Mets minor league/spring training no-hitters

Until 2012 no Major League Met ever threw a no-hitter, but pitchers wearing Mets uniforms have thrown them in the minors and in spring training. I’m quite sure this list isn’t anywhere near complete, but I’m posting what I have to prove it can be done at some level. (additions/corrections welcome):

AAA – International League

  • May 29, 2001 – Steve Trachsel, demoted to AAA after a bad 2001 start with the Mets, throws a seven-inning, complete-game no-hitter for the Norfolk Tides. The Tides beat the Ottawa Lynx 3-0 in the opener of an International League doubleheader.
  • May 15, 1992 – David Telgheder pitches a nine-inning no-hitter for the Tidewater Tides during a 1-0 win over the Pawtucket Red Sox. Telgheder struck out seven and walked three.
  • June 27, 1988 – The Tidewater Tides’ John Mitchell throws a seven-inning perfect game against the Indianapolis Indians. According to the Free-Lance Star, Mitchell struck out five during the 4-0 doubleheader opener for the first perfect game in the newly formed Triple A Alliance, which brought together the International League and the American Association.

AA – Eastern League

(Special thanks to B-Mets play-by-play broadcaster Rob Ford for filling in some missing Binghamton no-hitters)

  • July 23, 2006 – Binghamton Mets pitcher Miguel Pinango throws a seven-inning no-hitter in the second game of a doubleheader against Portland. The Mets beat the Sea Dogs 7-0.
  • Aug. 2, 2003 – Binghamton Mets righthander Bob Keppel throws a 3-0 no-hitter against the Portland Sea Dogs, striking out one and walking three.
  • June 27, 2001 – Donne Wall (starting for Binghamton in a Major League rehab start), Jason Roach and Ivan Montane combine for a 1-0 no-hitter versus the New Britain Rock Cats.
  • May 5, 1996 – Binghamton Mets pitcher throws a seven-inning no-hitter versus Trenton. Mets 1, Thunder 0.
  • Sept. 12, 1994 – Binghamton Mets pitcher Bill Pulsipher tosses a no-hitter during Game 2 of the Eastern League Championship Series against the Harrisburg Senators. The Mets win 2-0.
    • Some extra details on this series from Rob: “The next day, Harrisburg took a 4-2 lead into the bottom of the ninth in Game 3 at Binghamton. Rey Ordonez then reached on a one-out single before Edgardo Alfonzo followed with a game-tying, two-run homer. Next up was Brian Jacobs, who hit a walk-off homer for the 5-4 win. Binghamton won Game 4 the following day, taking the EL Championship three games to one. Who was the Harrisburg pitcher who blew the save in Game 3? None other than Al Reyes, whom the Mets just signed to a Minor League deal and sent to Binghamton. Reyes was an EL All-Star closer in ’94, with a league-best 35 saves. Milwaukee chose him in the Major League phase of the Rule 5 draft that December.

A – New York Penn League

    Aug. 23, 2009 – Brooklyn Cyclones pitcher Brandon Moore throws a seven-inning no-hitter in the first game of a doubleheader against Aberdeen IronBirds. Cyclones win 5-0.

A – Florida State League

  • July 3, 1964 — The Mets’ Frank (Soon to be “Tug”) McGraw broke into professional baseball by pitching a no-hitter for the Mets’ Cocoa Rookie League team against the Houston Colt .45’s affiliate. Ya Gotta Believe that he struck out 10 and walked four.
  • June 23, 2003 – St. Lucie Mets pitchers Ken Chenard (5 in) and Mike Cox (2 in) combined for a seven-inning no-hitter during the second game of a doubleheader against the Brevard County Manatees. The Mets won 5-0 and the team notched its third no-hitter of the season.
  • May 28, 2003 – St. Lucie Mets pitchers Tyler Yates (5 in) and Chad Elliott (2 in) combine for a seven-inning no-hitter in the first game of a doubleheader against the Palm Beach Cardinals. The Mets win 4-0.
  • May 9, 2003 – St. Lucie Mets pitchers Wayne Ough (7 in) and Mike Cox (2 in) combine for a nine-inning no-hitter against the Tampa Yankees. The Mets beat the Yanks 5-0 as Ough struck out eight.
  • June 10, 1996 – Southpaw Joe Atwater throws a no-hitter for the St. Lucie Mets during the second game of a doubleheader.
  • June 29, 1995 – St. Lucie Mets lefthander Rafael Rogue strikes out 12 while tossing a no-hitter against the Dunedin Blue Jays during a 6-1 victory. The lone run scored on a walk and two errors.

Rookie League

  • July 3, 1964 — The Mets’ Frank (Soon to be “Tug”) McGraw broke into professional baseball by pitching a no-hitter for the Mets’ Cocoa Rookie League team against the Houston Colt .45’s affiliate. Ya Gotta Believe that he struck out 10 and walked four.

Spring training

  • March 21,1965 – Gary Kroll and Gordy Richardson combined for a nine-inning no-hitter during a 6-0 spring training game in St. Petersburg. Glenn in Troy notes a picture on page 30 of the 1965 Mets yearbook of Richardson throwing a pitch in the ninth inning and another of Kroll and Richardson getting congratulations from the Mets front office brass the following day.

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