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We've got no-hit fever this week, so hang on.
How long ago was the last no-hitter at Fenway Park before Derek Lowe became a zero hero Saturday? Well, the same week that Dave Morehead pitched the last one, on Sept. 16, 1965, all this happened:
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| Lowe |
"Get Smart," "The Monkees," "Hogan's Heroes," "I Dream of Jeannie" and "F Troop" made their television premieres, a longggggg time before the invention of "Nick at Nite."
"The Today Show" broadcast an entire show in an experimental format known as "color" for the first time.
"Help," by a group called the Beatles, hit No. 1 on the charts, knocking out "I Got You Babe," by Sonny and Cher.
Willie Mays hit his 500th home run.
Lyndon Johnson was president (eight presidential administrations ago).
Darva Conger was born.
The Green Bay Packers launched what would become Vince Lombardi's third championship season with a 41-9 wipeout of the Steelers in Pittsburgh.
Hal McRae, who managed the Devil Rays on Saturday, was just finishing up his first pro season, on a minor-league team that also included some guy named Johnny Bench.
And Grady Little, who managed the Red Sox on Saturday, was a sophomore catcher at Garinger High School in Charlotte.
Only one member of the Devil Rays team that Lowe no-hit was alive the day Morehead threw his no-hitter -- Greg Vaughn. But he didn't remember much about it, since he was 2 months and 13 days of age at the time.
Rickey Henderson -- according to ESPN research genius Jeff Bennett -- went into Saturday's game with 15 more career hits (3,007) than the entire Devil Rays starting lineup combined (2,992).
In between no-hitters at Fenway, there were 93 no-hitters thrown in 34 other parks, including 16 parks that are no longer even standing.
In between no-hitters at Fenway, there were no-hitters thrown at Coors Field (Denver), Crosley Field (Cincinnati), Jarry Park (Montreal), Connie Mack Stadium (Philadelphia) and old Metropolitan Stadium (Minnesota).
In between no-hitters at Fenway, Nolan Ryan threw no-hitters in six different parks all by himself.
In between no-hitters at Fenway, Roger Clemens made 196 starts there, Pedro Martinez made 54 and Nolan Ryan made 13.
The ballpark with the longest current no-hitter drought, now that Fenway is out of the way, is Wrigley Field, which hasn't seen a no-hitter since Sandy Koufax's perfect game in Chicago. The AL city with the longest no-hitter drought is now Detroit, which has gone no-hitter free in two different parks since 1973.
Lowe became the first pitcher since the modern save rule (1969) to throw a no-hitter after: A) leading the league in saves, B) saving 40 (or even 30) games in one season, and C) saving more than 80 (or 70, 60 or 50) games in his career.
If Lowe looked a lot more comfortable pitching the ninth inning Saturday as a starter than he was as a closer, maybe that's because he was -- even during a no-hitter. He threw a 1-2-3 ninth in only one of his last nine save opportunities as a closer last year. But the first time he got to the ninth as a starter, with a no-hitter on the line, of course he went 1-2-3.
By winning, 10-0, Lowe was the winner in the most lopsided American League no-hitter since Aug. 27, 1938. The most lopsided no-hitter ever: Aug. 4, 1884, when Buffalo's legendary Pud Galvin no hit the old Detroit Wolverines and won, 18-0.
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| Estes |
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| Perez |
Of course, it was also a great week for near-no-hitters. When Odalis Perez and Shawn Estes each took perfect games into the seventh inning last Friday, they became the first duo to do that since July 4, 1989. The perfecto pair that night: Dave Schmidt of the Orioles twirled six perfect innings in Toronto, and the Reds' Tom Browning came within three outs of becoming the first pitcher to throw perfect games in two straight seasons, in a game at Philadelphia.
Perez and Estes also became the first National League pitchers to throw complete-game one-hitters on the same day since July 6, 1969. The unforgettable stars of the day back then: Dick Kelly (Padres vs. Astros) and Gary Waslewski (Expos vs. Phillies).
