Listen to Looch: 'No No' is a baseball documentary like no other
by Mary Lucia
August 04, 2021
This week, Mary Lucia talks about a 2014 documentary, No No: A Dockumentary, about Major League Baseball pitcher Dock Ellis. "Dock Ellis was a pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates who struggled his entire life with drugs and alcohol," Mary explains, "but performed while under the influence and then most famously pitched a no-hitter while tripping on LSD."
The story of Ellis is certainly one about baseball — including Ellis's role as one of baseball's Black pioneers in the 1960s and 70s. It had been 20 years since Jackie Robinson broke the Major League Baseball's color barrier, but the sport still had strides to make. When the Pirates fielded an all-Black lineup, it was a milestone. Unfortunately, when Ellis showed up to practice with hair rollers — simply following a Black hair fashion of the time — reactions were at best fastidious, at worst, racist. "It was a style," Mary says. "What's the big deal? Like 'first guy to get an earring,' you know, this is crazy, right?"
In his later years, Ellis took on his substance use disorder and eventually became a counselor to younger baseball players and to men in prison. "The no-hitter was great," says Operation New Hope counselor Victor Beecham, "but the latter days were greater."
"No No: A Dockumentary" is directed by Jeffrey Radice and features original music by Adam Horovitz — aka Ad Rock of the Beastie Boys. is available for streaming on Amazon Prime and other platforms. It can also be rented from DVD.com.
SAMHSA's National Helpline, 1-800-662-HELP (4357), is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders. This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations. Callers can also order free publications and other information.
Official Trailer
External Links
No No: A Dockumentary - official site
No No: A Dockumentary - Amazon