Don't get too excited until Clay has the type of career he has the potential to have. Only a few who pitched no-hitters in their rookie year ever had even a modicom of success--Vida Blue was 1 of only 2 to win more than 200 games and pitch such a no-hitter---several blew out their arms-last year's Anibal Sanchez, Steve Busby, Dizzy Dean's brother Paul (Daffy)-and only 1, the very first of the 20th century to have done it an done of the greatest pitchers of all time-Christy Mathewson, ever had a Hall of Fame career.
All those who pitched them before yesterday and back to 1900 are:
Who: Anibal Sanchez, Florida marlins
When: Sept. 6, 2006, defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks, 2-0
What happened after: Sanchez, only 2-1 for the Marlins this year, was put on the disabled list after being demoted to the minor leagues. He has filed a grievance suit against the Marlins, asking for MLB pay, but it is doubtful if he will be ready for spring training in ’08.
Who: Bud Smith, St. Louis Cardinals
When: Sept. 3, 2001, defeated the San Diego Padres 4-0
What happened after: After his promising rookie season in which he compiled a 6-3 record, Smith's star faded. The Cardinals shipped him to the Phillies mid-way through the 2002 season. He hasn't pitched at the big-league level since.
Who: Jose Jimenez, St. Louis Cardinals
When: June 25, 1999, defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks 1-0
What happened after: Just months after throwing his no-no, Jimenez was back in the minors. When he returned it was as a relief pitcher – a pretty decent one for the Colorado Rockies. Between 2000 and 2003 he saved 102 games. But he hasn't pitched in the majors since 2004.
Who: Wilson Alvarez, Chicago White Sox
When: Aug. 11, 1991, defeated the Baltimore Orioles 7-0
What happened after: Alvarez enjoyed a long, albeit injury-plagued, career after pitching a no-hitter in his second career start. Alvarez went on to win 101 more games, but due to arm and conditioning problems, never lived up to his potential. He retired after the 2005 season.
Who: Mike Warren, Oakland Athletics
When: Sept. 29, 1983, defeated the Chicago White Sox 3-0
What happened after: Warren was having a ho-hum rookie campaign when, in his last start of the season, he pitched his no-hitter. Unfortunately for the Inglewood, Calif., native, the no-no wasn't a springboard for future success. He only won four more games before his career ended two years later.
Who: Jim Bibby, Texas Rangers
When: July 30, 1973, defeated the Oakland Athletics 6-0
What happened after: A power pitcher, Bibby enjoyed a fair bit of success before a shoulder injury forced him to retire in 1981. In addition to the no-hitter, Bibby also had a couple of one-hitters and a two-hitter on his resume. From 1979 to 1980, he went 31-10 and was a key contributor on the "We are Family" Pittsburgh Pirates squad that won the World Series in 1979.
Who: Steve Busby, Kansas City Royals
When: April 27, 1973, defeated the Detroit Tigers 3-0
What happened after: Busby was 22 years old when threw the first no-hitter in Royals history. By 25 he had two no-nos. On June 19, 1974, Busby shut down the Milwaukee Brewers to became the first pitcher in major-league history to throw no-hitters in each of his first two complete seasons. Overall, Busby won 56 games in his first three full seasons before a shoulder injury forced him to retire.
Who: Burt Hooton, Chicago Cubs
When: April 16, 1972, defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 4-0
What happened after: Aside for his no-hitter, which came in his fourth career start with Cubs, Hooton is probably best remembered for his post-season success with the Los Angeles Dodgers. In 1981, he was named the National League Division Series MVP after helping the Dodgers past the Expos and Astros. Hooton also helped L.A. capture that year's World Series by winning a game.
Who: Vida Blue, Oakland Athletics
When: Sept. 21, 1970, defeated the Minnesota Twins 6-0
What happened after: Blue grew into one of the top pitchers of the 1970s, winning 209 games during his career. His best season came in 1971 when he amassed a 24-8 record and won the American League's MVP and Cy Young award. During that season he tossed 24 complete games and eight shutouts.
Who: Don Wilson, Houston Astros
When: June 18, 1967, defeated the Atlanta Braves 2-0
What happened after: He went on to win 104 games during his 10-year tenure with Houston. On July 14, 1968, he tossed a second no-hitter, beating the Cincinnati Reds. Wilson committed suicide in 1975, and his number #40 was subsequently retired by the Astros.
