Former MLB outfielder Larry Stahl dies at 83

Larry Stahl, a former Major League Baseball outfielder best remembered for spoiling Chicago Cubs pitcher Milt Pappas' bid for a perfect game, died on January 23, 2024, at age 83 at Caseyville Nursing and Rehab in Caseyville, Illinois.[1][2]

Born October 29, 1940, in Belleville, Illinois, Stahl played 10 seasons in MLB from 1967 to 1976 with the Kansas City Athletics (1967-1969), New York Mets (1970-1971), San Diego Padres (1972-1975) and Cincinnati Reds (1976).[3] In 661 games, he batted .232 with 36 home runs and 163 runs batted in.[3]

Stahl's strongest season came in 1971 with the Padres, when he hit .253 with eight home runs and 36 RBIs in 126 games.[3]

He reached the postseason once, appearing in four games as a pinch hitter for the Reds in the 1973 National League Championship Series against the Mets, going 2-for-4.[3]

On September 15, 1972, Stahl pinch-hit for the Padres against the Cubs at Wrigley Field with two outs in the ninth inning.[4] Pappas had a perfect game intact after retiring the first 26 batters but issued a full-count walk to Stahl on a disputed checked-swing call by home plate umpire Bruce Froemming.[4][5] Pappas then retired the next batter to preserve a 8-0 no-hitter.[4]

Pappas later faulted Froemming for the call. "They were strikes or ‘that close’ to being strikes that he should’ve raised his right hand," Pappas told ESPN in 2007. "I had the opportunity for a perfect game, and, unfortunately, Bruce Froemming did not help me at all."[6]