John Candelaria holds the distinction of throwing the last traditional no-hitter in Pirates history, beating the Dodgers with nine splendid innings 50 years ago on Aug. 9, 1976.
Just 22 at the time, Candelaria was also wise beyond his years when it came to endorsements and trying to leverage on-field success.
That night at Three Rivers Stadium was actually Clark Candy Night, a nod to Candelaria’s nickname. Everyone in attendance got a candy bar. After the no-hitter, Candelaria said he sought out the vice president of D.L. Clark Company with a business proposal.
“I remember saying, ‘I pitched a no-hitter on Clark Bar Candy Night. Can we do something?’” Candelaria recalled. “The guy goes, ‘Kid, that’s a great idea. Now get out of here.’”
The Pirates are honoring the 50-year anniversary of Candelaria’s no-no, and it’s the perfect time to take a second look at one of the more fascinating characters in franchise history, as well as a signature game at Three Rivers Stadium.
Candelaria was only in his second MLB season at the time. His best memory from that game was how tight it was; the Pirates won, 2-0, on Bill Robinson’s fifth-inning double as Dodgers starter Doug Rau frustrated plenty of Pittsburgh hitters, too.
The game lasted just 1 hour, 45 minutes. Candelaria walked Steve Yeager in the third, and the Dodgers loaded the bases on errors by Robinson and Frank Taveras. Candelaria struck out seven, faced 30 total batters and needed 100 pitches to fire the first no-hitter by a Pirate in Pittsburgh since 1907.
“The only thing I was thinking about was not letting them score because the game was that close,” Candelaria said. “We could lose if I gave up a couple of runs. My thought was, ‘I know I have the no-hitter, but I have to keep the team in the game.’ Just keep going.”
During pregame warmups, Candelaria said he had no indication this night — coming off a July where he had a 4.62 ERA — would become a career-defining moment. But he did know it was happening throughout the game.
The always-honest Candelaria bristles when he hears or reads quotes from pitchers today who insist they were oblivious to a no-hitter.
“Any pitcher who tells you he doesn’t realize he has a no-hitter going is lying,” Candelaria said. “I didn’t realize I had one until the fifth inning. You’re full of it. You’re a pitcher. Come on. You know when you give up a hit because they guy gets to first base. How do you not know?”
While pitching for the Pirates from 1975-85 and again in ’93, Candelaria won a World Series and ranks fourth in Pirates history in strikeouts with 1,159. He’s ninth in wins (124), sixth in games started (271) and ninth in innings pitched (1,873 2/3).
The season after his no-no, in 1977, Candelaria won 20 games, led the NL in ERA (2.34) and became an MLB All-Star, racking up 7.4 wins above replacement, per Baseball Reference.
There’s also a Forrest Gump quality to Candelaria’s career, one that included an awkward tryout with the Dodgers and playing summer basketball in Puerto Rico as a high schooler.
Yes, seriously. For a pirate-themed team, no less, the Piratas de Quebradillas basketball club in the Puerto Rican Basketball League.
To increase the quality of play, teams began recruiting New York City in that era. Candelaria played hoops at LaSalle High School and actually became his alma mater’s all-time leading scorer and second all-time rebounder.
“I was in class one day, and our basketball coach called me down to the faculty room and said, ‘This is Mr. Hernandez. He would like you to play summer basketball,’” Candelaria said. “I said, ‘I play baseball in the summer.’
“He said, ‘You’ll like it down there. We have beautiful beaches.’ At the time, I’m in Brooklyn. I know what Coney Island Beach looks like. I said, ‘I’ve been to the beach here. No thank you.’ Then the man said, ‘But the beaches in Puerto Rico are beautiful.’
“I said, ‘You better talk to my mother about this. I just can’t tell you ‘yes.’ Hey Mom, I’m going to Puerto Rico. See you later!’”
Eventually Candelaria’s mom, Felicia, agreed.
Candelaria was actually preparing to play for Puerto Rico in the 1972 Olympic Games when the Pirates drafted him in the second round. They even sent Roberto Clemente to Puerto Rico to convince Candelaria to sign, and Clemente helped Candelaria negotiate a larger signing bonus.
This weekend, in addition to honoring Candelaria’s baseball legacy, they presented him with a bunch of swag from his former basketball team, including a personalized jersey.
“The guy was right,” Candelaria said. “The beaches were beautiful. I guess it was meant to be.”
As for that tryout, Candelaria said a Dodgers scout came to his house and asked him to throw. So Candelaria did — in jeans. The catcher he found had trouble catching him, and they had to find someone else with more experience.
“The Dodgers scout asked me how old I was,” Candelaria said. “I told him, and he said, ‘I can’t sign you. You’re 14 years old!’”
The Pirates will honor Candelaria again for the annual Hall of Fame Game on Friday, Sept. 4 against the Angels. Candelaria, Jack Wilson and Wilbur Cooper comprise this year’s class.
Wilson won’t have any problems giving a speech. Neither will Coop DeRenne, Cooper’s grandson who’s worked for years to advocate for the pitcher’s inclusion in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Candelaria, though, isn’t looking forward to that part of the festivities. He’s never liked talking about himself much. He’s much rather talk about his teammates and everything they accomplished together, including winning the 1979 World Series.
“We’ll see what happens,” Candelaria said. “I’ve jotted down some things so far. I’ve been thinking about it. Knowing myself, I just may wing it.
“Trust me, I’m honored and humbled by it. I’m just not someone who enjoys talking about myself. I’d rather talk about my teammates and what they meant to me, the great plays they made behind me, how they knocked in all those runs that made it easy for me to win games and the friendships made along the way.
“The respect we had and knowing we had a chance to win, that’s all I ever wanted. But to talk about myself, I have a hard time with that. This may be the shortest speech anyone hears.”
Jason Mackey: Jason.Mackey@pirates.com and @JMackey_PGH.