AP is reporting that former Mets pitcher Dock Ellis, has died in California from a liver ailment, according to his former agent, Tom Reich.
Ellis, was probably best known for claiming that in 1970, he pitched a no-hitter for the Pittsburgh Pirates while under the influence of LSD.
He was 63 years old.
Ellis went 138-119 with a 3.46 ERA from 1968-79, spending most of his career with the Pirates. He went 19-9 in 1971 when Pittsburgh won the World Series, and made his only All-Star appearance that season.
Ellis played on four Pirates teams that won the NL East and also pitched for the New York Yankees, Oakland, Texas and the New York Mets.
Ellis was traded to the Mets in 1979 and went 3-7, with a 6.04 ERA in 17 games of work.
He spent a great deal of his life after baseball, speaking out against drugs and counseling many players with addiction problems.
Our condolences to Dock’s family.
