No-hitters killed by first at bat

Before June 1, 2012, a Mets hurler would sometimes keep our hopes up for four, five … or even eight innings before giving up the no-no. Other times, our starting pitcher would let us update the count early so we can relax and watch the ballgame.

This page, recently enhanced with all kinds of additional rankings, is dedicated to Mets pitchers that got the whole no-hitter burden out of the way very early … as in very first batter. We stopped adding to the tally on June 1, 2012, when Johan Santana threw the franchise’s no-no.



Of the 8,019 Mets’ games without a no hitter before Johan’s gem:

• 1,822 games began with a lead-off hit by the Mets’ opponent
• 1,350 potential no-hitters were broken up by a single
• 298 potential no-hitters were broken up by a double
• 63 potential no-hitters were broken up by a triple
• 111 potential no-hitters were broken up by a home run
• 977 of those games were played on the road
• 843 were played at home (61 at Citi Field, 746 at Shea Stadium and 36 at the Polo Grounds)

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Top all-time leadoff hitters who broke up Mets no-nos

If there were a Hall of Fame for breaking up Mets no-hitters early and often, Charlie Hustle would be a first-ballot inductee. You can bet on it.

Pete Rose led all Major Leaguers by breaking up 55 potential Mets’ no-nos from the leadoff position.

1	Pete Rose	55
2	Lou Brock	34
3	Maury Wills	33
4	Jimmy Rollins	32
5	Don Kessinger	31
6	Juan Pierre	30
7	Brett Butler	23
8	Dave Cash	22
9	Rafael Furcal	22
10 (t)	Davey Lopes	20
10 (t)	Delino DeShields	20

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All-time leaders of Mets pitchers who lost no-nos on the leadoff batter

Mets’ aces Jerry Koosman and Tom Seaver are tied for the lead on our all-time roster for losing the most no-hitters on the first batter, each with 78. (That’s probably more indicative of their longevity than anything else.

1 (t)	Jerry Koosman	78
1 (t)	Tom Seaver	78
3	Dwight Gooden	62
4	Ron Darling	60
5	Bobby Jones	52
6	Jon Matlack	43
7	Mike Pelfrey	42
8 (t)	Sid Fernandez	41
8 (t)	David Cone	41
10 (t)	Al Leiter	39
10 (t)	Craig Swan	39

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Rank of Mets pitchers (as of June 1, 2012) who lost no-nos on leadoff batter

If Mike Pelfrey was going to lose a no-hitter, he was amazingly efficient at getting our hopes out of the way early. Pelfrey led all active-roster Mets pitchers as of June 1, 2012 with 38 no-nos lost on the first at bat.

1	Mike Pelfrey	42
2	Johan Santana	19
3	Jonathon Niese	18
4	R.A. Dickey	11
5	Dillon Gee	7
6	Chris Schwinden	2
7 (t)	Miguel Batista	1
7 (t)	Bobby Parnell	1

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Franchises with most leadoff no-no break-ups

1	Philadelphia Phillies	201
2	Pittsburgh Pirates	157
2 (t)	Atlanta (Milwaukee) Braves	157
4	St. Louis Cardinals	155
5	Washington Nationals/Montreal Expos	147
5	San Francisco Giants	145
6	Chicago Cubs	143
7	Houston Astros	137
8	Cincinnati Reds	133
10	Los Angeles Dodgers	129

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2012 opening hit break-ups (through June 1, 2012)

• May 8, 2012: In Philadelphia, Jon niese gives up a lead-off double to the Phillies’ Jimmy Rollins..
• April 28, 2012: In Colorado, Dillon Gee gives up a lead-off single to the Rockies’ Marco Scutaro.
• April 27, 2012: In Colorado, Chris Schwinden gives up a lead-off triple to the Rockies’ Marco Scutaro.
• April 23, 2012: At Citi Field, Dillon Gee gives up a lead-off single to the San Francisco Giants’ Gregor Blanco.
• April 15, 2012: In Philadelphia, Mike Pelfrey gives up a lead-off bloop single to the Phillies’ Juan Pierre.
• April 10, 2012: At Citi Field, Dillon Gee gives up a lead-off homer to the Washington Nationals’ Ian Desmond.

