MLB Power Rankings: Every Team's Most Impressive No-Hitter

The No-Hitter: Not giving up a hit.

People consider it the greatest single-game feat a baseball player can accomplish.

For the millions of games played, there are only hundreds of them in baseball history.

Even fewer are the number of pitchers that throw them.

Here is a list of each team's most impressive no-hitter.

Arizona Diamondbacks: Randy Johnson

This is possibly the most impressive no-hitter, and it starts off the list. 

Randy Johnson spun a no-hitter in 2004 at the age of 40. 

Oh, it was also a perfect game. 

This was Johnson’s last hurrah as an elite player, as he would be traded to the Yankees after the season, and couldn't hack it in the AL East.

Atlanta Braves: No-Hitter Triumvirate

On September 11, 1991, the Braves had their most interesting no-hitter as a team. 

Emphasis on TEAM. 

It took the combined efforts of Kent Mercker, Mark Wohlers and Alejandro Pena to get the job done.

Baltimore Orioles: Dynamic Duo

This was another team no-hitter, thanks to the efforts of Steve Barber and Stu Miller. 

What makes this instance interesting, is that the Orioles would lose the game 2-1. 

The Tigers would score two unearned runs in the ninth inning thanks to walks, errors and a wild pitch.

Boston Red Sox: Cy Young

On May 5, 1904, Cy Young pitched the first no-hitter in Red Sox history. 

It would also be the first perfect game in Red Sox history. 

It would also be the first perfect game in the modern era of baseball. 

Suffice it to say, Young took care of business and made history on that day. 

He even managed to do it in 1:25.

Chicago Cubs: Sam Jones

Sam Jones’ no-hitter in 1955 was the greatest no-hitter in team history for a couple of reasons. 

First, he managed to allow seven baserunners, but still managed to shut out the Pirates. 

It also was the Cubbies’ first no hitter in forty years.

Chicago White Sox: Mark Buehrle Perfecto

Mark Buehrle’s second no-hitter was the best in franchise history for three important reasons because: 

A.  It was his second no-hitter.

B.  It was a perfect game.

C.  The amazing catch by Dewayne Wise to save the perfect game and shutout.

D.  All of the Above. 

If you answered D, you are correct.

Cincinnati Reds: Jim Maloney

Maloney spun a no-hitter on August 19, 1965. 

What’s amazing about it is the ELEVEN baserunners he allowed, yet still managed to not allow a run to score, and win the game 1-0.

Cleveland Indians: Addie Jones

On October 2,1908, Addie Jones pitched the Indians’ second no-hitter and first perfect game. 

It was also a super-clutch performance as it was a tight 1-0 game, and it almost won the Indians and Napoleon Lajoie a pennant.

Colorado Rockies: Ubaldo Jimenez

This one wins by default, but Ubaldo Jimenez did pitch a no-hitter last year.

He allowed six baserunners, but didn’t panic, and pitched he Rockies to a 4-0 win, and himself into the history books.

Detroit Tigers: Justin Verlander #2

Justin Verlander’s second no hitter is the Tigers’ most impressive no hitter simply because it is the closest the franchise has come to perfection.

Verlander allowed only one baserunner, and established himself the clear frontrunner to the Cy Young.

A no-hitter seems to be par for the course with Verlander, because he seems to carry one into the late innings every start this year.

Florida Marlins: AJ Burnett

On May 12, 2001, the ever-mercurial AJ Burnett pitched a no hitter for the Marlins where he allowed nine walks, the most ever in a no-hitter.

He also struck out seven and obviously got the win.

Seven years later, Burnett would cash in on a huge contract with the Yankees, but he’s been unable to replicate the success of the no-hitter.

He has been able to replicate the high walk total.

Houston Astros: There Is No I in TEAM

On June 11, 2003, the Astros went into Yankee Stadium and pulled off an amazing feat: No-hitting the Yankees.

Not only did they no hit the Yankees, they used five pitchers (Roy Oswald, Peter Munro, Kirk Saarloos, Brad Lidge, Octavio Dotel and Billy Wagner) to get the job done.

Even more impressive is that the Yankees weren’t no-hit in 45 years.

Kansas City Royals: Steve Busby #2

Steve Busby’s second no-hitter is the most impressive in Royals’ history for two reasons.

First, it was his second no-hitter, and he accomplished it in back-to-back seasons.

Second, he only allowed one baserunner, the closest any Royal pitcher has come to perfection.

On a side note, guess who the Royals’ manager was in both seasons?  Jack McKeon.

Anaheim/California/Los Angeles Angels (of Anaheim): Nolan Ryan #4

Tough to go against Mike Witt’s perfect game, but I have to go with the Ryan Express and no-hitter #4.

The sheer number of the amount of no-hitters thrown gives Ryan the tiebreaker.

Amazingly, it was only the halfway point for his no-hitters, as he would throw three more before hanging ‘em up.

