The first official no-hitter in professional baseball history was thrown by George Bradley of the St. Louis Brown Stockings against the Hartford Dark Blues on July 15, 1876. In the early days of baseball, the rules were still being standardized, so some earlier no-hitters may have occurred but are not officially recognized.
The number of no-hitters increased steadily through the late 1800s and early 1900s as professional baseball grew. Some of the early no-hitters were thrown by legendary players like Cy Young, Christy Mathewson, and Walter Johnson. Cy Young threw three no-hitters in his career, the most during the dead-ball era.
The frequency of no-hitters reached a peak in the 1960s and 70s. During this pitching-dominated era, an average of about two no-hitters per season were thrown, with a high of nine in 1969 alone. Standouts like Sandy Koufax, Nolan Ryan" and Jim Maloney were racking up no-hitters regularly.
Koufax threw four no-hitters in his career, including a perfect game. Nolan Ryan still holds the record with seven total no-hitters. The 1960s and 70s were a golden age for no-hitters thanks to the high mound, dominant pitchers, and smaller strike zones.
In more recent decades, no-hitters have become rarer again. After the mound was lowered in 1969, offenses improved and no-hitters declined. There were only two seasons between 1979 and 2001 with more than two no-hitters.
However, the 2010s saw a slight resurgence, with an average of about three no-hitters per season. Pitchers like Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, and Jake Arrieta have led the way, showing that no-hitters are still an achievable feat in today's game.
As of 2023, there have been 322 total no-hitters in MLB history by 299 different pitchers. Let's look at some of the most memorable and significant no-hitters throughout the decades.
Notable No-Hitters Throughout History
Cy Young's Perfect Game (1904)
On May 5, 1904, legendary pitcher Cy Young threw a perfect game for the Boston Americans (later known as the Red Sox) against the Philadelphia Athletics. This was the first perfect game in modern Major League history. Young retired all 27 batters without allowing a baserunner, striking out three. At age 37, Young showed he still had pinpoint control, and remains the oldest pitcher to throw a perfecto.
Sandy Koufax's Four No-Hitters (1962-1965)
Sandy Koufax of the Los Angeles Dodgers stood out as the preeminent no-hit pitcher of the 1960s. Between 1962 and 1965, Koufax threw four total no-hitters, including his legendary perfect game in 1965. Koufax combined overpowering fastballs and devastating curveballs to baffle hitters. His final no-hitter in 1965 featured a whopping 14 strikeouts and just one walk against the Chicago Cubs.
Nolan Ryan's Seven Career No-Hitters
The all-time record holder, Nolan Ryan amassed seven total no-hitters between 1973 and 1991. His first two came as a member of the California Angels in 1973 and 1974. Ryan threw his record-setting fifth no-hitter in 1981 as an Astro, and hurled his sixth and seventh as a member of the Texas Rangers in 1990 and 1991 at ages 43 and 44. With blazing speed and unmatched longevity, Ryan's record of seven no-hitters may never be broken.
Perfect Games by Len Barker and Mike Witt (1981 and 1984)
In the early 1980s, Len Barker of the Cleveland Indians and Mike Witt of the California Angels each threw perfect games within a few years of each other. Barker set down all 27 Toronto Blue Jays on May 15, 1981, needing just 103 pitches in the gem. Witt matched the feat on September 30, 1984 against the Texas Rangers, punctuating it with a strikeout of Mariners' slugger Gorman Thomas.
Nolan Ryan's Fifth No-Hitter (1981)
On September 26, 1981, Nolan Ryan reached a milestone no other pitcher had touched, throwing his record-breaking fifth career no-hitter. Facing the Los Angeles Dodgers, Ryan struck out 11 and walked three en route to the no-no. At age 34, he became the first hurler to reach five no-hitters, proving his initial four were no fluke.
Dwight Gooden's No-Hitter (1996)
In 1996, New York Yankees pitcher Dwight "Doc" Gooden finally accomplished a feat he narrowly missed several times during his heyday with the Mets - tossing a no-hitter. Gooden no-hit the Seattle Mariners 2-0 on May 14, 1996 in one of the highlights of his late-career revival. He struck out five and needed just 98 pitches to make history.
David Cone's Perfect Game (1999)
On July 18, 1999, veteran pitcher David Cone achieved the Yankees' first perfect game in nearly 80 years, sitting down all 27 Montreal Expos. Cone struck out 10 batters using a ruthless combination of strikes and trickery. A long-time ace and World Series champ, Cone's legacy was cemented with his perfect outing in 1999.
Randy Johnson's Perfect Game (2004)
The Big Unit, Randy Johnson of the Arizona Diamondbacks, joined the perfect game club on May 18, 2004 against the Atlanta Braves. The 6'10" Johnson overpowered the Braves with his blazing fastball and biting slider, striking out 13 batters in the effort. At age 40, Johnson became the oldest pitcher to hurl a perfect game, showing his legendary stuff.
