The nation of Cuba has a long, rich baseball history, with no-hitters dating back to Carlos Maciá’s gem in 1887. There were a total of eight Cuban League no-hitters thrown prior to armed rebels’ ouster of Cuban President Fulgencio Batista on New Year’s Day 1959.
A new major league called the Cuban National Series formed under the Fidel Castro regime in 1962, and play in that league continues today. There have been nearly 60 no-hitters in the Cuban National Series, including back-to-back no-nos a la Johnny Vander Meer by the Centrales’ Aquino Abreu in 1966.
Oh, and the Mets apparently have better no-hit luck in Cuba. On Saturday, December 10, 1988, in the Havana Metropolitanos’ 14th season, Metropolitanos southpaw Osvaldo Fernández Guerra tossed a 6-0 no-no over the Citricultores at Havana’s Estadio Latinoamericano. Much like my beloved team, the Metropolitanos played second fiddle in Havana to the much more successful Industriales. The Metropolitanos folded in early 2012, just months before their New York counterpart notched their first no-hitter.
Pre-revolution Cuban League no-hitters:
| 1 | Carlos Maciá |
|---|---|
| Almendares | |
| Sunday, February 13, 1887 Almendares 38, Carmelita 0 Almendares Park (Havana) |
|
| 2 | Eugenio de Rosas |
| Cárdenas | |
| Sunday, July 14, 1889 Progreso 8, Cárdenas 0 Palmar de Junco (Matanzas) Progreso did commit seven errors in this game |
|
| 3 | Oscar Lewis |
| Havana | |
| Saturday, October 11, 1924 Havana 1, Almendares 0 |
|
| 4 | Raymond Brown |
| Santa Clara | |
| Saturday, November 7, 1936 Santa Clara 7, Havana 0 Terrenos de Santa Clara (Santa Clara) (Brown, a Negro Leagues star who played for the Dayton Marcos, the Indianapolis ABCs, the Detroit Wolves and the Homestead Grays, got the start for the West in the 1935 East-West All Star Game) |
|
| 5 | Manuel Garcia |
| Havana | |
| Saturday, December 11, 1943 Havana 5, Marianao 0 Estadio La Tropical (Havana) |
|
| 6 | Tomás de la Cruz |
| Almendares | |
| Thursday, January 4, 1945 Almendares 7, Havana 0 Estadio La Tropical (Havana) |
|
| 7 | Rogelio Martínez |
| Marianao | |
| Monday, February 6, 1950 Marianao 6, Almendares 0 Gran Stadium del Cerro (Havana) |
|
| 8 | Antonio Díaz |
| Cienfuegos | |
| Saturday, November 23, 1957 Cienfuegos 2, Havana 0 Gran Stadium del Cerro (Havana) |
Cuban National Series no-hitters
| 1 | Aquino Abreu |
|---|---|
| Centrales | |
| Sunday, January 16, 1966 (first game of doubleheader) Centrales 11, Occidentales 0 Estadio Augusto César Sandino (Santa Clara) |
|
| 2 | Aquino Abreu |
| Centrales | |
| Tuesday, January 25, 1966 Centrales 7, Industriales 0 Latin American Stadium (Havana) Only back-to-back no-hitters in Cuban baseball history |
|
| 3 | Manuel Alarcón |
| Orientales | |
| Tuesday, January 24, 1967 Orientales 2, Las Villas 1 Ciudad Deportiva (Santiago de Cuba) |
|
| 4 | Roberto Valdés |
| Orientales | |
| Tuesday, February 14, 1967 Orientales 12, Granjeros 0 Ciudad Deportiva (Santiago de Cuba) |
|
