Joe Benz

Benz had a good spitter and knuckleball. In 1914, though he led the AL with 19 losses, he had one incredible stretch. On May 31, despite three White Sox errors, he no-hit Cleveland 6-1. Then, on June 6, he two-hit the Highlanders in a nine-inning 1-1 tie halted by rain. Six days later, he squared off against Walter Johnson, whom Benz had boasted he could beat. He held the Senators hitless for eight innings while the White Sox scored twice off the Big Train. In the ninth, Eddie Ainsmith hit a bounder toward Buck Weaver at short, but third baseman Scotty Alcock stuck his glove out and deflected the ball into left field, spoiling Benz’s no-hitter. Nonetheless, he notched one of two wins he would get in ten lifetime decisions against Johnson.