In baseball, a no-hitter means a game in which one pitcher pitches the entire game (9 innings in Major League Baseball) while not giving up a single hit to the opposing team.
This is usually a credit to a pitcher who is locked in, has his stuff working, and shuts down an opposing team’s hitters. It’s a special feat—very difficult to achieve and widely celebrated in baseball circles.
While a less glamorous but still effective way to achieve a no-hitter is with a group of pitchers—a starter and one or more relievers—for this article we’ll focus on an individual no-hitter.
Baseball No-Hitter Facts
- A no-hitter may also be referred to as a no-no.
- One of the more common baseball superstitions is for players to not talk about a no-hitter while it is happening. It’s one of baseball’s unwritten rules.
- A no-hitter is an extremely rare occurrence in Major League Baseball, occurring on average 6 times per season since 2014.
How Many No Hitters Have there Been in Major League Baseball History?
There have been 323 no-hitters in MLB history.
The most recent no-hitter was tossed by Ronel Blanco of the Houston Astros on April 1, 2024.
Who has the Most No-Hitters of All Time?
Only 37 pitchers in MLB history have more than one no hitter.
- Nolan Ryan: 7
- Sandy Koufax: 4
- Larry Corcoran 3
Bob Feller 3
Justin Verlander 3
Cy Young 3 - 31 players tied
What’s the Difference between a No-Hitter and a Perfect Game in Baseball?
In a no-hitter, a pitcher does not give up any hits to the opposing team. However, he may give up walks, hit a batter with a pitch, or a runner may reach on a fielding error.
In a perfect game, a pitcher does not allow any baserunners, whether by hit, walk, or fielder error*.
*The one exception is if the error occurs in foul ground, in which case a runner is not allowed a base, so the perfect game is still intact.
Has a Pitcher Ever Lost a No-Hitter?
Only one time in MLB history has a pitcher thrown a complete-game no-hitter and lost the game.
On April 23, 1964,Ken Johnson of the Houston Colt .45s (modern-day Astros) pitched a complete game no-hitter while his team lost the game to the Cincinnati Reds by a score of 1–0.
The winning run was scored by the infamous Pete Rose in the top of the ninth inning via an error, groundout, and another error.
Poor Ken!