This past week, Orioles’ southpaw John Means and Reds’ lefty Wade Miley threw the third and fourth no-hitters of the young 2021 season (May 5 and May 7, respectively) – which put us halfway to the all-time record of eight MLB no-hitters in a season (1884) and also led Baseball Roundtable to muse on the topic of no-hitters and the iconic and ironic facts that surround this year’s no-hitters and many of those that preceded them.
Did you know, for example, that:
- Only two brothers have thrown MLB no-hitters?
- Babe Ruth started on the mound in the first-ever combined MLB no-hitter?
- One pitcher hit two home runs in a no-hitter and later that same season pitched a game in which he retired 32 consecutive batters and drove in the winning run with a walk-off single?
- Only one pitcher has thrown a no-hitter in his very first start – and he went on to put up a earned run average north of ten for the rest of his career?
(Side note: I apologize for the narrow column width. After a recent WordPress upgrade, my page layout went a little wonky. I’m working on it – and will continue to generate content while the fix is underway.)
For these no-hitter stories and more, read on.
Baseball Roundtable Disclaimer: The MLB records referenced in this (and previous) posts have the potential to change as Major League Baseball recognizes and incorporates Negro League records from 1920-46 into the MLB record book.
Let’s start off easy. Miley fanned eight batters in his May 7 no-hitter – well short of the iconic no-hitter record of 17 strikeouts (the Angels’ Nolan Ryan on July 15, 1973 and the Nationals’ Max Scherzer on October 3, 2015).
Pitching to Contact
There have been three no-hitters thrown in which the achieving pitcher did not fan a single batter: the Browns’ Earl Hamilton (August 30, 1912); Yankees’ Sam Jones (September 4, 1923); and Cubs’ Ken Holtzman (August 19, 1969).
Miley threw 144 pitched in his no-hitter, 72 for strikes.
That’s a Lot of Pitches, but Who’s Counting?
The most pitches tossed in a no-hitter is 149, by the Diamondbacks’ Edwin Jackson (June 25, 2010). Jackson’s pitch count was up to 70 after three innings – during which he gave up seven walks, thew one wild pitch and fanned two. In those first three frames, he went to a 3-2 or 3-1 count on nine of 17 batters faced. For the game, Jackson walked eight and fanned six.
In Means’ no hitter, he delivered a first-pitch strike to 26 of the 27 batters he faced. His 96.4 percent first-pitch strike rate is the best ever in a no-hitter and the second best by any pitcher in a game when they faced at least 27 batters. (A comment on the record holder below.)
Getting Over Getting It Over
On June 30, 2004, the Twins’ Brad Radke faced 28 White Sox’ batters and recorded a first pitch strike on 27 of them (96.4 percent). Ironically, Radke (unlike Means) didn’t fare very well. He lasted only six innings, giving up eight runs on eight hits (no walks though). These stats further illustrate a couple of things I’ve said often in this post: 1) In baseball, we count everything; and 2) When BBRT starts looking at a topic, “one thing often leads to another.”
Means’ no-hitter was his first MLB complete game.
Making Those Complete Games Count
Philip Humber threw just one complete game in his career – but it was “perfect.”
The White Sox’ Philip Humber three just one complete game in his eight-season MLB career – a perfect game against Seattle on April 21, 2012. Mike Fiers has thrown just two complete games in 11 MLB seasons (to date) – and they were both no-hitters.
Joe Musgrove’s no-hitter on April 9 of this season was the first-ever for a Padre – removing their distinction as being the only franchise without a no-hitter in their history.
It’s a Start
The Padres, Mets, Brewers, Rockies, Blue Jays, Rays, are tied for the fewest no-hitters in a franchise’s history at one each. The Dodgers’ franchise has the most MLB no-hitters at 26.
When the Whites Sox’ Carl Rodon pitched his no hitter (this April 14) all that stood between him and a perfect game was one hit batsman. The Elias Sports Bureau reports this it was just the sixth time (modern era) that a pitcher has missed a perfect game by one HBP. It was also the second time this season (Joe Musgrove).
Far From Perfect
In A.J. Burnett’s May 12, 2001 no-hitter for the Marlins, a 3-1 win over the Padres, every starting position player for the Padres reached base at least once. (Burnett walked nine and hit one batter). Burnett threw 65 strikes and 64 balls in the game – his 50.4 percent strike-to-ball ratio is the worst ever in a no-hitter.
Here are a few more historic no-hitter tidbits.
- Ouch! In his June 9, 2015 no-hitter, the Giants’ 27-year-old rookie Chris Heston set an MLB no-hitter record by hitting three batters in the course of his 5-0 no-hit win over the Mets. Ironically, control did not seem to be a problem for Heston – who didn’t walk a single better, while striking out 11.
- Even More Painful! On April 23, 1964, Houston Colt .45’s pitcher Ken Johnson tossed a no-hitter against the Reds – walking two and fanning nine. However, his Colts didn’t score and, in the top of the ninth, two errors led to an unearned run and Johnson painfully lost the game 1-0. The only other no-hitter loss came on April 30 , 1967, when Steve Barber and Stu Miller of the Orioles tossed a combined no-hitter against the Tigers, Detroit, however, turned three walks, a wild pitch and two Orioles’ errors into a 2-1 win.
