MLB History: Justin Verlander joins three no hitter club
By David Hill
For a five year span, Larry Corcoran was one of the best pitchers in the National League. His dominance did not take long to be established.
Corcoran fired the fifth no hitter in MLB history as a rookie in 1880, blanking the Boston Red Caps on August 19 in a 6-0 victory. Two years later, on September 20, 1882, Corcoran became the first pitcher to throw multiple no hitters, when he blanked the Worcester Worcesters (creative name there). He was not content to end his dominance there, as on June 17, 1884, he fired his third no hitter, shutting down the infamous Providence Greys 6-0, giving Corocoran three of the first 14 no hitters thrown in the majors. Interestingly, Pud Galvin, who fired his first no hitter the day after Corcoran threw his, also threw his second no hitter to follow Corcoran’s third.
For that five year stretch, Corcoran was a star. He posted a 170-83 record over that time, with a 2.23 ERA and a 1.079 WHiP, striking out 1076 batters with only 438 walks in his 2279 innings. He won over 30 games four times in that span, and led the NL in wins, ERA, and strikeouts at various points in time.
However, after 1884, his career was essentially over. He pitched in only 14 more games over the next three years, with just seven victories. Corcoran is the only member of this list, aside from Verlander, not to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame. Of course, that is partially due to his eight year career, but he also passed away from Bright’s Disease in 1891, his career long forgotten when the Hall of Fame was opened in 1936.
For a brief time, Larry Corcoran was one of the brightest stars in the National League. By throwing those three no hitters, he established his place in MLB history.