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List of Chicago Cubs no-hitters

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The Chicago Cubs are a Major League Baseball franchise based in Chicago. They play in the National League Central division. Also known in their early years as the "Chicago White Stockings" (1876–1889), "Chicago Colts" (1890–1897), and "Chicago Orphans" (1898–1902),[1] pitchers for the Cubs have thrown 18 no-hitters in franchise history.[2] A no-hitter is officially recognized by Major League Baseball only "when a pitcher (or pitchers) allows no hits during the entire course of a game, which consists of at least nine innings".[3] No-hitters of fewer than nine complete innings were previously recognized by the league as official; however, several rule alterations in 1991 changed the rule to its current form.[4]

No Cubs pitcher has yet pitched a perfect game. The closest performance came on September 2, 1972, when Milt Pappas lost his perfect game bid against the San Diego Padres with two outs in the ninth by allowing a walk to Larry Stahl on a 3–2 count; he retired the next batter to finish the no-hitter.[5] During that at-bat, he was ahead of the batter with a 0–2 count before throwing four straight close pitches to allow the walk.

Larry Corcoran threw the first no-hitter in Cubs history on August 19, 1880; the most recent no-hitter was thrown by Shota Imanaga on September 4, 2024. Three left-handed pitchers and ten right-handed pitchers have thrown no-hitters in franchise history; one no-hitter was combined across four pitchers. Corcoran, Arrieta and Ken Holtzman are the only pitchers in Cubs history to throw more than one no-hitter. Corcoran threw three and Arrieta and Holtzman threw two.

On July 31, 1910, King Cole of the Cubs pitched all seven innings in a 4–0 win over the St. Louis Cardinals, without giving up a hit.[6] The second game of a doubleheader, the teams had agreed to end the game at 5 p.m. so they could catch their trains.[7] Due to a 1991 change to the official MLB definition of a no-hitter—it must last at least nine innings—Cole's effort is not recognized by as a no-hitter by MLB and does not appear on the below list.[7]

Nine no-hitters were thrown at home, six on the road, and one at a neutral site. Two occurred in April, two in May, three in June, one in July, five in August, and five in September. A different umpire presided over each of the franchise's 18 no-hitters. 11 different managers led the team during the franchise's 18 no-hitters.

The longest interval between no-hitters was between the games pitched by Jimmy Lavender and Sam Jones, encompassing 39 years, 8 months, and 12 days from August 31, 1915, until May 12, 1955. The shortest interval in days between no-hitters was between the games pitched by Burt Hooton and Milt Pappas, encompassing four months and sixteen days from April 16, 1972, until September 2, 1972.[5] The shortest interval in games between no-hitters was between the games pitched by Jake Arrieta on August 30, 2015, and April 21, 2016, 49 regular-season games. (The Cubs also played nine postseason games in October 2015, between these two no-hitters.)[8][9]

Cubs pitchers have thrown two no-hitters against the Atlanta Braves and their predecessors – one by Corcoran in 1880 and one by Holtzman in 1969. They also threw two no-hitters against the Cincinnati Reds: Holtzman in 1971, Arrieta in 2016.

The Cubs have not allowed a run in any of their no-hitters. The most baserunners allowed in a no-hitter was eight in the Cubs' combined no-hitter in 2021. Of the 17 no-hitters, four have been won by a score of 4–0, more than any other score. The largest margin of victory in a no-hitter (and the largest margin of victory in an MLB no-hitter since 1900) was a 16–0 win by Arrieta in 2016. The smallest margin of victory was a 1–0 win by Holtzman in 1971.

In the 1990 film Taking Care of Business, the no-hitters thrown by Burt Hooton and Milt Pappas during the 1972 season are the subject of a radio trivia contest that sets up the film's plot, which features the Cubs playing in the World Series.

