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.
The first anniversary was painful for a couple of reasons. One because of what happened to Santana since and the other for purely selfish reasons.
All though no relation can conclusively be proven between Johan throwing 134 pitches that night and what has happened to Johan since the link will always be there as it is with so many Met things. First Mets batting title BUT Rayes leaves team, Last play at Shea BUT eliminated after blowing late lead, first Subway Series sweep BUT swept next series by Marlins.
Out of all the nights to fall asleep in front of the TV I picked that one. Yeah I had an excuse I came home from work at 10PM and as watching the DVR time shifted version. Woke up the next morning to the mother of all spoilers. So I still have never seen a Met pitcher throw a no hitter. Replay can never be the same, it is like kissing your sister vs (pick whomever), New Years Day vs New Years Eve, Silver vs Gold medal. You have to feel until the very last strike that something bizarre is going to ruin it. That bizarre occurrence happened when Dickey threw not one but two one hitters right after Santana’s no no. So if the ump had made the right call on Beltran’s liner and the official scorer did not make a hometown decision I would have seen Dickey end the Mets streak. It was like the baseball gods were saying to me you blew it, we will not let Met no hitter #2 happen until you pass from this earth or until you fall asleep again or have to be at a wedding.
Even though I “know” it ain’t happening for me I still think of what it would be like. It might be on the road in front of a few thousand people, there will probably not be any Cardinals or Beltran symbolism associated with it. For sure the rest of the Met fandom will not be crying tears of joy and telling their kids where they were when Met no hitter 2 occurs. But it will be a drought ender for me.
The above is a long way of saying I am glad you decided to continue this site and appreciate the work you put into it.
Thanks so much for the post. Hoping you get to see No. 2 soon. I was on a cruise ship the entire week before the no-no so if it had happened one day earlier I would have missed it and maybe not have heard about it for more than a day. I was glad to see it, but I wish it didn’t do so much damage to our ace. Maybe No. 2 will be a perfecto.
You are welcome