John Smoltz Claims a Freaking Candy Bar Made Him Lose a No-Hitter for the Braves in 1991
By Scott Rogust
On Wednesday night, Houston Astros pitcher Zack Greinke lost out on a no-hitter in the ninth inning against the Seattle Mariners. Ironically, Hall of Fame pitcher and MLB commentator John Smoltz was following it on-air on MLB Network that night.
That got Smoltz thinking about the time he lost his no-hit bid back in 1991 against the Philadelphia Phillies. What did Smoltz blame for losing it in the ninth inning? A Zagnut candy bar that he devoured just before taking the mound. No seriously, that's what Smoltz said live on-air.
John Smoltz Says Candy Bar Cost Him 1990 No-Hitter, Hasn't Eaten It Since https://t.co/e0XAqyDe9M
— TMZ Sports (@TMZ_Sports) September 26, 2019
"I go up in the clubhouse and the first thing I saw was a Zagnut, so I crush it real quick," said Smoltz, via TMZ. "And, one out in the ninth, I give up a 2-0 base hit to Lenny Dykstra.
"I haven't had a Zagnut since."
That darn Zagnut!
Hope you’re watching @MLBNetwork right now, because John Smoltz just told one of the all-time great stories about losing a no-hit bid in the 9th inning due, in part, to consuming a Zagnut bar. (Source: He has not eaten a Zagnut bar since.) @Braves
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) September 26, 2019
Smoltz elaborated by saying he hadn't eaten all day, and was starving in the dugout. Having no energy to go out in the ninth inning, Smoltz reached for the Zagnut, and the rest was history.
Athletes are very superstitious as to what they do prior and during game action. So, if eating a candy bar resulted in a lost no-hitter, that routine is gone.
28 years and counting without a Zagnut bar for John Smoltz.