- And, Yet Even More Painful. On May 26, 1959, the Pirates’ Harvey Haddix tossed 12 perfect innings against a powerful Milwaukee Braves’ lineup and lost the “perfecto”, no-hitter, shutout and game in the unlucky thirteenth – thanks, in part, to an inning-opening error. For details on that contest, click here.
Good Genes
Bob Forsch and Ken Forsch are the only brothers to both throw an MLB no-hitter.
- Celebrating in a Big Way. On July 4, 1912, the Tigers’ George Mullin celebrated Independence Day by tossing a no-hitter against the Browns (a 7-0 win). Oh yes, he was also celebrating his birthday – and is still the only MLB pitcher to toss a no-hitter on his birthday. (Again, in baseball, we count everything.)
- That’s Why We Have Two Leagues. There are some big names among pitchers who have thrown a no-hitter in both the AL and NL: Cy Young (Cleveland Spiders/NL and Boston Americans and Red Sox/AL); Jim Bunning (Detroit Tigers/Philadelphia Phillies); Hideo Nomo (LA Dodgers/Boston Red Sox); Randy Johnson (Seattle Mariners/Arizona Diamondbacks); Nolan Ryan (Houston Astros/California Angels/Texas Rangers).
- Let’s get this Party Started. On April 16, 1940, the Indians’ Bob Feller threw the only Opening Day no-hitter, topping the White Sox 1-0 at Comiskey.
Bob Feller threw three no hitters in his MLB career.
- Postscript. Yankee Don Larsen’s October 8, 1956, perfect game against the Dodgers in game five of the 1956 Series is the only World Series no-hitter. The Phillies’ Roy Halladay threw the only other post season no-hitter to date, as he topped the Reds in game one of the 2010 NL Division Series (October 6, 2010). Side note: Just three days before is perfect game, the Dodgers’ had knocked Larsen from the mound after 1 2/3 innings.
- I Get By with a Little Help from My Friends. There have been 13 combined no-hitters and the most pitchers used in a combined no-hitter is six On June 11, 2003, Roy Oswalt started for the Astros against the Yankees, but aggravated a groin injury in the second inning (having not given up a hit). Oswalt was followed to the mound by Pete Munro, Kirk Sarloos, Brad Lidge, Octavio Dotel and Billy Wagner – and the six hurlers combined to no-hit the “Bombers” 8-0. The Seattle Pilots matched the Astros’ no-hit pitcher count on June 8, 2012, when Kevin Millwood, Charles Furbush, Stephen Pryor, Lucas Luetge, Brandon League and Tom Wilhelmsen combined to no-hit the Dodgers 1-0.
Iconic and Ironic
On June 23, 1917, the iconic Babe Ruth took part in the first-ever (and perhaps most ironic) combined no-hitter. Ruth started the game on the mound and – after walking the first hitter – was tossed from the contest for arguing with the umpire. Ernie Shore relieved Ruth and, after Ruth’s base runner was erased on a stolen base attempt, Short retired 26 in a row to complete the no-hitter.
- A (Going) Deep Commitment to Victory. On June 23, 1971 Rick Wise of the Phillies went two-for-four, with two homers and three RBI, while no-hitting the Reds 4-0 in Cincinnati. Wise is the only hurler to go deep twice while tossing a no-hit game. And this was no easy no-no. It was against the “Big Red Machine,” with a lineup featuring such hitters as Pete Rose, George Foster, Johnny Bench, Tony Perez, Lee May. Other pitchers to homer (once) in the midst of a no-hit game are the Indians’ Wes Ferrell, in a April 29, 1931, 9-0 no-hit win over the Saint Louis Browns; the Braves’ Jim Tobin in an April 27, 1944, 2-0 no-hit win over the Dodgers; and the Tigers’ Earl Wilson, in a June 26, 1962, 2-0, no-hit victory over the Angels.
More #WhyIHateTheDH
On June 23, 1971, the Phillies Rick Wise hit two home runs in a game in which he also tossed a no-hitter (see paragraph immediately above.) On September 18 of that same season, he started against the Cubs and gave up three runs on four hits (two home runs) to the first eight batters he faced. He then settled down and retired thirty-two consecutive batters – until giving up s s single in the top of the twelfth inning. With the game tied at three, Phillies’ RF Willie Montanez singled to open the bottom of the twelfth frame and was sacrificed to second (bunt by 1B Greg Luzinski). The Cubs then intentionally walked 2B Don Money and RF Ron Stone, bringing up Wise – who singled on the first pitch he saw to plate the winning tally.
My, how the game has changed – a starter going 12 innings, a slugger like Luzinski laying down a bunt and a pitcher left in to hit in a crucial situation. Gotta love old school baseball. Wise, by the way, hit .236, with six home runs and 15 RBI (97 at bats) on the season.
