Randy Hennis, Last Game - 608

Read the revisited Randy Hennis feature from July 2012: Randy Hennis, Roller Coaster
Read the April 2014 Randy Hennis interview: Randy Hennis, Biggest Jolt

Yes, it was the last game of the season. Yes, they were playing the division champions not looking to exert themselves before their run to the championship.

But, there Randy Hennis was, in the sixth inning of his first major league start, having yet to allow a hit in the game. In fact, with the first out, Hennis' major league career consisted of nine innings, all pitched without giving up a hit.

The no-hit bid ended with a broken bat double by Ron Oester. Hennis finished the sixth, later getting a different no: a no-decision.

"I know it was the last game of the season and they might have helped me out by swinging at everything," Hennis told The Houston Chronicle after the outing, "but this is a good one to go home with."

It was also a good one to end a career with. While The Chronicle was talking about Hennis being a dark horse for the 1991 rotation, Hennis never made it back to the bigs.

A native of Clearlake, Ca., Hennis was first a fourth-round pick by the Yankees in 1984, then by the Astros two rounds sooner in 1987, having attended UCLA in between. The UCLA coach had received a letter touting the high school prospect.

"Once we heard about Hennis through the letter, we started asking scouts about him," UCLA coach Gary Adams told The Los Angeles Times in 1986. "Then we went down to look at him ourselves."

Hennis made steady progress in the minors, making AAA Tucson in 1990, going 10-8 with a 4.41 ERA, winning the spot as a September call-up.

He was back for 1991, playing in 11 games at Tucson. He was out for 1992, then came back for parts of two seasons in Advanced A-ball, his final in pro ball.

Hennis returned as a pitching coach for the Marlins' organization from 1995-2002, working with such future major leaguers as Josh Beckett and Ryan Dempster.

Hennis worked with Beckett in 2001. Two years later, Beckett was with the Marlins, in the World Series. In 2010, Hennis is working with CollegeVision, a group helping college players gain exposure to colleges and scouts.

Read the revisited Randy Hennis feature from July 2012: Randy Hennis, Roller Coaster
Read the April 2014 Randy Hennis interview: Randy Hennis, Biggest Jolt

• Los Angeles Times, April 29, 1986: UCLA Scouts San Diego Postmarks
• Houston Chronicle, Oct. 4, 1990: Hennis impresses in Astros' finale

1990 CMC Tally
Cards Reviewed: 67/880 - 7.6%
Made the Majors: 40 - 60%
Never Made the Majors: 27 - 40%
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 16
10+ Seasons in the Minors: 21