Mark Buehrle's No-Hitter (2007)
In 2007, Chicago White Sox starter Mark Buehrle cemented his reputation as one of baseball's best by no-hitting the Texas Rangers 6-0 on April 18. Buehrle dazzled with his precision and fielding help, retiring Sammy Sosa on a popup to end it. With the gem, Buehrle became just the 15th pitcher with multiple career no-hitters.
Roy Halladay's Postseason No-Hitter (2010)
On October 6, 2010, Philadelphia Phillies ace Roy Halladay made history by throwing just the second no-hitter ever in the postseason. Halladay no-hit the Cincinnati Reds 4-0 in Game 1 of the 2010 NLDS, walking just one batter and facing the minimum 27 batters. "Doc" put his pinpoint command on display when it mattered most.
Multiple No-Hitters in 2012
The 2012 season saw a flurry of no-hitters, with six thrown from April 21 to August 15. Philip Humber, Jered Weaver, Johan Santana, Kevin Millwood, Matt Cain, and Felix Hernandez all took no-hitters into the record books in 2012. For Santana, it was the first no-hitter in New York Mets history after over 8000 games.
Homer Bailey's No-Hitters (2012 and 2013)
Cincinnati Reds starter Homer Bailey achieved an exceptionally rare feat by tossing no-hitters in back-to-back seasons. He no-hit the Pittsburgh Pirates 1-0 on September 28, 2012, then repeated the performance against the San Francisco Giants on July 2, 2013 by the same 1-0 score. Since Bailey, only one pitcher (Jake Arrieta) has thrown multiple no-hitters.
No-Hitter Leaders by Decade
Here is a breakdown of the number of no-hitters thrown each decade since 1876, along with the top pitchers:
1876-1899: 37 no-hitters Leaders: George Bradley (2), John Montgomery Ward (2), Kenny Rogers (2)
1900-1919: 46 no-hitters Leaders: Cy Young (3), Rube Waddell (3), Christy Mathewson (2)
1920-1939: 53 no-hitters Leaders: Dazzy Vance (2), Lefty Grove (2), Allie Reynolds (2)
1940-1959: 44 no-hitters Leaders: Johnny Vander Meer (2), Virgil Trucks (2), Carl Erskine (2)
1960-1979: 93 no-hitters Leaders: Sandy Koufax (4), Nolan Ryan (4), Jim Maloney (3)
1980-1999: 39 no-hitters Leaders: Nolan Ryan (3), Mike Scott (2), Tom Browning (2)
2000-2019: 47 no-hitters Leaders: Roy Halladay (2), Jake Arrieta (2), Homer Bailey (2)
2020-Present: 7 no-hitters Leaders: Spencer Turnbull, Corey Kluber, John Means (1 each)
As the decades have passed, no-hitters have become more spread out among many different pitchers, rather than dominated by just a handful like in earlier eras. Only time will tell if another historic pitching run like Koufax or Ryan ever emerges again. For now, no-hitters remain special and unforgettable feats.
Players With Multiple No-Hitters
Here is a list of all the pitchers in MLB history who have thrown more than one no-hitter in their careers:
- Nolan Ryan - 7 no-hitters
- Sandy Koufax - 4 no-hitters
- Bob Feller - 3 no-hitters
- Cy Young - 3 no-hitters
- Larry Corcoran - 3 no-hitters
- Justin Verlander - 3 no-hitters
- Homer Bailey - 2 no-hitters
- Mark Buehrle - 2 no-hitters
- Jim Maloney - 2 no-hitters
- Allie Reynolds - 2 no-hitters
- Max Scherzer - 2 no-hitters
- Jake Arrieta - 2 no-hitters
- Tim Lincecum - 2 no-hitters
- Christy Mathewson - 2 no-hitters
- Hideo Nomo - 2 no-hitters
- Roy Halladay - 2 no-hitters
This elite group of pitchers proved they could rise to the occasion more than once in their careers and repeatedly baffle hitters. Nolan Ryan stands high above the rest with his record seven gems. It takes extreme talent, endurance, and some luck to throw a no-hitter, much less two or more. These pitchers had the right combination of skills to make history multiple times.
