a perfect ninth by striking out Ron Stone and Johnny Briggs before Johnson grounds out to Wills.

Stoneman's gem also comes in only the ninth game the Expos play during their inaugural 1969 season.

“People think that a pitcher who throws a no-hitter totally dominates the game, but that isn’t always true,” Stoneman later tells Baseball Digest. “I had trouble with my control and gave up five walks, which is something that happened a lot in my career.”

Understandably, Stoneman’s no-hitter grabs the next day’s headlines, but he hardly is the only Expo with a big night 55 years ago today as Rusty Staub goes 4-for-5 with three doubles, a solo homer and three runs batted in, while Coco Laboy also picks up four hits – all singles – in his five at-bats for Montreal.

As for Stoneman, he also throws the franchise's second no-hitter three years later, beating the New York Mets 7-0 at Montreal's Parc Jarry in his final start of the 1972 season.