| 5 | Leopoldo Valdés |
| Havana | |
| Sunday, January 7, 1968 Havana 5, Pinar del RÍo 0 Estadio Latinoamericano (Havana) With Pérez’s no-no below, first time no-hitters were thrown on same day |
|
| 6 | Jesús Pérez |
| Industriales | |
| Sunday, January 7, 1968 Industriales 5, Vegueros 0 Estadio 26 de Julio (Artemisa) With Valdés’ no-no above, first time no-hitters were thrown on same day |
|
| 7 | Douglas Sorriba |
| Granjeros | |
| Tuesday, January 9, 1968 Granjeros 4, Henequeneros 1 Estadio Cándido González (Camagüey) |
|
| 8 | José Antonio Huelga |
| Azucareros | |
| Sunday, January 14, 1968 Azucareros 1, Granjeros 0 Estadio Augusto César Sandino (Santa Clara) |
|
| 9 | Douglas Sorriba |
| Granjeros | |
| Tuesday, January 16, 1968 Granjeros 4, Vegueros 1 Estadio Cándido González (Camagüey) |
|
| 10 | Orlando Figueredo |
| Oriente | |
| Thursday, January 25 ,1968 Oriente 1, Azucareros 0 Ciudad Deportiva (Santiago de Cuba) |
|
| 11 | Florentino Alfonso |
| Granjeros | |
| Saturday, March 16, 1968 Camagüey 1, Granjeros 0 (A Granjeros loss) Estadio Cándido González (Camagüey) Only no-hitter for a loss in Cuban history |
|
| 12 | Florentino González |
| Camagüey | |
| Thursday, April 4, 1968 Camagüey 1, Matanzas 0 Estadio Cándido González (Camagüey) |
|
| 13 | Raúl Álvarez |
| Pinar del RÍo | |
| Tuesday, December 10, 1968 Pinar del RÍo 9, Camagüey 0 Estadio CVD Bauta (Bauta) |
|
| 14 | Andrés Liaño |
| Industriales | |
| Tuesday, February 4, 1969 Industriales 8, Pinar del RÍo 0 Estadio Latinoamericano (Havana) With Fombona’s no-no below, second time no-hitters were thrown on same day |
|
| 15 | Yoire Fombona |
| Camagüey | |
| Tuesday, February 4, 1969 Camagüey 6, Oriente 1 Estadio Cándido González (Camagüey) With Liaño’s no-no above, second time no-hitters were thrown on same day |
|
| 16 | Alfredo GarcÍa |
| Henequeneros | |
| Sunday, April 6, 1969 Henequeneros 1, Azucareros 0 Estadio Augusto César Sandino (Santa Clara) |
|
| 17 | Rigoberto Betancourt |
| Industriales | |
| Wednesday, January 7, 1970 Industriales 1, Oriente 0 Estadio Latinoamericano (Havana) |
|
| 18 | Walfrido Ruiz Elpidio Paez |
| Havana | |
| Saturday, January 16, 1971 Havana 10, Camagüey 0 Estadio Cándido González (Camagüey) First multiple pitcher no-hitter in Cuban history |
|
| 19 | Aniceto Montes de Oca |
| Azucareros | |
| Thursday, January 21 ,1971 Azucareros 5, Pinar del RÍo 0 Estadio Capitán San Luis (Pinar del Río) |
|
| 20 | Juan Pérez Pérez |
| Camagüey | |
| Thursday, February 22, 1973 Camagüey 7, Serranos 0 Estadio Cándido González (Camagüey) |
|
| 21 | Juan Pérez Pérez |
| Camagüey | |
| Thursday, April 25, 1974 Camagüey 1, Oriente 0 Estadio Guillermón Moncada (Santiago de Cuba) |
|
| 22 | Juan Pérez Pérez |
| Ganaderos | |
| Sunday, January 19, 1975 Ganaderos 2, Citricultores 0 Estadio Cándido González (Camagüey) Pérez becomes first pitcher with three no-hitters |
|
| 23 | Oscar Romero |
| Camagüeyanos | |