- Not Exactly a Walk in the Park. The most walks in a no-hitter is eleven by Blue Moon Odom and Francisco Barrios (combined), as the White Sox topped the A’s (Odom was with the White Sox by then) 2-1 on July 28, 1976. Odom lasted just five innings, walking nine of the 22 batter he faced. He was relieved – holding a 2-1 lead – after walking the lead-off hitter in the bottom of the sixth (and going 1-0 on the next batter). Francisco Barrios came on and finished the game, allowing no hits, but walking two more in four innings of work.
No-Hit Pitchers Gone Wild
The most walks in a no-hitter by one pitcher is ten by Steve Barber in a combined no hitter. Barber took a no-hitter, albeit with seven walks, and a 1-0 lead into the top of the ninth as his Orioles played the Tigers in Detroit on April 30, 1967. Barber walked the first two batters in the final inning. Then a sacrifice moved them to second and third. A wild pitch followed, plating the tying run. Barber walked the next hitter, and was relieved by Stu Miller. Miller finished up the no-hitter, but the go-ahead run scored on an error, giving the Tigers a 2-1 win without the benefit of a hit. The Reds’ Jim Maloney also walked ten (and struck out twelve) in no-hitting the Cubs 3-0 in ten innings on August 19, 1965. The most walks in a nine-inning “solo” no-hitter: Nine by A.J. Burnett, as his Marlins topped the Cubs 3-0 on May 12, 2001.
- Most Unlikely No-hitters. Twenty-two year old rookie Bumpus Jones is the only player to toss a no-hitter in his first-ever MLB appearance (October 25, 1892 for the Reds) – others have tossed one in their first start, but not first appearance. Jones pitched in just seven more games in MLB (one more season) and in those contests went 1-4, with a 10,19 earned run average. Then there is the Tigers’ Virgil Trucks, who tossed two no-hitters for the Tigers in the 1952 season, when he won just five games (19 losses), with a 3.97 ERA. Finally, you have to include the White Sox’ Philip Humber on this list, Not only was his his 2012 perfect game his only complete game in eight MLB seasons, he finished the season with a 5-5 record and a 6.44 eared run average, and was 16-23, 5.31 for his MLB career.
- Most unlikely name for a no-hit pitcher. The Reds’ Homer Bailey tossed a pair of no-hitters.
Most Necessary No-Hitter?
When Dodgers’ icon Sandy Koufax tossed a perfect game on September 9, 1965, he pretty much needed it. He was opposed by Cubs’ right-hander Bob Hendley (who went 48-52, 3.97 in a seven-year MLB career), who was on top of his game as well.
After eight innings, Hendley had given up just one hit and one walk (versus three strikeouts). The only hit had been a harmless double by Dodgers’ LF Lou Johnson in the bottom of the seventh. Hendley had allowed just one run in eight frames – and even that wasn’t his fault. The pesky Johnson had led off the fifth with a walk; moved to second on a sacrifice by RF Ron Fairly; stole third; and scored as Cubs’ C Chris Krug made a wild throw past third baseman Ron Santo.
Hendley’s efforts, however, weren’t nearly enough that day. Koufax, who came into the game already a 20-game winner (21-7 on the season), threw a perfect game – striking out 14 Cubs. While his ill-timed one-hitter didn’t even get Hendley a win, he does share the record (with Koufax) for pitching in the MLB game with the fewest combined hits ever.
- Most no-hitters thrown under the influence of LSD. One by Dock Ellis, June 12, 1970. For more on that game, click here.
- Most no-hitters by a one-handed pitcher. One each by: Hugh Daily (Cleveland Blues) September 13, 1883 and Jim Abbott (Yankees) on September 4, 1993.
- Keep the ball rolling. The Reds’ Johnny Vander Meer is the only player to throw no-hitter in consecutive starts June 11 and June 15, 1938.
- Working Overtime. Only three pitchers have successfully thrown complete-game no-hitters of more than nine innings. All three – fashioned ten-inning,complete-game no-hitters; George Wiltse, Giants (July 4, 1908); Fred Toney, Reds (May 2, 1917); and Jim Maloney, Reds (August 19, 1965).
Double Your Pleasure …
On May 2, 1917, the Reds’ Fred Toney and Cubs’ Hippo Vaughn hooked up in an epic and iconic duel. Over nine innings neither hurler had surrendered a hit (each had given up two walks). Vaughn faltered in the top of the tenth, when two singles and an error led to a Reds’ run – driven in on a single by Jim Thorpe. Toney had a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth for the win and the no-no.
- Old Guys Rule. The oldest player to toss a no-hitter is Nolan Ryan at age 44 (and 90 days) on May 1, 1991 (for the Rangers); the youngest is Amos Rusie at 20 years (and 62 days) on July 31, 1891 (for the Giants). The 44-year-old Ryan, notably, fanned 16 batter and walked just two in his 1991 no-hitter.
Photo by tonystl 
Lucky Number Seven
Nolan Ryan holds the record for no-hitters with seven.
Primary Resources: Baseball-Reference.com; Baseball-Almanac.com; MLB.com
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