Wilson, who roomed together in an apartment in the Back Bay. Like most of their white Red Sox teammates, they liked to drink. Wilson especially enjoyed the nightlife, which, for black high-rollers in Boston in 1962, was largely centered at Basin Street South.
One Saturday nightâJune 25, 1962âEarl Wilson rolled into Basin Street, looking for a party. Separated from his wife, Johnny was swilling his drink of choice, champagne. He had nothing better to do, so he invited Wilson over to his table. After closing, Martorano rounded up some of the chorus-line dancers, as well as plenty of champagne, hard liquor, and marijuana. Everyone then headed over to Wilsonâs apartment in the Back Bay, where the party continued all night, into Sunday morning.
Around eleven the next morning, with most of the women and assorted hangers-on asleep or passed out around the apartment, a bleary-eyed Earl Wilson walked unsteadily up to the couch where Johnny was dozing off.
âJohnny,â he said, âcan you give me a ride to the ballpark?â
âWhat?â Johnny said.
âI gotta get to the park,â Wilson said. âIâm pitching the first game of the doubleheader.â
âYouâre kidding, right?â
âNo, man, I gotta go.â
Johnny and Wilson made their way unsteadily downstairs, into Johnnyâs car. During the short drive to Kenmore Square, Wilson nodded off a couple of times, but awoke long enough to give Johnny directions to the green door in Fenwayâs center-field wall that served as the playersâ entrance. With the street still deserted, Johnny stopped the car. Earl Wilson opened the door, tried to get out, and tumbled face first into the gutter. Johnny helped him to his feet, leaned him up against the green door, and rang the bell. Then he ran back to his car. He didnât want to have to answer any questions about the condition of the Soxâs starting pitcher for the first game. He stepped on the gas, keeping his eye on the rearview mirror as the door opened and Earl Wilson fell inside.
Was it a crime in Boston to get a starting pitcher for the Red Sox drunk the night before his next turn in the rotation?
Johnny drove back to his own apartment, slowly sobering up during the ride, and realizing his opportunity. This was exactly the kind of âinside informationâ heâd always heard so much about in the stands at Braves Field and Fenway Park with his father. Now, if only he could take advantage of it. Back at his own apartment, he began calling every bookie he knew, getting as much money down on the Los Angeles Angels as he could. The Angelsâ starter was Bo Belinsky, another party animal whoâd already thrown a no-hitter earlier in the year.
âI was in for everything,â Martorano said. âWhen youâre twenty-one, twenty-two, you canât get that much money up, but I put everything down I could against Wilson. I figured it was guaranteed.â
But Wilson threw a no-hitter. He was the first black pitcher ever to throw a no-hitter, and he also hit a home runâonly the third pitcher ever to do that while tossing a no-hitter. Wilson outpitched Belinsky, 2-0.
That night Iâm sitting in the club, wondering what Iâm going to do to come up with all the money I owe every bookie in town. I had already told everybody in the club theyâre not getting paid this week. And in walks Earl Wilson. He says to me, âThis is the best day of my life, and it started right here, last night. Johnny, I owe it all to you!â Then he ordered champagne for the house.
Johnny said nothing to him that night, but a year or so later, on another late evening at the club, Martorano finally confessed to Wilson what heâd done, betting against him on the day he pitched his no-hitter.
âWhy didnât you tell me, Johnny?â Wilson said, smiling broadly. âIâd have thrown the game for
Katie Oliver
Phillip Reeve
Debra Kayn
Kim Knox
Sandy Sullivan
Kristine Grayson
C.M. Steele
J. R. Karlsson
Mickey J. Corrigan
Lorie O'Clare