[tm1681]

RAY SMITH PITCHES ONE-HITTER IN NIAGARA WIN

BINGHAMTON, NY (June 2, 1860) – Two baserunners – one in the second inning and one in the seventh – were all that stood between a shutout and immortality for Ray Smith in Niagara’s 6-0 victory at Binghamton B.B.C. today.

Niagara #2 pitcher Ray Smith came into today’s contest with a non-descript 5-4 record and a 3.55 ERA, so few were expecting this result even though Binghamton entered Saturday with a 5-18 record.

After a 1-2-3 opening inning, Binghamton’s leadoff batter in the bottom of the second reached first after an error by Niagara second baseman Joseph Bentley. That was the only man to reach base for the hosts until the bottom of the seventh, when Milton Crawford hit a double past third base with two out to give Binghamton their only hit of the game. After the double seven men came to bat for Binghamton and all seven were put out, capping off an amazing game by Smith and a Niagara defense that came into the day allowing 5.7 runs and committing 3.5 errors per game.

Had Bentley not committed his error and Smith completed a No-hitter, it would have been the second in N.B.B.O. history – the other being pitched by Eckford of Greenpoint’s Henry Gibson on May 23rd, 1858. Had Smith and the defense done the unthinkable it would have been the first Perfect Game in base ball history – a feat many think to be impossible.