
Leroy “Satchel” Paige
(Courtesy of the Ernie Harwell Sports Collection, Detroit Public Library)
Games in the Negro Leagues weren’t always well documented, which makes it nearly impossible to come up with a complete list of no-hitters. The teams’ use of classifications such as barnstorming, semipro and associate membership further cloud whether to consider some of these great pitching feats at the major-league level or minor-league level.
NoNoHitters.com’s evolving lists, put together through exhaustive newspaper and book research and generous assistance from the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) Negro League Committee, author Larry Lester, Seamheads, Chuck McGill (@MiLgNoHitters) and many others, provide an extensive update to the list originally printed in Baseball’s No-Hit Wonders: More Than a Century of Pitching’s Greatest Feats).
Major League Baseball’s 2020 announcement that it has reclassified the Negro Leagues from 1920 through 1948 as “major” gives us hope that about two dozen no-hitters will soon be added to the current major league list of 322. MLB’s announcement recognized the following circuits as “major”: The first Negro National League (1920-1931), the Eastern Colored League (1923-1928), the American Negro League (1929), the East-West League (1932), the Negro Southern League (only for the 1932 season), the second incarnation of the Negro National League (1933-1948) and the Negro American League (1937-1948).
Our analysis predicts that some two dozen Negro Leagues no-hitters between 1920 through 1948 will be added to the list, including another Opening Day no-hitter and a no-no thrown in postseason play. Until they are officially adopted by the Elias Sports Bureau — MLB’s official statistician — those gems can be found below on the first list on this page: Negro Leagues no-hitters expected to be classified as official.
We’ve also tacked on separate lists of:
- A handful of professional-level shortened no-hit contests that either ended early due to rain or darkness or were planned 7-inning games, even though those efforts won’t ever be considered official no-hitters.
- Pre-1920 Negro Leagues no-hitters on par with accomlishments in the majors
- An All-Star game no-hitter
- Minor league and semipro Negro Leagues no-hitters, which includes all other confirmed Negro Leagues no-hitters that involve two semipro or minor-league teams, or one professional-level team taking on a lower-level opponent
innIf you have a newspaper clipping or box score of a game not on these lists, please email them to NoNoHitters.com and we’ll do some additional research to try to get it added.
Negro Leagues no-hitters (1920-’48) expected to be classified as official
Most of these no-hitters are expected to (eventually) be added to the major-league list of 322.
Other Negro Leagues no-hitters lists
Here are the professional-level Negro Leagues no-hitters didn’t reach the nine-inning threshold and thus wouldn’t be considered official under MLB rules adopted in 1991:
Here are eight Pre-1920 Negro Leagues no-hitters that are considered on par with major-league gems:
1 | “Cannonball” Dick Redding |
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Lincoln Giants | |
Wednesday, August 28, 1912 Lincoln Giants 1, Cuban Stars 0 Inlet Park (Atlantic City, New Jersey) |
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2 | Frank Wickware |
Chicago American Giants | |
Wednesday, August 26, 1914 Chicago American Giants 1, Indianapolis ABCs 0 Schorling Park (Chicago) Wickware kicked off the game by walking George Shively, but after he was thrown out stealing, Wickware retired the next 26 batters for the “imperfect” game. |
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3 | William “Dizzy” Dismukes |
Indianapolis ABCs | |
Sunday, May 9, 1915 Indianapolis ABCs 5, Chicago Giants 0 Northwestern Park (Chicago) |
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4 | Dick Whitworth |
Chicago American Giants | |
Sunday, September 19, 1915 (first game of doubleheader) Chicago American Giants 4, Chicago Giants 0 Schorling Park (Chicago) |
