Cubs History: A chronicle of no-hitters through the years

The Chicago Cubs added a new milestone to their storied history as on Sunday, and Alec Mills finished off the organization’s 16th no-hitter.

What started as a far-off thought, a pipe dream of sorts, culminated into a record-book moment in Cubs history. Alec Mills, fresh off a huge home victory the week prior versus the Cincinnati Reds, made history on Milwaukee’s road, blanking the Brewers and pitching his way into baseball lore.

Mills became the 16th Cubs starting pitcher to twirl a no-hitter. A moment he nor Cubs fans will forget. After narrowly missing the rotation at the beginning of the year, as fate and a broken wine glass would have it, Mills worked his way into the starting rotation. Two months later, he finds himself at the echelon of greatness.

No-hitters are rare. There are only four teams who have thrown more no-nos than the Cubs. In true style and to pay homage to those before Mills, it is time we jump into our time portal to take a trip down memory lane of those past accomplishments.

Cubs History: Sam Jones slams the door on Pittsburgh

The 1955 Cubs finished a ho-hum 72-81. And while another losing season in the books added to the misery, one joyous day came out of that season. On May 12, 1955, Sam Jones, who was in his first year in Chicago, became the first starter in history to throw a no-hitter at Wrigley Field.

More from Cubbies Crib

• Cubs should keep close eye on non-tender candidate Cody Bellinger
• Cubs starting pitching has been thriving on the North Side
• Make no mistake: the Cubs are very much about power hitters
• Cubs are giving pitcher Javier Assad a deserved shot
• Cubs: It’s time to start thinking about potential September call-ups

Jones had come into the season after being out of baseball for three years after suffering from bursitis in his throwing arm and played around various leagues between his major league stint, including time spent out of the United States.

After being stuck in the minors, he threatened to quit baseball altogether. The Cubs acquired Jones from the Cleveland Indians and a few other amenities for a player to be named later who incidentally turned out to be future Hall of Fame slugger Ralph Kiner.

In his first year in the Cubs’ organization, Jones earned an All-Star nod after pitching to a first-half 3.78 ERA. On that crisp May afternoon, in front of only 2,918 fans in the stands, Jones added his name to the history books. In the Pirates lineup that day was MLB legend Roberto Clemente, who finished 0-4, including one strikeout. Jones walked seven batters and recorded six strikeouts. He also helped himself at the dish by producing a 2-for-4 day.

Cubs History: Don Cardwell shuts down St. Louis

Two days before Don Cardwell threw a no-hitter at Wrigley Field, the Cubs swung a multi-player deal to acquire the former Philadelphia Phillies starter. In his first start in a Cubs uniform two days later, Cardwell planted himself in the record books by no-hitting the St. Louis Cardinals.

In the second game of a doubleheader, Cardwell earned the starting nod. He had made four starts before this, holding a 4.45 ERA coming into his first day in Chicago. In the first inning, Cardwell walked shortstop Alex Grammas. From then on, he was untouchable.

The 1960 Cardinals team included many all-stars, a former MVP, and multiple World Series winners, including center fielder Curt Flood, and future Hall of Fame outfielder and first baseman Stan Musial. In the final moment of the game, left fielder Walt “Moose” Moryn made the save of the day with a shoestring grab as Cardwell became the third Cubs pitcher in the “modern era” to accomplish the feat. Here is the final out via MLB.com’s Youtube channel:

Cubs History: Carlos Zambrano quiets the Astros

In 2008, a Category 4 Hurricane, ‘Hurricane Ike,’ swept through the country, forcing the neutral site face-off between the Cubs and Astros. Playing in Miller Park in Milwaukee, Carlos Zambrano put the pedal to the metal and in front of 23,441, many of who were Cubs fans, struck out ten, walking only one batter.
The year before, Zambrano finished fifth in National League Cy Young voting, and 2008 earned an all-star nod pitching to a 3.91 ERA and won the Silver Slugger for NL pitchers. The Astros were not the same as they had once been, but the lineup included Darin Erstad, Lance Berkman, and Hunter Pence.
Zambrano would go on to pitch three more seasons in Chicago. He finished as one of the better pitchers in its history with 11-year career, compiling a 3.60 ERA and three all-star appearances. The Cubs finished 97-64, falling to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Division Series. And while the end of the season didn’t go as fans had hoped, Zambrano helped make history as the eighth Cubs pitcher in the “modern era” to throw a no-hitter.

Cubs History: Jake Arrieta joins a rare circle

The 2015-16 Cubs teams were tons of fun. They made a National League Championship appearance in 2015, falling to the New York Mets and won the World Series in 2016. Jake Arrieta came to Chicago in 2013 from Baltimore via trade, dominated for the Cubs in that span. He posted a 2.39 ERA in 64 starts, including two no-hitters.

On August 30, 2015, Arrieta went on the road to Los Angeles, blanking the Dodgers. Before Mills’ performance on Sunday, Arrieta was the first pitcher since Holtzman threw a no-hitter in an opponent’s ballpark. One walk to shortstop Jimmy Rollins and an error from Starlin Castro were the only baserunners allowed by Arrieta. He struck out 12 hitters and posted a game score of 98, which ranked as the second-highest in history behind only Kerry Wood’s 20 strikeout game.

On April 21, 2016, Arrieta once again went on the road in Cincinnati. In what turned out to be a 16-run outburst, Arrieta walked four and struck out six on top of adding a couple of hits of his own. The start lowered his season ERA to 0.87 in an all-star season and a top ten NL Cy Young award finish and culminate in a ring.