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2011 opening hit break-ups

• Sept. 26, 2011: At Citi Field, Chris Schwinden gives up a lead-off double to the Cincinnati Reds’ Brandon Phillips.
• Sept. 25, 2011: At Citi Field, Mike Pelfrey gives up a lead-off single to the Philadelphia Phillies’ Jimmy Rollins.
• Sept. 24, 2011: At Citi Field, Dillon Gee gives up a lead-off single to the Philadelphia Phillies’ Jimmy Rollins in Game 2 of a doubleheader.
• Sept. 22, 2011: In St. Louis, Chris Capuano yields a lead-off single to the St. Cardinals’ Rafael Furcal.
• Sept. 16, 2011: In Atlanta, Chris Capuano yields a lead-off triple to the Braves’ Michael Bourn.
• Sept. 14, 2011: At Citi Field, Mike Pelfrey gives up a lead-off single to the Washington Nationals’ Ian Desmond.
• Sept. 9, 2011: At Citi Field, Mike Pelfrey gives up a lead-off single Chicago Cubs’ Starlin Castro.
• Sept. 1, 2011: At Citi Field, Miguel Batista yields a lead-off single to the Florida Marlins’ Emilio Bonifacio.
• Aug. 31, 2011: At Citi Field, Chris Capuano yields a lead-off double to the Florida Marlins’ Emilio Bonifacio.
• Aug. 6, 2011: At Citi Field, Jon Niese gives up a lead-off single to the Atlanta Braves’ Michael Bourn.
• July 30, 2011: In Washington, R.A. Dickey yields a lead-off single to the Nationals’ Rick Ankiel.
• July 24, 2011: In Florida, Dillon Gee yields a lead-off single to the Marlins’ Emilio Bonifacio.
• July 22, 2011: In Florida, Mike Pelfrey gives up a lead-off single to the Marlins’ Emilio Bonifacio.
• July 20, 2011: At Citi Field, Skip Schumaker of the St. Louis Cardinals tags R.A. Dickey for a lead-off double.
• July 9, 2011: At Citi Field, Chris Capuano gives up a lead-off single to the San Francisco Giants’ Aaron Rowand.
• July 1, 2011: At Citi Field, Jon Niese gives up a lead-off single to the New York Yankees’ Nick Swisher.
• June 28, 2011: In Detroit, R.A. Dickey gives up a lead-off single to the Tigers’ Austin Jackson.
• June 25, 2011: In Texas, Jon Niese gives up a lead-off single to the Rangers’ Ian Kinsker.
• June 24, 2011: In Texas, Mike Pelfrey gives up a lead-off double to the Rangers’ Ian Kinsker.
• June 16, 2011: In Atlanta, R.A. Dickey gives up a lead-off-single to the Braves’ Jordan Schafer.
• June 13, 2011: In Pittsburgh, Mike Pelfrey gives up a lead-off single to the Pirates’ Jose Tabata.
• June 10, 2011: In Pittsburgh, Dillon Gee gives up a lead-off single to the Pirates’ Jose Tabata.
• June 4, 2011: At Citi Field, Dillon Gee gives up a lead-off single to the Atlanta Braves’ Martin Prado.
• June 3, 2011: At Citi Field, Mike Pelfrey gives up a lead-off bunt single to the Atlanta Braves’ Xavier Paul.
• May 31, 2011: At Citi Field, R.A. Dickey yields a lead-off double to the Pirates’ Jose Tabata.
• May 15, 2011: In Houston, Chris Capuano yields a lead-off single to the Astros’ Michael Bourn.
• May 14, 2011: In Houston, R.A. Dickey yields a lead-off triple to the Astros’ Michael Bourn.
• Apr. 21, 2011: At Citi Field, Mike Pelfrey gives up a lead-off triple to the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Chris Young.
• Apr. 7, 2011: In Philadelphia, Jon Niese gives up a lead-off single to the Phillies’ Shane Victorino.
• Apr. 6, 2011: In Philadelphia, Mike Pelfrey gives up a lead-off triple to the Phillies’ Shane Victorino.
• Apr. 2, 2011: In Miami, Jon Niese gives up a lead-off single to the Marlins’ Chris Coghlan.