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5 | “Big” Bill Gatewood |
St. Louis Giants | |
Saturday, May 13, 1916 St. Louis Giants 4, Cuban Stars 1 Giants Park (St. Louis) (Gatewood also tossed a 1921 Negro National League no-hitter for the Detroit Stars.) |
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6 | Bernardo Baró |
Cuban Stars | |
Sunday, July 21, 1918 (first game of doubleheader) Cuban Stars 11, Indianapolis ABCs 0 Washington Park (Indianapolis) |
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7 | “Smokey” Joe Williams |
Lincoln Giants | |
Sunday, May 4, 1919 (first game of doubleheader) Lincoln Giants 1, Brooklyn Royal Giants 0 Olympic Field (New York) |
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8 | Tom Johnson |
Chicago American Giants | |
Tuesday, June 17, 1919 Chicago American Giants 7, Detroit Stars 3 Schloring Park (Chicago) Johnson walks six and shortstop Bobby Williams commits three errors, as the American Giants give up two runs in the first and another in the third. Chicago eventually takes the lead on a seven-run seventh inning. |
And here is the one documented All-Star Game no-hitter:
“Schoolboy” Johnny Taylor | |
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Negro All-Star Team | |
Sunday, September 19, 1937 Negro All-Star Team 2, Satchel Paige’s Trujillo All-Stars 0 Polo Grounds (New York) (Benefit All-Star Game) |
Here are the Negro Leagues no-hitters that involve two semipro or minor-league teams, or one professional-level team taking on a lower-level opponent:
1 | Shep Trusty |
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Cuban Giants | |
Friday, March 4, 1887 Cuban Giants 16, Philadelphia Athletics (ss)/Trenton Semipro-ers 0 Trenton, New Jersey (The Athletics sent some players to this exhibition but most stayed in Philadelphia to face the Baltimore Orioles in a 15-6 loss) |
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2 | “Big” George Wilson |
Page Fence Giants | |
Tuesday, June 29, 1896 Page Fence Giants 6, Defiance 0 Defiance, Ohio (Wilson’s first of three on this list) |
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3 | Andrew “Rube” Foster |
Fort Worth Colts | |
July 21, 1902 Fort Worth Colts 5, Corsicana 0 Texas & Pacific Park (Fort Worth) (Foster’s first of six on this list) |
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4 | Andrew “Rube” Foster |
Fort Worth Colts | |
August 2, 1902 Fort Worth Colts 6, Arlingtons 1 Whittington Park (Hot Springs, Arkansas) (Foster’s second of six on this list) |
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5 | “Big” George Wilson |
EACO Flour Millers (Waseca, Minnesota) | |
Wednesday, July 23, 1902 EACO Flour Millers 2, Brainerd 0 Athletic Park (Brainerd, Minnesota) (Wilson’s second of three on this list) |
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6 | “Big” George Wilson |
St. Cloud | |
Saturday, June 13, 1903 St. Cloud 5, Pillsbury School-Minneapolis 0 St. Cloud, Minnesota (Wilson’s third of three on this list) |
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7 | DANNY McCLELLAN |
Cuban X-Giants | |
Wednesday, July 17, 1903 Cuban X-Giants 5, Penn Park Baseball Club (Tri-State League) 0 York, Pennsylvania (Perfect game) |
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8 | Will Horn |
Philadelphia Giants | |
Tuesday, July 12, 1904 Philadelphia Giants 2, Oxford 0 Oxford, Pennsylvania |
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9 | Andrew “Rube” Foster |
Philadelphia Giants | |
Monday, July 25, 1904 Philadelphia Giants 1, Trenton YMCA 0 Trenton, New Jersey (Foster’s third of six on this list) |
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10 | Andrew “Rube” Foster |
Philadelphia Giants | |
Tuesday, August 22, 1905 Philadelphia Giants 3, Camden 0 Camden Base Ball Grounds (Camden, New Jersey) (Foster’s fourth of six on this list) |
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11 | John Davis |
St. Paul Colored Gophers | |
