Bahnsen was 1968 AL Rookie of the Year with a 17-12 (2.05) mark for the Yankees following a successful International League stint. He had thrown a seven-inning no-hitter with Toledo in 1966, and a seven-inning perfect game with Syracuse in 1967. In his 1966 major league debut, he struck out the side at Boston.
Bahnsen faltered in 1969, and then had two 14-win seasons. Desperate for third-base help, the Yankees dealt him to the White Sox straight up for Rich McKinney in December of ’71. Bahnsen went 21-16 in 1972, but set a since-broken ML record by being removed in 36 of his 41 starts. On June 21, 1973, he hurled a 12-hit shutout against Oakland. Exactly two months later in Cleveland, he had a no-hitter with two outs in the ninth when Walt Williams bounced a single over a drawn-in Bill Melton at third. Bahnsen won 18 in ’73, but lost a league-high 21. Bahnsen was bothered by announcer Harry Caray‘s criticizing him for what he considered lackadaisical play.
On May 15, 1974, Bahnsen defeated Minnesota 1-0, retiring the first 23 batters before allowing a Bobby Darwin single. Dealt in mid-1975 to Oakland, Bahnsen pitched unremarkably and was traded to Montreal for Mike Jorgensen in 1977. In a second career as a reliever, he appeared in 55 and 57 games for the contending 1979 and 1980 Expos, and 25 games for the 1981 Eastern Division Champions.
