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| Thursday, June 12 Updated: June 13, 12:55 PM ET No-hitters: Best who haven't, worst who have ESPN.com |
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Based on overall major-league careers:
Five best pitchers who haven't thrown a no-hitter In the 2000 ALCS, Clemens tossed a one-hitter, striking out 15 against the Mariners. Al Martin's double that glanced off first baseman Tino Martinez's glove to lead off the seventh inning ended Clemens' no-hit bid.
Clemens also threw another one-hitter while with the Red Sox on Sept. 10, 1988, against the Cleveland Indians. Dave Clark's one-out single in the eighth inning was the only hit Clemens allowed in that game.
Pitching for the Expos in 1995, Martinez threw nine perfect innings against the Padres before giving up a leadoff double to Bip Roberts in the 10th inning of the Expos' 1-0 win. According to Baseball Almanac, 67 of Martinez's 96 pitches during the game were strikes. Ironically, just five weeks later Pedro's brother, Ramon, pitched a no-hitter against the Marlins.
On June 5, 1915, the Hall of Fame right-hander was one out away from a no-hitter when the Cardinals' Arthur Butler punched a single off the Phillies' ace at St. Louis. It was the first of four one-hitters that season for Alexander. He also won 30 games or more in a season three times.
"Lefty" certainly had no-hit stuff with 329 career victories and 4,136 strikeouts (second only to Nolan Ryan). Carlton threw six one-hitters in his career, a modern National League record. Amazingly, he never even carried a no-hitter into the ninth inning.
According to Baseball Almanac, Johnny Vander Meer credited Grove for helping him during spring training before the 1938 season. That year Vander Meer pitched back-to-back no-hitters, the only time it's been done in major-league history. Grove, who led the AL in strikeouts the first seven seasons of his career, never came close to a no-hitter in his Hall of Famer career.
Five worst pitchers to throw a no-hitter According to BaseballLibrary.com, the 22-year-old Warren was concluding a mediocre rookie season with the A's in 1983 when, in his last start of the year, he pitched a no-hitter, baffling the White Sox 3-0 on Sept. 29. His success ended there, however, as he won only four more major-league games.
Smith, making his 11th career start, became the 16th rookie to throw a no-hitter by shutting down the Padres 4-0 on Sept. 3, 2001. It was the first time Smith pitched beyond the seventh inning. Asked when he got nervous, Smith said: "When they sent up Mr. Gwynn. He's the only guy I didn't go over the scouting report for because I didn't think I would face him. I just threw it down the middle to see what he would do with it." Tony Gwynn grounded out to shortstop for the second out in the eighth inning as a pinch-hitter. Smith has been sidelined for most of the last two seasons while battling shoulder problems.
Nottebart threw the first no-hitter in franchise history as a member of the Houston Colt .45s, beating the Phillies 4-1 in front of 8,223 cheering fans May 17, 1963, at Colt Stadium. According to the Houston Chronicle, team owner R.E. (Bob) Smith awarded Nottebart a $1,000 bonus for the feat. Nottebart was used mostly as a reliever in his nine-year career.
On May 6, 1953, Holloman pitched a no-hitter in his first major-league start, leading the St. Louis Browns to a 6-0 win over the A's. According to BaseballLibrary.com, his career night included three RBI and two hits, the only hits of his career. Within three months, he was out of the major leagues for good.
On April 15, 1987, Nieves pitched the only no-hitter in Brewers' history and was the first Puerto Rican-born pitcher to throw a no-no. He blanked the Orioles 7-0 in Baltimore, where center fielder Robin Yount made a dramatic diving catch for the last out of the game. ESPN researcher Jeff Bennett contributed to this report. |
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