Full Breakdown
Former MLB Outfielder Larry Stahl Passes Away at 84
3/20/2026, 7:54:03 PM
Career Overview and Notable Achievements
Larry Stahl, a former Major League Baseball outfielder, passed away on March 17 at the age of 84. Over a decade-long career, Stahl played for four teams: the Kansas City A's (1964-66), New York Mets (1967-68), San Diego Padres (1969-72), and Cincinnati Reds (1973). He participated in 730 games, achieving a .232 batting average, 36 home runs, and 163 RBIs.
Stahl is particularly remembered for a significant moment during a game on September 2, 1972, when he disrupted a perfect game in progress. While playing for the Padres against the Chicago Cubs, starting pitcher Milt Pappas had retired the first 26 batters. As a pinch hitter, Stahl drew a walk on a full count, ending Pappas' bid for perfection. The game concluded with Pappas earning a no-hitter, as the next batter, Gerry Jestadt, popped out to end the game.
Postseason Experience
Stahl's career culminated with a postseason appearance in 1973 while playing for the Cincinnati Reds, who achieved a 99-win season. He participated in four of the five games of the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets. In a critical moment during Game 5, Stahl recorded the Reds' final hit of the season, a single that set up a bases-loaded situation. However, the Reds' rally was thwarted when Tug McGraw retired Joe Morgan and Dan Driessen, allowing the Mets to advance to the World Series.
Life After Baseball
Following his retirement from professional baseball, Stahl worked for the Peabody Coal Company before eventually retiring to his hometown in Illinois.
Criticism & Legacy
Years after the game that ended his perfect game bid, Milt Pappas expressed his views on the incident, attributing the loss of the perfect game not to Stahl but to home plate umpire Bruce Froemming. Pappas stated, “I had the opportunity for a perfect game, and unfortunately Bruce Froemming did not help me at all,” highlighting the complexities of the moment and the pressures faced by players and officials alike.
Conclusion
Larry Stahl's contributions to Major League Baseball, particularly his memorable moments on the field, have left a lasting impact on the sport. His passing marks the end of an era for fans and players who remember his unique place in baseball history.
