Are Walks Allowed In A No-Hitter
There have been several notable instances of no-hitters where walks were allowed. For instance, Jim Maloney holds the record for the most walks in a no-hitter, with 10 allowed against the Cubs on August 19, 1965.
Baseball, a sport steeped in tradition and statistics, has its fair share of unique feats. One such feat is the no-hitter, a game where a pitcher or pitchers prevent the opposing team from achieving a hit. But what about walks? Are they allowed in a no-hitter? Let's delve into the rules and history of this fascinating aspect of baseball.
The Definition of a No-Hitter
Major League Baseball (MLB) officially defines a no-hitter as a completed game in which a team that batted in at least nine complete innings recorded no hits. This means that the opposing team was unable to secure a hit throughout the entire game. However, it's important to note that a no-hitter does not mean that the opposing team did not reach base.
Walks in a No-Hitter
A walk, also known as a base on balls, occurs when a batter receives four pitches during a plate appearance that the umpire calls balls. The batter is then awarded first base without the possibility of being called out. So, are walks allowed in a no-hitter? The answer is yes.
In a no-hitter, batters can reach base in ways other than a hit, such as a walk, an error, or a hit batsman. This is one of the key differences between a no-hitter and a perfect game. In a perfect game, no baserunners can reach base by any means, making it a rarer and more challenging feat than a no-hitter.
Notable No-Hitters with Walks
There have been several notable instances of no-hitters where walks were allowed. For instance, Jim Maloney holds the record for the most walks in a no-hitter, with 10 allowed against the Cubs on August 19, 1965. Despite these walks, Maloney still achieved a no-hitter, demonstrating that walks do not disqualify a pitcher from this achievement.
The Rarity of No-Hitters
Despite the allowance of walks, no-hitters remain a rare accomplishment in baseball. Since 1876, only 322 no-hitters have been thrown in MLB history, averaging about two per year. The most recent major league no-hitter by a single pitcher was thrown on August 9, 2023, by Michael Lorenzen of the Philadelphia Phillies against the Washington Nationals.