All Things New York Mets

All Things New York Mets

Monday, June 2, 2014

2 Year Anniversary a Day Late Maybe

Depending on where you live this may be exactly two years or a day past.  Sorry I've been busy.

There have been 283 of me.

There have been 240 of me in the modern era since 1901.

One person has done it 7 times by themselves.


Only one team has never done it.

The most recent happened May 25th of this year.

I think we all know what I am referring to and that is the wonderful spectacle of a NO HITTER!!!

Lets dig into this a little deeper shall we.

Forbes Field NEVER saw a no hitter in its existence from 1909 through 1970.  It's the only ballpark that has never had a no hitter.

Of the modern era teams they have experienced at least 2 no hitters pitched against them.

Cubs fans you'll like this.  You are currently the record holder of the longest period of time since being no hit which is still currently going.  You were last no hit by Sandy Koufax back on September 9, 1965 so that's roughly 48 yrs 258 days or to be roughly 7,742 games including post season appearances.

Sorry Padres fans you have yet to experience a no hitter and you've been waiting a while, 45 plus years and going.  Unfortunately, I know how you feel being a Mets fan an having to wait.

It took the Mets 50 plus years to finally get a no hitter and that happened two years ago today June 1, 2012 by Johan Santana.  Lets go a little deeper and break it down further.  The Mets got their first no hitter in their 8,020th regular season game.  The Mets were no hitter less through 8,019 regular season games and 74 post season games.  That my friends is a lot of games.  In that span the Mets threw 35 one hitters. The Mets had 7 pitchers throughout their franchise that have pitched no hitters with other teams.  Well, Mr Nolan Ryan pitched 7 himself 4 with the Angels, 1 with the Astros, and 2 with the Rangers.

Here are some names you may have heard of that got drafted with the Mets:

Tom Seaver, Nolan Ryan, Dwight Gooden, AJ Burnett, and Philip Humber.

Those names above all started their careers in the Mets organization and were drafted by the Mets and pitched no hitters for other teams.  Actually Seaver was drafted by the Braves, but ruled ineligible after the draft being his college team played 2 exhibition games and his contract was voided.  He was going to go back to college, but the NCAA ruled him ineligible due to him signing a pro contract. Gotta love the good ole NCAA.  Well after being threatened by Seaver with a lawsuit the MLB let other teams match the Braves offer and their were 3 teams that matched the offer and the Mets won the rights in a lottery so he began his career as a Met in 1966.

Well Tom Terrific or The Franchise as he is also known threw 5 one hitters as a Mets player and took two no hitters into the 9th.  Then in 1978 he finally threw a no no as a member of the Reds organization.

Dwight Gooden threw one after leaving the Mets with the cross town rival Yankees.

AJ Burnett was drafted in the 8th round of the 1995 amateur draft by the Mets and threw one with the Florida Marlins. Also holds the record for most walks in a no hitter with 9.

David Cone also tossed a no hitter with the crosstown rival Yankees.

Philip Humber was drafted 3rd overall with the Mets and was part of the trade to acquire Johan Santana. He pitched the 21st perfect game in MLB history with the White Sox in April 2012.  Yes 2 months before my beloved Mets no hitter.


No onto June 2, 2012.  I can remember where I was and who I was with when the no hitter took place.  I was with my buddies Micah and Matt.  Yes thee Matt from (Bob Walk the Plank).  We met up for some Black Bear Burritos. Then headed over to Jay's Getaway and threw a few back and then left for Big Tymes for a few more.  While at Jay's I pulled out my iPhone to check the scores and fantasy baseball and saw thru 4 or 5 innings it was still a no no.  While at Big Tymes I checked again it was in the 7th and saw it was still a no no. At that time I subscribed to MLB.tv Premium so I pulled the live feed of the game in time to see the catch of the game with Mike Baxter crashing into the left field wall to preserve the no no.  Well Big Tymes had on ESPN so they cut to the game and I watched Mets history unfold with Johan Santana throwing 134 pitches and pitching the first Mets no hitter with Matt and Micah.  I remember Terry Collins saying he wanted to limit Santana to 110-115 pitches to preserve his health due to shoulder surgery, but couldn't take him after the game.

Sorry for the long post and here is my first Johan card that I picked up for cheap(around $5 shipped) and below is a video of all 27 outs of the wonderful spectacle if you'd like to watch.  The Baxter catch happens at about the 2:30 2:40 mark.  Here's to it happening in my lifetime again.





Lets Go Mets!!!

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