Joe's Question #1: On June 23rd, 1971 you had one of the best games any pitcher ever had. You threw a 4-0 no-hitter vrs. The Reds and you hit two Home Runs. What was that amazing game like for you?

Mr. Wise's Answer: Obviously it was the best game of my career. Having it come against a team with the caliber of the Cincinnati Reds in their home ballpark made it especially gratifying.
Surprisingly enough I was coming of the effects of the flu that day and really felt weak. I realized warming up that I was going to have to be very careful and very precise with my pitches and locate them well because I felt very weak. I didn't feel strong enough because of the effects of the flu. Warming up I didn't feel strong.
It was very hot; it was about 100 degrees at game time there at seven o'clock or so down on the astro turf at Riverfront. I got through the first three innings and it seamed that I started to gain my strength. After I got an early lead there, I just felt myself getting stronger and basically used my fastball to great effect and located it very well and kept the ball down. Because I think eventually, I think only three balls left the infield.

Joe's Question #2: In 1975 you were the winning pitcher in what some people call the greatest game ever played. You won game six of the World Series for the Boston Red Sox, (The game where Carlton Fisk hit his game winning Home Run). What was it like playing in that incredible game?

Mr. Wise's Answer: Well, first of all I was hopeful that I'd get another chance to get into a game. I didn't think I was going to start another game, but I was hopeful that I'd get in in relief.
In fact we had to wait three days for that game because of a rainstorm that was there in Boston. Family and friends were up for Pennsylvania for the weekend and they all had to go home because they all had to work. That part, waiting for the sixth game was very nerve-racking. You sit around, there was nothing to do, you just kind of wait for the weather to clear.
Obviously we knew that it was a must win game for us or it was over. So every pitcher, except the next starter, was down in the bullpen, everyone was available. Whether it was one pitcher for one batter or one inning everyone was on call that night.
So when Carbo tied it up there in the eight (Bernie Carbo hit a game tying home run in the eight inning) it gave us a great feeling of relief that we still had a shot at winning the ball game. Then I came in in the 12th inning and actually two men got on bloop hits and that was kind of a tough situation there. I was able to get the second out then a strike out to end the top of the 12th. Then of course Pudge Fisk hit the dramatic home run in the bottom of the 12th to seal the victory and send it to the seventh game.
It was a tremendous feeling and I'm very happy that I got an opportunity to pitch. It just happens the Fisk hit the home run after my inning of work and I got a very, very big win.

Joe's Question #3: You are a two time All-Star, (1971 and 1973). You won the game for the NL in 1973. Tell me what those experiences were like for you?

Mr. Wise's Answer: Well, I was the starting and winning pitcher in 1973. As a matter of fact, I was the only National League pitcher to give up a run. In All-Star games the starting pitcher doesn't have to go five innings to get the win. So we rallied for a couple of runs then later added on to it. It was a great feeling.
It was particularly gratifying because I had come over from Philadelphia the year before. While I pitched well, I ended up with a 500 record of 16 and 16. I lost 12 games that year by one run, I won four games by one run and I had three no decisions by one run. So I was involved in 19 one run games. And of course Carlton (Steve Carlton who Mr. Wise was traded for from the Phillies to the Cardinals) has the tremendous year of 27 and 10 for the Phillies, and wins the Cy Young. Everyone was saying what a steal it was (the trade), for the Phillies and I had to kind of endure the year of just being a 500 pitcher. Even though if there was a reversal of four of those one run games, I would have been a 20 game winner.
It was very, very nice to be selected and just to be a member of the All-Star team let alone the starter. But that's just a matter of when a starting pitchers last start was. I just happen to of thrown four or five days earlier and it would have been my natural turn to start on that day and Sparky Anderson (NL manager for the 1973 All-Star game) selected me.
I was very, very honored. And to get the win there of course it was wonderful and to be a participant in an All-Star game is really a playerıs dream.

Joe's Question #4: You had a great career in the Major Leagues. You had 188 wins, 3127 innings, 138 complete games, plus being a two time All-Star and throwing a no-hitter. Not to mention that you were a very good hitting pitcher (15 home runs and 66 RBI career). With those kind of numbers, what are the things that you are most proud of?

Mr. Wise's Answer: Well, my durability. When I went to the post every five days over the course of my career, and for the most part, I was able to give whatever team I started for an opportunity to win the game. I pitched late into the games to give my teams opportunities to win. That's the big thing.
I was very proud of my fielding and hitting accomplishments. Even though I never won a Gold Glove there were times a lot of people told me I should have won a Gold Glove. One stretch I went six years without an error and another time I went four without an error. But I was never selected as a Gold Glove recipient. I liked to be a complete pitcher, To help myself with the bat and the glove as well as my arm. I was accountable for the pride I took at being a starting pitcher. To work deep into games, too complete a lot of my games, win or lose. I just gave my team a good chance to win everyday that I took the mound. That's what I think I'm most proud of.