| Sunday, May 4, 1975 Camagüeyanos 4, Industriales 0 Estadio Latinoamericano (Havana) First no-hitter in Series Selectivas |
|
| 24 | Porfirio Pérez |
| Forestales | |
| Tuesday, December 27, 1977 Forestales 3, Havana 0 Estadio Capitán San Luis (Pinar del Río) |
|
| 25 | Juan R. Gómez Pablo Castro José Brizuela |
| Ganaderos | |
| Sunday, February 18, 1979 Ganaderos 14, Ciego de Ávila 0 Estadio Mártires de Barbados (Bayamo) |
|
| 26 | Nivaldo Pérez |
| Las Villas | |
| Wednesday, March 28, 1979 Las Villas 4, Camagüeyanos 0 Estadio Augusto César Sandino (Santa Clara) |
|
| 27 | Omar Carrero |
| Ciego de Ávila | |
| Tuesday, January 27, 1981 Ciego de Ávila 13, Las Tunas 0 Estadio José R. Cepero (Ciego de Ávila) |
|
| 28 | Ángel Leocadio DÍaz |
| Industriales | |
| Saturday, January 16, 1982 Industriales 2, HolguÍn 0 Estadio Latinoamericano (Havana) |
|
| 29 | Carlos Mesa |
| Citricultores | |
| Thursday, February 11, 1982 Citricultores 6, Havana 0 Estadio Victoria de Girón (Matanzas) |
|
| 30 | José Manuel Pedroso |
| Havana | |
| Tuesday, May 18, 1982 Havana 1, Camagüeyanos 0 Estadio Latinoamericano (Havana) |
|
| 31 | Mario Véliz |
| Villa Clara | |
| Thursday, December 30, 1982 Villa Clara 3, Citricultores 0 Estadio Augusto César Sandino (Santa Clara) |
|
| 32 | Julio Romero |
| Pinar del RÍo | |
| Wednesday, March 9, 1983 Pinar del RÍo 2, Camagüeyanos 0 Estadio Cándido González (Camagüey) |
|
| 33 | Jorge Luis Valdés |
| Henequeneros | |
| Tuesday, January 31, 1984 Henequeneros 1, Villa Clara 0 Estadio Augusto César Sandino (Santa Clara) First no-hitter in finals |
|
| 34 | Rogelio GarcÍa |
| Pinar del RÍo | |
| Sunday, March 1, 1987 Pinar del RÍo 10, Camagüeyanos 0 (7 innings) Estadio Cándido González (Camagüey) |
|
| 35 | Rogelio GarcÍa |
| Pinar del RÍo | |
| Sunday, March 22, 1987 Pinar del RÍo 3, Serranos 0 Estadio Hermanos Saíz (Pinar) |
|
| 36 | Osvaldo Fernández Guerra |
| Metropolitanos | |
| Saturday, December 10, 1988 Metropolitanos 6, Citricultores 0 Estadio Latinoamericano (Havana) |
|
| 37 | Héctor DomÍnguez |
| Citricultores | |
| Wednesday, December 13, 1989 Citricultores 2, Isla de la Juventud 0 Estadio Cerro Pelado (Jovellanos) |
|
| 38 | Orlando “El Duque” Hernández |
| Havana | |
| Saturday, April 7, 1990 Havana 11, Matanzas 0 (7 innings) Estadio Victoria de Girón (Matanzas) |
|
| 39 | Faustino Corrales |
| Vegueros | |
| Tuesday, November 19, 1991 Vegueros 7, Isla de la Juventud 0 Estadio Cristóbal Labra (Nueva Gerona) |
|
| 40 | Osvaldo Fernández RodrÍguez |
| HolguÍn | |
| Sunday, November 29, 1992 HolguÍn 10, Metropolitanos 0 (7 innings) Estadio Latinoamericano (Havana) |
|
| 41 | Ernesto Guevara Ramos |
| Granma | |
| Tuesday, December 8, 1992 Granma 2, Industriales 0 Estadio Mártires de Barbados (Bayamo) |
|
| 42 | Modesto Luis |
| Las Tunas | |
| Tuesday, November 18, 1997 Las Tunas 7, Granma 0 Estadio Julio Antonio Mella (Las Tunas) |
|
| 43 | Geovanis Castañeda |
| Guantánamo | |
| Saturday, November 22, 1997 Guantánamo 8, Las Tunas 0 Estadio Nguyen Van Troi (Guantánamo) |
