'Burgh's Best to Wear it, No. 67: Francisco Cordova pitched an all-time classic for '97 Pirates

The Tribune-Review sports staff is conducting a daily countdown of the best players in Pittsburgh pro and college sports history to wear each jersey number.

No. 67: Francisco Cordova

Mention the name Francisco Cordova, and one phrase pops into any baseball fan’s head:

Combined no-hitter.

For one magical night in July 1997, the 25-year-old right-handed pitcher from Mexico captivated a sold-out Three Rivers Stadium crowd by pitching nine sizzling innings against the Houston Astros.

Not only did the first-place Astros not get a hit against Cordova, they barely got the ball out of the infield. Only four fair balls made it to the outfield, and Cordova allowed just three baserunners, with none advancing to second.

Trouble was, the “Freak Show” Pirates couldn’t muster any offense, either, and the game went into extra innings scoreless. Manager Gene Lamont pulled Cordova after 121 pitches. Countryman Ricardo Rincon entered and overcame a one-out walk in the 10th inning to keep the no-hitter intact.

The game ended memorably when Mark Smith blasted a pinch-hit three-run homer in the bottom of the inning for a 3-0 victory. For all of Cordova’s mastery — he had 10 strikeouts — he was saddled with a no-decision.

Cordova and Rincon still have a home in the history books. Their effort remains the only extra-inning combined no-hitter in MLB history, and it represents the last no-hitter thrown by the Pirates.

It was one of the biggest highlights produced by the team in their 20-year run of losing seasons.

The Pirates signed Cordova, at age 23, from the Mexican League in 1996. He made the roster that spring and led all rookies with 12 saves.

Cordova, with his effective sinker, moved into the rotation the next season. He went 11-8 with a 3.63 ERA in that ’97 season, and he followed by going 13-14 with a 3.31 ERA and pitching 220 innings in 1998.

He made 27 starts in 1999 and 17 the next year before elbow problems shortened his season. Little did anyone know that at age 28, Cordova would never throw a pitch in the major leagues again.

The Pirates moved into PNC Park in 2001, but Cordova spent that season on the disabled list trying to rehab his elbow problems. In September, he underwent Tommy John surgery. Content with a $3 million salary from that season and nearly $8 million in career earnings, Cordova retreated to his native country never to pitch again on U.S. soil.

Once healthy, Cordova resumed pitching in Mexico until 2011, when he finally quit at age 39.

In 166 career games with the Pirates, Cordova made 112 starts and went 42-47 with a 3.96 ERA.

He had seven complete games and four shutouts.

Other top players to wear No. 67 in Pittsburgh include:

• Gary Dunn, a defensive tackle who joined the Steel Curtain midway through the run of four titles in six seasons in the 1970s. Dunn spent 12 seasons with the Steelers before retiring after the 1987 season. He earned two Super Bowl rings.

• Kimo von Oelhoffen, also a defensive tackle, spent six seasons with the Steelers and is best remembered for his controversial hit on Carson Palmer that knocked the Cincinnati Bengals quarterback out of the game early in the Steelers’ 31-17 wild-card win in the 2005 playoffs. Von Oelhoffen earned a Super Bowl ring that season.

• Bob Schmitz was a linebacker who played for the Steelers from 1961-66 and was responsible for tackling Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown in the end zone for a safety that provided a 9-7 win against the Cleveland Browns in a November 1963 game. It was the only safety of Schmitz’s six-year career.

• Tom Brzoza, a Neshannock graduate, was a starting guard on Pitt’s 1976 national championship team. New coach Jackie Sherrill switched Brzoza to center in 1977 and he became an All-American.

• Jimmy Morrissey, the three-year starting center at Pitt, was named to the All-ACC first team last year and is an All-America candidate in 2020 as a redshirt senior.

• Alex Goligoski wore No. 67 in his first season with the Penguins in 2007-08. In four seasons with the organization, he had 23 goals and 67 assists in 177 games.