Dirk Lammers's Blog, page 25

Heman throws first SD Padres no-hitter, 60 years ago today

Russ Heman tossed the San Diego Padres’ first no-hitter, 60 years ago today.

Unfortunately, the Pacific Coast League accomplishment doesn’t count in the major-league record books, and the MLB Padres are still seeking the franchise’s first no-hitter after 8,012 regular-season games.

But, for the PCL Padres, on Thursday, May 7, 1959, Heman no-hit the Vancouver Mounties at Vancouver’s Capilano Stadium for a 2-0 win. It was the first of three PCL Padres no-hitters, with Al Worthington throwing one in 1961 and Sammy Ellis following in 1962.

Padres’ Dunne tosses PCL no-no in rehab assignment, 29 years ago today

The San Diego Padres’ Mike Dunne tossed a Pacific Coast League no-hitter while on a rehab assignment, 29 years ago today.

Pitching for the AAA Las Vegas Stars on Sunday May 6, 1990, Dunne no-hit the Portland Beavers at Civic Stadium for a 2-0 win, walking five batters and striking out two.

The Padres recalled Dunne nine days later and tapped the right-hander for a 1⅓-inning relief appearance before inserting him in the Padres rotation on May 26. In Dunne’s first start after his return, he lost his no-hitter in the first inning as the Padres lost to the New York Mets by a score of 11-0.

Browns’ Holloman throws no-no in first start, 56 years ago today

The St. Louis Browns’ “Bobo” Holloman threw a no-hitter in his first major league start, 56 years ago today.

On May 6, 1953, Holloman no-hit the Philadelphia Athletics at Busch Stadium for a 6-0 victory. It marked the only time a pitcher thew a no-no in his first major league start in the modern era.

Also throwing no-hitters on this date are Bob Groom and Cliff Chambers.

Groom, a Browns pitcher, no-hit the Chicago White Sox (3-0 score) during the second game of a Sunday doubleheader on May 6, 1917 at Sportsman’s Park. Groom’s no-no came one day after one pitched by teammate Ernie Koob, but the two games were not consecutive.

Chambers, a Pittsburgh Pirates hurler, no-hit the Boston Braves during the second game of a Sunday doubleheader at Braves Field on May 6, 1951. Chambers was wild, walking eight and throwing a wild pitch.

Angels’ Belinsky no-hits O’s, 57 years ago today

Los Angeles Angels rookie Bo Belinsky threw one of the majors’ three May 5 no-hitters, 57 years ago today.

On May 5, 1962, Los Angeles Angels rookie Bo Belinsky no-hit the Baltimore Orioles for a 2-0 win that launched the former Trenton pool shark into Hollywood stardom.

On this date in 1917, the St. Louis Browns’ Ernie Koob no-hit the Chicago White Sox for a 1-0 victory at home at Sportsman’s Park. Browns teammate Bob Groom also no-hit the White Sox the next day, but Groom’s gem came in the second game of a Sunday doubleheader so the two weren’t consecutive.

On Thursday, May 5, 1904, Cy Young, pitching for the Boston Americans (Red Sox) retired all 27 Philadelphia Athletics he faced for a 3-0 win at the Huntington Avenue Grounds. It was his second of career no-hitters that would tie him for the career lead with Larry Corcoran.

‘Smokey’ Joe Williams’ no-no turns 100

“Smokey” Joe Williams tossed a Negro Leagues no-hitter for the New York Lincoln Giants, 100 years ago today.

On May 4, 1919, during the first game of a Sunday doubleheader, Williams no-hit the Brooklyn Royal Giants for a 1-0 victory. The hard-throwing right-hander from Seguin, Texas, who also took on the nickname “Cyclone” Joe, served as the Lincoln Giants’ player/manager from 1914-1923.

Williams, widely considered one of the best pitchers of his day, was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999. According to James Riley’s superb The Biographical Encyclopedia of the Negro Baseball Leagues, Ty Cobb said Williams would have been a “sure 30-game winner” if he had been allowed to pitch in the majors.

Padres no-hit in Mexico, 1 year ago today

Four Los Angeles Dodgers pitchers combined to no-hit the San Diego Padres in Monterrey, Mexico, one year ago today.

