No-No for Mets: A Closer Look New York's No-Hit Futility

It is no secret that the New York Mets have never hurled a no-hitter. At least, not while wearing a Mets uniform.

Unless something changes tonight, the Mets will have a total of 7580 regular season games and 47 postseason games without ever recording a no-hitter.

While three other teams have never accomplished the feat either, their no-hit futility has not endured as long.

The San Diego Padres (1969), the Colorado Rockies (1993), and the Tampa Bay Rays (1998) are the three other teams which comprise the foursome.

However, the Mets haven't thrown one since their inception in 1962. This despite being a franchise known more for its pitching and defense than hitting.

It must be recognized that there have been 33 no-hitters thrown by former Mets, and 14 pitchers have accomplished the feat who at one time or another played in a Mets uniform.

Pre-Mets PItchers Who Threw No-No's

Eight pitchers have thrown a no-hitter before becoming a member of the New York Mets. The list is filled with some impressive names, but it also has certain pitchers who are not everyday names.

Warren Spahn threw two no-hitters in his career but was almost finished when he joined the Mets in 1965 as a player/coach. He only appeared in 20 games for the Lovable Losers going 4-12 with a 4.36 ERA.

Dean Chance, who once threw a no-hitter as a member of the Minnesota Twins, pitched for the Amazin's in only three uninspired games in 1970. He was 0-2 with a 13.50 ERA during his tenure.

Dock Ellis joined the team in 1979 and finished 3-7 with a 6.37 ERA. Interesting note, Ellis' no hitter for the Pirates in 1970 came while tripping on acid.

John Candeleria only lasted three games after being acquired in 1987. He was 2-0 with a 5.87 ERA while with the Mets, but Candeleria was a former 20-game winner and threw a no-hitter 10 years prior.

More Pre-Mets No-Nos

Brett Saberhagen came to the Mets in 1992, exchanged for Kevin McReynolds, Greg Jeffries and Keith Miller. His best season was 1994, in which he was 14-4 with a 2.74 ERA. Saberhagen, who had some monster seasons in Kansas City also threw his only no-no for them.

Kenny Rogers. Everyone remembers Kenny Rogers, right? Ball four to Andrew Jones? Well, before he was imploding under playoff pressure, Rogers once threw a perfect game as a member of the Texas Rangers in 1994.

Al Leiter was a fan favorite while with the Mets. He pitched from 1998 until 2004 and helped the Mets to the playoffs in 1999 and the World Series in 2000.

Leiter's best Met moment was most likely in 1999 when he hurled a complete game two-hit shutout against the Cincinatti Reds in a one game playoff. Leiter's no-hitter came courtesy of an 11-0 drubbing of the Colorado Rockies as a memeber of the Marlins in 1996.

The One that Got Away: Nolan Ryan

If you've never heard of Nolan Ryan then you probably haven't read, seen, or had any contact with anyone who knows baseball. Ryan is a complete anomaly.

A gifted right arm who has recorded 100 mph on a radar gun even after the age of 40. Ryan won 324 games and holds pitching records for strikeouts (5,714) and walks (2,795) while recording a 3.19 ERA in 27 big league seasons.

Ryan pitched for the Mets from 1966-1971. He had ups and downs during his tenure with the Mets and, after going 10-14 in 1971, considered retirement.

He made his feelings known to the Mets' front office, who, in turn, traded him to the L.A. Angels for past his prime Jim Fregosi in what is now considered one of the most lopsided trades in history.

Ryan would go on to pitch a record seven no-hitters, had 12 one-hitters, and 18 two-hitters.

Losing the Franchise: Tom Seaver

"Tom Terrific" or "The Franchise" as he would become nicknamed, was part of a spectacular rotation which helped the Mets win a World Series in 1969 and return in 1973.

Tom Seaver won a Rookie of The Year (1967) and three Cy Young awards (1969, 1973, and 1975) and throughout a brilliant career had 12 All-Star appearances. He was also voted into the Hall of Fame with the highest percentage ever (98.8%).

Even having the designation of being the only Met to have a plague in Cooperstown and throwing five one-hitters for the Mets (three broken up in the ninth), Seaver's lone no-hitter came with the Reds only one year after the infamous "Midnight Massacre" trade that sent Seaver to Cincinnati for a collection of four lesser players.

A Splitter's No-Hitter: Mike Scott

Mike Scott was selected by the Mets in the second round of the 1976 draft. He pitched for the big club from 1979 to 1982 and never hit any kind of stride for the team.

Scott became one of the best pitchers in the league after developing a split-finger fastball under the tutelage of legendary pitching coach Roger Craig. He would go on to be a dominant force and almost single-handedly defeated the Mets in the 1986 Postseason.

He would also throw his first and only no-hitter for the Astros that same year.

What Could've Been: Dwight Gooden

Dwight Gooden burst out onto the scene in 1984, winning Rookie of the Year honors, compiling a 17-9 record, a 2.60 ERA and striking out 276 along the way.

He followed that up with a 24-4 record and a Gibson-like 1.53 ERA in 1985. He also would win the Cy Young award that same year.

The next year, Gooden was a core member of the 1986 World Champs.

The rest is well-documented. Bouts with cocaine and injuries would derail a man who once was thought to be the next Tom Seaver.

He stayed on the Mets until 1994 before bouncing around, but, for one night in 1996, Gooden would become immortalized. Throwing a no-hitter against the Seattle Mariners for the crosstown rival New York Yankees.

The Empire Strikes Again: David Cone

David Cone is a five-time world champion. Once with the Blue Jays in 1992 and four times with the Yankees during that run from 1996-2000.

Cone was a Cy Young winner in 1994 with the Kansas City Royals. He pitched well during his Mets tenure including being a runner up for the Cy Young in 1988, going 20-3 with a 2.22 ERA.

But Cone, like Gooden, was another former Met who would go on to no-hit greatness with the Yankees, throwing a perfect game in 1999 with Don Larsen sitting in the stands at Yankees Stadium.

Shea Sandwich: Hideo Nomo

Hideo Nomo makes the list last not because he had tremendous success in the bigs but because he accomplished something that no one else has: he pitched a no-hitter both before and after playing for the Mets.

He only pitched in 17 lackluster games for the Mets in 1998 and finished 4-5 with a 4.82 ERA.

However, Nomo had already thrown a no-hitter as a member of the Dodgers and would do the same in 2001 with the Red Sox.