But Estes and Pedro Astacio couldn't quite make it to Out No. 27 over the weekend. So the Mets' no-hitter total remains at zero after the first 6,375 games in franchise history. Those other teams out there have thrown 109 no-hitters since the Mets were born, if you're still keeping track.
The Mariners, meanwhile, are on an interesting near-no-hitter winning streak. They've now won two games in a row in which they were one-hit.
They beat Ted Lilly, 1-0, on Saturday. In their previous one-hitter, on Aug. 15, 1989, they managed to beat that flutterballing Charlie Hough, 2-1, in a game in which Hough gave up his only hit to Harold Reynolds, walked five, threw a wild pitch and committed a balk.
Then there's the whole Rickey Henderson angle on this Derek Lowe no-hitter. Henderson now has played in each of the last three no-hitters -- by A.J. Burnett, Bud Smith and Lowe. And that makes seven no-hitters he has participated in.
Loyal reader Doug Greenwald supplies us with the complete Rickey No-Hit List:
Mike Warren -- 9/29/1983
Nolan Ryan -- 6/11/
Dave Stewart -- 6/29/1990
Bob Milacki, Mike Flanagan, Mark Williamson, Gregg Olson -- 7/13/1991
A.J. Burnett -- 5/12/2001
Bud Smith -- 9/3/2001
Derek Lowe -- 4/27/2002
That means Rickey has played in no-hitters that involved a cast of characters ranging from: Aurelio Rodriguez, Carlton Fisk, Davey Lopes, Tom Paciorek, Greg Luzinski, Junior Felix and Felix Jose, Mookie and Preston Wilson and Sam Horn to ...
Cal and Billy Ripken, Willie Wilson, Eric Show, Joe Klink, Tony Gwynn, Wascar Serrano, Delvin James and Felix Escalona. James and Escalona were 4 when Henderson played in his first no-hitter.
But those seven no-hitters for Henderson are not a record. Our ESPN colleague, Dave Campbell, tells us that record is held by Bert Campaneris. He played in nine no-hitters, believe it or not. (The no-hit pitchers in Campaneris' games: Catfish Hunter, Jim Palmer, Clyde Wright, Vida Blue, Jim Bibby, Dick Bosman, Jim Colborn, Bert Blyleven and Dave Righetti.)
In other developments ...
The Tigers went into their game Tuesday with a shot at making it through April without a save. The Elias Sports Bureau's Kevin Hines reports that since the modern save rule came along in 1969, only one team before these Tigers played at least 20 games in April and had zero saves -- the 1974 Rangers.
But Elias also reports the all-time record for most games at the start of a season without a save is held by the 1975 Orioles, who played only 16 games in April. Their first save came in their 58th game -- and 26th win. They eventually won 90 and finished second.
The last team to make it through the first 23 games of the season without a save was the '76 Red Sox, who played only 13 games in April. Their first save came in their 24th game -- ninth win.
This is also the longest the Tigers had ever gone into a season without a save. The Tigers have had four save opportunities -- and blown them all (obviously).
Loyal reader Steve Davis was watching a Cardinals-Diamondbacks game April 16 when Eli Marrero threw out Danny Bautista from center field early in the game, then moved to catcher and later nailed Junior Spivey stealing.
So in answer to his question, here's the last player to record an assist as a catcher and outfielder in the same game, according to Elias: Craig Biggio, on April 27, 1991. He started that game as a catcher and threw out David Justice stealing He later moved to center field in the 13th inning and picked up a second assist out there.
The Padres' Wiki Gonzalez-less catching tandem of Tom Lampkin and Javier Cardona put the O back in San Diego in April. Until Lampkin homered last Wednesday against the Phillies, Padres catchers had gone 0 for their last 39 -- a streak that began April 8 and went on for more than two weeks.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it was the longest 0-for by any team at any position (other than pitcher, naturally) since Kevin Elster, Randy Velarde, Dave Silvestri and the Yankees shortstops went 0 for 41 from June 28, 1994 to July 10, 1994, back in the pre-Jeter era.
