Photo by andrewmalone 
Yesterday (August 14, 2021), as the Diamondbacks topped the Padres 7-0 in Arizona, the Diamondbacks’ 27-year-old rookie southpaw Tyler Gilbert tossed a no-hitter – one that proved not just memorable, but historic. It was the eighth no-hitter of 2021, tying the major-league record for no-hitters in a season (set in 1884). In addition, Gilbert became just the fourth player to toss a no-hitter in his first MLB start. (Gilbert had three previous appearances this season, tossing 3 2/3 innings in relief. Finally, for the frosting on the cake, it was Gilbert’s first professional complete game at any level.
Gilbert tossed 102 pitches in his no-hitter, allowing just three walks – all to Padres’ lead off hitter LF Tony Pham. Other than the three free passes to Pham, Gilbert only went to a three-ball count on one other batter. Pham, by the way, was twice erased on groundball double plays, so Gilbert faced just 28 batters (one over the minimum) in his gem.
The Most – The Least
Although early pitch count records can be sketchy, the fewest pitches tossed in a no-hitter is 74, by the Indians’ Addie Joss in his October 2, 1908, three-strike out perfect game against the White Sox in Cleveland. The most pitches in a no-hitter? That would be 149 by the Diamondbacks’ Edwin Jackson – on June 25, 2010, when he no-hit the Rays in Tampa, winning by a 1-0 score. Jackson fanned six, walked eight, hit one batter and threw one wild pitch in his no-no.
Now, how about a look at the players before Gilbert who threw no-hitters in their first MLB starts.
Theodore “Ted” Breitenstein
Ted Breitenstein of the (then major-league) American Association Saint Louis Browns accomplished the feat, as a 22-year-old rookie, on October 4, 1891. (It was Breitenstein’s sixth appearance for the Browns.) Breitenstein gave up just one walk as his Browns topped the Louisville Colonels 8-0. Breitenstein went on to a 11-season MLB career, winning 160 games (losing 170) and putting up a 4.03 earned run average. He was a three-time 20-game winner and one time (1895) thirty-game loser (19-30, 4.37). He twice led the NL in complete games and once led in earned run average.
Charles “Bumpus” Jones
Bumpus Jones is the only player to throw a no-hitter not just in his first MLB start, but in his first MLB appearance. On October 15, 1892, the 22-year-old took the mound for the Reds (versus the Pirates) and tossed a no-hitter, with the Reds winning 7-1. He issued four walks and fanned three. In 1893, he appeared in seven games (Reds and Giants) and went 1-4, 10.19. While he continued to pitch in the minor leagues until 1900, Jones never returned to the “show.”
In 1892, before his MLB debut with the Reds, Jones was 24-3, 0.93 for the Joliet Convicts/Aurora Indians of the Illinois-Iowa League.
Alva “Bobo” Holloman
Bobo Holloman made his first MLB start (at the age of 30) for the St. Louis Browns on May 6, 1953. It was his fifth MLB appearance. That day, he shut won the Athletics 6-0, tossing a no-hitter (five walks, three strikeouts). Note: In 1952, Holloman’s seventh professional season, he had opened some eyes with a 16-7, 2.51 season at Triple A Syracuse. Holloman finished the 1953 MLB campaign at 3-7, 5.23 in 22 appearances, ten starts. In July of that season, Holloman’s contract was sold to the International League Toronto Maple Leafs and, by the end of the 1954 season, he was out of baseball. Holloman was the first pitcher to toss a no-hitter in his first MLB start at the current pitching distance.
Bobo Holloman had just two its and three RBI in his MLB career and they all came in his May 6, 1953 no-hitter. That was, as they say, his “day in the sun.”
Primary Resources: Baseball-Reference.com; MLB.com; Baseball-Almanac.com.
Baseball Roundtable Disclaimer: The MLB records referenced in this (and previous) posts have the potential to change (primarily additions) as Major League Baseball recognizes and fully incorporates Negro League records from 1920-48 into the MLB record book.
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