A Wise moment for the Phillies

Today marks the 53rd anniversary of one of the greatest performances by a pitcher in baseball history as the Philadelphia Phillies’ Rick Wise – battling the flu in the process – homers twice and drives in three runs while also no-hitting the Cincinnati Reds 4-0 before a Wednesday night crowd of 13,329 at Riverfront Stadium.

Wise wins 17 games – not to mention hits six homers – during the 1971 season for Philadelphia before being traded the following spring to St. Louis for future Hall of Famer Steve Carlton.

At the time, the 1972 trade for Carlton is an unpopular one among the Philly masses, who see a fan favorite leave in return with a perceived malcontent in Carlton – how dare he ask the Cardinals for a raise! – taking the place of Wise.

No matter that Wise also is seeking a raise from the Phillies.

The Phillies’ fans quickly overcome that initial rage as Carlton goes on to win 241 games and four Cy Young Awards over the next 14-plus seasons with Philadelphia.

Wise does just fine, as well, winning 113 games over his final 11 seasons to finish his career in 1982 with 188 career victories, 138 complete games and 30 shutouts.

Of course, no victory, no complete game and no shutout matches what Wise accomplishes 53 years ago today.

And Wise almost never accomplishes the feat as he wakes up that morning in Cincinnati feeling tired, achy and, well, flu-ridden.

“I did not want to go the park. I just didn’t feel good,” Wise years later tells MLB.com.

“Warming up, I felt like the ball was stopping about halfway to the plate. I felt so weak, I thought I’d better locate my pitches or I’m not gonna be around long.”