Like many Mets fans yesterday, I enjoyed the results of Johan Santana's no-hitter against the St Louis Cardinals. Like other fans, it was difficult to acknowledge what was going on until it actually happened. Throughout the 50+ year history, no pitcher had ever thrown a no hit, no run game. Every other MLB franchise, including the Marlins, Rockies, Diamondbacks and Rays- for the exception of the San Diego Padres and Mets- had experienced at least one no-hitter. It would be completely understandable if you felt the NY Mets would never throw one ever.
The Mets have had their share of opportunities, led by Tom Seaver's efforts in 1969 and 1972, where he lost the no-hit bids with one out in the 9th inning. Seaver recorded the first two outs in the 9th in 1975 before giving up a hit, despite the game being scoreless. Within the last 5-6 years, both Tom Glavine and John Maine have taken no-hitters in the 8th inning, broken up by Kit Pellow and Paul Hoover, respectively. Of course, there is the list of former and future Mets pitchers that had or will thrown no-hitters, as
The Mets have had their share of opportunities, led by Tom Seaver's efforts in 1969 and 1972, where he lost the no-hit bids with one out in the 9th inning. Seaver recorded the first two outs in the 9th in 1975 before giving up a hit, despite the game being scoreless. Within the last 5-6 years, both Tom Glavine and John Maine have taken no-hitters in the 8th inning, broken up by Kit Pellow and Paul Hoover, respectively. Of course, there is the list of former and future Mets pitchers that had or will thrown no-hitters, as
The question I propose is where goes an individual accomplishment such as a no-hitter rank among the greatest feats in the game. A perfect game would be better. Many may say that winning the World Series surpasses that feat. I agree it is true, but outside of winning playoff series such as the DS and CS, those are the only feats where teams are piling on each other near the pitchers mound. (Of course, when a team makes the playoffs, a similar situation occurs). But you get my point. There is no individual in game feat that gets such a reaction. Watching the Mets pileup near the pitchers mound, it was similar to the sight of a clinching of a playoff spot or a victory in a playoff or World Series. Does that mean it is similar? If you ask some Mets fans, especially the ones who date back into the early to mid 1960s, it has to have some similarity. To me, it is the closest feat you can have to winning, without winning a playoff series or clinching a playoff spot.
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