No-hitter

In baseball and softball, a no-hit game (more commonly known as a no-hitter) refers to a contest in which one of the teams has prevented the other from getting an official hit during the entire length of the game, which must be at least 9 innings by the current Major League Baseball definition. Foul balls, foul tips, ground outs, fly outs, walks and errors do not break up a no-hitter.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter." The achievement of a no-hitter is rare and considered to be an extraordinary accomplishment for a pitcher or pitching staff. In most cases in the professional game, no-hitters are accomplished by a single pitcher who throws a complete game.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Labeling a game as a no-hitter does not imply that the opposing team has not reached base, since it is quite possible to reach base without a hit. Thus a no-hitter does not imply a shutout, and although it is extremely uncommon, it is possible for a pitcher to throw a no-hitter and yet lose the game. The special case of a no-hitter in which the other team has not reached base at all is called a perfect game. A perfect game is by definition a shutout and a victory.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

It is considered bad luck by many fans and broadcast announcers to mention a team's hitless status while the game is in progress, so often only the most observant fans will realize that there is a possibility of a no-hitter until the game is over - or the no-hitter is broken up.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Baseball: Baseball is a team sport, a bat-and-ball game, in which a hard, fist-sized ball is thrown by a defensive player called a pitcher, and an offensive player called a batter attempts to hit it with a tapered, cylindrical, smooth stick called a bat. The ball itself is also called a baseball. Scoring is a...

Softball: Softball is a team sport in which a ball, eleven to twelve inches in circumference, is thrown by a player called a pitcher and hit by an offensive player called a batter with a round, smooth stick called a bat. The ball itself is also called a softball. Scoring is accomplished by the batter running ...

Hit: The term hit can refer to any of the following:...

No-hitter related Images and Photos (experimental)

Nolan Ryan - 6th No Hitter Last Pitch	Jon Lester's 2008 No Hitter Action; Horizontal	Carlos Zambrano - No Hitter / Overlay	Dwight Gooden No Hitter
Eric Milton - No-Hitter Celebration 1999	Jon Lester's 2008 No Hitter Celebration