Mets one-hitter #4, Nolan Ryan, April 18, 1970
Here is the fourth installment of our periodic feature on the Mets’ 33 one-hitters.
Nolan Ryan
No-hitters … after they left the Mets page, throwing all of his Major League record seven no-hitters in other uniforms.
Ryan had no real chance of throwing the first Mets no-hitter this day, as the Phillies’ Denny Doyle tagged him for a leadoff single to boost the franchise’s no no-nos count to 1,307 games. Ryan nearly lost his shutout in the first inning after loading the bases with a couple of walks, but he pitched out of the jam.
Ryan would go on to walk six batters during the game, but he also struck out 15 batters and never yielded another hit.
Bunning lasted just two innings, giving up four runs (two earned) on six hits and a walk.
I was at this game. Second Mets game I ever attended. If I only knew what would become of Nolan Ryan. Then again, if anyone in the Mets organization knew then you wouldn’t need this web site. To this day, Denny Doyle’s name makes me cringe. Just like Jimmy Qualls.
After 41 years, I can still remember watching this game on TV — all 9 innings. And after 52 years, it’s the closest I’ve come to watching a no-hitter. I guess if I want to see a no-no, I have to stop watching Met games.