On May 16th of this year Ray Hartwig pitched the third perfect game in WPK history as a member of the Jacksonville Wolf Pack.
Now, less than two months later, Hartwig suffers a career-ending torn labrum in his throwing arm.
The 28-year old native of Detroit, a well-known jokester in the WPK, may laugh about this someday but today it is hard for anyone to see the humor in the situation.
Hartwig had a career year last season as he went 16-8 with a 2.83 ERA and while his ERA was higher thus far in 1973 (3.52) he had a fine 12-3 record, which gave him the second most wins in the WPK after Mike Stagner (14-1.)
It is a sad ending for a well-liked player.