Expert: Tom Schott - 6/13/2007

Question
Justin Verlander just pitched a no-hitter in his second season. How many players have ever done it that soon?
How many that have done it have won the CY Young that year?

Answer
Dean,

  This was a good question and it took a little research to get the answer for you. In short, the answer is there have been quite a few pitchers to throw no-hitters in their second year and quite a few more who did it as rookies. Only one guy on this list actually won a Cy Young award--Vida Blue won it in 1971, but this was not the year he pitched the no-hitter. A couple of others on this list would certainly have won the Cy Young award had it existed when they played: Christy Mathewson and Carl Hubbell. In the list below, please note that I included only games that went at least nine innings and I did not include any games that were a combined effort by several pitchers. Finally, this list begins in 1901, the modern era. Here you go:

No-hitters in Rookie or 2nd Year
Nine or more inning Games Only, No Combined No-Hitters


Earl Moore, Cle, 1901, 1st season (broken up in 10th)
Christy Mathewson, NYN, 1901, 2d season
Frank Smith, ChiA, 1904, 1st season
Harry McIntire, Brk, 1906, 2nd (broken up in 12th)
Stoney McGlynn, StLA, 1906, 1st
Nidk Maddox, Pit, 1907, 1st
Nap Rucker, Brk, 1908, 2nd
Earl Hamilton, StLA, 1912, 2nd
Jeff Tesreau, NYN, 1912, 1st
Carl Hubbell, NYN, 1929, 2nd
Paul Dean, StLN, 1934, 1st
Vern Kennedy, ChiA, 1935, 1st
Johnny Vander meer, Cin, 1938, 2nd (2 no-hitters)
Bill McCahan, PhiN, 1947, 2nd
Bobo Holloman, StLA, 1953 (only season, only CG)
Bo Belinsky, LAA, 1962, 1st
Don Wilson, Hou, 1967, 2nd
Vida Blue, Oak, 1970, 2nd
Burt Hooten, ChiN, 1972, 2nd
Steve Busby, KC, 1972, 2nd
Jim Bibby, Tex, 1973, 2nd
Ed Halicki, SF, 1975, 2nd
John Candelaria, Pit, 1976, 2nd
Charlie Lea, Mon, 1981, 2nd
Mike Warren, Oak, 1983, 1st
Juan Nieves, MilA, 1987, 2nd
Hideo Nomo, LAN, 1996, 2nd
Jose Jiminez, StLN, 1999, 2nd
Eric Milton, Min, 1999, 2nd
Bud Smith, StLN, 2001, 1st
Anibal Sanchez, Flo, 2006, 1st
Justin Verlander, Det, 2007, 2nd