Who: Bo Belinsky, Los Angeles Angels
When: May 5, 1962, defeated the Baltimore Orioles 2-0
What happened after: Aside from pitching the first no-hitter in Angels' history, Belinsky is most famous for his exploits off the field. He was a well-known ladies-man and dated several Hollywood starlets including Ann-Margaret, Connie Stevens and Tina Louise, of TV's Gilligan's Island fame. After his fast start the unabashed playboy finished his inaugural season with a mediocre 10-11 record. Plagued by arm trouble later in his career, Belinsky had a 28-51 record when he left baseball.
Who: Bobo Holloman, St. Louis Browns
When: May 6, 1953, defeated the Philadelphia Athletics 6-0
What happened after: Holloman has the distinction of being the only pitcher Major League Baseball history to pitch a no-hitter in his first major league start. He only made nine more starts after that; his three wins are the fewest by a pitcher who hurled a no-hitter
Who: William McCahan, Philadelphia Athletics
When: Sept. 3, 1947, defeated the Washington Senators 3-0
What happened after: McCahan joined the Athletics after serving as a test pilot during the Second World War. Injuring his arm during his off-season job (lifting heavy oil barrels) he only played in three more seasons after his rookie campaign. He finished his career with a 14-16 record.
Who: Vernon Kennedy, Chicago White Sox
When: Aug. 31, 1935, defeated the Cleveland Indians 5-0
What happened after: Kennedy followed up his no-hit season with a 20-9 record the next year, but arm problems slowed the right-hander after 1937. His struggles continued two years later when he lost an AL-high 20 games. Kennedy finished his 12-year major-league career with an unimpressive 104-132 record. He died on June 28, 1993 at the age of 85 in Mendon, Mo.
Who: Paul "Daffy" Dean, St. Louis Cardinals
When: Sept. 21, 1934, defeated the Brooklyn Dodgers 3-0
What happened after: Dean pitched his no-hitter at the back end of a doubleheader on the same day his famous brother Dizzy blanked the Dodgers in the first game. The brothers combined for 49 wins that season, 19 by Daffy, and led the Cardinals to the World Series title with two victories apiece. Paul posted another 19 wins for the Cardinals in 1935, but held out for more money the following season. He hurt his arm shortly after signing and never regained his form, finishing with 50 career wins.
Who: Charles C. Robertson, Chicago White Sox
When: April 30, 1922, defeated the Detroit Tigers 2-0
What happened after: Despite complaints of a doctored ball by Detroit Hall of Famers Ty Cobb and Harry Heilmann, Robertson pitched the fifth perfect game in major league history, a feat that took 34 years to equal (by Don Larsen). Roberston's career was short-lived after that historic win. He pitched three more seasons with the St. Louis Browns and Boston Braves while suffering through arm problems, and retired in 1928 with a 49-80 record.
Who: Charles Tesreau, New York Giants
When: Sept. 6, 1912, defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 3-0
What happened after: Tesreau, who was given the nickname "Jeff" in reference to the half-pint character in the comic Mutt and Jeff, only played six more seasons following his no-hitter. While Tesreau posted a terrific 155-72 record in eight seasons, he quit the Giants in the middle of the 1918 season after an argument with manager John McGraw. Tesreau never played again and coached Dartmouth College until his death on Sept. 24, 1946.
Who: Nicholas Maddox, Pittsburgh Pirates
When: Sept. 9, 1907, defeated the Brooklyn Dodgers 2-1
What happened after: Maddox won 20 of his first 30 starts, becoming the fastest pitcher to reach 20 victories. He went on to help the Pirates beat the Detroit Tigers by winning Game 3 of the 1909 World Series. But Maddox's career would end abruptly as the team released him in 1910 after winning only two games, ending his four-year career with a 43-20 record.
Who: Christy Mathewson, New York Giants
When: July 12, 1900, defeated the New York Giants 5-0
What happened after: Mathewson was the dominant pitcher of his era, winning 20 games 12 straight years. During his stellar career, he won 30 or more games three straight seasons from 1903-1905. Known as the master of the screwball, the right-hander won 37 games in 1908, a National League record that still stands. Mathewson, along with Babe Ruth, Walter Johnson, Ty Cobb and Honus Wagner, was one of the first five players to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936.