I didn’t see this anywhere in my Baseball Encyclopedia. Who holds the record for consecutive no-hit innings pitched? I assume it was Vandermeer, since he’s the only one to pitch no-hitters in two consecutive starts. But…
Who holds the record? If not Vandermeer, did some relief pitcher sneak in pitching one inning over the course of an entire season?
And…
How many consecutive innings of no-hit ball did Vandermeer pitch? What about his start prior to that Boston game? What about the game after the Brooklyn game? I seem to recall reading somewhere that the Reds played Boston again after their series with the Dodgers, and Verndermeer was doing it again for a few innings, prompting Casey Stengel, then Boston’s manager, to say to Vandermeer, “Just don’t embarrass us, OK?” or words to that effect.
The record is held by none other than Cy Young at 23 consecutive no-hit innings. Dennis Eckersley came very close at 22 1/3 innings. I don’t know how many Vandemeer ended up with.
That’s interesting. How did Young manage it? Over the course of three games, with a nine-inning no-hitter sandwiched between game one, in which he allowed no hits in the last 8 innings and game three, in which he allowed no hits for the first 6 innings or what? Were there extra inning games? If so, that might make Vander Meer on top for consecutive no-hit innings for nine-inning games.
Young performed his feat in 1904.
He had two hitless innings against Philadephia on 4/25/04. He then threw six hitless innings aginst Washington on 4/30/1904 (not sure if this was as a starter or reliever, most likely the latter). Then threw a perfect game against Philadelphia on 5/5/1904. On 5/11/1904, Young threw six more hitless innings against Detroit.
God bless ya, Bob, I knew you’d come thru! Thanks, man. Then am I right in assuming that Vandy does indeed hold the record for consecutive no-hit innings for nine-inning games?
I would assume that Vander Meer would hold that record. Who else would come close.
In case you cared, the record for most consecutive batters retired without anyone reaching base is 41 and it was set by the immortal Jim Barr of the Giants, in, I believe, 1971 or 1972.
Ah, yes. Jim Barr. I just looked up his stats. A very average pitcher. .474 winning percentage. A respectable ERA. And yet he holds a record. Weird game, baseball. Sometimes the most unusual things are done by the most inauspicious people. Such as Vander Meer, Barr, Wambsgaans.
I’m fascinated by the fact that, among the very few who have hit four home runs in one game (a list that includes the likes of Gehrig, Colavito, Boudreau, Hodges, Mays and Schmidt) is the name Pat Seery. Look up his stats sometime. Mike Schmidt he wasn’t. But he has his place among the elite.
Good to get involved in a baseball thread with you once again, Bob. Aside from my brother-in-law, you’re my favorite librarian.