List of no-hitters in Cubs history

[edit]
 ¶  Indicates a perfect game
 £  Pitcher was left-handed
 *  Member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
# Date Pitcher Final score Base-
runners 		Opponent Catcher Plate umpire Manager Notes Ref
1 August 19, 1880 Larry Corcoran (1) 6–0 4[10] Boston Red Caps Silver Flint (1) Herm Doscher Cap Anson (1)
  • First no-hitter in franchise history
  • First no-hitter at home in franchise history
  • First right-handed pitcher to throw a no-hitter in franchise history
 [11]
2 September 20, 1882 Larry Corcoran (2) 5–0 4[12] Worcester Ruby Legs Silver Flint (2) Kick Kelly Cap Anson (2)
  • Latest calendar date of franchise's no-hitter
  • First pitcher to throw two no-hitters
 [13]
3 June 27, 1884 Larry Corcoran (3) 6–0 5[14] Providence Grays Silver Flint (3) Billy McLean Cap Anson (3)
  • First pitcher to throw three no-hitters, the record would stand until Sandy Koufax threw his fourth no-hitter in 1965
 [15]
4 July 27, 1885 John Clarkson* 4–0 3[16] @ Providence Grays Silver Flint (4) Tommy Bond Cap Anson (4)
  • First Cubs no-hitter on the road
 [17]
5 August 21, 1898 Walter Thornton£ 2–0 3[18] Brooklyn Bridegrooms Tim Donahue James McDonald Tom Burns
  • First left-handed pitcher to throw a no-hitter in franchise history
 [19]
6 August 31, 1915 Jimmy Lavender 2–0 2[20] @ New York Giants (NL) Jimmy Archer Bill Klem Roger Bresnahan [21]
7 May 12, 1955 Sam Jones 4–0 7 Pittsburgh Pirates Clyde McCullough Artie Gore Stan Hack
  • Longest interval between no-hitters in franchise history
  • First no-hitter by black pitcher
 [22]
8 May 15, 1960 Don Cardwell 4–0 1 St. Louis Cardinals Del Rice Tony Venzon Charlie Grimm
  • Second game of a doubleheader
  • First start after being acquired by Phillies
 [23]
9 August 19, 1969 Ken Holtzman£ (1) 3–0 3 Atlanta Braves Bill Heath (72⁄3 IP)
Gene Oliver (11⁄3 IP) 		Dick Stello Leo Durocher (1)
  • Holtzman did not strike out a batter the entire game
 [24]
10 June 3, 1971 Ken Holtzman£ (2) 1–0 4 @ Cincinnati Reds Danny Breeden Satch Davidson Leo Durocher (2)
  • Holtzman scored the game's only run
  • Smallest margin of victory in a franchise's no-hitter
 [25]
11 April 16, 1972 Burt Hooton 4–0 7 Philadelphia Phillies Randy Hundley (1) Paul Pryor Leo Durocher (3)
  • Game 2 of season
  • Earliest calendar date of franchise's no-hitter
 [26]
12 September 2, 1972 Milt Pappas 8–0 1 San Diego Padres Randy Hundley (2) Bruce Froemming Whitey Lockman
  • Shortest interval in days between no-hitters in franchise history
  • Only base runner reached on a walk with two outs in the ninth inning
 [27]
13 September 14, 2008 Carlos Zambrano 5–0 2 @ Houston Astros Geovany Soto Tim Tschida Lou Piniella [28]
14 August 30, 2015 Jake Arrieta (1) 2–0 2 @ Los Angeles Dodgers Miguel Montero Pat Hoberg Joe Maddon (1) [29]
15 April 21, 2016 Jake Arrieta (2) 16–0 4 @ Cincinnati Reds David Ross Dana DeMuth Joe Maddon (2)
  • Largest margin of victory in a franchise's no-hitter
  • Modern era Major League record (since 1901) for most runs scored by the winning team in a no-hitter
  • Shortest interval in games between no-hitters in franchise history
 [30]
16 September 13, 2020 Alec Mills 12–0 3 @ Milwaukee Brewers Víctor Caratini Chris Segal David Ross (1) [31]
17 June 24, 2021 Zach Davies (6 IP)
Ryan Tepera (1 IP)
Andrew Chafin£ (1 IP)
Craig Kimbrel (1 IP) 		4–0 8 @ Los Angeles Dodgers Willson Contreras Brian O'Nora David Ross (2)
  • First combined no-hitter in franchise history
  • Most baserunners allowed in a franchise's no-hitter
 [32]
18 September 4, 2024 Shota Imanaga£ (7 IP)
Nate Pearson (1 IP)
Porter Hodge (1 IP) 		12–0 5 Pittsburgh Pirates Miguel Amaya Emil Jimenez Craig Counsell
