One year ago Saturday: The streak ends at 8,019: Santana no-hits Cards

Johan Santana
(NoNoHitters.com photo)

For the first time in 8,019 games, a New York Mets game has ended with a zero in the opposing team’s “H” column.

Johan Santana threw a no-hitter Friday to accomplish what Nolan Ryan, Tom seaver, Dwight Gooden and David Cone could do only for other teams – not the Mets.

Santana scattered five walks and struck out eight during the 8-0 victory.

Santana’s no-no leaves the San Diego Padres as the only franchise without a no-hitter, and anoints the Padres with newfound infamy as the team with the longest drought. We haven’t yet worked out their current count.

The Mets drought stretched into the team’s 50th season, starting when the St. Louis Cardinals’ Julian Javier singled to left off Mets starter Roger Craig on April 11, 1962, during the Mets franchise’s first Major League game.

In addition to Ryan, Seaver, Gooden, Cone, Mike Scott and Hideo Nomo also pitched no-hitters after leaving the Mets. Nomo is the only pitcher to hurl no-nos both before (Los Angeles Dodgers, 1996) and after (Boston Red Sox, 2001) his stints with the Mets.

The rest of the cast pitching no-hitters before joining the Mets includes Don Cardwell (Chicago Cubs), Warren Spahn (Milwaukee Braves), Dean Chance (Minnesota Twins), Dock Ellis (Pittsburgh Pirates), John Candelaria (Pittsburgh Pirates), Bret Saberhagen (Kansas City Royals), Scott Erickson (Twins), Al Leiter (Florida Marlins) and Kenny Rogers (Texas Rangers).

Thank you, Johan for finally breaking the curse.