Ninety-eight pitches. That’s all it took for Michael Lorenzen to etch his name into the granite walls of Citizens Bank Park in 2023. Think about that for a second. In an era where pitch counts are monitored like nuclear launch codes, a guy who had just joined the team weeks prior went out and threw the 14th no-no in the history of the franchise. It was chaotic. It was loud. It was exactly what Philadelphia Phillies no hitters are supposed to feel like.
Baseball is a weird game. You can have a Hall of Famer like Steve Carlton—a man who basically owned the 1970s—and he never once threw a no-hitter in a Phillies uniform. Then you get a guy like Tommy Greene, who steps in as a spot starter in 1991 and absolutely baffles the Montreal Expos. There is no rhyme or reason to it. That’s the magic. If you’re looking for a common thread between Rick Wise hitting two home runs while throwing a no-no or Roy Halladay dismantling the Reds in the playoffs, you won't find one beyond pure, unadulterated dominance mixed with a heavy dose of "right place, right time."
The Modern Era and the Lorenzen Spark
Lorenzen’s 2023 masterpiece against the Washington Nationals wasn't just a win; it was a vibe shift. He was wearing those custom Vans-style cleats. The crowd was vibrating. By the seventh inning, everyone in the stadium was standing. That’s the thing about Philadelphia—the fans don't just watch a no-hitter; they try to manifest it through sheer volume.
When you look at the list of Philadelphia Phillies no hitters, Lorenzen stands out because of the context. He was a trade deadline acquisition. He was emotional. His family was in the stands crying. It reminded everyone that despite the analytics and the spreadsheets that dominate modern baseball, a guy can still just go out there and shove for nine innings.
Roy Halladay and the "Perfect" Standard
We have to talk about 2010. Honestly, that year was just unfair for the rest of the league. Roy Halladay didn't just throw a no-hitter; he threw a Perfect Game against the Marlins in May. Then, because he was "Doc," he decided to do it again in October.
The postseason no-hitter against the Cincinnati Reds is arguably the greatest pitching performance in the history of the sport. Don Larson has the only World Series perfect game, sure. But Halladay’s 2010 NLDS opener was clinical. He issued one walk to Jay Bruce. That was it. One walk away from two perfect games in a single season. Most pitchers spend their whole lives trying to get through a lineup three times without giving up a bloop single. Halladay did it in the high-pressure cooker of the playoffs like he was tossing a ball in his backyard.
The Weird, the Wild, and the Two-Homer Game
Most people forget that before the designated hitter took the fun out of everything, pitchers actually had to hit. Enter Rick Wise. June 23, 1971. Wise didn't just keep the Cincinnati Reds hitless; he decided to drive in three runs himself by launching two homers.
👉 See also: Ohio State Football All White Uniforms: Why the Icy Look Always Sparks a Debate
It is arguably the most "stat-sheet-stuffing" game ever played. Imagine being the opposing pitcher. You can't get this guy out at the plate, and you can't get a hit off him when you're batting. It’s disrespectful, honestly. But that’s the lore of Philadelphia Phillies no hitters. They are rarely "normal."
The Long Drought: 1906 to 1964
There was a time when Phillies fans thought they were cursed. After Johnny Lush threw one in 1906, the well went bone-dry. World wars happened. The Great Depression happened. The Phillies moved stadiums. Multiple times.
Then came Jim Bunning.
On Father’s Day in 1964, Bunning broke the 58-year curse in the most spectacular way possible: a Perfect Game against the Mets. It’s funny because Bunning was a guy who notoriously didn't like to be coached. He had his own way of doing things. On that day at Shea Stadium, his way was the only way. He was yelling at his teammates in the dugout, breaking the cardinal rule of "don't talk to the guy throwing a no-no." He wanted to talk about it. He wanted them to know what was happening. He was that confident.
The Combined No-Hitter: A Bitter Pill?
Purists kinda hate the combined no-hitter. I get it. There’s something romantic about one man standing on the hill for 27 outs. But in 2014, Cole Hamels, Jake Diekman, Ken Giles, and Jonathan Papelbon teamed up to shut down the Braves.
Hamels started it, but he didn't have his "A" game. His pitch count was climbing. Most managers would have pulled him and seen the no-hitter vanish. Instead, Ryne Sandberg played the matchups. It was stressful. It was ugly at times. But it counts. It showed a different side of the franchise—a bullpen that, for once, didn't set the house on fire.
