If the New York Mets’ P.J. Conlon can throw a no-hitter in his MLB debut tonight at Great American Ball Park (no pressure), he’d become the third Ireland-born hurler – and the first in 135 years – to toss a major-league no-no.
The Louisville Eclipse’s Tony Mullane, left, born in County cork, threw the first Irish no-no on Monday, September 11, 1882, at Cincinnati’s Bank Street Grounds. The Eclipse topped the Red Stockings 2-0 in the American Association matchup.
The second Irish no-no came the next season in the National League. On Thursday, September 13, 1883, the Cleveland Blues’ Hugh “One Arm” Daily, right, Irish hometown unknown, no-hit the Philadelphia Quakers for a 1-0 win at Philadelphia’s Recreation Park.
Conlon, who was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, is getting the start for the Mets tonight due to Jacob deGrom’s elbow injury. He’d need to be extremely efficient to get the chance to toss a nine-inning complete game.
