LIST: No-hitters thrown by Tigers pitchers

Justin Verlander
May 7, 2011 vs. Blue Jays in Toronto

While JV had a great fastball when he tossed his ’07 no-hitter, in this game he had command of all of his pitches, including his devastating curveball. Verlander set down the first 22 batters until he battled Blue Jay catcher J.P. Arencibia with one out in the bottom of the 8th. Arencibia fouled off several tough pitches before taking a close pitch just off the corner of the plate for a walk. A double play erased the runner and JV set down the Jays 1-2-3 in the ninth for his second career no-hitter. He missed a perfect game by a matter of maybe an inch. The win propelled Verlander to one of the best seasons ever for a Tiger pitcher. With a 3-3 record after the no-hitter, Verlander proceeded to go 21-2 from then on. He won his next eight decisions and later won 12 straight on his way to both the American League Cy Young and Most Valuable Player awards.

Justin Verlander
June 12, 2007 vs. Brewers at Comerica Park in Detroit

In his second full season and just the 45th start of his career, Verlander blanked the Milwaukee Brewers in an inter-league game. On this night he had an absolutely incredible fastball, and he struck out 12 batters, tying Bunning’s mark for a Detroit no-hitter. He struck out three of the last four batters swinging. Magglio Ordonez caught the final out in right field.

Jack Morris
April 7, 1984 vs. White Sox in Chicago

Morris was pitching on national television on the first Saturday of the regular season. He had a very lively split-fingered fastball this day, so good that it led to six walks. At one point the White Sox had the bases loaded against the Detroit ace. But he had such good stuff that day that only three balls were hit out of the infield after the fifth inning. Third baseman Tom Brookens and first baseman Dave Bergman both made nice defensive plays in the field to help. At one point late in the game an obnoxious Chicago fan right behind the Tigers dugout shouted to Morris repeatedly that he had a no-hitter, hoping to unsettle the righty. Morris barked back, “Yeah, I know I do and I’m going to finish it!” The Tigers won by the score of 4-0.

Jim Bunning
July 20, 1958 vs. Red Sox in Boston

This was the first game of a twinbill at Fenway Park and Bunning was masterful. He struck out 12 Boston batters – the most K’s by any Tiger in a no-hit game. He walked two and the Tigers won the game, 3-0. The feat didn’t propel Bunning into a stretch of greatness, however. In his next start he was tagged for six runs, and he didn’t make it past the fourth inning in either of his starts after that. Later in his career, Bunning pitched a perfect game while with the Philadelphia Phillies.

Virgil Trucks
August 25, 1952 vs. Yankees in New York

Amazingly, Trucks tossed another no-hitter, his second of the season, this time against the mighty Yankees. The Detroit tight-hander only won five games the entire season (really) and two of them were no-hitters. In this game at Yankee Stadium he won, 1-0, narrowly edging Bill Miller, who only surrendered four hits in eight innings. In December, the Tigers traded Trucks to the Browns as part of a multi-player deal.

Virgil Trucks
May 15, 1952 vs. Senators at Briggs Stadium in Detroit

Rarely has a more unlikely pitcher tossed a no-hitter. Trucks was never an ace, instead serving as second or third fiddle to Hal Newhouser and Dizzy Trout. Six runners reached against Trucks in the 1-0 victory, but Trucks finished off the no-hitter.

George Mullin
July 4, 1912 vs. Browns at Navin Field in Detroit

Less than three months after the first game was played in Navin Field, the Tigers brand new state-of-the-art concrete  and brick ballpark, Mullin stymied the lowly Browns in a 7-0 no-no. “Wabash George” allowed just two baserunners in the second game of the traditional July 4th doubleheader. There weren’t any fireworks at the ballpark back then, but Mullin provided all the excitement that was needed for the holiday crowd. Mullin was the best (and winningest) Detroit pitcher of his era and held the franchise record for wins until Hooks Dauss (a rookie on the ’12 team) passed his mark.