Kazuhisa Ishii is more than just the first Dodger since Fernando Valenzuela to win the first five starts of his major-league career. He's only the sixth pitcher for any team to win that many (or more) in the division-play era. The others, courtesy of Elias' Kevin Hines:
Carlos Perez, Montreal, May-June 1995 (5 in row)
Ben McDonald, Baltimore, July-August 1990 (5 in row)
Fernando Valenzuela, Los Angeles, April-May 1981 (8 in row)
Marty Bystrom, Philadelphia, September 1980 (5 in row)
Santo Alcala, Cincinnati, May 1976 (5 in row)
We hate to douse Ishii-mania, but of that group, only Valenzuela went on to win 100 games in the big leagues.
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| Rijo |
How long did Reds miracle man Jose Rijo go between wins? Seven pitchers won more than 100 games in the seven years in which Rijo was winning no games:
Greg Maddux, 119
Randy Johnson, 114
Andy Pettitte, 112
Tom Glavine, 110
Roger Clemens, 107
Pedro Martinez, 107
Mike Mussina, 106
But the amazing Lee Sinins, of baseball-encyclopedia.com, checks in to report that while Rijo's seven years between wins are rare in modern times, he couldn't even touch the immortal Fred (Cactus) Johnson. Here goes:
Most years in history between wins -- 15, by Fred Johnson (1923-38).
Most since World War II -- 11, by Johnny Lindell (1942-53).
Most since division play -- 8, by Jim Bouton (1970-78) and Vicente Romo (1974-82).
Others with seven-year droughts since division play -- Dave Wehrmeister (1978-85), Mike Norris (1983-90), Dave Leiper (1988-95), Terry Clark (1988-95), Reggie Harris (1990-97), Anthony Telford (1990-97), Paul Abbott (1991-98).
It isn't easy to go through 10 starting pitchers in 24 games. But if it's any consolation to the Cardinals, at least it's not a record. According to Elias, the 1958 Indians used 11 starters in their first 24 games. Here they come, all 11:
Herb Score, Ray Narleski, Mudcat Grant, Don Mossi, Bob Lemon, Mike Garcia, Cal McLish, Hoyt Wilhelm, Dick Tomanek, Bob Kelly and Don Ferrarese. That team wound up using 14 starters in all -- and still finished over .500 (77-76).
Every day in baseball is a new day. Ever heard that one? Well, here's proof:
After not walking any batters in his first four starts of the season, Royals pitcher Paul Byrd walked the first hitter he faced Saturday against the Orioles.
And in their next game after being no-hit by Derek Lowe, the Devil Rays got a hit from their first hitter of the night (Brent Abernathy) in their next game.
It seems almost impossible for a Rockie to be capable of this, but Juan Pierre didn't have an extra-base hit, in 102 at-bats in the month of April.
If he's interested, the record for most at-bats in a season by a non-pitcher without an extra-base hit is 174, by Rowdy Jack O'Connor (33 singles for the 1906 Browns).
Closest call over the last 25 years: 120 at-bats by Mike Gallego for the 1995 A's (28 singles).
The New York Post's Joel Sherman reports that the Mets went into their game Tuesday night riding a bizarre franchise-record streak of 20 straight games decided by three earned runs or fewer. Which is what happens when you don't score many runs or give up many. The Mets have already won seven games in which they scored one, two or three runs. The Astros, among others, haven't won any games like that.
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Randall Simon is hot, all right, in Detroit. But it sure isn't because of his selectivity. The Detroit Free Press' John Lowe reports that Simon hasn't taken a single pitch with a three-ball count all year, his only two walks of the season (in 71 trips) are intentional and he's never run a 3-and-0 or 3-and-1 count at any point other than in his intentional walks. Of the first 182 pitches thrown to him, Simon swung at 118 -- but only struck out twice. Hard to do.
