The probability that any given pitcher at any given day throws a no-hitter is .0013 according to the studies of Michael Huber of Muhlenberg College and Andrew Glen of the U.S. Military Academy. In the 139 years of Major League Baseball, only 257 pitchers have thrown a no-hitter. Out of that illustrious, 17 have thrown a no-hitter. On Sunday, Carlos Zambrano became the first Cub to throw a no-hitter in 36 years, sparking the curiosity to look back and reflect on this amazing feat.
The first recorded no-hitter in a professional game was by Joe Borden against the Chicago White Stockings in 1875. However, Joe, pitching under the name of Joe Josephs, pitched in National Association, which is not recognized as a Major League. Therefore, Josephs is not considered as the first Major League pitcher to throw a no-hitter. This title belongs to George Bradley, who on July 15, 1876, kept the Hartford Dark Bluesh*tless through nine innings. Four years later, south paw Lee Richmond became the first pitcher to throw a perfect game when he did it against the Cleveland Blues. Richmond only recorded five strikeoutsand if it weren't for his right fielder to throw a runner out at first, he would have never accomplished this feat.
On the1891 season finale for the St. Louis Browns, Ted Breitensteinfaced the minimum 27 battersduring his first career start. Only two other pitchers, BumpusJones and BoboHolloman, have accomplished this feat. They are three of 24 rookie pitchers who have thrown a no-hitter. When Major League Baseball moved the pitchers' mound from 50 feet to 60 feet 6 inches in 1893, Bill Hawke was the first from this distance to throw a no-hitter for his Baltimore Orioles.
Only twice has there been a no-hitter on the same day. The first occurred on April 22, 1898, by Breitenstein, whothrewthesecond of his career, andby John Locke. Almost one hundred years later, Dave Stewart and FernandoValenzuela both threw it on June 29, 1990.
Probably the most unusual no-hitters ever recorded happened on June 23, 1917. The starting pitcher for the Boston Red Sox, Hall of Famer, Babe Ruth, walked the first batter he faced. According to newspapers, Babe Ruth wasn't pleased and started a heated argument with the home plate umpire. The umpire threw Ruth out of the game. Then Ruth took a right hand to the umpires face before being forced off the field. With only enough time to get a few warm-up pitches in, Ernie Shore came into the game. After the runner on first was caught stealing, Shore went on to retire the next 26 batters he faced.
If odds of throwing a no-hitter is relatively small, than throwing back to back no-hitters must be close to next to impossible. However, this feat has been accomplished by a pitcher named Johnny Vander Meer, who threw two in just five days.He is one of 25 pitchers who have thrown multiple no-hitters.Cy Young, known for the award named after him, pitched three no-hitters in his career. Randy Johnson waited 14 years between his two no-hitters, the longest gap of any pitcher to throw two or more no-hitters. Nolan Ryan is the oldest and only pitcher to throw more than five no-hitters in a career. He was 44 when he threw his seventh and last no hitter.
While New York Mets' Fans keep track of their teams continuous streak without a no-hitter, which has now reached 7,429 games, they saw the Houston Astros throw a no-hitter against the New York Yankees with six different pitchers. Roy Oswalt, the starting pitcher, left the game after the first inning with a groin injury. In the clubhouse, he watched five other teammates, none who pitched more than three innings, allow no hits. It is the most pitchers used to throw a no-hitter in Major League history. These sameAstros witnessed another no-hitter from the bench on Sunday. However, it was against them, as Carlos Zambrano breezed by Astros hitters. Due to Hurricane Ike, the game, schedule to be played in Houston, was moved to Milwaukee, making the significance of this no-hitter even higher. It was the first no-hitter ever thrown at a neutral sight.
Although no-hitters are rare to come by, they bringexcitement to the game every time they occur. What will the story line be when our next no-hitter is thrown? Could it be from a one handed pitcher or one that can throw with both of his arms? Only time can tell.
