The Captain's Blog

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• Before the game the Indians traded Johnny Peralta to the Tigers for minor league pitcher Giovanni Soto.
• AJ Burnett has never won a game at Progressive Field/Jacobs Field. In four starts, Burnett is 0-4 with an ERA of 9.00.

After being denied a hit on two occasions in 2010, the Rays were finally on the celebratory end of the accomplishment when Matt Garza no hit the Tigers yesterday. Garza’s feat also removed the Rays from the dwindling list of teams that have never had a pitcher throw a no-hitter. Earlier in the season, Ubaldo Jiminez became the first Rockies’ pitcher to throw a no-no, so now the only two franchises without one are the Padres and Mets.

Denny Doyle is a big reason why the Mets and Padres have never had a no-hitter.

The Mets have famously gone over 48 seasons without a no-hitter, but they have had a couple of near misses. On both occasions, July 9, 1969 and July 4, 1972, Tom Seaver took a no-hitter into the ninth, but surrendered a single just two outs shy of glory. Seaver would eventually go on to record his no-hitter, but not with the Mets. Tom Terrific no-hit the Cardinals as a member of the Reds on June 16, 1978, almost one year from the day he was famously traded by the Mets.

In total, the Mets have had 33 one-hitters (34 including Bobby Jones’ gem against the Giants in the 2000 NLDS), 23 of which were complete games of at least nine innings. Included on that list was a kind of reverse near miss in which Nolan Ryan surrendered a lead off single to journeyman second baseman Denny Doyle (remember the name) and then kept the Phillies out of the hit column for the remainder of the game.

The Padres, who entered the National League seven years after the Mets, have also endured a long stretch of no-hitter futility. After only three-plus years in existence, however, they did come within one out of accomplishing the feat in a game against the Phillies on July 18, 1972. On that date, Steve Arlin took a no-hitter two outs into the ninth, but a single by our good friend Denny Doyle once again spoiled the effort. Arlin’s brush with immortality wasn’t a fluke, as his effort against the Phillies was the third time in four starts that he pitched at least nine innings while surrendering no more than two hits. He never could seal the deal, however, so the Padres still wait for their first no-hitter.

So, while the other 28 franchises enjoy their slices of baseball history, they’d be wise to cherish the accomplishments and have sympathy for the Mets and Padres because there, but for the grace of Denny Doyle, go them all.

Listed below is an updated chart that was originally posted on The Captain’s Blog back in April.

No Hitter History

The record for most no-hitters by a pitcher is Nolan Ryan with 7, giving him more than 14 teams.

• Bobo Holloman is the only pitcher to throw a hitter in his first major league start. Holloman had previously pitched 4 games in relief before no-hitting the Philadelphia Athletics on May 6, 1953.
• There have been 20 perfect games (12 in the AL and 8 in the NL), including Don Larsen’s perfect game in the 1956 World Series. The Yankees’ three perfect games are the most by any franchise.
• The Cincinnati Reds Johnny Vander Meer is the only pitcher to throw two consecutive no-hitters. Vander Meer no hit the Boston Braves on June 11, 1938 and then four days later no hit the Brooklyn Dodgers in the first night game ever played at Ebbets Field.
• Thirteen pitchers have thrown nine no-hit innings before giving one up in extra innings.
• The only Opening Day no-hitter was thrown by the Cleveland Indians’ Bob Feller on April 16, 1940 against the Chicago White Sox.
• The Chicago Cubs haven’t been no hit in the last 44 seasons (since Sandy Koufax’ perfect game against them in 1965). The record for most consecutive season without being no-hit is 45, accomplished by the Yankees between 1958 and 2003.
• The Philadelphia Phillies hold the record for most consecutive seasons without a no-hitter. Jim Bunning’s perfect game against the Mets on June 21, 1964 broke the Phillies’ string of 57 years without a no hitter.
• The Los Angeles Dodgers had a no hitter in each season between 1962 and 1965, a record for most consecutive seasons. Sandy Koufax was responsible for all four of the Dodgers’ no-hitters.
• In 2010, the Rays became the 10th team to be no hit twice in one season, as well as the first team to be involved in three no hitters.

George M. Steinbrenner III may be headed to the Hall of Fame sooner than later thanks to changes being made to the museum’s election process.

Will the Hall of Fame soon be opening its doors to the Boss?

The Baseball Hall of Fame has once again amended its procedures for electing managers, umpires, executives and long-retired players, this time organizing the selection process by eras instead of contribution to the game. Instead of considering candidates in separate groups based on the roles for which they are being considered, a voting committee of 16 members selected by the Hall of Fame Board of Directors will consider all potential nominees that fall within one of three defined eras: Pre-Integration (1871-1946); Golden (1947-1972); and Expansion (1973-Present). A group of senior BBWAA members will act as a screening body for each year’s ballot, which will cover the three different eras on a rotating basis. The annual vote will take place during the winter meetings and all candidates receiving at least 12 votes from the committees will be enshrined the following July.

Our continual challenge is to provide a structure to ensure that all candidates who are worthy of consideration have a fair system of evaluation. In identifying candidates by era, as opposed to by category, the Board feels this change will allow for an equal review of all eligible candidates, while maintaining the high standards of earning election.”  – Jane Forbes Clark, chairman of the board for the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, as reported on MLB.com

The first time period slated for consideration is the Expansion era, which means George Steinbrenner will get his first posthumous crack at the Hall of Fame on December 5, 2010. As a board member of the Hall of Fame until his death, Steinbrenner likely made many friends at the institution, so it wouldn’t be surprising if the new process (even if only the decision to consider the Expansion era first) was designed to fast track the Boss’ election. Under the previous system of having a 12-member electorate consider a slate of executives and pioneers on a bi-annual basis, Steinbrenner would not have been up for consideration until the winter of 2011.

In addition to recognizing Steinbrenner’s obvious contributions to the game, a 2011 induction would also help raise the profile of both the Hall of Fame and its annual induction Weekend, both of which have seen declining attendance over the past few years. In fact, 2009 was the first time the Hall of Fame recorded fewer than 300,000 visits since 1997, and 2010 attendance isn’t expected to be much better. The economy has likely been responsible for at least some of this decline, but the lack of big name inductees on Hall of Fame Weekend has also had an impact. That drought is likely to continue for at least the next two seasons (especially with the steroid cloud lingering), leaving open the strong possibility that no players will be elected. Should that occur, the resulting decline in attendance would put a further strain on the museum.

Having a weekend dedicated to the George Steinbrenner, however, would more than help fill that void and likely boost the numbers flocking to Cooperstown. Unfortunately, George Steinbrenner won’t be around to preside over his own induction ceremony, but the former Yankees’ owners was such a compelling figure that his story would still be riveting when told by third parties. What’s more, the electorate could right another wrong by inducting Marvin Miller along with the Boss, a gesture that would acknowledge each man’s undeniable impact on the game by once again tying their influences together. It’s time for the old guard of writers, players and executives who lament the era of free agency to step aside and allow history to be honored. Hopefully, the Hall of Fame’s new “era-focused” election approach will allow that to happen.