Claude Passeau

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Claude William Passeau (April 9, 1909 - August 30, 2003) was an American starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. From 1935 through 1947, Passeau played with the Pittsburgh Pirates (1935), Philadelphia Phillies (1936-39) and Chicago Cubs (1939-47). He batted and threw right-handed.

In a 13-year career, Passeau posted a 162-150 record with 1104 strikeouts and a 3.32 ERA in 2179.2 innings.

A native of Waynesboro, Mississippi, Passeau started his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates, then suffered through several years with the Philadelphia Phillies at their notorious "bandbox" ballpark, Baker Bowl, before thankfully being traded to the Chicago Cubs, where he enjoyed several winning seasons.

Passeau's greatest individual performance came in Game 3 of the 1945 World Series, in which he pitched a one-hitter against the Detroit Tigers. Slugger Rudy York got the Tigers' only hit, in the second inning, and the Cubs took a 2-games-to-1 edge. Due to wartime travel restrictions that were still in place, despite the war having ended, the first three games were in Detroit and the last four in Chicago. Back in Wrigley Field, the Cubs lost 3 of 4, and have not been back to the Series since as of the 2006 season.

That one-hit game was only the second low-hit game in the history of the Series, the first having been pitched by the Cubs' own Ed Reulbach in 1906. There have only been three low-hit Series games since then, including Don Larsen's perfect game in the 1956 World Series, which remains the only no hitter in post-season games.

Passeau died in Lucedale, Mississippi at age of 94.