A Unique Link to History: The Scorekeeper Who Witnessed Two MCWS No-Hitters, Decades Apart
College World Series no-hitters are exceptionally rare events, moments of baseball history etched into the record books. Only two have ever been pitched in Omaha. What makes this even more remarkable is that **a single individual was present in the stadium for both historic games**, separated by a staggering 64 years. That person is Sandy Buda, an Omaha native with a storied connection to the city’s baseball tradition.
Buda’s first encounter with this rare feat came on June 15, 1960. In a crucial elimination game, Oklahoma State’s Jim Wixson delivered a masterful performance, shutting down North Carolina without allowing a single hit in a 7-0 victory. While Wixson was making history on the mound, Buda was making history behind the scenes – literally.
At the time, Buda wasn’t just a spectator; he was an essential part of the game’s infrastructure as the **manual scoreboard operator at the old Rosenblatt Stadium, affectionately known as ‘the ‘Blatt’**. His job was far from automated. He sat *inside* the massive scoreboard, manually inserting placards displaying the runs, hits, and errors for each team. Only the balls, strikes, and outs were handled by electronic lights.
“I lived three blocks from Rosenblatt,” Buda recalled, detailing his long history with the ballpark that began at age 10 selling popcorn. He later worked on the grounds crew before spending two years in the scoreboard booth. His vantage point offered a unique view, watching the game through a small opening.
As Wixson’s no-hit bid progressed in 1960, Buda’s responsibilities became particularly tense. He had a phone line connecting him to the official scorer in the press box, used to clarify plays, especially whether a batted ball should be ruled a hit or an error. As the innings went by with no hits for North Carolina, Buda repeatedly called the press box.
**”They kept saying ‘No, don’t put anything in there yet,’”** Buda recounted. The scorers, steeped in baseball superstition, refused to utter the words “no-hitter” or even confirm the lack of hits until the outcome was certain, fearing they might jinx the pitcher. Buda was instructed to keep the hits slot empty. He continued to ask for confirmation, and they continued to tell him to wait. It wasn’t until the final out was recorded and the no-hitter was official that he received the all-clear. **”They finally called and told me I could put the zero in the slot,”** he said. This specific detail highlights the palpable tension and old-school baseball customs surrounding the potential no-hitter.
Fast forward to June 15, 2024. The MCWS was once again underway in Omaha, this time at the newer Charles Schwab Field. Arkansas’s pitching staff delivered the first no-hitter since Wixson’s gem, a combined effort that included pitcher Gage Wood. And where was Sandy Buda? He was in the stadium once again.
However, his role had changed significantly. Now, Buda works security at Charles Schwab Field, typically stationed on the media level. While present in the building, his duties meant he **didn’t see a single pitch of the 2024 no-hitter live** from the stands. He only caught glimpses of the historic game on nearby televisions while performing his security tasks.
Buda’s life between these two baseball milestones included a prominent career outside of the ballpark. After playing both football and baseball at the University of Kansas and coaching as an assistant at Kansas and Kansas State, he returned to Omaha to become the head football coach for the University of Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks from 1978 to 1989, compiling an impressive 84-49 record.
Despite his deep connection to the 1960 game as the scorekeeper, Buda admits that recalling specific plays or details from that day – the weather, the crowd, or anything else beyond the scoreboard mechanics – is challenging after so much time has passed. With a smile, he simply states, **”Oh no. We’re talking 65 years ago.”**
From manually operating a scoreboard inside Rosenblatt Stadium to working security at Charles Schwab Field, Sandy Buda holds a unique place in College World Series history as the **only known person to have been physically present in the stadium for both of the tournament’s no-hitters**. His story is a fascinating footnote, connecting the past and present of Omaha’s beloved baseball spectacle through the eyes of someone who saw it unfold from an extraordinary perspective.
