Ken Holtzman, tossed two no-hitters for Cubs, dies at 78

Ken Holtzman, who tossed two no-hitters for the Chicago Cubs and won four World Series, died Sunday at 78.

The two-time All-Star left-hander's passing was confirmed Monday by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. He had been hospitalized for three weeks while battling heart issues.

Holtzman was 174-150 with a 3.49 ERA and 1,601 strikeouts in 451 games (410 starts) over 15 seasons with the Cubs (1965-71, 1978-79), Oakland Athletics (1972-75), Baltimore Orioles (1976) and New York Yankees (1976-78).

He won three straight World Series championships with the A's (1972-74) and another with the Yankees in 1977. He was 6-4 with a 2.30 ERA in 13 postseason games (12 starts), including a 4-1 record in the World Series.

Holtzman made back-to-back American League All-Star teams with Oakland in 1972 and 1973, finishing the latter campaign with a career-high 21 wins.

The St. Louis native is one of only two Cubs pitchers since 1900 with multiple no-hitters, along with Jake Arrieta. Holtzman's first came against the Atlanta Braves on Aug. 19, 1969, and his second was on June 3, 1971, against the Cincinnati Reds.