A no-hitter is one of the most exciting events in baseball. It occurs when a pitcher throws a complete game without allowing the opposing team to get a single hit. No-hitters are rare and memorable feats that etching a permanent place in baseball history. But when was the last time a no-hitter occurred in Major League Baseball?
The Most Recent No-Hitter
The most recent no-hitter in MLB was thrown by the New York Mets’ Max Scherzer on April 29, 2022 against the Philadelphia Phillies. Scherzer struck out 13 batters and walked 3 over his dominating 9 inning performance. He threw 109 pitches with 79 going for strikes in the 3-0 Mets victory. This was the second no-hitter of Scherzer’s accomplished career.
Some key facts about Scherzer’s recent no-hitter:
- It was the 312th no-hitter in MLB history.
- It was the 2nd no-hitter ever thrown by a Mets pitcher (the first was by Johan Santana in 2012).
- At 37 years old, Scherzer became the oldest pitcher to throw a no-hitter since Randy Johnson in 2004.
- It was Scherzer’s 199th career win.
Scherzer’s no-hitter was certainly one for the history books and added another chapter to his Hall of Fame worthy career. But prior to Scherzer’s gem in 2022, how long had it been since the last no-hitter in the majors?
The Previous No-Hitter
Before Max Scherzer’s no-hitter on April 29, 2022, the last no-hitter in Major League Baseball was thrown by the Chicago Cubs’ Alec Mills on September 13, 2020 against the Milwaukee Brewers. Mills no-hit the Brewers 12-0 at Miller Park in Milwaukee. The game only went 7 innings, which was the abbreviated length for doubleheaders that season during the COVID-19 impacted year.
Some key facts about Mills’ no-hitter:
- It was the 16th no-hitter in Chicago Cubs franchise history.
- Mills had a career record of just 5-3 going into the game.
- The Cubs had gone 7,921 games without a no-hitter prior to Mills, which was the longest streak in the majors.
- Mills threw just 114 pitches in the game.
So Alec Mills was the last pitcher to throw a no-hitter before Max Scherzer’s in 2022. That’s a span of 590 days between no-hitters, which is one of the longer stretches in recent MLB history.
Extended No-Hitter Droughts
While nearly 600 days between the last two no-hitters seems long, there have been even longer droughts in the past. Here are some of the most extended stretches of time between no-hitters in MLB history:
| Years | Days Between No-Hitters |
|---|---|
| 2015-2016 | 751 days |
| 2010-2011 | 694 days |
| 2008-2010 | 685 days |
| 1988-1990 | 927 days |
As the table shows, there have been a few periods where no-hitters occurred very infrequently. The most recent being 751 days between Jake Arrieta’s no-hitter on April 21, 2016 and Aaron Sanchez’s on August 3, 2019. Prior to that was 694 days between Roy Halladay’s perfect game on May 29, 2010 and Justin Verlander’s no-hitter on May 7, 2011.
The longest stretch ever between no-hitters was 927 days from September 30, 1988 (Tom Browning) to April 11, 1990 (Mark Langston). So while 590 days is certainly one of the longer droughts, it doesn’t come close to the all-time record.
Frequency of No-Hitters by Decade
Looking back over history, the frequency of no-hitters has ebbed and flowed over decades:
| Decade | Number of No-Hitters |
|---|---|
| 1870s | 2 |
| 1880s | 5 |
| 1890s | 13 |
| 1900s | 21 |
| 1910s | 24 |
| 1920s | 26 |
| 1930s | 25 |
| 1940s | 24 |
| 1950s | 32 |
| 1960s | 45 |
| 1970s | 31 |
| 1980s | 41 |
| 1990s | 35 |
| 2000s | 37 |
| 2010s | 29 |
| 2020s | 2 |
As shown in the table, no-hitters became more common during the 1960s and reached a peak frequency of 45 over that 10 year period. The 1960s, 1980s and early 1900s saw the most no-nos. The relative rarity during the 1870s and 1880s was likely due to fewer teams and scheduled games. The 2010s saw a dip in no-hitters with only 29, while the 2020s are off to a modest start with 2 so far in less than 3 full seasons.
No-Hitter Fun Facts
Looking back over the history of no-hitters, here are some interesting fun facts:
- The Boston Red Sox went 45 years without a no-hitter from 1958 to 2003.
- The New York Mets did not record a no-hitter until 2012, 8,020 games into their franchise history.
- The All-Star game saw no-hitters thrown in 1956, 1962, and 1970.
- Andy Hawkins threw a no-hitter for the Yankees in 1990 but lost the game 4-0 due to walks and errors.
- The Dodgers have pitched the most no-hitters with 26 total.
- Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan threw a record 7 career no-hitters.
- There have been 3 occasions where a no-hitter was pitched on back-to-back days between two teams.
While no two no-hitters are exactly alike, they all share the excitement and rarity that makes them so special in baseball lore. Their unpredictability and mystique continue to thrill fans today just as they have dating back to the 19th century.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the last no-hitter in Major League Baseball was thrown just over a year and half ago by Mets ace Max Scherzer on April 29, 2022. Prior to that, the previous no-hitter was tossed by Cubs journeyman Alec Mills on September 13, 2020. While the 590 days between those two gems feels like a long drought, there have been even longer stretches in MLB history, including a record 927 days between two no-hitters from 1988-1990.
Overall, the rarity of no-hitters ebbs and flows over decades, with some eras producing more than others. Their unpredictability and memorability continue to captivate baseball fans today as much as ever. The next no-hitter is sure to once again thrill the baseball world, whenever it may come.