Dock Ellis, Pittsburgh Pirates legend, social activist, LSD no-hitter ace, died at 63

I was not born yet when Doc Ellis pitched his final game in 1979, but his place in baseball history will always be known as of spectacularness, flare, and tragedy.

He was known for his flare and enthusiasm in the dugout and on the field.
He pitched the Pirates to a World Series championship in 1970, and was a big piece to the Yankees 1976 World Series trip...

But what he will always be known for was his 1970 LSD induced no hitter against the lowly San Diego Padres of 1972.
Right before the game, at the airport, Dock loaded up and wowed crowd who had no idea the circumstances of his performance.
It wasn't until years later did he reveal the dark truth behind his feat... (like in modern days when David Wells claims he was wild drunk when he threw his perfecto)

His interview describing his feat in detail is up on YouTube.

He spoke openly about racial issues especially in baseball and once told reporters that he wound's start the All Star Game against Vida Blue (in the AL) because MLB would never allow "two soul brothers) to go against each other.

The other great story, fans would murmur remember-whens about was that time in 1974, when Dock Ellis starting a game against the legendary Big Red Machine (a lineup of Cincinnati Reds greats: Pete Rose et al.) and he beaned the first three hitters loading the bases.
He tried to bean cleanup hitter Hall of Famer Tony Perez who ducked every pitch and drew a walk...
He then threw two fastballs at Pete Rose...
Oh those were the times...
We all hear those stories so much, especially the Joe Nuxhall recollection so many times, it's almost like we were actually there for all the excitement.

Dock suffered from heavy alcohol and drug abuse, and it eventually took its toll on him, destroying his liver.
He would later serve as a community, corrections and motivational speaker.
The Los Angeles Times wrote that Ellis had no health insurance, but received help paying his medical bills from friends in baseball.

2 years, Bryant Gumbel on Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel on HBO did an extensive profile on the life and times of Dock Ellis, what his legacy meant to baseball and how he's using lessons from his past demons to give back to the community.
It was truly one of the most touching pieces we had
He held on for as long as he could before passing away last Friday.

His LSD no hitter recollection is even up on YouTube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNzMBwq1uqU

Baseball truly lost a great, a maverick, an irreplaceable character.