The New York Giants’ Red Ames tossed 9⅓ innings of no-hit ball in an effort that should have been MLB’s first Opening Day no-hitter, 110 years ago today.
On April 15, 1909, Ames no-hit the Brooklyn Superbas over nine innings at the Polo Grounds but neither team could score a run, as Brooklyn’s Kaiser Wilhelm held the Giants to just one hit. The Superbas’ Whitey Alperman tagged Ames for a one-out double to left center in the 10th inning, but Ames stranded Alperman at third to keep the game scoreless. Brooklyn scored three runs in the top of the 13th for the victory, with Ames giving up a total of seven hits. Wilhelm yielded just four hits.
Such accomplishments were considered official no-hitters until September 1991, when the Committee for 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.
Bob Feller tossed MLB’s only complete-game Opening Day no-hitter on April 16, 1940, mowing down eight Chicago White Sox batters as the Cleveland Indians topped Chicago 1-0 at Comiskey Park.
