Don Nottebart

Who was Don Nottebart?

Donald Edward Nottebart was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for five teams from 1960 to 1969. He pitched the first no-hitter in Houston Colt .45s/Astros history in 1963.

He was born in West Newton, Massachusetts, the second child of Fred and Otta Alice Nottebart. He was a three-sport star at Lexington High School, graduating in 1954. In 1955 he married high school sweetheart Joanne Wilson -- they would eventually have four children.

He was signed as an amateur free agent by the Milwaukee Braves in 1954.

He made his major league debut at age 24 on July 1, 1960 in an 8-7 Braves road loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. Nottebart started but had a rough debut, walking the first hitter he faced, Julian Javier, pitching six innings and allowing six earned runs, nine hits and eight walks; however, he was not credited with the loss.

After three years with the Braves, Nottebart was traded to the Astros. He threw a 4–1 no-hitter for the Astros against the Philadelphia Phillies on May 17, 1963, despite giving up an unearned run. Don Demeter reached base on an error by shortstop J. C.