Article:How the New York Yankees Bought Their No-Hitters

by Harold Friend

Mo Bahllowney  ''has resented how the New York Yankees always seem to get what they need. He points out how eleven pitchers the Yankees acquired after they had signed with other teams pitched at least one no-hitter for the team from the Bronx.''

New York Yankees' pitchers have tossed 11 regular season no-hitters and one World Series no-hitter. All of the no-hitters were hurled by pitchers the Yankees acquired from other teams or by free agency. No pitcher originally signed by the Yankees has ever pitched a no-hitter for the Yankees.

The First Yankees' No-Hitter

On April 24, 1917, George Mogridge pitched the first Yankees' a no-hitter. It was against the defending World Champion Red Sox. Mogridge beat knuckleballer Dutch Leonard, 2-1. Boston scored a run in the seventh inning on two walks, an error, and a sacrifice fly. The Yankees had acquired Mogridge from Minneapolis of the American Association in 1915.

Sad Sam Jones

Sad Sam Jones, whom the Yankees had acquired during the 1921 off-season as part of their raiding of the financially strapped Red Sox, no-hit Philadelphia on Sept. 4, 1923. One batter walked, and on reached on an error, as Jones faced only 29 Athletics. Jones didn't record a single strikeout.

A Former Cleveland Indians Against the Indians

Fifteen years later, Monte Pearson, whom the Yankees had obtained from the Indians in 1935, pitched a no-hitter against his former mates. Pearson walked two consecutive batters in the fourth and retired every other hitter he faced as the Yankees rolled to an easy 13-0 win.

Pearson's gem was in the nightcap of the fifth consecutive doubleheader, the last three against the Tribe, that the Yankees had played.

Another Tribe Acquisition Pitched Two No-Hitters in a Season

Another pitcher that the Yankees acquired from the Indians pitched two no-hitter in 1951. Allie Reynolds held the Indians hitless on July 12, and then did the same to the Red Sox on Sept. 28. It was in the latter game that Yogi Berra dropped a two-out foul pop up off the bat of Ted Williams, giving Ted another shot at breaking up the no-hitter. Reynolds got him on another foul pop fly to Yogi.

World Series

On Oct. 8, 1956, former Baltimore Orioles' right hander Don Larsen, who came to the Yankees in one of the biggest trades in baseball history, held Brooklyn hitless in the fifth game of the 1956 World Series.

Righetti Was Drafted by Texas

Dave Righetti made his major league debut with the Yankees in 1979. He no-hit the Red Sox on July 4, 1983, but the Texas Rangers had drafted Dave in the first round of the 1977 draft. He went to New York in 1978 in exchange for Sparky Lyle and four other players.

No Longer a No-Hitter

Andy Hawkins pitched an eight inning no-hitter against the White Sox on July 1, 1990. In early September 1991, the major leagues' committee for statistical accuracy re-defined a no-hitter as "one in which a pitcher or pitchers complete a game of nine innings or more without allowing a hit." All no-hitters of less than nine innings were "notable achievements," not no-hitters. Hawkins had joined the Yankees after the 1988 season as a free agent.

Remarkable Jim Abbott

 Jim Abbott, who had a stump for a right hand, was traded to the Yankees by the Angels after the 1992 season. He no-hit the Indians on Sept. 4, 1993,

Gooden Wells, and Cone

Dwight Gooden, David Wells, and David Cone all signed with the Yankees as free agents. Gooden pitched a no-hitter on May 14, 1996 against Seattle, Wells pitched a perfect game on May 17, 1998 against the offensively challenged Twins, and Cone did the same to Montreal on July 18, 1999.

Freakish

A no-hitter is a freakish accomplishment because luck is involved. Philadelphia hit line drives all over the field against Bobo Holloman, who was making his first major league start on May 6, 1952, but Holloman no-hit the Athletics. Bobo finished his career with three wins. The New York Mets, who brought up Tom Seaver, Nolan Ryan, Jerry Koosman, Jon Matlack, and Dwight Gooden, have never had a no-hitter pitched for them.

Purchased Glory

The fact that no pitcher who originally signed with the Yankees, and that includes Whitey Ford, Ron Guidry, Mel Stottlemyre, Vic Raschi, and Andy Pettitte, has ever pitched a no-hitter for them is not a knock on either the pitchers or the team. It simply adds more support to the fact that much of the glorious New York Yankees' history has been bought.

References:

New York Yankees at Baseball-Almanac

Baseball-Reference

Andy Hawkins Lost His No-Hitter Twice

Bobo Holloman's No-Hitter