Bo Belinsky
| Bo Belinsky | |||
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| Pitcher | |||
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Born: December 7, 1936 New York, New York |
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Died: November 23, 2001 (aged 64) Las Vegas, Nevada |
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| MLB debut | |||
| April 18, 1962, for the Los Angeles Angels | |||
| Last MLB appearance | |||
| May 18, 1970, for the Cincinnati Reds | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 28–51 | ||
| Earned run average | 4.10 | ||
| Strikeouts | 476 | ||
| Teams | |||
| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Robert "Bo" Belinsky (December 7, 1936 – November 23, 2001) was an American left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball, who became an instant southern California celebrity as a rookie with the original Los Angeles Angels, especially when the fourth of his season-opening four straight wins was a no-hitter against his former organization, the Baltimore Orioles. Belinsky is one of only two pitchers in Angels franchise history to start his career with a four-game winning streak or better (the other being Jered Weaver).
"If I'd known I was gonna pitch a no-hitter today, I would have gotten a haircut."
Belinsky had a career record of just 28–51, but threw the first no-hitter in the history of the Los Angeles Angels and the first one at Chavez Ravine (Dodger) Stadium, beating the Baltimore Orioles 2–0 on May 5, 1962.
He was born in New York City, to a Polish-American Catholic father and a Jewish mother, but raised mostly in Trenton, New Jersey, where he became a "street rat" and one-time pool hustler. Belinsky was already notorious as a minor leaguer for his night life during several seasons in the Oriole farm system. His career and life changed when the Angels picked him in a minor league draft for the 1962 season. His pre-season contract holdout and charismatic personality made him a star before he'd thrown a single pitch in major league competition.
But the no-hitter—his fourth straight win at the start of his rookie season—would immortalize his name and, perhaps, mark the beginning of his long downfall. He would finish the 1962 season with a 10–11 win–loss record, a 3.56 earned run average and the league lead in walks (122), the only time Belinsky ever led his league in any pitching category.
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