Only 3500 fans were in the stands at Weeghman Park (now known as Wrigley Field). Fred Toney was pitching for the Reds. Vaughn was the ace of the Cubs staff--a real workhorse. He was on his way to winning twenty games for the third time in the past four years, and would win 19 or more every year until 1921.
On May 2, 1917, Vaughn was feeling particularly good, but he had no idea he was even pitching a no-hitter until someone brought it up in the dugout during the 8th inning. A teammate pointed out that "We haven't even got a hit off of Toney," and another teammate countered with "And they ain't got a hit off Vaughn neither." Mentioning a no-hitter in the dugout was a big no-no (and remains so to this day), but it didn't affect Vaughn or Toney.
If either man was flustered, it didn't show in the 9th inning. Both men retired the side in order, and the game went to the 10th.
With one out in the tenth inning, Larry Kopf got a single, ending the no-hitter for Vaughn. The next batter hit an easy fly ball to Cubs right fielder Cy Williams, who dropped it, putting runners on second and third. That brought up Jim Thorpe, the Olympian. He hit a swinging bunt, but because Thorpe was so fast, Vaughn tossed the ball to the catcher to get the guy at home plate instead of throwing it to first. Cubs catcher Art Wilson wasn't expecting the throw and the ball bounced harmlessly off his chest protector, allowing Kopf to score the only run of the game. It was the first run the Reds had scored in 34 innings.
In the bottom of the tenth, Toney had no trouble getting the Cubs. They went down in order. But Cubs pitcher Hippo Vaughn also went down in history as the only pitcher to lose a no-hitter to another pitcher pitching a no-hitter.
