I used to rent an apartment on 45th and Chester in Philly in the house of a 90 year old guy who told me he used to play cards with Howard Ehmke. Connie Mack named the journeyman Ehmke as a surprise Game 1 starter in the 1929 World Series, and he delivered this:
1929 World Series Game 1, Philadelphia Athletics vs Chicago Cubs: October 8, 1929 | Baseball-Reference.com
The old guy said that Ehmke would brag, "Connie Mack told me, "Howard, whatever else you do in life, know that for one day you were the best pitcher I ever saw.""
I'm hoping someday Noah Syndergaard will be telling a similar story about his effort tonight.