Mustapha's Magic Arm: Iowa Time Machine July 29, 1965

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On July 29, 1965, the Boone High School baseball team etched its name into Iowa sports history, crowning a remarkable season with a state championship powered by the incredible right arm of Jack Mustapha. In a feat that captured the imagination of baseball fans across Iowa, he threw his third consecutive no-hitter in the state finals, sealing Boone’s title in a run of pitching unmatched in state tournament lore.

After a perfect regular season where he went 6-0 and didn’t give up a single earned run after missing the first month of the season with hepatitis, Mustapha took the mound for the Toreadors in the first round of the playoffs. Losing pitcher Mark Powell struck out eleven Boone batters, but suffered a bad break when a fifth-inning error allowed Toreador Don Riker to score. Mustapha threw his third no-hitter of the year, and the Toreadors advanced.

In the semifinal, Mustapha hurled his second no-hitter in four days as the Toreadors beat Shenandoah 6-0. Burlington topped Mason City to set up a state title showdown where Mustapha would wrap up one of the most dominant performances in Iowa high school baseball history. 

In the state championship, Mustapha hurled his third consecutive no-hitter while also smashing a run-scoring double and striking out twelve to lead Boone to a 2-0 victory over Burlington. Mustapha’s eighth-straight victory, of which five proved no-hitters, the Boone senior capped off a season in which he didn’t allow an earned run the entire season. #IowaOTD #IowaHistoryDaily #IowaHistoryCalendar