Did Ray Schalk, like Varitek, catch 4 no-no's?
If you go to Cooperstown and read Schalk's plaque in the Baseball Hall of Fame, that's what you'd come away believing. Here's what the plaque says:
"Caught four no-hit games including perfect game in 1922.''
So why is everyone, including the Globe, reporting that Varitek on Monday night became the first catcher to catch four no-hitters?
Because on Sept. 4, 1991, baseball's committee on statistical accuracy, chaired by Fay Vincent, changed its definition of what a no-hitter was. The committee voted 8-0 to define a no-hitter as a game of nine innings or more that ended with no hits.
The definition eliminated 38 shortened no-hitters and 12 games in which a pitcher threw nine no-hit innings, then gave up a hit in extra innings.
That's what happened with one of Schalk's no-hitters. In 1914, Jim Scott of the White Sox had a no-hitter through nine innings, but gave up two hits in the 10th. After '91, that no longer counted as a no-no.
Schalk caught a no-hitter by Joe Benz in 1914, Eddie Cicotte in 1917 and a perfect game (no hits, no walks, no errors, 27 up, 27 down) by Charlie Robertson in 1922.
Twelve catchers, including Schalk, have caught 3 no-hitters: Alan Ashby, Bill Carrigan, Charles Johnson, Del Crandall, Ed McFarland, Jeff Torborg, Jim Hegan, Luke Sewell, Schalk, Roy Campanella, Silver Flint, and Val Picinich. Yogi Berra would be included if postseason games were added as well, Berra having been behind the plate for Don Larsen's perfect game in the 1956 World Series.
Great work clearing that up Gordon, it's been talked about a few times tonight and you are the only one to go the extra mile to pass along an explanation. You will be missed when you go to Yahoo Sports.
Plus, Varitek also caught Hansack's rain-shortened unofficial no hitter.
If they had allowed no hitters of less than nine innings, then Tek would have one more....the last game 2 yrs ago (10/1/06) when Hansack threw a 5 inning no-hitter vs. the Orioles.
Jason Varitek also caught Devern Hansack's 5 inning no hitter of Baltimore at the end of 2006 giving him 5 no hitters.
if you count rain shortened - didn't Varitek catch the last game of the season (2006) with Devern Hansack 5 inning no hitter?
Even if Shalke caught four no-hitters under the old definition, Varitek would (under the old definition) be credited with catching five no-hitters. Remember, he caught Devern Hansack's five inning, rain shortened no-hitter in the final game of the 2006 season.
Also, if they count shortened no-hitters wouldn't Varitek have five with Devern Hansack's five inning one in the last game of '06?
It has to be open for discussion that Jason Variteck could be to greatest catcher in baseball history.
And remember, if they still counted shortened games, Varitek caught Devern Hansack's 5-inning no-hitter in the 2006 finale, so either way he has the lead.
If we're going to talk about the old rules, then Varitek has actually caught FIVE no hitters. He was the catcher when Devern Hansack no hit the Orioles in a five inning game to end the 2006 season.
If they had not changed the rules, Tek would have 5 no-hitters, as he was behind the plate for the 10/1/06 five inning, rain shortened complete game no-hitter thrown by Hansack against the Orioles.
Didn't Tek catch Devern Hansack's rain shortened no-no on 10/01/2006?
I know this doesn't have to do with Tek but that rule passed by former commish Fay Vincent that defined what a no hitter is is the same reason that Pedro Martinez isnt credited with throwing a no hitter in Montreal when he threw 9 no hit innings and lost it in the 10th.
Certainly the best handler of pitchers of all time. If you count Hansack, that's 3 no hitters he's caught with virtual rookies, plus 2 with two of the biggest head cases of all time (Nomo & Lowe.) However, if you factor in throwing arm and offense, it's no longer open for discussion. He's not up to par with the great catchers of the past in those areas.
Varitek is Hall of Fame worthy. He plays a position that has relatively few gaudy offensive benchmarks, especially if you consider the inflated numbers of Rodriguez and Piazza possibly due to certain "chemical enhancements." His offensive numbers are not up to the real catchers standard of Carter/Fisk/Bench, but he has a little more time to add to his numbers, although he'll never get to 300 homers or 2500 hits. However, holding the record for no hitters is quite an acheivement. Include the fact that he was the captain of the Sox for the championships ( people use that to defend jeter's supposed hall eligibility) with possibly more to come, and he has a great resume for a primarily defensive position. The Hall of Fame is not the Hall of Offense. Look at all the shortstops and catchers that have been granted entrance simply due to the quality of their defense. Varitek has to be the most valuable catcher currently playing (possibly a tie with the clearly Hall bound Posada). We all saw this when he was injured and the Sox tanked in 2006.
funny to see the 'power' of moderated responses. Either that or peopel don't read the comments of others before commenting.... Don't forget Hansack.... If they hadn't changed the rules.... DIdn't 'Tek catch Devern's rain shortened no-no?....
just strikes me funny.
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