The Dodgers’ Walker Buehler pitched six innings of no-hit ball at Estadio de Beisbol Monterrey, and Tony Cingrani, Yimi Garcia and Adam Liberatore each followed with one no-hit inning as the Dodgers topped the Padres 4-0. Buehler, who was pulled after throwing 93 pitches, struck out eight and walked three. Cingrani also walked a batter.

The no-hitter helped the 2010s set a new decade record for most no-hitters with 35, breaking the mark of 34 no-hitters in the 1960s. Another no-no was tossed four days later, bringing the decade total (so far) to 36.

The last Los Angeles Dodgers no-hitter was 2 years, 10 months, 16 days earlier by Clayton Kershaw, an 8-0 win at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday, June 18, 2014. The Padres were previously no-hit 3 years, 10 months, 9 days earlier by the San Francisco Giants’ Tim Lincecum at AT&T Park on Wednesday, June 25, 2014, for a 4-0 win. It was Lincecum’s second no-no against the Padres.

Padres’ Lauer takes no-no into 5th

The San Diego Padres’ Eric Lauer took a no-hitter into the fifth inning on Friday before Chris Taylor led off the inning with a homer to left.

The dinger moved the Friars’ no no-hitter count to 8,009 regular-season games, or just 10 away from the New York Mets’ record of 8,019. The Mets exited the no no-no club on June 1, 2012, when Johan Santana no-hit the Cardinals at Citi Field for an 8-0 win.

The Padres’ Eric Lauer made a strong effort for a no-no on Friday night as Hunter Renfroe made two nice grabs in the second inning to keep his bid going.

Barring a miracle, the Padres would tie the Mets against the Dodgers in Los Angeles on May 15 and break the mark at Petco against the Pittsburgh Pirates on May 16.

Twins’ Liriano no-hits White Sox, 8 years ago today

Francisco Liriano threw the Minnesota Twins’ most recent no-hitter, eight years ago today.

On Tuesday, May 3, 2011, at U.S. Cellular Field, Liriano no-hit the Chicago White Sox for a 1-0 victory. It was Liriano’s first shutout and his first complete game, including his time in the minors.

The southpaw from San Cristobal, Dominican Republic, is now a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

MLB’s only double no-no, 102 years ago today

Today is the 102nd anniversary of baseball’s only double nine-inning no-hitter.

The Chicago Cubs’ Hippo Vaughn and the Cincinnati Reds’ Fred Toney each held their opponents hitless through nine innings of baseball at Weeghman Park on Wednesday, May 2, 1917. The game went to the 10th, and the Reds scored on a single, an error and a error on a swinging bunt. Toney got the no-no and the 1-0 victory, but Vaughn had to settle for a stellar performance that’s not recognized as an official no-hitter.

Also on this date in 2012, the Los Angeles Angels’ Jered Weaver no-hit the Minnesota Twins for a 9-0 win at Angel Stadium of Anaheim.

Ryan throws 7th no-hitter, 28 years ago today

Nolan Ryan threw his major league record seventh no-hitter, 28 years ago today.

Ryan, pitching for the Texas Rangers at the age of 44 on May 1, 1991, struck out 16 Blue Jays and held the others to no hits as the Rangers topped Toronto 3-0. Said Rangers pitching coach Tom House to the Dallas Morning News, the Blue Jays, “just got in the way of a train.”

Three other no-hitters were thrown on May 1 in other years, by Al Atkinson, Johnny Lush and Don Wilson.

Here are the May Day no-nos:

21 of 299
Al Atkinson



Philadelphia Athletics (AA)



Saturday, May 1, 1886
Philadelphia Athletics 3, New York Metropolitans 2
Jefferson Street Grounds (Philadelphia)
(His second of two no-hitters)


53 of 289
Johnny Lush



Philadelphia Phillies (NL)



Tuesday, May 1, 1906
Philadelphia Phillies 6, Brooklyn Superbas 0
Washington Park (Brooklyn)


170 of 299
Don Wilson



Houston Astros (NL)



Thursday, May 1, 1969
Houston Astros 4, Cincinnati Reds 0
Crosley Field (Cincinnati)
(His second of two no-hitters)


225 of 295
Nolan Ryan



Texas Rangers (AL)



Wednesday, May 1, 1991
Texas Rangers 3, Toronto Blue Jays 0
Arlington Stadium (Texas)
(His seventh of seven no-hitters, finalizing his major league record.)