Pedro's no-no ball in the Hall.
There used to be many more no-hitters on the record books, but in September 1991 the Committee on Statistical Accuracy, chaired by then MLB Commissioner Fay Vincent, changed the official definition of a no hitter, declaring it a game of nine innings or more that ends with no hits. That leaves 277 sanctioned no-hitters (254 in the A.L. and N.L.), detailed
here.
The stringent definition eliminated 38 no-hitters from the books that were shortened by rain or darkness and losing efforts by the away team in which the home team doesn’t bat in the bottom of the ninth.
It also wiped out 12 no-hitters by pitchers who threw nine innings of no-hit ball only to yield a hit in extra innings. That narrow definition kept Pedro Martinez out of the exclusive no-no club, even though his ball is featured in the National Baseball Hall of Fame’s “No-Nos and Perfectos” exhibit. Martinez threw nine innings of perfect ball on June 3, 1995, but his Expos couldn’t score a run and Martinez wound up giving up a hit in the 10th. It’s not considered a no-hitter.
Here are the no-hitters stricken from the record books in September 1991 and others pitched since then that would have qualified as no-hitters under the old rules.
No-hitters lost by the away team in which the game ended after 8 1/2 innings: | Pitcher | Date | Lg. | Team | | Opponent | | Description | |
June 21, 1890 | Silver King | PL | Chicago Pirates | 0 | Brooklyn Ward’s Wonders | 1 | Since the Pirates were the away team in a losing effort, King only pitched eight innings. MLB says a no hitter must go nine innings. | |
July 1, 1990 | Andy Hawkins | AL | New York Yankees | 0 | Chicago White Sox | 4 | Since the Yankees were the away team in a losing effort, Hawkins only pitched eight innings. MLB says a no hitter must go nine innings. | |
April 12, 1992 | Matt Young | AL | Boston Red Sox | 1 | Cleveland Indians | 2 | Since the Red Sox were the away team in a losing effort in this opening day contest, Young only pitched eight innings. MLB says a no hitter must go nine innings. | |
June 28, 2008 | Jered Weaver (6 in) | Jose Arredondo (2 in)
IL | Los Angeles Angels | 0 | Los Angeles Dodgers | 1 | Since the Angels were the away team in a losing effort, Weaver and Arredondo combined for only eight innings. MLB says a no hitter must go nine innings. | |
| No-hitters that fell shy of nine innings due to weather or darkness:
Pitcher | Date | Lg. | Team | | Opponent | | Game length | |
Larry McKeon | May 6, 1884 | AA | Indianapolis Hoosiers | 0 | Cincinnati Red Stockings | 0 | 6 innings | |
Charlie Geggus | Aug. 21, 1884 | UA | Page 1 of 5 | Next page
