Five Pitchers Have Thrown a No-Hitter Before Their 22nd Birthdays
Published on June 9th, 2025 11:45 am ESTWritten By: Dave Manuel
Over the course of Major League Baseball, approximately 320 no-hitters have been thrown. It's a fairly rare feat when somebody in their early 20s throws a no-hitter. In fact, pitchers aged 21 and younger have accomplished the feat just five teams over the history of Major League Baseball.
Here are the five players, aged 21 and under, who have thrown no-hitters:
#1 - Amos Rusie (20 years, 62 days)
Date: July 31, 1891
Team: New York Giants
Opponent: Brooklyn Grooms
Score: 6-0
Known as the "Hoosier Thunderbolt," Amos Rusie was already a dominant force before he turned 21. On a summer day in 1891, Rusie shut down the Brooklyn Grooms with a no-hitter that set the tone for what would be a Hall of Fame career. Rusie's velocity and intimidating presence on the mound were well ahead of his time. This game cemented his reputation as one of the league's top arms - even before he could legally drink.
#2 - Johnny Lush (20 years, 205 days)
Date: May 1, 1906
Team: Philadelphia Phillies
Opponent: Brooklyn Superbas
Score: 6-0
Lush did it all in his gem against Brooklyn - a complete-game no-hitter and he even knocked in a run at the plate. At just over 20 years old, Lush was a two-way player for the Phillies and had shown flashes of promise. But nothing prepared the baseball world for the dominant performance he unleashed that day. It was the only no-hitter of his career and one of the bright spots during an otherwise up-and-down season for Philadelphia.
#3 - Nick Maddox (20 years, 315 days)
Date: September 20, 1907
Team: Pittsburgh Pirates
Opponent: Brooklyn Superbas
Score: 2-1
Maddox's no-hitter came in just his second major league start. Think about that. At barely 21, he was called up by the Pirates and immediately made history. His command and poise were on full display as he held the Superbas hitless - though they did scratch across a run on an error and a series of miscues. Maddox would go on to have a short MLB career, but this game gave him permanent bragging rights.
#4 - Christy Mathewson (20 years, 337 days)
Date: July 15, 1901
Team: New York Giants
Opponent: St. Louis Cardinals
Score: 5-0
Before Christy Mathewson became one of the most iconic names in baseball history, he was already shutting down teams as a teenager. His no-hitter against the Cardinals came in just his second season and previewed a career that would include 373 wins and a plaque in Cooperstown. Mathewson's mix of control and competitive edge helped the Giants cruise to a shutout, making it look far easier than it was.
#5 - Earl Hamilton (21 years, 42 days)
Date: August 30, 1912
Team: St. Louis Browns
Opponent: Not Specified
Score: Score N/A
Earl Hamilton rounds out the list - barely over 21 when he entered the record books. His no-hitter remains one of the more mysterious entries due to missing details about the opponent and score. What we do know: Hamilton was a crafty left-hander with deceptive stuff, and this early performance marked the start of a lengthy MLB career that spanned over a decade. The Browns didn't have much to cheer for in those years, but Hamilton gave them a rare highlight.
Among this group, two went on to win over 300 games, one never made it past his rookie season, and all five joined an exclusive statistical subset of MLB history. No-hitters thrown before age 22 account for just 1.5% of all recorded no-hitters.