It's the Year of the Comeback, so let's all welcome back Seth Greisinger. Thanks to the miracle of Tommy John surgery, his start for the Tigers last Friday was his first since Sept. 26, 1998.
How long ago was that? Well, Luis Gonzalez was still a Tiger. Phil Garner's whole Tigers managerial career came in between Greisinger's starts. His catcher, Joe Siddall, is now the Tigers' batting-practice pitcher. And as Booth Newspapers' Danny Knobler figures it, Greisinger has still won five of his last seven decisions in the big leagues -- including Buddy Bell's last win as Tigers manager.
Greisinger's mound opponent in that last start in 1998 was Roger Clemens. In between that start and Greisinger's next start, according to John Lowe, Clemens made 100 starts.
Speaking of Buddy Bell, there was a certain symmetry to his departures in both Detroit and Colorado. In his last game as a Tiger, Todd Jones blew a save. In Bell's last game managing the Rockies, Todd Jones (yep) blew a save. Aw, it ain't his fault, either.
The Cubs had no complete games thrown against them all last season. Then, as reader Pat Allen noticed, they had complete games thrown against them on back-to-back days last Thursday and Friday -- by Livan Hernandez and Odalis Perez.
In a recent Wild Pitches column, we reported that Bruce Chen became the first relief pitcher to strike out the side in the first inning since Jim Kern did it in 1976. It took reader Doug Greenwald to notice what those two guys had in common: Frank Robinson was managing both of them.
Triviality
Neither of the active win leaders in each league -- Roger Clemens and Greg Maddux -- have ever pitched a no-hitter. Among active pitchers who have thrown a no-hitter, which NL no-hit pitcher and which AL no-hit author own the most career wins? (Answer at bottom.)
From our Farm dept.
In minor-league land ...
Phillies phenom Brett Myers threw a one-hitter for Scranton against Toledo on Thursday. The only hit was by Eric Munson. The irony, reports the Wilkes Barre Times-Leader's Steve Bennett, is that last year in the Eastern League, Myers also threw a one-hitter for Reading. And who got the one hit? Eric Munson.
Rough night for the Yankees' first-round pick last year, shortstop Bronson Sardinha. On April 19, playing short for Greensboro of the South Atlantic League, he became the only minor leaguer this season to commit five errors in a game. He's made five errors in the other 22 games he's played this year combined.
Talk about streaky. SportsTicker's Josh Goldfine reports that Visalia outfielder Matt Allegra started the season by going 22 for his first 39. That won the A's prospect the hitter-of-the-week award in the California League. And how'd he do the next week? He went 0 for 23, with 12 strikeouts.
Finally, we've heard of long 0-fors, but Tom McGee, a 27-year-old catcher for the Bowie Bay Sox just finished an all-timer. When he singled against Altoona on April 21, it was his first hit in more than 10 months. He'd been 0 for his last 58, dating back to last June 17. He finished last year 0 for his last 44. He started this year by going 0 for his first 14.
The Sultan's Corner
Rickey Henderson's home run leading off Derek Lowe's no-hitter was the 80th of his career. With the help of the Sultan of Swat Stats, SABR's David Vincent, we determined that the guy who gave it up, Delvin James, was 1 year old when Rickey hit his first leadoff homer, on Sept. 17, 1979, off Steve Comer.
