2021 breaks MLB record for most no-hitters in a season

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It was the year of the no-no.

There were more no-hitters thrown during the 2021 season than any other in MLB history. 

Corbin Burnes and Josh Hader of the Milwaukee Brewers combined for the latest on Sept. 11 in a 3-0 win over the Cleveland Indians, tossing the league’s ninth no-hitter of the season.

That broke the previous record of eight, which was set a whopping 137 years ago. 

According to ESPN Stats & Information research, this season was the first time in league history that there had been six no-hitters thrown before June. With three more since, history was made.

How many no-hitters have there been in the 2021 MLB season?

There were nine total nine-inning no-hitters thrown in the 2021 season. That’s not even counting two seven-inning performances that don’t count as true no-hitters: San Francisco Giants starter Madison Bumgarner tossed seven no-hit innings during a doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves in late April and the Tampa Bay Rays combined for seven innings of no-hit baseball during an early July doubleheader against the Cleveland Indians.

  • Joe Musgrove: Musgrove tossed the first no-hitter of the season -- and in San Diego Padres history -- against the Texas Rangers on April 9.
  • Carlos Rodon: Rodon’s no-hitter for the Chicago White Sox on April 14 was just two outs shy of being a perfect game against the Cleveland Indians.
  • John Means: Means threw his first career no-hitter for the Baltimore Orioles on May 5 against the Seattle Mariners. Means' no-no was also just shy of a perfect game -- though the O’s ace didn’t allow a hit, walk or hit batsman, a strike three during the third inning got away for a wild pitch and Sam Haggerty reached first base.
  • Wade Miley: Cincinnati Reds pitcher Miley tossed his first no-hitter on May 7 against the Indians. 
  • Spencer Turnbull: Turnbull threw a no-no on May 18 for the Detroit Tigers against the Mariners.
  • Corey Kluber: On May 19 against the Rangers, Kluber threw the Yankees' first no-hitter since David Cone’s perfect game on July 18, 1999 against the Montreal Expos. Kluber’s no-no makes this season the first time in MLB history that three teams have been no-hit twice in a season (Indians, Mariners, Rangers).
  • Chicago Cubs: Four Cubs pitchers contributed to a no-hitter against the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers on June 24. Starting pitcher Zach Davies tossed six hitless innings, while Ryan Tepera, Andrew Chafin and Craig Kimbrel tossed one each to seal the no-no. It was the first of the Cubs' 17th no-hitters in franchise history that was combined. The Dodgers were no-hit for the 20th time, the most of any team. 
  • Tyler Gilbert: Incredibly, Gilbert managed a no-hitter in his very first MLB start on Aug. 14. The Diamondbacks rookie was selected in the 2021 Rule 5 draft and had previously appeared in relief in three games this year. Three other pitchers have thrown no-hitters on their first try, but none since Bobo Holloman in 1953.
  • Corbin Burnes and Josh Hader: The two Brewers pitchers combined to pitch what was MLB’s record-breaking ninth no-hitter. Burnes, who struck out 14 over eight innings, had a perfect game through six innings before issuing a walk to lead off the seventh for what was the Indians’ lone baserunner in the game. Hader closed the game with a perfect ninth for the second no-hitter in franchise history. It was the third time this season that the Indians were no-hit, following their hitless performances against Rodon in April and Miley in May.

What is the most no-hitters thrown in a single MLB season?

In 1884, there were eight no-hitters thrown in a single season. That record was tied during the 2021 season on Aug. 14.

The nine no-hitters this season set a new modern-era record, surpassing the seven no-hitters in one season, achieved in 1990, 1991, 2012 and 2015.

This season, and month of May in particular, was historically close to June of 1990. May 2021 marked the second month in MLB history to have four no-hitters -- the first being June 1990. Turnbull and Kluber’s no-nos were the first time since June 29, 1990, that no-hitters were thrown one or fewer days apart, when Dave Stewart and Fernando Valenzuela threw them on the same day.

How many no-hitters have there been in Chicago White Sox history?

The Chicago White Sox hold the current record for the second most no-hitters in Major League Baseball history by current teams. The White Sox have thrown 20 no-hitters, with the earliest coming from Nixey Callahan on Sept. 20, 1902 -- the first no-hitter in American League history. The most recent was thrown by Rodon this season, making it the 20th no-hitter in White Sox history.

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