Los Angeles Dodgers: Koufax Perfection

Well, we can’t mention Nolan Ryan without bringing up Sandy Koufax.

Koufax’s fourth no-hitter was also a perfect game, and he was Vintage Koufax that day, striking out fourteen batters.

Even more impressive, was the fact he prevailed against Bob Hendley of the Cubs, who pitched a one-hitter the same game.

Milwaukee Brewers

Nieves wins this one by default because he is the only Brewer to throw a no-hitter.

He allowed five baserunners and got a 7-0 win against the Baltimore Orioles.

Minnesota Twins: Walter Johnson

The Big Train’s no hitter was one baserunner short of perfection, and the first in team history.

Granted, it was while the Twins were the Washington Senators, Johnson still did it against a strong Red Sox team in 1920.

New York Mets: Tom Terrific's No-No-No

No Mets pitcher has pitched a no-hitter.

Sure, David Cone, Tom Seaver, Nolan Ryan and others have accomplished the feat after leaving Queens, but the closest anyone has come while a Met was Tom Terrific’s one-hitter on July 9, 1969.

Seaver had a no-no going into the ninth, but Jimmy Qualls got a single with one out to break it up.

The Mets would hold on, and the start would propel them to a Cinderella championship in October.

New York Yankees: Postseason Perfection

Don Larson’s no-hitter is by far the most impressive on this list.

It was a perfect game, and it was pitched at the perfect time: Game 5 of the 1956 World Series.

It gave the Yankees a 3-2 series lead and propelled them to their 17th World Series championship.

The Perfect Game is the only one in postseason history, and was the only no-hitter in postseason history until Doc Halladay’s last year.

Oakland Athletics: Perfect in Dallas

Dallas Braden’s perfect game on Mother’s Day last year was the most impressive in franchise history.

He struck out six against a very good Rays team that included Carl Crawford, Evan Longoria, Carlos Pena and BJ Upton.

Pittsburgh Pirates: Dock Ellis

While not necessarily a role-model performance, Dock Ellis’ no-hitter has a curious spot in baseball lore.

Ellis allowed nine baserunners, and struck out six.

He also claimed he was high on LSD at the time, following the “How High” principle of doing things.

Philadelphia Phillies: Doc in the Playoffs

Doc’s second no-hitter of the 2010 was not a perfect game, but it came at the perfect time: His first ever postseason start.

Playoffs?

Halladay mowed through a potent Reds’ lineup that included Joey Votto and Brandon Phillips.

San Diego Padres: No-No-Hitter

The Padres haven't pitched a no-hitter in their more than 40 year existence.

The closest they came was a one-hitter from Steve Arlin who was one out away.

A single form Danny Doyle broke it up.

San Francisco Giants: Jonathan Sanchez

Sanchez’s no-hitter is the closest the a Giant pitcher has come to perfection, only allowing one baserunner.

Ironically, Sanchez was fighting for a rotation spot at the time, and only got the nod because Randy Johnson was scratched from his start.

Seattle Mariners: Big Unit Breaks Out

On June 2, 1990, the Big Unit broke out and became an elite talent, no-hitting the Detroit Tigers.

He did it fourteen years before his perfect game with the D-Backs, making it his third appearance on this list, but the first chronologically.

I’ll leave it to Doctor Who to explain why I can do that.

St. Louis Cardinals: Jose Jimenez

Hard to go against Bob Gibson, but Jose Jimenez’s no-hitter was more impressive.

He no-hit a very good Diamondback team and out-dueled Randy Johnson.

He would out-duel him again the next week, and shut them out again.

Appearance #4 for the Big Unit.  Wobbly Wobbly, Timey Wimey.

Tampa Bay Rays: Matt Garza

Garza wins this one by default.

He allowed one baserunner and no-hit the Tigers last year.

He has great stuff, and I like many others are surprised it’s not translating to the Senior-Circuit.

Texas Rangers: Kenny Rogers

Kenny Rogers was perfect for the Rangers against the Angels in 1994.

The Gambler parlayed the perfect game into a big-time contract with the Yankees the next season.

He would go on to ruin my first ever baseball game attended when he got shelled by the Angels in 1996.

Appearance #3 for David Tennant.

On a side note, David Tennant will be a huge star after Fright Night comes out.

You Heard it here first.

Toronto Blue Jays: Dave Stieb

Stieb pitched the only no-no in Blue Jay history.

Back in the early 90s, the Jays were a power house and Stieb showed why they were consistently the class of the AL that day, allowing only two baserunners.

Washington Nationals/Montreal Expos: Dennis Martinez

Show some love for the Expos!

Dennis Martinez pitched a perfect game for the then Expos in 1991, and beat a pretty good Dodger team led by Tommy Lasorda.

The Expos were a threat in the early 90s, it’s a shame the strike ruined their chances succeed in Montreal.