Nolan Ryan pitched two no-hitters with the Rangers.

The Texas Rangers are a Major League Baseball franchise based in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas. Formed in 1961, they play in the American League West division. Known as the Washington Senators from 1961 to 1971, pitchers for the Rangers have thrown five no-hitters throughout their franchise history.[1] A no-hitter is officially recognized by Major League Baseball only "when a pitcher (or pitchers) allows no hits during the entire course of a game, which consists of at least nine innings", though one or more batters "may reach base via a walk, an error, a hit by pitch, a passed ball or wild pitch on strike three, or catcher's interference".[2] No-hitters of less than nine complete innings were previously recognized by the league as official; however, several rule alterations in 1991 meant the exclusion of no-hit games of less than nine innings.[3] Kenny Rogers threw the only perfect game, a special subcategory of no-hitter, in Rangers history on July 28, 1994. It remains their most recent no-hitter as of 2023.[4] As defined by Major League Baseball, "in a perfect game, no batter reaches any base during the course of the game."[2]

The umpire is also an integral part of any no-hitter. The task of the umpire in a baseball game is to make any decision "which involves judgment, such as, but not limited to, whether a batted ball is fair or foul, whether a pitch is a strike or a ball, or whether a runner is safe or out... [the umpire's judgment on such matters] is final."[5] Part of the duties of the umpire making calls at home plate includes defining the strike zone, which "is defined as that area over homeplate (sic) the upper limit of which is a horizontal line at the midpoint between the top of the shoulders and the top of the uniform pants, and the lower level is a line at the hollow beneath the kneecap."[5] These calls define every baseball game and are therefore integral to the completion of any no-hitter.[6]

The manager is another integral part of any no-hitter. The tasks of the manager include determining the starting rotation as well as batting order and defensive lineup every game.

No-hitters

Key
 ¶  Indicates a perfect game
£ Pitcher was left-handed
* Member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
BR Number of base runners by the opposing team
No-hitters
No. Date Pitcher Score BR Opponent Catcher Plate umpire Manager Notes Ref.
1 July 30, 1973 Jim Bibby 6–0 6 @ Oakland Athletics Dick Billings Art Frantz Whitey Herzog
  • First Rangers no-hitter
  • First Rangers no-hitter on the road
  • Largest margin of victory in a Rangers no-hitter (6 runs, tie)
 [7]
2 September 22, 1977 Bert Blyleven* 6–0 2 @ California Angels Jim Sundberg Fred Spenn Billy Hunter [8]
3 June 11, 1990 Nolan Ryan* (1) 5–0 2 @ Oakland Athletics John Russell Don Denkinger Bobby Valentine (1)
  • Longest interval between Rangers no-hitters
    (12 years, 6 months, and 20 days)
  • Sixth of seven no-hitters for Ryan
 [9]
4 May 1, 1991 Nolan Ryan* (2) 3–0 2 Toronto Blue Jays Mike Stanley Tim Tschida Bobby Valentine (2)
  • First Rangers no-hitter at home
  • Smallest margin of victory in a Rangers no-hitter (3 runs)
  • Shortest interval between Rangers no-hitters
    (10 months and 20 days)
  • Last of seven no-hitters for Ryan
  • At 44, Ryan is the oldest pitcher to throw a no-hitter.
 [10]
5 July 28, 1994 Kenny Rogers£¶ 4–0 0 California Angels Iván Rodríguez Ed Bean Kevin Kennedy
  • First and only Rangers perfect game
  • 14th perfect game in MLB history
  • Most recent Rangers no-hitter
    (29 years, 6 months, and 18 days ago)
 [11]

References

  1. ^ "Texas Rangers Franchise History". ESPN. Retrieved February 11, 2011.
  2. ^ a b "MLB Miscellany: Rules, regulations and statistics". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved February 11, 2011.
  3. ^ Kurkjian, Tim (June 29, 2008). "No-hit win makes no sense, except in baseball". ESPN. Retrieved February 11, 2011.
  4. ^ "Texas Rangers". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved February 11, 2011.
  5. ^ a b "Umpires: Rules of Interest". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved February 11, 2011.
  6. ^ Bronson, Eric (2004). Baseball and Philosophy: Thinking Outside the Batter's Box, Pgs 98–99. ISBN 0-8126-9556-9. Retrieved February 11, 2011.
  7. ^ "July 30, 1973 Texas Rangers at Oakland Athletics Play by Play and Box Score". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved February 11, 2011.
  8. ^ "September 22, 1977 Texas Rangers at California Angels Play by Play and Box Score". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved February 11, 2011.
  9. ^ "June 11, 1990 Texas Rangers at Oakland Athletics Play by Play and Box Score". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved February 11, 2011.
  10. ^ "May 1, 1991 Toronto Blue Jays at Texas Rangers Play by Play and Box Score". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved February 11, 2011.
  11. ^ "July 28, 1994 California Angels at Texas Rangers Play by Play and Box Score". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved February 11, 2011.
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