✨ Don't miss: Who Won the Golf Tournament This Weekend: Richard T. Lee and the 2026 Season Kickoff
- Cole Hamels (2015): The bridge to the next era.
- Kevin Millwood (2003): The Vet’s final hurrah.
- Terry Mulholland (1990): The first one at the Vet.
Why Philadelphia is a "No-Hit" Factory
Is it the humidity? The mound? The fact that the fans will boo you if you give up a lead-off double in the eighth? Maybe it's all of it. Philadelphia has had a knack for finding or developing power arms that can go the distance.
Think about Cole Hamels in 2015. It was his final start for the Phillies before being traded to Texas. Everyone knew he was leaving. The trade rumors were swirling. He goes out in Chicago, at Wrigley Field, and throws a no-hitter. It was the perfect breakup gift. He lowered his ERA, boosted his trade value, and gave the fans one last reason to wear his jersey with pride.
The Catchers: The Unsung Heroes
You can't talk about Philadelphia Phillies no hitters without mentioning the guys behind the dish. Carlos Ruiz caught four of them. FOUR. That ties a Major League record.
"Chooch" was a magician. He knew exactly what Halladay needed. He knew how to settle down Hamels. When you see a pitcher celebrating on the mound, look at the catcher sprinting toward him. Ruiz was the glue for the greatest era of pitching this city has ever seen.
The Stats That Actually Matter
If you’re looking at the history, the Phillies have 14 official no-hitters. This ranks them pretty well across the league, though they aren't the Dodgers or the White Sox quite yet. But the quality of their no-hitters is what sticks out.
- Jim Bunning (1964): Perfect Game.
- Roy Halladay (2010): Perfect Game.
- Roy Halladay (2010): Postseason No-Hitter.
That’s a ridiculous peak. To have two perfect games and a postseason no-hitter in your franchise history puts you in an elite bracket. Most teams are lucky to have a guy throw a "standard" no-hitter where he walks five guys and hits a batter. The Phillies tend to do it with style.
🔗 Read more: The Truth About the Memphis Grizzlies Record 2025: Why the Standings Don't Tell the Whole Story
Common Misconceptions About Phillies History
People think the 1980 World Series team must have had a bunch of them. Nope. Steve Carlton never got one in Philly. Neither did Tug McGraw. It’s a reminder that greatness doesn't always equal a no-hitter. A no-hitter is a snapshot of perfection, not a career achievement award.
Another thing? People assume Citizens Bank Park is a "hitter’s park" where no-hitters go to die. While the fences are short in left-center, the mound has seen some of the most dominant outings of the 21st century. The park doesn't matter if the stuff is nasty enough.
What's Next for the Fightin' Phils?
With a rotation that has featured names like Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola, it feels like we are constantly on the verge of the 15th no-hitter. Wheeler, specifically, has that "Doc" Halladay-lite efficiency where he can get through seven innings on 80 pitches.
Nola has flirted with it multiple times. He’ll go six innings of perfect ball and then give up a clean single to some random utility player. That’s the heartbreak of the game. But as Lorenzen proved, it doesn't always have to be the ace. It just has to be the right day.
Actionable Steps for the Die-Hard Fan
If you want to truly appreciate the history of Philadelphia Phillies no hitters, don't just look at the box scores.
- Watch the 9th Inning of Halladay’s Playoff No-No: Pay attention to how the Reds hitters look completely defeated before they even step in the box.
- Visit the Wall of Fame: When you're at Citizens Bank Park, actually stop and read the plaques. The names like Mulholland and Greene represent specific eras of Philly baseball that weren't always winning ones, but they had their moments of glory.
- Keep a Scorecard: The next time Wheeler or Nola gets through five innings without a hit, start a scorecard. There is no feeling like the tension of the 7th, 8th, and 9th innings when the "H" column is still a zero.
The history of the Phillies is long and, let's be honest, often painful. But these 14 games represent the moments where everything went right. No errors, no bloops, no "shoulda-had-its." Just 27 outs and a dogpile on the mound. Whether it's a veteran like Bunning or a newcomer like Lorenzen, the next one is always just one spectacular afternoon away.
Study the rotation. Watch the pitch counts. And never, ever talk about it while it's happening. That’s the Philly way.