Norris was a brilliant pitcher for one season, but drug problems sidetracked his career. The San Francisco native shut out the White Sox in his first ML start in 1975. After four faltering years, Norris went 22-9 in 1980 under new manager Billy Martin as the A's finished a surprising second. Norris was probably the best pitcher in the league that year, but lost a close Cy Young vote to Baltimore's Steve Stone. Norris lead the AL in fewest hits per nine innings (6.8), tied for second in wins, and was second in ERA (2.54), complete games (24), and innings (284). He declined somewhat in 1981, but his 12-9, 3.75 performance helped the A's win the first half of the strike-split season. Norris pitched a four-hit shutout in the first game of the division playoff, working out of two bases-loaded jams, as the A's swept the Royals. He took a tough 3-1 loss in the opener of the LCS, allowing all three Yankee runs in the first inning. Drug use and arm fatigue took their toll in the next two seasons, and Norris was made persona non grata on the major league level. He pitched for the rest of the decade with the independent San Jose Bees, always attempting to be reinstated. (SFS)
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FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
»April 10, 1975: Oakland's Mike Norris shuts out Chicago, 9–0, in his ML debut.
»May 9, 1979:
Gary Roenicke spoils Mike Norris's no-hit bid by hitting a double in the 7th inning. It's the only hit Norris allows as Oakland tops the Orioles, 4–2.
»August 10, 1980: Steve McCatty becomes the 4th A's starter to pitch a 14-inning complete game this season, losing 2–1 to Seattle despite pitching a 6-hitter. Teammates Matt Keough (on May 17th), Mike Norris (June 11th), and Rick Langford (July 20th) have also pitched 14-inning complete games for manager Billy Martin, who will later be widely criticized for ruining their arms through overwork.
»October 6, 1981:
Oakland coasts past KC to a 4–0 victory behind the 4-hit complete-game shutout of Mike Norris in the opening game of the American League Western Division playoff.
»April 11, 1990:
The A's Mike Norris relieves Mike Moore in 8th and pitches two scoreless innings in a 3–0 win over Minnesota. It is Norris's first ML appearance since 1983 because of drug, shoulder and tax problems.
»September 3, 2002:
Andy Van Hekken (1–0), with a fastball topping out in the mid–80s, becomes the first American Leaguer to throw a complete game shutout in his debut since Mike Norris in 1975, and the first Tiger since Schoolboy Rowe in 1933. He stops Cleveland 4–0. The Holland, Michigan native was 5–0 at Toledo (AAA) before his promotion.
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