Tuesday, July 2, 1907 St. Paul Colored Gophers, La Crosse Badgers (Wisconsin State League) 0 La Crosse, Wisconsin |
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12 | Clarence Lytle |
St. Paul Colored Gophers | |
Sunday, September 15, 1907 St. Paul Colored Gophers 12, Rochester Stars 0 Rochester, Minnesota |
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13 | Andrew “Rube” Foster |
Chicago Leland Giants | |
Sunday, September 15, 1907 Chicago Leland Giants 1, South Chicago 0 Auburn Park (Chicago) (Foster’s fifth of six on this list) |
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14 | Andrew “Rube” Foster |
St. Paul Colored Gophers | |
Friday, August 28, 1908 St. Paul Colored Gophers 5, Hibbing Colts 0 Down Town Ball Park (St. Paul, Minnesota) (Foster’s sixth of six on this list) |
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15 | Henry Jordon Wade Hampton |
Harrisburg Giants | |
Thursday, July 22, 1909 Harrisburg Giants 8, Steelton Cylcones 0 Harrisburg Athletic Club Grounds (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania) |
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16 | José Mendez |
Cuban Stars | |
Saturday, July 24, 1909 Cuban Stars 3, Rogers Park 0 (10 innings) Rogers Park Baseball Grounds (Chicago) |
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17 | Charles “Bugs” Hayman |
Philadelphia Giants | |
October 2, 1909 Philadelphia Giants 2, Leeds Club 2 (12 innings, tie) Union League Park (Philadelphia) |
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18 | Frank Wickware |
Chicago Leland Giants | |
Sunday, June 5, 1910 Leland Giants 7, Chicago Athletics 0 Normal Park (Chicago) (Wickware struck out 14 and walked two, the only Chicago baserunners) |
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19 | George Walter “The Georgia Rabbit” Ball |
Chicago Giants | |
Wednesday, September 7, 1910 Chicago Giants 8, West Baden Sprudels 0 Sprudel Park (West Baden, Indiana) |
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20 | John Goodgame |
West Baden Sprudels | |
Friday, April 21, 1911 West Baden Sprudels 3, French Lick Plutos 0 Sprudel Park (West Baden, Indiana) |
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21 | “Cannonball” Dick Redding |
Lincoln Giants | |
Sunday, August 4, 1912 Lincoln Giants 1, Cherokee Indians 0 Olympic Field (New York) |
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22 | Louis Decatur “Dicta” Johnson |
Chicago American Giants | |
Sunday, June 8, 1913 Chicago American Giants 9, Paterson (New Jersey) Smart Set 0 American Giants Park (Chicago) |
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23 | Charles “Pat” Dougherty |
Chicago American Giants | |
Monday, June 9, 1913 Chicago American Giants 8, Paterson (New Jersey) Smart Set 0 American Giants Park (Chicago) Chicago no-hits Paterson for the second consecutive day |
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24 | José Mendez |
All Nations | |
Wednesday, August 21, 1914 All Nations 3, Sanborn 0 Sanborn, Minnesota (Mendez strikes out 12) |
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25 | Jess Hubbard |
Atlantic City Bacharach Giants | |
Sunday, July 6, 1919 Atlantic City Bacharach Giants 12, Logan Square 0 Inlet Park (Atlantic City, New Jersey) |
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26 | Rube Curry |
Gilkerson’s Union Giants | |
Friday, September 19, 1919 Gilkerson’s Union Giants 10, Wellsburg, Iowa 0 Wellsburg, Iowa |
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27 | John “Steelarm” Dickey |
Knoxville Giants | |
Sunday, May 16, 1920 Knoxville Giants 6, Atlanta Black Crackers 0 (First game of doubleheader) Andrews Field (Chattanooga, Tennessee) (Dickey’s first of two on this list) |
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28 | William Force |
Knoxville Giants | |
Thursday, July 10, 1920 Knoxville Giants 3, Columbus Buckeyes 0 Neil Park (Columbus, Ohio) |
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29 | John “Steelarm” Dickey |
Knoxville Giants | |
Friday, July 16, 1920 Knoxville Giants 5, Winston-Salem Red Sox 2 Winston-Salem, North Carolina (Dickey’s second of two on this list) |
