In addition to being a six-term member of the House of Representatives and two-term senator from Kentucky, he was also a Hall of Fame pitcher, having played major league baseball from 1955-71 for the Detroit Tigers, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, and LA Dodgers. He won 224 games and threw two no-hitters, including a perfect game against the New York Mets at Shea Stadium on June 21, 1964.