The “Murray Nonpareil” Throws a Masterpiece
If there was any doubt that Ray Martin was the premier schoolboy pitcher in Massachusetts, it was erased in a single, dominant afternoon in Needham.
Eighty-three years ago today, the Norwood High ace didn’t just win the season opener—illegally dubbed the “Murray nonpareil” by local press—he authored a performance for the ages. Martin dismantled the Needham High lineup, pitching a no-hit, no-run shutout while fanning an incredible 20 batters.
A One-Man Wrecking Crew
While the no-hitter alone would have secured his place in the record books, Martin decided to handle the offense as well. Out of Norwood’s five runs, Martin was directly responsible for four of them.
His stat line for the day looked more like a video game than a high school box score:
- On the Mound: 0 hits, 0 runs, 20 strikeouts.
- At the Plate: 3 hits (including two towering 350-foot triples).
The Needham hitters spent the afternoon wearing a path between home plate and the dugout bench, while Norwood’s infielders “might almost have taken seats in the stands” for all the action they saw.
Game Breakdown
Norwood wasted no time providing their star with a cushion:
- 1st Inning: Mondon opened with an infield hit and a stolen base. Praino drove him in, followed by a massive 350-foot triple by Martin to make it 2-0.
- 3rd Inning: Martin crushed his second triple of the day, eventually scoring on an infield out.
- 7th Inning: Successive singles by Harrington, Praino, and Martin added a fourth insurance run.
- 8th Inning: A Parker single and a pair of walks loaded the bases, allowing Norwood to push across the final tally.
Box Score Highlights
| Team | Runs | Hits | Errors |
| Norwood High | 5 | 8 | 0 |
| Needham High | 0 | 0 | 4 |
The Hero of the Day: Ray Martin
The Supporting Cast: Costello (Catcher), who caught all 20 strikeouts; Praino (1b), who went 2-for-5 with an RBI.
National Prominence
Coming off a unanimous All-Scholastic selection the previous year and a stint in the national spotlight with the State Championship Legion Junior nine, Martin proved he hadn’t lost an ounce of velocity during the off-season. In the history of Norwood High athletics, few individual performances have ever matched the sheer dominance displayed on this April afternoon.
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