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30 | Daltie Cooper |
Nashville Elite Giants | |
Thursday, June 16, 1921 Nashville Elite Giants 1, Montogmery Grey Sox 0 Athletic Park (Nashville) (Brother of Detroit Stars’ no-no thrower Andy “Lefty” Cooper) |
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31 | Sampson |
Knoxville Giants | |
Wednesday, June 22, 1921 Atlanta Crackers 2, Knoxville Giants 1 (a no-hit loss) Booker T. Washington Park (Knoxville) |
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32 | John Huran |
Birmingham Black Barons | |
Tuesday, June 26, 1921 Birmingham Black Barons 4, Atlanta Black Crackers 0 Rickwood Field (Birmingham) |
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33 | Bill “Plunk” Drake |
All Nations | |
Monday, September 4, 1922 All Nations 4, Sioux Falls Soos 0 Nelson Field (Sioux Falls, South Dakota) |
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34 | “Cannonball” Dick Redding |
Brooklyn Royal Giants | |
Saturday, June 16, 1923 Brooklyn Royal Giants 1, Hirchmeir Chocolates 0 New York |
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35 | Luther Farrell |
Gilkerson’s Union Giants | |
Monday, July 2, 1923 Tomahawk 2, Gilkerson’s Union Giants 0 (a no-hit loss) Tomahawk, Wisconsin |
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36 | Maceo Clark |
Homestead Grays | |
Thursday, August 2, 1923 Homestead Grays ?, Parkersburg 0 Parkersburg, West Virginia |
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37 | BOB McCLURE |
Royal Poinciana | |
Friday, February 27, 1925 Royal Poinciana 2, The Breakers 0 Royal Poinciana Hotel (Palm Beach, Florida) (Perfect game, with several Negro Leagues players playing in a Florida Winter League game) |
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38 | “Big” Bill Gatewood |
Albany Giants | |
Monday, June 28, 1926 Albany Giants 7, Birmingham Black Barons 0 Southside Ball Park (Albany, Georgia) |
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39 | Harry Salmon |
Birmingham Black Barons | |
Thursday, July 28, 1926 Birmingham Black Barons 8, Albany Giants 0 Rickwood Field (Birmingham, Alabama) |
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40 | John Markham |
Kansas City Monarchs | |
Monday, May 5, 1930 Kansas City Monarchs 8, Waco Cardinals 0 Katy Park (Waco, Texas) (Perfect game) |
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41 | Walter “Lefty” Calhoun |
Birmingham Black Barons | |
Saturday, July 18, 1931 Birmingham Black Barons 11, Fort Benning, Georgia 0 Rickwood Field (Birmingham, Alabama) |
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42 | Charles “Hooks” Beverly |
Kansas City Monarchs | |
Tuesday, July 26, 1932 Kansas City Monarchs 11, International Falls 0 International Falls, Minnesota |
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43 | TERRIS “ELMER THE GREAT” McDUFFIE |
New York Black Yankees | |
Saturday, July 13, 1935 New York Black Yankees 8, House of David 0 Hinchliffe Stadium (Patterson, New Jersey) |
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44 | Eddie Novak |
Wilkes-Barre Colored Giants | |
Monday, September 6, 1937 Wilkes-Barre Colored Giants 4, Hilldale Sporting Club 1 Artillery Park (Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania) Novak, the regular pitcher for the Wilkes-Barre Grays, struck out 12 in this contest. |
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45 | Hilton |
Kingsport Blue Devils | |
Sunday, July 2, 1939 Kingsport Blue Devils 14, Bristol Tigers 1 Eastman Field (Kingsport, Tennessee) |
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46 | LEROY “SATCHEL” PAIGE |
Kansas City Monarchs | |
September 15, 1940 (second game of doubleheader) Kansas City Monarchs 4, Altes Lagers 0 (7 innings) Detroit Sports Park (Detroit) |
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47 | LEROY “SATCHEL” PAIGE (4 INN.) BOOKER McDANIEL (3 INN.) |
Kansas City Monarchs | |
Tuesday, June 16, 1942 Kansas City Monarchs 4, Frigidaire 0 Ducks Park (Dayton Ohio) |