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2010 opening hit break-ups

• Sept. 29, 2010: At Citi Field, Jonathon Niese gives up a lead-off single to the Milwaukee Brewers’ Rickie Weeks.
• Sept. 24, 2010: In Philadelphia, R.A. Dickey gives up a lead-off home to the Phillies’ Shane Victorino.
• Sept. 22, 2010: In Miami, Jonathon Niese gives up a lead-off single to the Florida Marlins’ Cameron Maybin.
• Sept. 14, 2010: At Citi Field, R.A. Dickey gives up a lead-off single to the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Andrew McCutchen.
• Sept. 12, 2010: At Citi Field, Jonathon Niese gives up a lead-off single to the Philadelphia Phillies’ Shane Victorino.
• Sept. 1, 2010: In Atlanta, Mike Pelfrey gives up a lead-off single to the Braves’ Omar Infante.
• Aug. 31, 2010: In Atlanta, Jonathon Niese gives up a lead-off infield single to the Braves’ Omar Infante.
• Aug. 30, 2010: In Atlanta, Pat Misch gives up a lead-off single to the Braves’ Omar Infante.
• Aug. 28, 2010: At Citi Field, Johan Santana gives up a lead-off single to the Houston Astros’ Jason Bourgeois.
• Aug. 25, 2010: At Citi Field, Pat Misch gives up a lead-off single to the Florida Marlins’ Cameron Maybin.
• Aug. 24, 2010: At Citi Field, R.A. Dickey gives up a lead-off single to the Florida Marlins’ Hanley Ramirez.
• Aug. 21, 2010: In Pittsburgh, Jonathon Niese gives up a lead-off double to the Pirates’ Andrew McCutchen.
• Aug. 18, 2010: In Houston, R.A. Dickey gives up a lead-off single to the Astros’ Michael Bourne.
• Aug. 17, 2010: In Houston, Johan Santana gives up a lead-off single to the Astros’ Michael Bourne.
• Aug. 6, 2010: In Philadelphia, Jonathon Niese gives up a lead-off single to the Phillies’ Raul Ibanez.
• Aug. 4, 2010: In Atlanta, Mike Pelfrey gives up a lead-off single to the Braves’ Omar Infante.
• Aug. 2, 2010: In Atlanta, Johan Santana gives up a lead-off single to the Braves’ Omar Infante.
• July 31, 2010: At Citi Field, Hisanori Takahashi gives up a lead-off single to the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Chris Young.
• July 28, 2010: At Citi Field, Johan Santana gives up a lead-off single to the St. Louis Cardinals’ Felipe Lopez.
• July 27, 2010: At Citi Field, Jonathon Niese gives up a lead-off single to the St. Louis Cardinals’ Felipe Lopez.
• July 24, 2010: In Los Angeles, Mike Pelfrey gives up a lead-off single to the Dodgers’ Rafael Furcal.
• July 21, 2010: In Arizona, Jonathon Niese gives up a lead-off homer to the Diamondbacks’ Chris Young.
• July 20, 2010: In Arizona, Mike Pelfrey gives up a lead-off single to the Diamondbacks’ Chris Young.
• July 6, 2010: At Citi Field, Johan Santana gives up a lead-off double to the Cincinnati Reds’ Brandon Phillips.
• July 2, 2010: In Washington, Jonathon Niese gives up a lead-off double to the Nationals’ Nyjer Morgan.
• June 30, 2010: In San Juan, Puerto Rico, Mike Pelfrey gives up a lead-off double to the Florida Marlins’ Chris Couglan.
• June 25, 2010: At Citi Field, Mike Pelfrey gives up a lead-off home run to the Minnesota Twins’ Denard Span.
• June 19, 2010: At Yankee Stadium, Mike Pelfrey gives up a lead-off single to the New York Yankees’ Brett Gardner.
• June 13, 2010: In Baltimore, Mike Pelfrey gives up a lead-off single to the Orioles’ Corey Patterson.
• June 12, 2010: In Baltimore, Hisanori Takahashi gives up a lead-off double to the Orioles’ Corey Patterson.
• May 30, 2010: In Milwaukee, R.A. Dickey gives up a lead-off homer to the Brewers’ Rickie Weeks.
• May 23, 2010: At Citi Field, Johan Santana gives up a first-pitch single to the New York Yankees’ Derek Jeter.
• May 21, 2010: At Citi Field, Hisanori Takahashi gives up a lead-off single to the New York Yankees’ Derek Jeter.
• May 17, 2010: In Atlanta, Mike Pelfrey gives up a lead-off single to the Braves’ Martin Prado.
• May 3, 2010: In Cincinnati, Oliver Perez gives up a lead-off homer to the Reds’ Drew Stubbs.
• May 1, 2010: In Philadelphia, Mike Pelfrey gives up a lead-off double to the Phillies’ Shane Victorino.
• April 17, 2010: In St. Louis, Johan Santana gives up a lead-off double to the Cardinals’ Skip Schumaker.
• April 16, 2010: In St. Louis, Oliver Perez gives up a lead-off double to the Cardinals’ Felipe Lopez.
• April 12, 2010: At Citi Field, Johan Santana gives up a lead-off triple to the Washington Nationals’ Nyjer Morgan

