On May 13, 1952, pitcher Ron Necciai of the Class D Appalachian League’s Bristol Twins struck out 27 batters, becoming the only pitcher to do so in a nine-inning, professional league game. Four of the opposing Welch Miners hitters did reach base, via a walk, an error, a hit batsman, and a passed ball error on catcher Harry Dunlop. More astonishing, the nineteen-year-old Necciai pitched the game in spite of painful stomach ulcers, and the Twins won the game 7-0.