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48 | Frank Flemming |
Asheville Blues | |
Sunday, June 9, 1946 Asheville Blues 24. Montgomery Dodgers 0 Keystone Field (Johnson City, Tennessee) (Along with Phillips’ no-no below, the Blues double-no-hit the Dodgers during a Sunday doubleheader) |
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49 | Vernon Phillips |
Asheville Blues | |
Sunday, June 9, 1946 Asheville Blues 22. Montgomery Dodgers 0 Keystone Field (Johnson City, Tennessee) (Along with Flemming’s no-no above, the Blues double-no-hit the Dodgers during a Sunday doubleheader) |
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50 | Eddie Daniels Pat Scantlebury James Jenkins Luis Tiant Sr. |
New York Cubans | |
Friday, April 18, 1947 New York Cubans 6, New Orleans Creoles 0 City Park (Baton Rouge, Louisiana) (Preseason exhibition) |
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51 | Raul Lopez |
New York Cubans | |
Sunday, April 30, 1950 New York Cubans 7, Kansas City Monarchs 0 Pelican Stadium (New Orleans) |
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52 | Henry “Hank” Mason |
Kansas City Monarchs | |
Sunday, June 27, 1954 (second game of doubleheader) Kansas City Monarchs 6, Indianapolis Clowns 0 Crosley Field (Cincinnati) |
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53 | Danny Wright |
Birmingham Black Barons | |
Sunday, August 8, 1954 (second game of doubleheader) Birmingham Black Barons 5, Memphis Red Sox 0 Rickwood Field (Birmingham, Alabama) |
Here the minor and semipro level Negro Leagues no-hitters didn’t reach the nine-inning threshold:
1 | “Wild Bill” Nesbitt |
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Nashville Elite Giants | |
Saturday, May 14, 1921 (second game of doubleheader) Nashville Elite Giants 3, Chattanooga Tigers 0 (7 innings) Andrews Field (Chattanooga, Tennessee) |
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2 | Phil Cockrell |
Hilldale | |
Tuesday, July 24, 1923 Hilldale 5, South Phillies 0 (6 innings) Shetzline Park (Philadelphia) |
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3 | Tuggle Dawson |
Knoxville Giants | |
Monday, June 28, 1926 (second game of doubleheader) Montgomery Grey Sox 1, Knoxville Giants 0 (A 7-inning no-hit loss) Leslie Street Park (Knoxville, Tennessee) |
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4 | Ted “Double Duty” Radcliffe |
Homestead Grays | |
Wednesday, August 26, 1931 Homestead Grays 3, Washington 0 (5 innings due to rain) Shrontz Field (Washington, Pennsylvania) |
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5 | Homer “Goose” Curry |
Memphis Red Sox | |
Saturday, September 5, 1931 Memphis Red Sox 3, Birmingham Black Sox 1 (7 innings) Lewis Park (Memphis, Tennessee) |
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6 | Paul “Spoon” Carter |
Philadelphia Stars | |
Saturday, August 17, 1935 Philadelphia Stars 4, Brooklyn Eagles 0 (7 innings) Passon Park (Philadelphia) |
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7 | LEROY “SATCHEL” PAIGE |
Pittsburgh Crawfords | |
Sunday, May 3, 1936 (second game of doubleheader) Pittsburgh Crawfords 7, Zanesville Greys 0 (7 innings) Mark Park (Zanesville, Ohio) |
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8 | Ross Davis (3⅓ inn.) Willie Hubert (3⅔ inn.) |
Baltimore Elite Giants | |
Thursday, May 30, 1940 (second game of doubleheader) Baltimore Elite Giants 5, Newark Eagles 0 (7 innings) Griffith Stadium (Washington, D.C.) |
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9 | Jimmy Hill |
Newark Eagles | |
Sunday, June 6, 1943 (second game of doubleheader) Newark Eagles 3, New York Black Yankees 0 (7 innings) Ruppert Stadium (Newark) |
Sources and contributors: SABR Negro League Committee, Noir Tech Research, NBLalive.com, Chicago Defender, Chicago Tribune, Baltimore Afro American, Kansas City Call, Kansas City Star-Times, New York Age, Pittsburgh Courier, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, St. Louis Argus, Chuck McGill (@MiLgNoHitters).