Athletics manager Connie Mack paid this Philadelphia native’s way through Duke University. McCahan joined the Athletics after serving as a test pilot during WWII and tossed a 2-0 seven-inning shutout against the Indians in his first major league game. He also played guard for Syracuse in the NBL in 1946-47. McCahan was 10-5 with a 3.32 ERA in 1947 and pitched a 3-0 no-hitter against Washington on September 3. It was only the fifth rookie no-hitter in AL history, and the only Senators baserunner reached on an error. His only bad season came when he had a sore arm in 1948. The Athletics had forbidden him to play basketball in the off-season, and he switched to moving oil drums and hurt his arm.
