That Time a Major League Pitcher Threw a No Hitter on LSD | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Doc Ellis, a MLB pitcher, unknowingly took LSD before pitching a no-hitter. This story highlights the dark history of LSD experimentation by the CIA.

Key Insights

• 🖐️ Doc Ellis pitched a no-hitter game while under the influence of LSD, raising questions about the role drugs play in sports performance.
• 👾 Ellis' hallucinations during the game add an intriguing and unique element to his achievement.
• 😒 The CIA's use of LSD in experiments, such as Project MK Ultra, showcased the dangerous and unethical nature of their actions.
• ❤️‍🩹 LSD, initially developed for medicinal purposes, ended up becoming a popular hallucinogenic substance with a controversial history.
• 🧑‍⚕️ Doc Ellis' life highlights the effects of hard living, including drug addiction and health issues.
• 🤨 The destruction of records by the CIA regarding their drug experimentation raises concerns about the extent of these experiments and their ethical implications.
• 🍄 LSD creator, Dr. Albert Hoffmann, also studied other hallucinogenic substances, including psilocybin, the main ingredient in magic mushrooms.
• 🫵 This content encourages viewers to explore further through the Brain Food podcast and provides a bonus fact about the history of LSD.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: How did Doc Ellis end up taking LSD before his no-hitter game?

Ellis took LSD, thinking it was his day off, but discovered he had a game the next day. He rushed to San Diego and took amphetamines before pitching.

Q: What hallucinations did Ellis experience during the game?

Ellis claimed to have seen Jimi Hendrix as a batter, a baseball growing and shrinking, and Richard Nixon as the umpire.

Q: How did the wider public find out about Ellis' drug use during the game?

The details of Ellis' drug use during the game only became known four years after his retirement from baseball.

Q: Did Ellis exaggerate his drug use during the game?

Some doubt Ellis' account, but he had no reason to lie about his drug use, considering his previous drug treatment and career as a drug counselor.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• On June 12, 1970, Doc Ellis pitched a no-hitter while under the influence of LSD, a hallucinogenic drug.

• Ellis took LSD the day before the game, thinking it was his day off, but realized he had a game to pitch.

• Despite his wild behavior, hallucinations, and confusion, Ellis managed to pitch an incredible game.

• The story raises questions about the use of drugs in sports and the controversial experiments conducted by the CIA involving LSD.