Dock Ellis pitched a no-hitter on LSD.
He was sure the home plate umpire was Richard Nixon, that Jim Hendrix was in the batter box swinging a Fender guitar and that he scored a touchdown on first base.
I can’t make this sh!t up!
Trailer for “No No: A Dockumentary”
You Can’t Make This Sh!t Up
- He said he never pitched sober in the majors. He used alcohol, cocaine, amphetamines, LSD—even heroin.
- Once chewed his gum so hard it turned to powder in his mouth mid-game.
- Started a game by intentionally hitting the first three Reds batters—then tried to hit two more before getting pulled.
- Jumped out of the way of a “line drive” that wasn’t hit hard enough to reach him. Just tripping, literally.
Watch “No No: A Dockumentary”
You can watch “No No: A Dockumentary” on Kanopy (free with a library card). You can also stream on Fubo and Apple TV.
Ratings:
- My Rating: 93/100
- IMDb Rating: 7.2/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 80/100 (Users); 97/100 (Critics)
Director’s Note: Jeffrey Radice directs with flair, blending Dock’s audio diaries with soul-funk visuals and 1970s flavor. It’s part sports doc, part acid flashback, and somehow still heartfelt.
Release Date: Premiered 2014 (Sundance)
My Review of “No No: A Dockumentary”
The Setup
This 100-minute documentary tells the story of Dock Ellis—a 1970s MLB pitcher who threw a no-hitter on LSD and claimed he was high for every game of his career. But this isn’t just a wild drug tale. It’s also about race, rebellion, and recovery. Dock wasn’t just tripping—he was pushing back against baseball’s unwritten rules, its racism, and its refusal to talk about addiction.
Director Jeffrey Radice combines vintage footage, interviews, and Dock’s own voice to explore a life that veered from brilliant to reckless to redemptive. You get the full arc—from curlers-on-the-field swagger to full-blown substance abuse to his later years helping others stay clean.
More Highlights from the Doc
- Dock rocked curlers in his hair during warmups and wasn’t afraid to call out racism in baseball—even when it cost him.
- His own voice narrates much of the story, casually telling the LSD no-hitter tale like it was no big deal.
- Later in life, Dock became a drug counselor. He went from addict to advocate, helping others recover from the same struggles he faced.
- Teammates admit they doubted his stories—until they matched up with game film, stats, and eyewitnesses.
Cameos
- Roberto Clemente Jr. reflects on Dock’s bond with his father and his legacy as a teammate.
- Enos Cabell and Dave Cash share personal stories of Ellis’s on-field antics and clubhouse unpredictability.
Lesser-Known Details from the Doc
- Dock couldn’t even remember getting to the stadium for his no-hitter. He said someone had to help him into his uniform.
- He was the starting pitcher on the night the Pirates became the first team to field an all-Black and Latino lineup (1971).
- Ellis tried for years to build a rehab center focused on athletes—he died in 2008 before he could open it.
- The doc uses psychedelic animation and a funky 70s soundtrack to mirror Ellis’s state of mind and era.
Wrap Up:
This doc starts with an acid-fueled no-hitter but sticks with you because of Dock’s brutal honesty, wild life, and surprising redemption. I’m still shaking my head. But I’m glad I watched it.
Thanks for reading!
Heather Fenty, Guest Writer, Daily Doc