It’s one of the sports world’s greatest stories, and one that deserves as many retellings as the world can stand. In 1970, Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Dock Ellis was called at the last minute to pitch a game against the San Diego Padres, and though he was already on LSD, decided to eat another hit of acid before taking the mound. In his dilated eyes, the umpire morphed into Richard Nixon, the batter turned into Jimi Hendrix, and the catcher . . . well, the catcher mysteriously disappeared from view. Time stretched and condensed, and the game was a blur, but at the end of the ninth inning, Ellis had amazingly thrown a no-hitter. Ellis’ achievement is reaching a whole new generation thanks to a quirky animated YouTube video that’s spreading like wildfire, and it’s immortalized in Todd Snider’s new song, “America’s Favorite Pastime.” The humorous, drug-friendly songwriter, also responsible for the taut, pointed anti-Bush anthem “You Got Away with It,” sings on Wednesday, Dec. 9, at the Mystic Theatre. 23 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma. 8pm. $20. 707.765.2121.Gabe Meline
.Dec. 9: Todd Snider at Mystic Theatre
