On May 6th, 1953,  Bobo Holloman of the St. Louis Browns pitched a 6-0 no-hitter against the Philadelphia Athletics in his first major league start. He never pitched another complete game in the majors.

Born Alva Lee Holoman, “Bobo” Holloman was the first rookie in MLB history to throw a no-hitter in his first start. Only one other rookie has matched that feat, Tyler Gilbert in 2021.

I love old baseball nicknames. They beat the hell out of the current trend of just putting an “ie” or “y” at the end of a guy’s last name. Nicknames once meant something. Now they are just boring.

Born in 1923, Bobo did not make the Big Leagues until he was 30 years old. And he only played that one season. His lifetime record is 3-7 and he walked twice as many batters as he struck out. But on one day in May he was as good as any pitcher who has ever played the game.

Here is a quote from his Browns manager:

“Some people would call him (Bobo Holloman) a screwball I guess, but I’m mighty happy that he pestered me into giving him his chance to start that game (the no-hitter he threw on May 6, 1953). He proved to me that he’s just about as good as he thinks he is.” – (Marion, Marty. St. Louis Browns Managers (1952-1953). St. Louis Post-Dispatch: NO HOLLOMAN NO. 7 May 1953. Page 1.)

Finally, here is a newspaper clipping I found researching Bobo Holloman on BaseballAlmanac.com.