A solid right-handed pitcher, Mike Bielecki pitched in the major leagues from 1984 thru 1997, splitting his mound work between starting and relieving. Popular with hometown fans wherever he pitched he pitched his first 4 years with the Pittsburgh Pirates. In1986 Mike Bielecki started 27 games working 148.2 innings and posted a 6-11 record.

Traded to the Cubs prior to the 1988 season, he became a Cubs fans favorite, and always obliged signing autographs. In 1989 Mike Bielecki had his best season, his 18-7 record was second best on the team, trailing only Greg Maddux in wins, 19-12.

July 6 1991 Newspaper Clipping from the ‘Chicago Tribune’

CUBS ROLL; BIELECKI no-hit bid fails  

St Louis – The Cubs have bounced Mike Bielecki from the starting rotation to the bullpen, and back again, and again.

Mike Bielecki would rather start than relieve. And on Saturday night he made his case loud and clear in a 12-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals in Busch Stadium, the Cubs’ third straight victory.

Beilecki no-hit the National League’s best hitting team until Pedro Guerrero launched a bomb into the center-field seats one out into the seventh inning. Mike Bielecki was bidding to become the first Cubs to pitch a no-hitter in 19 years. The last to do it was Milt Pappas, against San Diego on September 12 1972.

‘I think he prefers to start,’ Cubs manager Jim Essian said before the game. ‘And I think he’s going to get the opportunity. He seems to be over his elbow problems.’

Elbow problems? Hard to believe, Bielecki missed his last start because of an inflamed tendon in his right elbow.

Mike Bielecki popped up the first Cards’ hitter, Milt Thompson, and then walkede Ozzie Smith, who leads the league with a .419 on-base-percentage. But then Bielecki popped up the .326-hitting Felix Jose to begin a marvelous rampage.

Pedro Guerrero’s bomb was only the second ball hit beyond the infield off of Bielecki.

The home run cut the Cubs lead to 4-2, but Andre Dawson answered with a bomb of his own in the eight. Dawson took Juan Agosto into the left-field bleachers with Ryne Sandberg aboard, his 14^th homer and 48^th and 49^th RBIs of the year. When Shawon Dunston bounced out and the Cards walked Doug Dascenzo intentionally and loaded the bases in the second inning, it appeared the Cubs chance would be wasted.

It didn’t seem possible that Mike Bielecki, hiiting .118, would be able to drive in a run, and Cards starter Bryn Smith immediately put him in a 0-2 hole. But then Smith lost his range, tossing four straight balls to force in Dawson with the first run of the game.

That, by the way, was Bielecki’s fifth RBI in 23 at-bats this season. Coming into 1991, he had 5 in 197 at-bats. (Bielecki dove in his sixth of the season with a ground ball in the seventh inning.) Attendance 48,313

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