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Former Major League Baseball player Larry Stahl died at age 84 Tuesday at Caseyville Nursing and Rehab in Caseyville, Illinois.
Stahl, who played 10 seasons with four different teams, was best known for spoiling a perfect game.
On Sept. 2, 1972, Chicago Cubs pitcher Milt Pappas had retired the first 26 batters he had faced and was one out away from etching his name into the history books.
Stahl, a left-handed hitter, was playing for the San Diego Padres at the time and was sent out to pinch hit against the right-handed pitcher by manager Don Zimmer.
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Zoilo Versalles (2) of the Minnesota Twins attempts to turn a double play as Larry Stahl (24) of the Kansas City Athletics slides into second base during an MLB game at Metropolitan Stadium in Minneapolis in 1965. (Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty Images Studios/Getty Images)
Stahl worked the count full and, on the payoff pitch, checked his swing and controversially drew a walk, ending Pappas’ perfect game bid. Pappas retired the next batter and ended the game with a no-hitter.
Pappas blamed the home plate umpire for making the incorrect call years later.
"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."
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Larry Stahl played 10 seasons in the big leagues. (Aaron Doster/Getty Images)
In 10 seasons, the Belleville, Illinois, native had a .232 batting average with 36 home runs and 163 RBIs.
He spent the first three seasons of his career with the Kansas City Athletics, then two seasons with the New York Mets, four with the Padres and the final season of his career with the Cincinnati Reds.
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Stahl played for four teams in his MLB career. (Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
Stahl’s best season came with the Padres in 1971, when he hit .253 with eight home runs and 36 RBIs.
The only time Stahl made the postseason was in 1973, the final year of his career, with the Reds. He played in four games and had two hits in four at-bats.
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" alt="MLB news: Larry Stahl, best known for spoiling a perfect game, dead at 84">MLB news: Larry Stahl, best known for spoiling a perfect game, dead at 84
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Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz will be moving to unpaid leave as they await trial for allegedly rigging pitches, Major League Baseball announced Friday.
The relievers were originally placed on paid non-disciplinary leave when they were first investigated over the summer.
"This agreement is not an admission of any wrongdoing by Clase or Ortiz. MLB has been closely monitoring the matter since alerting federal law enforcement at the outset of its investigation and will have no further comment until its investigation has been completed," MLB said, adding the shift came through an agreement between the league and the players' association.
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Emmanuel Clase, left, and Luis Ortiz, were indicted in a federal gambling probe Nov. 9, 2025. (Imagn)
Clase is accused of throwing suspicious pitches to benefit those who placed wagers on him in at least 48 games, according to ESPN. The initial indictment filed in November accused Clase of rigging pitches in specific games between May 2023 and June 2025.
In one instance, the indictment alleges, Clase used his phone in the middle of a game to coordinate with a bettor on a pitch he would throw.
Clase pleaded not guiltyto charges he took bribes to help gamblers win bets on his pitches. He was released on $600,000 bond, surrendered his passport and was ordered to limit his travel to New York and Ohio, refrain from gambling and submit to GPS monitoring.
Bettors allegedly won $400,000 from betting platforms on pitches thrown by Clase between 2023 and 2025. Ortiz allegedly joined the scheme in June 2025.
MLB player Emmanuel Clase in federal court in Brooklyn, N.Y., Nov. 13, 2025. Clase faces charges of wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery and money laundering conspiracy. (Christine Cornell)
TEAM USA STARS RIP SILVER MEDALS OFF NECKS AFTER WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC FINAL LOSS TO VENEZUELA
The indictment announcement came weeks after three NBA figures were swept up in an FBI operation involving alleged illegal gambling. Chauncey Billups, Terry Rozier and Damon Jones were among more than two dozen arrested in the scheme.
Clase turned himself into arguably the game's best closer, pitching to a 1.21 ERA in his last full season in 2024, which was good for a third-place finish in the American League Cy Young Award vote. His 2025 ERA was 3.80 by the time he was investigated. Ortiz boasts a lifetime 4.36 ERA, with his best season also coming in 2024 with a 3.32 ERA.
Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz remain on leave amid a gambling probe. (David Dermer and Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn)
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Clase inked a five-year, $20 million deal just before opening day in 2022, a few months after finishing fifth in the AL Rookie of the Year voting. Ortiz was making the veteran minimum of $782,600 last season because he was not yet arbitration eligible.
Fox News' Ryan Gaydos and Jackson Thompson contributed to this report.
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" alt="Emmanuel Clase, Luis Ortiz moved to unpaid leave as they await gambling trial">Emmanuel Clase, Luis Ortiz moved to unpaid leave as they await gambling trial
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Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz will be moving to unpaid leave as they await trial for allegedly rigging pitches, Major League Baseball announced Friday.
The relievers were originally placed on paid non-disciplinary leave when they were first investigated over the summer.