|
| 44 | José Miguel Báez |
| Las Tunas | |
| Tuesday, November 17, 1998 Las Tunas 6, Metropolitanos 0 Estadio Latinoamericano (Havana) |
|
| 45 | Maels RodrÍguez |
| Sancti SpÍritus | |
 Wednesday, December 22, 1999Sancti SpÍritus 1, Las Tunas 0 Estadio José Antonio Huelga (Sancti SpÍritus) Only Cuban perfect game |
|
| 46 | Adiel Palma |
| Cienfuegos | |
| Saturday, December 25, 1999 Cienfuegos 4, Las Tunas 0 Estadio 5 de Septiembre (Cienfuegos) |
|
| 47 | Carlos A. Yanes |
| Isla de la Juventud | |
| Sunday, March 5, 2000 Isla de la Juventud 6, Villa Clara 0 Estadio Cristóbal Labra (Nueva Gerona) |
|
| 48 | Norge Luis Vera |
| Santiago de Cuba | |
| Sunday, January 21, 2001 Santiago de Cuba 3, Havana 0 Estadio Nelson Fernández (San José de las Lajas) |
|
| 49 | Michel Pérez |
| Villa Clara | |
| Wednesday, February 7, 2001 Villa Clara 10, Las Tunas 0 Estadio Mártires de Quemados (Quemado de Güines) |
|
| 50 | Maels RodrÍguez |
| Centrales | |
| Wednesday, August 21, 2002 Centrales 1, Habaneros 0 Estadio Latinoamericano (Havana) Only Súper Liga no-hitter |
|
| 51 | Fernando Tejeda Glez |
| Camagüey | |
| Thursday, January 22, 2004 Camagüey 1, Industriales 0 Estadio Latinoamericano (Havana) |
|
| 52 | José A. Barroso |
| Ciego de Ávila | |
| Saturday, February 12, 2005 Ciego de Ávila 10, Cienfuegos 0 (7 innings) Estadio Paquito Espinosa (Ciego de Ávila) |
|
| 53 | Damichel González |
| Las Tunas | |
| Saturday, March 5, 2005 Las Tunas 4, Camagüey 0 Estadio de Najasa (Najasa) |
|
| 54 | Jonder MartÍnez |
| Havana | |
| Thursday, March 6, 2008 Havana 7, Ciego de Ávila 0 Estadio José Ramón Cepero (Ciego de Ávila) |
|
| 55 | Jorge MartÍnez Roque |
| Matanzas | |
| Thursday, January 29, 2009 Matanzas 3, Camagüey 0 Estadio Latinoamericano (Havana) Only base runner, Serguei Perez, reached base on a hit batsman in second inning. He was retired on a double-play. |
|
| 56 | Vladimir Baños Chacon |
| Pinar del RÍo | |
| Thursday, December 23, 2010 Pinar del RÍo 5, Matanzas 0 Estadio Hermanos Saíz (Pinar) |
|
| 57 | Raimar Navarro (9 inn.) Pablo Fernández (1 inn.) |
| HolguÍn | |
| Tuesday, March 13, 2012 HolguÍn 1, Camagüey 0 (10 innings) Estadio Cándido González (Camagüey) First extra-inning no-hitter in Cuba; first no-hitter in a game involving the Schiller Rule tiebreaker |
|
| 58 | Freddy Asiel Álvarez |
| Villa Clara | |
| Tuesday, November 19, 2013 Villa Clara 1, Sancti SpÍritus 0 Estadio Augusto César Sandino (Santa Clara) |
|
| 59 | David Mena |
| Industriales | |
| Tuesday, September 19, 2017 Industriales 2, Villa Clara 0 (5 innings due to rain) Estadio Augusto César Sandino (Santa Clara) |
Serie del Caribe (Carribean Series) no-hitter:
| Tommy Fine | |
|---|---|
| Havana Reds | |
| Thursday, February 21, 1952 Havana Reds 1, Venezuela 0 Olympic Park (Panama) |
Sources: Desde Mi Palco de Fanatico, Zona de Strike, HavanaTimes.org, Baseball-Reference.com
Title photo: swing by vcheregati under license CC BY-SA 2.0