As of the beginning of 2020, there have been 302 no-hitters recognized by Major League Baseball, dating back to 1876. With that many to choose from, it’s likely your favorite no-hitter is the one that involved your team.
However, many no-hitters stand out for a variety of reasons. For example, Ken Johnson of the Houston Colt ‘45s threw the only nine-inning no-hitter in baseball history in which he lost the game. On April 23, 1964, the Cincinnati Reds beat him after Pete Rose reached base on an error, advanced on a ground out, and then scored on another error.
But that’s not really among the best no-hitters, although it’s certainly memorable. The following are five that should be on any baseball fan’s short list for the best no-hitters of all time.
Don Larsen: Oct. 8, 1956 vs. Brooklyn Dodgers
Perhaps the most famous no-hitter of all time. Larsen, pitching for the New York Yankees, threw a perfect game against the Dodgers in Game 5 of the World Series, which the teams entered tied at two games apiece. It’s worth noting that only 23 no-hitters have been perfect games. Larsen’s accomplishment is even more remarkable considering he lasted less than two innings when he started Game 2. Larsen remains the only pitcher to throw a no-hitter in a World Series. His catcher was Yogi Berra, and the image of Berra leaping into his arms after the last out is one of the most iconic images in all of sports. Larsen, who died in January 2020, was the last remaining living player on the field that day in Yankees Stadium in 1956.
Roy Halladay: Oct.6, 2010 vs. Cincinnati Reds
Halladay is the only pitcher other than Larsen to throw a no-hitter in the playoffs. His came pitching for the Philadelphia Phillies against the Reds in Game 1 of the National League Division Series. Remarkably, he had thrown another no-hitter in May against the Miami Marlins (that one was baseball’s 20th perfect game). His catcher for both no-hitters was Carlos Ruiz. The Phillies went on to sweep the series.
George Bradley: July 15, 1876 vs. Hartford Dark Blues
Bradley, a pitcher for the St. Louis Brown Stockings, defeated the Hartford Dark Blues and threw the first no-hitter recognized by MLB. The feat was made even more remarkable by the fact that the team behind him committed eight errors that day. But, as a sportswriter at the St. Louis Globe Democrat wrote about the game: “The Hartford’s utterly failed to do anything whatever with Bradley’s twisters.” Bradley’s catcher that day was “Honest John” Clapp.
Charlie Robertson: April 30, 1922 vs. Detroit Tigers
Robertson’s perfect game in 1922 stands out because it was only his fourth start at the Major League level and because the team he faced, the Tigers, were a hitting machine that ended the season with a team batting average over .300. The lineup included Ty Cobb, Harry Heilmann, Bobby Veach and Lu Blue. But Robertson, pitching for the Chicago White Sox, kept them off the bases. Another perfect game didn’t happen for another 34 years. Cobb, by the way, complained Robertson was doctoring the ball, but nothing was ever found. Robertson’s catcher that day was Ray Schalk, who famously played on the 1919 Chicago White Sox team where players conspired to lose the World Series. Schalk was not part of the conspiracy and is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Nolan Ryan: July 15, 1973 vs. Detroit Tigers
You can’t mention no-hitters without mentioning Ryan, who threw seven no-hitters during his long career. That’s three more than anyone else. It’s tempting to put his last no-hitter, thrown as a Texas Ranger against the Toronto Blue Jays in 1991, as his best because he was 44 years old when he threw it. But in 1973, pitching for the California Angels, he struck out 17 batters on his way to a no-hitter against the Tigers. Remarkably, it was his second no-hitter of the year – the first came in May against the Kansas City Royals. He also had two different catchers. In the game against the Tigers, his catcher was Art Kusnyer, who had an otherwise unremarkable major league career but has worked as a coach for decades for the Chicago White Sox and Oakland Athletics.
There are many other great no-hitters, but these five are among the most memorable ever thrown. One recent trend is that they have become more common. There were four non-hitters in 2019 alone.
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