"This agreement is not an admission of any wrongdoing by Clase or Ortiz. MLB has been closely monitoring the matter since alerting federal law enforcement at the outset of its investigation and will have no further comment until its investigation has been completed," MLB said, adding the shift came through an agreement between the league and the players' association.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Emmanuel Clase, left, and Luis Ortiz, were indicted in a federal gambling probe Nov. 9, 2025. (Imagn)
Clase is accused of throwing suspicious pitches to benefit those who placed wagers on him in at least 48 games, according to ESPN. The initial indictment filed in November accused Clase of rigging pitches in specific games between May 2023 and June 2025.
In one instance, the indictment alleges, Clase used his phone in the middle of a game to coordinate with a bettor on a pitch he would throw.
Clase pleaded not guiltyto charges he took bribes to help gamblers win bets on his pitches. He was released on $600,000 bond, surrendered his passport and was ordered to limit his travel to New York and Ohio, refrain from gambling and submit to GPS monitoring.
Bettors allegedly won $400,000 from betting platforms on pitches thrown by Clase between 2023 and 2025. Ortiz allegedly joined the scheme in June 2025.
MLB player Emmanuel Clase in federal court in Brooklyn, N.Y., Nov. 13, 2025. Clase faces charges of wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery and money laundering conspiracy. (Christine Cornell)
TEAM USA STARS RIP SILVER MEDALS OFF NECKS AFTER WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC FINAL LOSS TO VENEZUELA
The indictment announcement came weeks after three NBA figures were swept up in an FBI operation involving alleged illegal gambling. Chauncey Billups, Terry Rozier and Damon Jones were among more than two dozen arrested in the scheme.
Clase turned himself into arguably the game's best closer, pitching to a 1.21 ERA in his last full season in 2024, which was good for a third-place finish in the American League Cy Young Award vote. His 2025 ERA was 3.80 by the time he was investigated. Ortiz boasts a lifetime 4.36 ERA, with his best season also coming in 2024 with a 3.32 ERA.
Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz remain on leave amid a gambling probe. (David Dermer and Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn)
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Clase inked a five-year, $20 million deal just before opening day in 2022, a few months after finishing fifth in the AL Rookie of the Year voting. Ortiz was making the veteran minimum of $782,600 last season because he was not yet arbitration eligible.
Fox News' Ryan Gaydos and Jackson Thompson contributed to this report.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
" alt="Emmanuel Clase, Luis Ortiz moved to unpaid leave as they await gambling trial">Emmanuel Clase, Luis Ortiz moved to unpaid leave as they await gambling trial
Fox News Flash top sports headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on FoxNews.com.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz will be moving to unpaid leave as they await trial for allegedly rigging pitches, Major League Baseball announced Friday.
The relievers were originally placed on paid non-disciplinary leave when they were first investigated over the summer.
"This agreement is not an admission of any wrongdoing by Clase or Ortiz. MLB has been closely monitoring the matter since alerting federal law enforcement at the outset of its investigation and will have no further comment until its investigation has been completed," MLB said, adding the shift came through an agreement between the league and the players' association.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Emmanuel Clase, left, and Luis Ortiz, were indicted in a federal gambling probe Nov. 9, 2025. (Imagn)
Clase is accused of throwing suspicious pitches to benefit those who placed wagers on him in at least 48 games, according to ESPN. The initial indictment filed in November accused Clase of rigging pitches in specific games between May 2023 and June 2025.
In one instance, the indictment alleges, Clase used his phone in the middle of a game to coordinate with a bettor on a pitch he would throw.
Clase pleaded not guiltyto charges he took bribes to help gamblers win bets on his pitches. He was released on $600,000 bond, surrendered his passport and was ordered to limit his travel to New York and Ohio, refrain from gambling and submit to GPS monitoring.
Bettors allegedly won $400,000 from betting platforms on pitches thrown by Clase between 2023 and 2025. Ortiz allegedly joined the scheme in June 2025.
MLB player Emmanuel Clase in federal court in Brooklyn, N.Y., Nov. 13, 2025. Clase faces charges of wire fraud conspiracy, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, conspiracy to influence sporting contests by bribery and money laundering conspiracy. (Christine Cornell)
TEAM USA STARS RIP SILVER MEDALS OFF NECKS AFTER WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC FINAL LOSS TO VENEZUELA
The indictment announcement came weeks after three NBA figures were swept up in an FBI operation involving alleged illegal gambling. Chauncey Billups, Terry Rozier and Damon Jones were among more than two dozen arrested in the scheme.
Clase turned himself into arguably the game's best closer, pitching to a 1.21 ERA in his last full season in 2024, which was good for a third-place finish in the American League Cy Young Award vote. His 2025 ERA was 3.80 by the time he was investigated. Ortiz boasts a lifetime 4.36 ERA, with his best season also coming in 2024 with a 3.32 ERA.
Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz remain on leave amid a gambling probe. (David Dermer and Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn)
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Clase inked a five-year, $20 million deal just before opening day in 2022, a few months after finishing fifth in the AL Rookie of the Year voting. Ortiz was making the veteran minimum of $782,600 last season because he was not yet arbitration eligible.
Fox News' Ryan Gaydos and Jackson Thompson contributed to this report.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
" alt="Emmanuel Clase, Luis Ortiz moved to unpaid leave as they await gambling trial">Emmanuel Clase, Luis Ortiz moved to unpaid leave as they await gambling trial