What Is A No Hitter Game In Baseball?

A no-hitter is a game in which a pitcher doesn’t allow the other team to hit a single.

Introduction

In baseball, a no-hitter is a game in which a team was not able to record a hit. A pitcher who does not allow any hits during a game is said to have pitched a no-hitter. No-hitters are rare events; in Major League Baseball (MLB), there have been only 309 no-hitters thrown in almost 152,000 games, or about one every 487 games (as of July 2019).

In baseball, a no hitter is a game in which a team fails to record a hit. A pitcher who does not allow any hits over the course of a game is said to have pitched a no hitter. No hitters are relatively rare events; In Major League Baseball (MLB) there have only been 309 no hitters thrown in just under 152,000 games as of July 2019. This means that on average, there is only one no hitter every 487 games played.

The History of the No Hitter

The first recorded instance of a no-hitter in professional baseball occurred on August 19, 1876, when George Bradley of the Hartford Dark Blues hurled nine innings of no-hit ball against the Philadelphia Athletics in a 5–0 victory. George Phillip Bradley is the player most often credited with inventing the pitch that became known as the fastball. Hartford went on to win the National League championship that season.

The first recorded no-hitter in major league history was thrown by John Montgomery Ward for the Providence Grays against the Worcester Ruby Legs on June 17, 1880. The last out was made by first baseman Levi Meyerle, who fielded a grounder hit by Hank O’Day and threw out pinch runner Nat Hudson at first base.

It was not until 1898 that another no-hitter was thrown, this time by Ned Garvin for the Brooklyn Bridegrooms (now known as the Los Angeles Dodgers). Garvin’s no-hitter was also a shutout, defeating the St. Louis Browns (now known as the Baltimore Orioles) 6–0 at Ebbets Field.

There would be no more no-hitters thrown in major league baseball until 1904, when Cy Young—then pitching for the Boston Americans (now known as the Red Sox)—accomplished the feat against the Chicago White Sox. The White Sox would have to wait till Tim Keefe accomplished the same thing in 1880. Young’s no-hitter was also a shutout, with his team winning 3–0.

The Rules of a No Hitter

In baseball, a no-hitter is a game in which a team was unable to record a single hit. In a no-hitter, no batter reached first base safely during the course of the game. No-hitters are rare events; as of 2019, there have been just 303 in Major League Baseball history.

There are several rules that pertain specifically to no-hitters. For one, a no-hitter cannot be achieved if the opposing team hits a batsman with a pitch and he reaches first base as a result. This is known as a hit batsman and it doesn’t count as a hit. Secondly, if a fielder commits an error that allows a batter to reach first base, that also doesn’t count as a hit.

Similarly, if a batter reaches first base on a dropped third strike (i.e., he wasn’t able to swing at the pitch), that doesn’t count as a hit either. However, if the catcher then throws him out trying to steal second base, that would be recorded as two outs.

Finally, if the game goes into extra innings (i.e., beyond the ninth inning), any hits that occur in subsequent innings do not negate the no-hitter. So, if the score is still 0-0 after nine innings and one team finally gets a hit in the 10th inning, it would not be considered a no-hitter.

The Pitching of a No Hitter

A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team prevents the other from getting a hit. The pitching team accomplishes this by retiring all 27 batters that the opposing team bats in the game. No-hitters are rare in Major League Baseball (MLB). As of June 2020, there have been just under 300 no-hitters in MLB history.

The most common type of no-hitter is a complete game, in which the pitcher(s) throws a no-hitter for the entire nine innings. There have also been 18 perfect games in MLB history, in which a pitcher (or pitchers) retires all 27 batters faced, without allowing any baserunners.

While no-hitters are exciting for fans and players alike, they can also be stressful for pitchers. The pressure to maintain a no-hitter can be intense, and many pitchers have admitted that they start to feel jitters as the game goes on. In some cases, pitchers have even lost a no-hitter in the final inning.

The Fielding of a No Hitter

To preserve a no-hit game, the pitcher and fielders must work together to retire 27 consecutive batters without allowing a hit. Obviously, the pitcher is the keystone to this effort, but the defense plays a vital role as well. Infielders must be (or at least appear to be) in constant communication with each other, calling for fly balls and making sure they are not caught in between bases on ground balls. Outfielders must judge whether a ball is going to drop in front of them or over their heads and adjust their positioning accordingly. And all nine defenders must maintain laser-like focus throughout the game; a single lapse can cost a pitcher his place in history.

The Hitting of a No Hitter

A no hitter game in baseball is a game in which no batter from the opposing team gets a hit. A pitcher who throws a no hitter is said to have “thrown a no hitter,” and the feat is rare enough that it is considered one of the great accomplishments in baseball. In order for a game to be considered a no hitter, it must go nine innings (or eight and a half if the home team is ahead). If a game is called early because of rain or other reasons, it is not considered a no hitter. A pitcher can lose his chance at a no hitter late in the game—if he gives up a hit in the eighth inning, for example—but as long as he finishes the game without giving up another hit, he has still thrown a no hitter.

The Conclusion

Once a pitcher has retired 27 batters in a row, he’s hurled a no-hitter. This is one of the rarest and most difficult feats in baseball, as it requires not only quality pitching but also good luck. Fielding also plays a role, as even the best pitchers can’t record a no-hitter without some help from their defenders.