Dirk Lammers is a veteran journalist who began rooting for the New York Mets in the early-1970s when the team’s no no-hitter count was barely 2,000 games old. Lammers has since turned his research into Baseball’s No-Hit Wonders: More Than a Century of Pitching’s Greatest Feats (Unbridled Books).
Happy 81st birthday to Bob Gibson, who pitched a no-hitter for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1971. On Saturday, August 14, 1971, Gibson no-hit the Pittsburgh Pirates for an 11-0 win at Three Rivers Stadium. Gibson struck out 10 and walked three batters while helping his team at the plate with three RBIs. One came…
Walter Johnson, a 400+ game winner who threw a 1920 no-hitter for the Washington Senators, was born 129 years ago today. Johnson no-hit the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Thursday, July 1, 1920, for a 1-0 victory. He finished out a 21-year Hall of Fame career with a record of 417-279. Also born…
Today would be the 100th birthday of Leon Day, who threw an Opening Day no-hitter in the Negro National League in 1946. On Sunday, May 5, 1946, Day, a pitcher for the Newark Eagles, no-hit the Philadelphia Stars at Newark’s Ruppert Stadium for a 2-0 win, allowing just three runners to reach first via a…
Jim Bibby, who threw the first no-hitter in Texas Rangers history, was born on this day in 1944. On Monday, July 30, 1973, on the road at Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, Bibby no-hit the Oakland Athletics for a 6-0 win. The 6-foot-5, 230-pound right-hander relied mostly on his fastball during the contest, struck out 13 A’s…
Happy birthday to a pair of old-time no-no throwers. Weldon Henley, born on this day in 1880, threw a no-no for the Philadelphia Athletics against the St. Louis Browns during the opener of a Saturday, July 22, 1905, doubleheader at St. Louis’ Robison Field. The A’s topped the Browns 6-0. “Smokey” Joe Wood, born on…
Four no-hitter throwers were born on this date: Ewell Blackwell, Jim Bunning, Al Leiter and Bud Smith. Blackwell, born on this date in 1922, threw a no-no for the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday, June 18, 1947, against the Boston Braves. In his following start, Blackwell just missed duplicating teammate Johnny Vander Meer’s mark of two…