  • First Cubs no-hitter at Wrigley Field since 1972
  • Second combined no-hitter in franchise history
 [33]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Chicago Cubs Team History & Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 19, 2010.
  2. ^ "Chicago Cubs Franchise History". ESPN. Retrieved November 19, 2010.
  3. ^ "MLB Miscellany: Rules, regulations and statistics". MLB.com. Retrieved November 19, 2010.
  4. ^ Kurkjian, Tim (June 29, 2008). "No-hit win makes no sense, except in baseball". ESPN. Retrieved November 19, 2010.
  5. ^ a b "Chicago Cubs". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved November 19, 2010.
  6. ^ "Chicago Cubs 4, St. Louis Cardinals 0 (2)". Retrosheet. July 31, 1910. Retrieved January 4, 2018.
  7. ^ a b "Close, but no cigar — No-hitters not officially recognized by MLB". nonohitters.com. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
  8. ^ "2015 Chicago Cubs Schedule".
  9. ^ "2016 Chicago Cubs Schedule".
  10. ^ Chicago Tribune, Aug. 20, 1880, page 8
  11. ^ "1880 White Stockings season schedule, box scores, and splits". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 19, 2010.
  12. ^ Chicago Tribune, Sept. 21, 1882, page 8
  13. ^ "1882 White Stockings season schedule, box scores, and splits". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 19, 2010.
  14. ^ Chicago Tribune, June 28, 1884, page 6
  15. ^ "1884 White Stockings season schedule, box scores, and splits". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 19, 2010.
  16. ^ Chicago Tribune, July 28, 1885, page 5
  17. ^ "1885 White Stockings season schedule, box scores, and splits". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 19, 2010.
  18. ^ Chicago Tribune, Aug. 22, 1898, page 9
  19. ^ "1898 White Stockings season schedule, box scores, and splits". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 19, 2010.
  20. ^ Chicago Tribune, Sept. 1, 1915, page 13
  21. ^ "1915 White Stockings season schedule, box scores, and splits". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 19, 2010.
  22. ^ "May 12, 1955 Washington Senators at Chicago Cubs Box Score and Play by Play". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 19, 2010.
  23. ^ "May 15, 1960 St. Louis Cardinals at Chicago Cubs Box Score and Play by Play". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 19, 2010.
  24. ^ "August 19, 1969 Atlanta Braves at Chicago Cubs Box Score and Play by Play". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 19, 2010.
  25. ^ "July 20, 1958 Chicago Cubs at Cincinnati Reds Box Score and Play by Play". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 19, 2010.
  26. ^ "April 16, 1972 Philadelphia Phillies at Chicago Cubs Box Score and Play by Play". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 19, 2010.
  27. ^ "September 2, 1972 Chicago Cubs at Chicago White Sox Box Score and Play by Play". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 19, 2010.
  28. ^ "September 14, 2008 Chicago Cubs at Houston Astros Box Score and Play by Play". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 19, 2010.
  29. ^ "August 30, 2015 Chicago Cubs at Los Angeles Dodgers Box Score and Play by Play". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 31, 2015.
  30. ^ "April 21, 2016 Chicago Cubs at Cincinnati Reds Box Score and Play by Play". Baseball-Reference.com.
  31. ^ "Cubs vs. Brewers | 09/13/20". MLB.com. Retrieved 2020-09-13.
  32. ^ "Cubs vs. Dodgers | 06/24/21". MLB.com. Retrieved 2021-06-25.
  33. ^ "MLB Gameday: Pirates 0, Cubs 12 Final Score (09/04/2024)". MLB.com. Retrieved 2024-09-05.
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