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Henderson's homer was also his first this season. So he now has homered in 24 straight seasons, tying a record held by (surprise) Ty Cobb. The top six on that list, courtesy of the Sultan:
Ty Cobb 1905-1928, 24
Rickey Henderson 1979-2002, 24
Hank Aaron 1954-1976, 23
Carlton Fisk 1971-1993, 23
Rusty Staub 1963-1985, 23
Carl Yastrzemski 1961-1983, 23
Human Angels dust storm David Eckstein had hit four home runs in his career before last weekend. Then, amazingly, he hit grand slams in two games in a row. Nobody had ever pulled off that feat before. Fewest career homers by men who hit slams in back-to-back games, according to the Sultan:
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Player
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Year
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HRs
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before
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David Eckstein
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2002
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4
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(first career slams)
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Mike Blowers
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1993
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7
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(first slams)
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Willie Aikens
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1979
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10
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Jimmy Sheckard
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1901
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20
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(first slams)
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Brooks Robinson
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1962
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33
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Jim Busby
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1956
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33
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(first slams)
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Phil Garner
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1978
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38
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(first slams)
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Dan Gladden
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1993
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67
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Rob Deer
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1987
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68
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(first slams)
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On the other hand, we should note that Tony Cloninger had hit just three homers in his career before hitting two slams in the same game, on July 3, 1966. And Jim Tabor had four career homers before he did the same thing, on July 4, 1939.
Barry Bonds hasn't homered in 14 days through Tuesday. So just in case you were wondering what the longest homerless gaps ever were for a player who wound up hitting 50 in a season, the Sultan has the answer (of course):
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Hitter
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Date started
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Gap
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Mark McGwire
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7/16/97
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23
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Ken Griffey
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7/5/97
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20
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Luis Gonzalez
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8/31/01
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19
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Barry Bonds
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6/23/01
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19
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Albert Belle
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4/28/95
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18
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George Foster
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5/7/77
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18
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Ralph Kiner
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5/15/47
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17
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Mark McGwire
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4/18/99
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16
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Ken Griffey
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7/30/98
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16
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Brady Anderson
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5/4/96
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16
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Jimmie Foxx
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7/31/38
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16
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Sammy Sosa
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5/10/00
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15
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Willie Mays
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6/14/55
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15
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Finally, when Ellis Burks hit a home run last weekend in the Ballpark at Arlington, he homered in his 40th different park. And that would be a record. Here are his totals in all those parks, in the order in which he knocked them off:
48 Fenway Park (Boston)
5 Old Comiskey Park (Chicago)
6 Memorial Stadium (Baltimore)
2 Tiger Stadium (Detroit)
9 Cleveland Stadium (Cleveland)
7 Kingdome (Seattle)
1 Exhibition Stadium (Toronto)
8 Kauffman Stadium (Kansas City)
5 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome (Minneapolis)
5 Arlington Stadium (Arlington)
5 Oakland-Alameda County Stadium (Oakland)
3 Anaheim Stadium (Anaheim)
4 Yankee Stadium (New York)
6 County Stadium (Milwaukee)
2 SkyDome (Toronto)
2 Oriole Park at Camden Yards (Baltimore)
8 New Comiskey Park (Chicago)
7 Mile High Stadium (Denver)
8 Veterans Stadium (Philadelphia)
6 Busch Stadium (St. Louis)
8 Pro Player Stadium (Miami)
24 Candlestick Park (San Francisco)
6 Astrodome (Houston)
57 Coors Field (Denver)
6 San Diego/Jack Murphy Stadium (San Diego)
4 Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium (Atlanta)
3 Three Rivers Stadium (Pittsburgh)
3 Stade Olympique (Montreal)
5 Shea Stadium (New York)
3 Wrigley Field (Chicago)
7 Cinergy Field/Riverfront Stadium (Cincinnati)
5 Dodger Stadium (Los Angeles)
2 Bank One Ballpark (Phoenix)
1 Turner Field (Atlanta)
15 Pacific Bell Park (San Francisco)
1 Astros Field (Houston)
17 Jacobs Field (Cleveland)
1 Tropicana Field (St. Petersburg)
1 Comerica Park (Detroit)
1 Ballpark at Arlington (Arlington)
Trivia Answer
NL win leader: Randy Johnson (206 wins, 1 no-hitter).
AL win leader: David Wells (169 wins, 1 no-hitter).
Jayson Stark is a senior writer for ESPN.com.
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