A no-hitter is a rare display of dominance on the mound. It means none of the 27 batters you faced (or 24 if you’re at home) as a pitcher managed to get a hit during a full game without giving up a run. Sometimes called a « no-no, » it’s a feat achieved by one (or, more rarely, several) pitcher. History has shown that this extraordinary performance isn’t reserved for the best on paper. Maybe it just takes a perfect alignment of the stars?
August 14, 2021, Chase Field. After shutting out the San Diego Padres, Tyler Gilbert became the second pitcher since 1900 to throw a « no-no » in his MLB debut. The left-hander had previously made just 3 relief appearances totaling 3 2/3 innings… But the most incredible part? Gilbert, a minor leaguer waiting to be called up to the majors, worked as an electrician with his father while staying in shape during the pandemic! His father was in the stadium… He was traded for $24,000 from the minors to the majors… This no-hitter is the first in the history of the Diamondbacks’ stadium. Electric atmosphere!
Different remarkable performances are possible as a pitcher.
A shutout or « blanchissage » is a game pitched entirely by a starting pitcher, without relief help, and during which no runs, earned or unearned, are allowed to the opposing team.
The perfect game. It’s the ultimate prize. No batter must have reached first base in a complete game. And of course, no runs. Since the beginning of major league baseball in the second half of the 19th century, there have been only 23 perfect games in over 130 seasons. Two pitchers threw perfect games in the 19th century, but their feats are disputed. The first of the 21 in the modern era was achieved in 1904 by the famous Cy Young of the « Boston Americans » against the « Philadelphia Athletics »… The most recent, on August 15, 2012, by Felix Hernandez of the Mariners against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Vincent Picard
