Don Wilson

Author of two no-hitters and an 18-strikeout game, Don Wilson had not reached his potential when he died, a suicide, of carbon monoxide poisoning in the garage of his home on January 5, 1975. Wilson was unfairly labeled a troublemaker after run-ins with Astro managers Harry Walker and Leo Durocher. As a rookie, the hard thrower pitched a no-hitter against the Braves on June 18, 1967. He pitched two masterpieces against the Reds: on July 14, 1968, he struck out 18 Cincinnati batters in nine innings, and he no-hit them on May 1, 1969. On September 4, 1974, he pitched eight no-hit innings against the Reds. With Houston trailing 2-1, manager Preston Gomez pulled Wilson for a pinch hitter in a controversial move that prevented a possible third no-hitter.