Tuesday Trivia: No-Hitters after 40
 

Name the four players that have pitched no-hitters after they turned 40 years old.

I'll start with the easiest answer - Nolan Ryan.

Yes, Nolan Ryan is the oldest and second oldest player to throw a no hitter.

He threw his last of 7 no hitters on 5/1/1991 at 44 years, 90 days old against the Blue Jays, striking out 16 and walking 2 on 101 pitches.

It was a doubly historic day for baseball as Rickey Henderson broke Lou Brock's stolen bases record on the same day.

Ryan also threw a no hitter on 6/11/1990 vs. Athletics at 43 years, 131 days old. He struck out 14 and walked 2 on 130 pitches.

3 more players have thrown no-hitters after the age of 40.

Cy Young? I know he had a few no hitters.

Great guess! Cy Young held the record as the oldest pitcher to throw a no-hitter for 82 years, having thrown one on 6/30/1908 at 41 years and 93 days old vs. the New York Highlanders. Young struck out 2 and walked one, and faced the minimum 27 batters.

Two more to go.

Randy Johnson

I think I would have gotten the no hitter against the Athletics correct! Here's my keepsake.

Yes! Randy Johnson is the only player to pitch a perfect game after the age of 40, having done so on 5/18/2004 vs. the Braves at 40 years 251 days old. Johnson struck out 13 on 117 pitches to earn the 17th perfect game in AL/NL history.

One left.

Knucksie?

Great guess, but Phil Niekro was 34 when he had his no-hitter.

Hint: He was good hitter for a pitcher, having homered in a record 17 straight consecutive seasons.

Warren Spahn?

Ding Ding Ding! Warren Spahn pitched a no-hitter on 5/28/1961 vs. the Giants, walking 2 and striking out 5, including Willie Mays twice, defeating the Braves 1-0 on a Hank Aaron RBI single in the first inning. Spahn was 40 years and 5 days old.

This was Spahn's second no-hitter, his first coming the previous year, and just 6 starts earlier on 9/16/1960 vs. the Phillies when Spahn was 39 years old.

After his second no-hitter Spahn remarked "This is ridiculous. A fellow my age shouldn’t be pitching no-hitters… Here I pitch 15 years in the National League and don’t get a no-hitter. Then, bingo, I’ve got two. How do you figure it?"

You missed one. Billy Chapel was 40 when he threw his perfect game against the Yankees.

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Oh, For the Love of the Game, good point.;)

I know, I know...but it was (very) Fast-Pitch version:


I wish I had seen him...must have been something to behold.


His meticulous record-keeping showed 9,743 victories, 141,517 strikeouts, 930 no-hitters and 238 perfect games!!!

In 1967, he struck out 6 Major Leaguers - including Willie Mays - in a row.


He had a stroke at age 75 in 2000, and quite pitching, but surely, there were lots of no-nos past age 40.

He was Eddie Feigner - 'The King and His Court.'


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Yes, Eddie was unhittable for a long, long time. I saw the King and his Court twice. Probably in the late 70s or early 80s. It was a great show.

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Peter, you have everybody's card, don't you? BTW, is that his rookie?

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Well, I may as well further hijack this thread...sorry Charles...

Speaking of 'a' Show (not to be confused with THE Show)


I got to see the Savannah Bananas in 2022. Lots of fun!


I'd compare them to the Harlem Globetrotters.


They sell out wherever they go...


Lots of farting around, but they have some good athletes.



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My Mom moved within walking distance of the Savannah Bananas stadium. Still haven't seen them, but really want to.

They sell out pretty quick at home. You can get scalped tickets but they are expensive.

I was lucky...not only did they come to my town, but 75-year-old Bill Lee logged an inning!

What a Great Show!


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