Last Updated: June 17th, 2026 by Matthew Brown
Baseball’s no-hitters are like fingerprints – no two are exactly alike. While some come from the game’s greatest arms, it’s often the unexpected ones that stick in our memory longest. These are the games that defied logic, that came from nowhere, that had us calling our friends saying, “Are you watching this?” They’re the moments that remind us why baseball remains the most wonderfully unpredictable sport ever invented.
Don't lose this article. Enter your email below, and I'll send it to you right now. Plus, we'll send you other unbelievable stories from baseball's past.
Jim Abbott’s One-Armed Miracle Against Cleveland (1993)
Born without a right hand, Jim Abbott had already inspired millions before September 4, 1993. But on that Saturday afternoon at Yankee Stadium, he authored his masterpiece, no-hitting a powerful Cleveland lineup. His smooth motion of throwing and switching his glove became baseball poetry, proving that limitations exist only in the mind.
Dave Morehead’s Bright Spot in Boston’s Dark Season (1965)
In a 1965 season where the Red Sox lost 100 games, Dave Morehead provided one magical afternoon. On the same day the Red Sox fired their general manager, Morehead no-hit Cleveland before just 1,247 fans at Fenway Park. Sometimes baseball’s brightest moments come when you least expect them.
Bobo Holloman: First Start, First No-Hitter, Then Gone (1953)
Alva “Bobo” Holloman begged Browns manager Marty Marion for a start, then made history in his first one. After throwing a no-hitter against the Athletics, he won only two more games before being sent back to the minors, never to return. It remains baseball’s most remarkable one-hit wonder.
Ken Johnson: The No-Hitter That Became a Loss (1964)
Ken Johnson pitched nine no-hit innings for Houston, but his own throwing error in the ninth inning led to an unearned run. The Colt .45s couldn’t score, making Johnson the first pitcher to lose a complete-game no-hitter. Sometimes excellence on the mound isn’t enough to win in baseball.
Jim Maloney’s 10 Inning No-Hit Heartbreak (1965)
On June 14, Maloney no-hit the Mets for 10 innings, striking out 18, only to lose it on a home run in the 11th. Two months later, he threw another 10-inning no-hitter, this time winning. It was a summer of what-ifs and what-was for Cincinnati’s flame-throwing right-hander.
Bill Stoneman Stuns the Phillies in Expos’ Ninth Game Ever (1969)
The Expos were just nine games into their existence when Stoneman delivered their first miracle. On a chilly night at Philadelphia’s Connie Mack Stadium, the rookie baffled the Phillies despite walking five batters. Montreal’s expansion team had its first hero, and French-Canadian broadcasters had their first “C’est incroyable!”
Sam Jones: First African-American to Throw a No-No (1955)
“Toothpick Sam” Jones loaded the bases with walks in the ninth inning, then struck out the Pirates’ 3-4-5 hitters to complete his historic no-hitter. The Cubs hurler didn’t just make history as the first African-American to throw a no-hitter; he did it with maximum drama.
Blue Moon Odom and Francisco Barrios Share Unlikely Glory (1976)
When Blue Moon Odom walked too many batters after five no-hit innings, manager Paul Richards called on rookie Francisco Barrios. The young Mexican pitcher completed the unlikely combined no-hitter, giving the White Sox their most unusual pitching achievement: two unlikely heroes, one unforgettable afternoon.
Steve Busby’s No-Hitter in Milwaukee’s Rain and Mud (1974)
On a miserable night in Milwaukee, Steve Busby somehow maintained control of a wet baseball to no-hit the Brewers. Between rain delays and treacherous footing, he battled the elements as much as the batters. It was his second no-hitter in two years, but this one required a swimmer’s touch.
Joe Cowley: A No-Hitter, Then Never Won Again (1986)
Joe Cowley walked seven batters and struck out eight in his unlikely gem against the Angels. Somehow, this would be his last career victory – he lost his final four starts and never pitched in the majors again—baseball’s cruelest irony: reaching your highest peak just before the cliff.
Dave Stewart and Fernando: Same Day, Different Coasts (1990)
On June 29, 1990, Dave Stewart no-hit the Blue Jays in Toronto. Hours later, Fernando Valenzuela matched him against the Cardinals in Los Angeles. It marked the only time two no-hitters were thrown on the same day, creating a bi-coastal celebration that baseball had never seen before.
Dock Ellis’s LSD No-Hitter: The Most Psychedelic Game Ever (1970)
On June 12, 1970, Pirates pitcher Dock Ellis threw a no-hitter while under the influence of LSD, a fact he wouldn’t reveal until years later. He walked eight, hit a batter, and claimed he sometimes couldn’t see the catcher’s signals. The box score shows a masterpiece; the backstory reveals baseball’s most surreal afternoon.