If you’re looking for a great pitcher, you’ll want to check out the list of the best pitches ever thrown in a baseball game. There are many great examples of pitching feats, but what makes the best one so remarkable? We’ll cover Clemens’ seven-inning no-hitter and Martis’ combined no-hitter, plus Hoyt’s 34 straight outs.
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Necciai struck out 27 batters in one game
For the first time, a pitcher has struck out more than a hundred batters in one game, and that’s rare. Necciai, who has a career high of 109 strikeouts in just over three-plus innings, achieved that feat on May 13, 2001. Necciai threw close to 200 pitches, and was able to strike out 27 batters in one game. Dunlop’s Morning Lineup, a weekly newsletter for baseball fans, also informs subscribers about major league news, including the latest player injury.
After pitching in Class-D baseball for two years, Necciai was drafted by the Pirates farm system in 1952. He pitched for the Bristol Twins of the Appalachian League, and despite having stomach ulcers, Necciai pitched a no-hitter that went seven innings without a walk. In his first season with the Pirates, Necciai was a disappointment with a 1-6 record and 7.08 ERA.
Clemens threw a seven-inning no-hitter
In a rare moment of dominance, Roger Clemens threw a no-hitter, striking out every batter in the Tigers’ lineup at least once. The game ended with a standing ovation for Clemens, who was also awarded a winning season. But his performance wasn’t all about that. Clemens was also the most-hitting pitcher in baseball history, striking out 12 batters during one seven-inning game in 1987.
Before throwing the no-hitter, Clemens had struck out only one batter in the third inning. But the sparse crowd was now paying close attention to Clemens’ strikeouts. After that, he struck out the next three batters, including the batter who led the game. He then used his entire arsenal to put the Mariners on the road.
Martis threw a combined no-hitter
Shairon Martis had an outstanding season, culminating with a seven-inning no-hitter against the Flying Squirrels. In the first seven innings, Martis limited the Flying Squirrels to just one hit while striking out nine. The game was then shifted to Richmond because of heavy rains. The Bullpen allowed two runs in the eighth inning to give Richmond a 2-1 win.
In the 2006 World Baseball Classic, Shairon Martis pitched a combined no-hitter, lasting seven innings, against Panama. The no-hitter lasted seven innings, thanks to the mercy rule. Martis threw 65 pitches and had to get help from his teammates in the second half. He was lifted after the seventh inning because the Dutch team had outs in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Hoyt retired 34 consecutive batters in one game
In 1976, Hoyt had the longest string of consecutive innings pitched in a single game by any pitcher. In the fifth inning of Game 4, Hoyt retired 34 consecutive batters, which is still a major league record. Hoyt finished the game with a 3.66 ERA. He struck out 146 batters and walked only five. Hoyt was named the ALCS Rookie of the Year and won the NLCS in the same year.
As a pitcher, Hoyt had a unique skill. His knuckleball was renowned for its unpredictable movement. When he got two strikes, he would then throw his knuckleball, which was extremely hard to hit. Hoyt retired 34 consecutive batters in one game and became the second-highest-scoring pitcher in Major League Baseball history.
Necciai’s career ended due to arm injury
Although he was drafted by the Pirates in 1952, Necciai only played two seasons in Class-D baseball before suffering an arm injury in a 27-pitch game. He then joined the Bristol Twins of the Appalachian League. Although he had stomach ulcers, Necciai’s talent and command of his pitches kept him in the game. Dunlop noted that Necciai’s fastball reached the upper 90’s and his curveball was excellent.
After the season, Necciai was drafted into the army and served a tour of duty in the Korean War. However, he was soon discharged from the military because of ulcer problems. While trying to get back into baseball shape, he tore his rotator cuff and lost his fireballing fastball. After the war, he tried to make a comeback in the minors, but his arm injury made it impossible for him to pitch again.