No-Hitters in the World Series: Answer First
No, no pitcher has ever thrown a no-hitter in World Series history. Across 119+ years of Fall Classic games, every series has featured at least one hit for each team. This enduring absence stands in contrast to regular-season no-hitters and combined no-hitters in the postseason. Below we clarify definitions, review the closest World Series approaches, and place this rarity in broader context.
Defining a No-Hitter for Postseason Context
A regulation no-hitter requires a single pitcher (or multiple pitchers) to retire all 27 opposing batters over a complete game without allowing any hits. For combined no-hitters, multiple pitchers share the complete game effort, and each batter retired without a hit counts toward the collective no-hitter. In the World Series, which can include complete games, split pitching duties, and abbreviated outings due to weather or runner advances, the same standard applies. Importantly, hits allowed by either team disqualify any game or effort from being called a no-hitter.
World Series Game Structure and No-Hitter Criteria
World Series games follow standard MLB rules, but circumstances can affect hitless attempts:
- Games can end early due to weather or other conditions (e.g., the 2008 Rule 5.10).
- Hit batters and errors do not prevent a no-hitter; only hits do.
- A single hit at any point in the game invalidates a no-hitter for that game.
Because World Series rosters emphasize matchup advantages, bullpens often enter high-leverage situations with runners on base, increasing hit probabilities compared to a typical regular-season start.
The Long List: World Series Games That Were Not No-Hitters
No World Series game has ever been recorded as a no-hitter, but several have come close in the sense of strong complete-game performances with few hits. Below is a table highlighting near-miss or low-hit World Series games for context.
| Date | Game | Teams | Hits (Winning Team / Losing Team) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 Game 7 | Final Game | PIT vs NYY | 3 / 3 | Bill Mazeroski’s walk-off HR ends series; both teams had hits. |
| 2013 Game 7 | Final Game | BOS vs STL | 1 / 2 | Low-hit Game; both teams reached base safely. |
| 2001 Game 7 | Final Game | AZS vs ATL | 2 / 3 | Late hits end shutout possibility; series ends in decisive win. |
| 1996 Game 1 | Early Series | NYY vs ATL | 4 / 3 | Competitive hits across both lineups. |
| 1956 Game 5 (Don Larsen) | Perfect Game | NYY vs BKN | 0 / 2 | Perfect game in a World Series, but opponent still got on base via walks and errors. |
The Don Larsen Perfect Game: A Common Point of Confusion
The most frequently mentioned World Series no-hit–type event is Don Larsen’s perfect game in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series. A perfect game requires no hits and no baserunners (via hits, walks, or errors) for the entire outing. Larsen’s performance is the only perfect game in World Series history. By contrast, a no-hitter permits baserunners via walks, hit batters, or errors; however, no hits are allowed. Larsen’s game remains the only occasion a World Series pitcher retired all 27 batters faced without a hit, and it stands alone as a perfect game.
Closest World Series No-Hitter Attempts and Complete Games
While no World Series game has been a no-hitter, several pitchers have thrown complete games with few hits. Below are a few notable single-game efforts, not series-defining performances, but illustrative of how rarely hitless outings occur even in high-leverage games.
| Year | Game | Pitcher | Team | Hits Allowed | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | Game 5 | Don Larsen | Yankees | 0 | Perfect game (no hits, no walks, no errors). |
| 1966 | Game 3 | Jim Kaat | Twins | 2 | Complete game, 2 hits, eventual win. |
| 1971 | Game 2 | Bob Gibson | Cardinals | 2 | Complete game, 2 hits, eventual win. |
| 1977 | Game 6 | Sparky Lyle | Yankees | 3 | Complete game, 3 hits, eventual win. |
| 2020 | Game 6 | Tyler Glasnow | Dodgers | 4 | Strong complete-game effort, but hits proved decisive. |
How This Fits Into Broader No-Hitter Categories
No-hitters are most common in the regular season, with multiple combined and solo no-hitters occurring each decade. In the postseason, definitions expand to include combined no-hitters, yet World Series games remain hitless-free territory. Below is a concise breakdown that contrasts no-hit outcomes across common contexts.
| Context | Definition | World Series Example |
|---|---|---|
| No-Hitter | No hits allowed over a complete game or combined effort. | None to date. |
| Perfect Game | No hits and no baserunners via hit, walk, or error. | Don Larsen, 1956 Game 5. |
| Combined No-Hitter | Multiple pitchers retire all batters without hits. | Not applicable; none in World Series. |
Common Misconceptions and Frequently Asked Questions
Because people conflate perfect games with no-hitters, myths persist. A no-hitter does not require zero baserunners, only zero hits. Walk-offs, errors, and hit batters can occur and still preserve a no-hitter. In the World Series, the combination of elite defense, high-leverage at-bats, and diverse pitching usage has so far prevented any no-hitter from occurring. That may change in future series, but as of the current baseball record, the answer remains no.
Why This Record Has Endured
World Series no-hitters have not happened for a mix of factors: smaller sample sizes (at most 7 games per series), the quality of opposing hitters, and the tactical use of relievers in key moments. In an era of specialized bullpens and advanced analytics, pitchers face higher strikeout rates; however, contact hitters in October and high-leverage situations still make hits more probable than a completely hitless outing.
Looking Ahead: Could It Happen?
Statistically, a World Series no-hitter is possible and would require a pitcher (or pitchers) to retire 27 consecutive batters without a hit. It would not require a perfect game, as walks and errors could still occur. The length of series (best-of-7) introduces more opportunities, but also more variables such as opposing lineups, park factors, and bullpen management. Until it occurs, this streak remains a notable footnote in baseball’s statistical record.
Quick Takeaways
- No World Series game has ever been a no-hitter.
- Don Larsen’s 1956 perfect game remains the only flawless World Series outing.
- Low-hit complete games are common; hits, not baserunners, are the threshold for no-hitters.
- Rule and roster differences in the postseason do not change the definition of a no-hitter.
- An eventual World Series no-hitter would hinge on sustained execution over six or seven games.