Milt Pappas is remembered primarily for two things: He was traded for Frank Robinson; and he became the only pitcher to lose a perfect game by walking the 27th batter he faced. (Max Scherzer lost one last season by hitting the 27th batter.)
Both episodes obscure the legacy of a pitcher who had a tremendous career, winning 209 games, making two All-Star teams and starting the 1965 game and serving as a rotation anchor for 16 major league seasons. Pappas died Tuesday at age 76.
In September 1972, while pitching for the Chicago Cubs, Pappas retired the first 26 Padres he faced.