FIC: No-Hitter (Baseball Player!Sam/Reader)
So some time ago @parkerroos did a Baseball!Sam night. I submitted this idea (under my main blog, @brideofderfunkenstein) and have not been able to stop thinking about it since. So, here’s the fic y’all knew I was inevitably going to write about it.
FIC: No-Hitter
Pairing: Sam Holland/Reader
Summary: Sam, a young pitcher, is going for his first career no-hitter with his girlfriend (the reader) in the stands.
Note: Sam plays for the St. Louis Cardinals because, uh, they’re my favorite team.
Warnings: Extreme fluff.
It’s a warm Friday night in late May. You’re at Busch Stadium, watching your boyfriend Sam Holland pitch. He is, as the announcers would say, putting on a clinic. This is his second year in the majors (his first full year, though) and he’s come close to pitching a no-hitter a couple of times, but almost always blew it with the last batter.
Tonight, he’s working on it again.
He walked the first batter but has pitched perfectly ever since - twenty-five up, twenty-five down. The Cardinals led the GIants, 4-0. (Because he’s an overachiever, he drove in the first run too.)
You’re sitting in the first row behind home plate with some of the other players’ wives and girlfriends. You’re wearing your lucky jersey - a replica of your boyfriend’s - and a pair of shorts; you’re also wearing Sam’s old hat from high school.
You two started dating your junior year of high school. You dated all through college, and all through the three years he pitched in the minors before he finally, finally got the call midway through last season.
It’s now the bottom of the ninth, two outs. First pitch, strike. Second pitch, strike.
“Oh, man. I can’t watch,” you say nervously to Aliya, one of the outfielders’ wives as you cover your eyes with your hands.
There is electricity in the air; you feel the little hairs on your arms stand up as Aliya gently removes your hands from your face.
“I think you’re going to want to see this,” she says softly, smiling at you.
The catcher calls a time-out so he can talk to Sam for a moment. You let out a deep sigh, hoping that he will just strike the guy out.
Sam looks up at the stands for a moment. He catches your eye and you shoot him a quick smile; he smiles back at you and heads back to the mound.
You bite your lower lip nervously as Sam looks to the catcher for the call on what pitch to throw. He shakes him off a couple of times, then nods.
He winds up and throws the ball.
The batter swings…
...and misses.
Strike three.
The stadium erupts into cheers; it’s the loudest you think you’ve ever heard it.
“He did it! He did it, (y/n), he did it!!” Aliya shouts at you; you throw your arms around her in celebration.
You let out a loud whoop as some of the other wives and girlfriends come down to hug you too.
The PA announcer cuts through the din with an announcement:
“Folks, we’ve witnessed history. Tonight was the first no-hitter of Sam Holland’s career. Congratulations, Sam, we know it won’t be the last.”
“Of his entire career?” Aliya asks you.
You nod. “Never threw one in high school. Came close in college a couple of times, and I lost track of how many one-hitters he threw in the minors. And-”
“Ms. (y/l/n)?” A security guard walks up to you. “Mr. Holland would like you on the field. Please follow me.”
You squeal to Aliya as the guard leads you down to the field. Once you’re there, you run through the throng of players and reporters to the mound, where Sam is still standing.
“Congratulations, babe!” You shout as you throw your arms around Sam’s neck.
Smiling, Sam wraps his arms around your waist, picking you up slightly as he twirls you around. “I can’t believe it!” he says as he holds you close to him. “I did it, baby, I finally did it!”
“I am so proud of you!” You kiss his cheek.
“Sam! Sam, can I ask you a couple of questions?” A reporter shouts over the noise. It’s then that you notice the TV camera pointed right at you.
(What you don’t notice is Sam motioning to the catcher, who runs into the locker room and quickly runs back out with something. You also don’t notice said catcher slipping something into Sam’s back pocket.)
“Of course,” Sam says; his voice echoes throughout the stadium. “But I have to do something really quickly first.” He gingerly sets you down, unhooks his arms from around your waist, reaches into his back pocket…
...and immediately drops to one knee.
Your hand flies to your mouth as you (and 40,000 fans, collectively) gasp.
“(Y/n), he says into the microphone Jim is holding, so his voice is heard throughout the stadium. “I love you so much. You’re my biggest fan and you have been since high school. I want to spend the rest of my life trying to make you as happy as you’ve made me. Will you marry me?” He looks up at you, brandishing the item that the catcher had slipped into his pocket: A beautiful diamond ring.
You can hardly believe what is happening to you.
Your boyfriend just pitched the best game of his career, and now he’s proposing to you. In front of thousands of people in the stadium. And probably millions at home.
But, boy, when Sam Holland does something he does it big.
“Yes!” you cry, nodding your head.
The stadium erupts again as Sam slips the ring onto your finger. He stands upright again and cups your face in his hands, kissing you tenderly.
“Did you hear that, everyone? She said yes!” Jim announces. “What a night for Sam Holland. Pitching his first-ever no-hitter, and getting engaged? Only thing that could top this is a World Series win, am I right?”
The crowd cheers.
“He’s wrong,” Sam whispers to you. “Nothing can ever top this.”
“I love you so much, Sam,” you smile.
“I love you too, darling.” He kisses you yet again. “This really is the best night of my life.”
“Mine too, Sam.”
