Maloney 1-Hits Braves, 2-0

Apr. 19, 1965 - Jim Maloney, dropped from the starting rotation by Reds manager Dick Sisler at the start of the regular season because of a poor spring showing, returned with a vengeance this afternoon to one-hit the power-hitting Braves, 2-0.

Dennis Menke’s leadoff single in the eighth spoiled the California righthander’s bid for no-hit fame. The Milwaukee shortstop fell away from an inside curve and looped it into left over Leo Cardenas’ glove for the Braves’ lone single.

“It was a good pitch, a low curve,” Maloney said later. “Give Menke credit. It wasn’t a fluke. He reached, got his bat on the ball, and lifted it over Chico’s glove.”

Deron Johnson’s homer in the second, a plus-400-foot poke over the left field fence just inside the foul pole, was all the help Maloney needed. 

Maloney’s one hitter was the third of his brilliant career. He pitched the first against the Cubs in 1963 and the second against the Mets last year.

Maloney candidly admitted that as early as the first inning “I thought I could pitch a no-hitter.”

“I go to the mound with the idea of pitching a no-hitter every game,” he remarked. “If they get a hit off me, I want to finish with a one-hitter. But I’m satisfied just to win.”

Maloney took slight issue with reports from training camp this spring over his wildness, generally, and his ineffectiveness, particularly.

“I’m not concerned about winning games in the spring,” Maloney said. “My philosophy about spring training is getting into shape for the season.

“Maybe sportswriters and some others were concerned. But I didn’t talk to many sportswriters about it. I guess the only two people who were not concerned about the matter were my wife and myself. I felt 100% today, and that is what I strived for this spring.”

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