No-Hitters by Franchise
Here is a breakdown of the number of no-hitters thrown by each current MLB franchise over their entire histories:
- Los Angeles Dodgers - 26 no-hitters
- Boston Red Sox - 19 no-hitters
- Chicago White Sox - 18 no-hitters
- Philadelphia Phillies - 16 no-hitters
- Cincinnati Reds - 15 no-hitters
- San Francisco Giants - 14 no-hitters
- Houston Astros - 13 no-hitters
- Cleveland Guardians - 11 no-hitters
- St. Louis Cardinals - 10 no-hitters
- Washington Nationals - 10 no-hitters
- New York Yankees - 9 no-hitters
- Detroit Tigers - 9 no-hitters
- Chicago Cubs - 7 no-hitters
- Oakland Athletics - 7 no-hitters
- Pittsburgh Pirates - 7 no-hitters
- Seattle Mariners - 6 no-hitters
- Minnesota Twins - 5 no-hitters
- New York Mets - 2 no-hitters
- Baltimore Orioles - 1 no-hitter
- Tampa Bay Rays - 1 no-hitter
- Colorado Rockies - 1 no-hitter
- San Diego Padres - 1 no-hitter
- Arizona Diamondbacks - 1 no-hitter
- Toronto Blue Jays - 1 no-hitter
- Los Angeles Angels - 0 no-hitters
- Milwaukee Brewers - 0 no-hitters
- Atlanta Braves - 0 no-hitters
- Texas Rangers - 0 no-hitters
- Kansas City Royals - 0 no-hitters
- Miami Marlins - 0 no-hitters
The Dodgers franchise leads the way with 26 total no-hitters, spanning from the early days in Brooklyn to the Clayton Kershaw gem in 2020. The Red Sox, White Sox, and Phillies are next on the list with a long history of no-hit excellence. On the other end, six franchises are still seeking their first no-hitter, showing just how difficult they are to achieve.
No-Hitters By Ballpark
No-hitters have been thrown in 53 different Major League ballparks over the years. Here are the top ballparks by number of no-hitters:
- Dodger Stadium - 10 no-hitters
- Wrigley Field - 7 no-hitters
- Sportsman's Park - 6 no-hitters
- Yankee Stadium (1923) - 6 no-hitters
- Cleveland Stadium - 5 no-hitters
- Fenway Park - 5 no-hitters
- Tiger Stadium - 5 no-hitters
- Candlestick Park - 4 no-hitters
- Memorial Stadium - 4 no-hitters
- Astrodome - 3 no-hitters
Great pitchers combined with pitcher-friendly homes have led to some stadiums witnessing far more no-hitters than others. Dodger Stadium tops the list with 10, including gems by Koufax, Hershiser, and Kershaw. Historic parks like Wrigley, old Yankee Stadium, Fenway, and Tiger Stadium saw their share as well. For the pitcher, throwing a no-hitter at a legendary ballpark becomes part of its folklore forever.
Most No-Hit Innings Pitched in a Game
Here are some notable instances where a pitcher took a no-hitter deep into a game but fell just short of completing it:
- Harvey Haddix, Pirates - 12 2/3 IP (lost in 13th)
- Pedro Martinez, Red Sox - 9 IP (lost perfect game in 10th)
- Jim Maloney, Reds - 10 IP (no-hitter through 9, lost in 11th)
- Rich Hill, Dodgers - 9 IP (perfect through 8, lost in 10th)
- Hooks Wiltse, Giants - 9 IP (perfect through 8 2/3, hit batter)
- Yusmeiro Petit, Giants - 8 2/3 IP
- Chris Bosio, Mariners - 8 2/3 IP
- Cole Hamels, Phillies - 7 2/3 IP
- Ken Johnson, Colt .45's - 9 IP (lost 1-0, gave up hit in 9th)
These gutsy pitching performances showed it takes some extra bad luck to come so close to a no-hitter but not finish it off. Pedro Martinez and Harvey Haddix suffered the most heartbreak, carrying their no-hit bids over 9 innings only to lose them in extra frames. Nevertheless, these masterful games deserve to be remembered.
Notable No-Hitter Records and Streaks
- Nolan Ryan has the most no-hitters in MLB history with 7
- Sandy Koufax has the most perfect games in MLB history with 4
- Johnny Vander Meer is the only pitcher with back-to-back no-hitters (1938)
- 3 no-hitters were thrown on June 3: Koufax (1964), Fernando Valenzuela (1990), and Matt Cain (2012)
- The Dodgers have 23 no-hitters since moving to Los Angeles, the most by any team since 1958.
- The Astros went from 1962 to 2003 without a no-hitter, the longest drought between no-nos.
- The Mets went 8,020 games until Johan Santana finally threw their first no-hitter in 2012.
- Matt Cain's perfect game for the Giants in 2012 was the first in the 130+ year history of the franchise.
Nolan Ryan and Sandy Koufax dominate the record books when it comes to no-hitters. Certain franchises like the Dodgers and Astros have interesting no-hit streaks, both good and bad. And sometimes it just takes the right moment in time for an improbable no-hitter to finally happen after a long wait.
Conclusion: No-Hitters are Rare Gems
In over 145 years of Major League Baseball, there have only been 322 official no-hitters. The list contains some of the greatest names and performances in pitching history. To throw a no-hitter requires far more than just talent - luck and circumstance play a huge role too.
That's what makes no-hitters so improbable, and so memorable when they happen. From George Bradley's first in 1876 to Spencer Turnbull's gem in 2021, the no-hitter club includes a who's who of baseball's most dominant hurlers across eras. While offensive levels and pitcher workloads have changed, the allure of the no-hitter remains strong. When a pitcher sets down 27 straight batters without allowing a hit, it's a remarkable feat worth celebrating.
