List of Texas Rangers no-hitters

The Texas Rangers are a Major League Baseball franchise based in Arlington, Texas near Dallas. Formed in 1961, they play in the American League West division. Also known in their early years as Washington Senators (1961–71), pitchers for the Rangers have thrown 5 no-hitters in franchise history.[1] A no-hitter is officially recognized by Major League Baseball only "when a pitcher (or pitchers) retires each batter on the opposing team during the entire course of a game, which consists of at least nine innings".[2] No-hitters of less 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.[3] A no-hitter is rare enough that only one team in Major League Baseball has never had a pitcher accomplish the feat.[a] Kenny Rogers threw the first and only perfect game, a special subcategory of no-hitter, in Rangers history on July 28, 1994.[4] As defined by Major League Baseball, "in a perfect game, no batter reaches any base during the course of the game."[2]

The umpire is also an integral part of any no-hitter. The task of the umpire in a baseball game is to make any decision "which involves judgment, such as, but not limited to, whether a batted ball is fair or foul, whether a pitch is a strike or a ball, or whether a runner is safe or out… [the umpire's judgment on such matters] is final."[5] Part of the duties of the umpire making calls at home plate includes defining the strike zone, which "is defined as that area over homeplate (sic) the upper limit of which is a horizontal line at the midpoint between the top of the shoulders and the top of the uniform pants, and the lower level is a line at the hollow beneath the kneecap."[5] These calls define every baseball game and are therefore integral to the completion of any no-hitter.[6]

The manager is another integral part of any no-hitter. The tasks of the manager include determining the starting rotation as well as batting order and defensive lineup every game.

List of no-hitters in Rangers history

   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 July 30, 1973 Bibby, JimJim Bibby 6–0 6 @ Oakland Athletics Billings, DickDick Billings Frantz, ArtArt Frantz Herzog, WhiteyWhitey Herzog
  • First no-hitter in franchise history
  • First Rangers no-hitter on the road
  • First right-handed pitcher to throw a no-hitter in franchise history
 [7]
2 September 22, 1977 Blyleven, BertBert Blyleven* 6–0 2 @ California Angels Sundberg, JimJim Sundberg Spenn, FredFred Spenn Hunter, BillyBilly Hunter [8]
3 June 11, 1990 Ryan, NolanNolan Ryan* (1) 5–0 2 @ Oakland Athletics Russell, JohnJohn Russell Denkinger, DonDon Denkinger Valentine, BobbyBobby Valentine (1)
  • 6th of 7 no-hitters for Ryan
 [9]
4 May 1, 1991 Ryan, NolanNolan Ryan* (2) 3–0 2 Toronto Blue Jays Stanley, MikeMike Stanley Tschida, TimTim Tschida Valentine, BobbyBobby Valentine (2)
  • First Rangers no-hitter at home
  • Last of 7 no-hitters for Ryan
  • At 44, Ryan is the oldest pitcher to throw a no-hitter
  • Ryan struck out Roberto Alomar for the final out; his second baseman in his first two no-hitters had been Alomar's father, Sandy Alomar, Sr.
  • Earlier that day, Rickey Henderson broke Lou Brock's career stolen base record
 [10]
5 July 28, 1994 Rogers, KennyKenny Rogers£¶ 4–0 0 California Angels Rodriguez, IvanIvan Rodriguez Bean, EdEd Bean Kennedy, KevinKevin Kennedy
  • Most recent no-hitter in franchise history
  • First and only perfect game in Rangers history and 14th in MLB history
  • First and only left-handed pitcher to throw a no-hitter in franchise history
  • Preserved by a catch in the ninth inning by rookie center fielder Rusty Greer
 [11]

Footnotes

References

  1. ↑ "Texas Rangers Franchise History". ESPN. Retrieved February 11, 2011.
  2. 1 2 "MLB Miscellany: Rules, regulations and statistics". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved February 11, 2011.
  3. ↑ Kurkjian, Tim (June 29, 2008). "No-hit win makes no sense, except in baseball". ESPN. Retrieved February 11, 2011.
  4. ↑ "Texas Rangers". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved February 11, 2011.
  5. 1 2 "Umpires: Rules of Interest". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved February 11, 2011.
  6. ↑ Bronson, Eric. Baseball and Philosophy: Thinking Outside the Batter's Box, Pgs 98–99. ISBN 0-8126-9556-9. Retrieved February 11, 2011.
  7. ↑ "July 30, 1973 Texas Rangers at Oakland Athletics Play by Play and Box Score". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 11, 2011.
  8. ↑ "September 22, 1977 Texas Rangers at California Angels Play by Play and Box Score". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 11, 2011.
  9. ↑ "June 11, 1990 Texas Rangers at Oakland Athletics Play by Play and Box Score". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 11, 2011.
  10. ↑ "May 1, 1991 Toronto Blue Jays at Texas Rangers Play by Play and Box Score". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 11, 2011.
  11. ↑ "July 28, 1994 California Angels at Texas Rangers Play by Play and Box Score". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 11, 2011.
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