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2009 opening hit break-ups

• Oct. 4, 2009: At Citi Field, Nelson Figueroa gives up a leadoff single to the Houston Astros’ Michael Bourn.
• Sept. 28, 2009: In Washington, Nelson Figueroa gives up a leadoff double to the Nationals’ Justin Maxwell, though it probabaly should have been ruled an error on David Wright.
• Sept. 27, 2009: In Florida, Pat Misch gives up a leadoff single to the Marlins’ Chris Coughlan.
• Sept. 10, 2009: At Citi Field, Bobby Parnell gives up a leadoff double to the Florida Marlins Chris Coughlan.
• Sept. 6, 2009: At Citi Field, Mike Pelfrey gives up a leadoff single to the Chicago Cubs’ Sam Fuld.
• Sept. 3, 2009: In Colorado, Pat Misch gives up a leadoff single to the Rockies’ Carlos Gonzalez.
• Aug. 27, 2009: In Miami, Tim Redding gives up a leadoff homer to the Florida Marlins’ Chris Coughlan.
• Aug. 23, 2009: At Citi Field, Oliver Perez gives up a leadoff double to the Philadelphia Phillies’ Jimmy Rollins during a six-run top-of-the-first inning.
• Aug. 17, 2009: At Citi Field, Livan Hernandez gives up a leadoff single (first pitch) to the Giants’ Eugenio Velez.
• Aug. 6, 2009: In San Diego, Livan Hernandez gives up a leadoff single to the Padres’ Tony Gwynn Jr.
• July 30, 2009: At Citi Field, the Colorado Rockies Seth Smith hits a leadoff single off Jon Niese.
• July 28, 2009: At Citi Field, the Colorado Rockies Seth Smith hits a leadoff single off Mike Pelfrey.
• July 22, 2009: In Washington, Mike Pelfrey gives up a leadoff single to the Nationals’ Nyjer Morgan.
• July 9, 2009: At Citi Field, Livan Hernandez gives up a leadoff ground-rule double to the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Rafael Furcal.
• July 5, 2009: In Philadelphia, Johan Santana gives up a leadoff homer to the Phillies’ Jimmy Rollins.
• July 3, 2009: In Philadelphia, Livan Hernandez gives up a leadoff double to the Phillies’ Jimmy Rollins.
• July 2, 2009: In Pittsburgh, Tim Redding gives up a leadoff double to the Pirates’ Andrew McCutchen.
• June 28, 2009: At Citi Field, Livan Hernandez gives up a leadoff double to the New York Yankees’ Derek Jeter.
• June 26, 2009: At Citi Field, Mike Pelfrey gives up a leadoff single to the New York Yankees’ Brett Gardner.
• June 21, 2009: At Citi Field, Mike Pelfrey gives up a leadoff single to the Tampa Bay Rays’ B.J. Upton.
• June 14, 2009: At Yankee Stadium, Johan Santana gives up a first-pitch single to Derek Jeter.
• June 4, 2009: In Pittsburgh Mike Pelfrey yields a leadoff single to the Pirates’ Andrew McCutchen in the rookie’s first Major League at-bat.
• June 1, 2009: In Pittsburgh, Livan Hernandez gives up a leadoff bloop single to the Pirates Nyjer Morgan.
• May 23, 2009: In Boston, Mike Pelfrey yields a leadoff single to the Red Sox’ Jacoby Ellsbury.
• May 22, 2009: In Boston, Johan Santana gives up a leadoff single to the Red Sox’ Jacoby Ellsbury.
• May 20, 2009: In Los Angeles, the Dodgers’ Juan Pierre dinks a short infield single off Livan Hernandez.
• May 16, 2009: In San Francisco, the Giants’ Emmanuel Burriss hits a leadoff single off Johan Santana.
• May 14, 2009: In San Francisco, John Maine yields an infield single to third from the Giants’ Emmanuel Burriss.
• May 10, 2009: At Citi Field, Livan Hernandez gives up a leadoff single to the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Nyjer Morgan.
• May 8, 2009: At Citi Field, Jonathon Niese gives up a line-drive, infield single to third by the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Nyjer Morgan.
• May 7, 2009: At Citi Field, Mike Pelfrey gives up a leadoff single to the Philadelphia Phillies’ Jimmy Rollins.
• May 2, 2009: In Philadelphia, Oliver Perez gives up a leadoff triple to the Philadelphia Phillies’ Shane Victorino.
• April 25, 2009: At Citi Field, Mike Pelfrey gives up a leadoff single to the Washington Nationals’ Anderson Hernandez.
• April 19, 2009: At Citi Field, Nelson Figueroa gives up a leadoff infield single to the Milwaukee Brewers’ Rickie Weeks.
• April 13, 2009: At the first-ever game at Citi Field, Mike Pelfrey gives up a leadoff home run to the San Diego Padres’ Jody Gerut.
• April 8, 2009: In Cincinnati, Mike Pelfrey gives up a leadoff line-drive single to right to the Reds’ Jerry Hairston.

Research for this page was done using BaseballReference.com, with much of the data obtained free of charge from and copyrighted by Retrosheet .