The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball franchise based in Chicago. They play in the American League Central division. Pitchers for the White Sox have thrown twenty no-hitters in franchise history. A no-hitter is officially recognized by Major League Baseball only "when a pitcher (or pitchers) allows no hits during the entire course of a game, which consists of at least nine innings. In a no-hit game, a batter may reach base via a walk, an error, a hit by pitch, a passed ball or wild pitch on strike three, or catcher's interference." No-hitters of less than nine complete innings were previously recognized by the league as official; however, several rule alterations in 1991 changed the rule to its current form. Three perfect games, a special subcategory of no-hitter, have been pitched in White Sox history, which equals the New York Yankees for the most perfect games pitched by any MLB franchise. As defined by Major League Baseball, "in a perfect game, no batter reaches any base during the course of the game." These feats were achieved by Charlie Robertson in 1922, which was the first perfect game on the road in MLB history, Mark Buehrle in 2009, and Philip Humber in 2012.
Nixey Callahan threw the first no-hitter in White Sox history on September 20, 1902; the most recent no-hitter was thrown by Carlos Rodón on April 14, 2021. Only three left-handed pitchers have thrown no-hitters in franchise history and four of the six most recent no-hitters: Wilson Álvarez (in 1991), Buehrle (in 2007 and 2009), Rodón (in 2021). The other 17 pitchers were right-handed. Two pitchers have thrown more than one no-hitter in a White Sox uniform, Frank Smith and Buehrle. Twelve no-hitters were thrown at home and eight on the road. They threw five in April, one in May, one in June, two in July, six in August, and five in September. The longest interval between no-hitters was between the games pitched by Bill Dietrich and Bob Keegan, encompassing twenty years, two months, and nineteen days from June 1, 1937 till August 20, 1957. Conversely, the shortest interval between no-hitters was between the games pitched by Lucas Giolito and Rodón, encompassing seven months and twenty days from August 25, 2020 until April 14, 2021. They no-hit the Detroit Tigers the most, which occurred four times, which were defeated by Callahan in 1902, Smith in 1905, Robertson in 1920, and Joel Horlen in 1967. There have been three no-hitters which the team allowed at least a run, one by Joe Benz, a combined no-hitter by Blue Moon Odom and Francisco Barrios, and most recently by Joe Cowley in 1986. The most baserunners allowed in a White Sox no-hitter was a combined no-hitter by Odom and Barrios (in 1976), who allowed 12. Of the twenty no-hitters, four have been won by a score of 6–0, more common than any other results. The largest margin of victory in a White Sox no-hitter was a 15–0 win by Frank Smith in 1905. The smallest margin of victory was a 1–0 win by Smith in 1908 and by Odom and Barrios who combined to throw a no-hitter in a 2–1 victory in 1976.
The umpire is also an integral part of any no-hitter. The task of the umpire in a baseball game is to make any decision "which involves judgment, such as, but not limited to, whether a batted ball is fair or foul, whether a pitch is a strike or a ball, or whether a runner is safe or out... [the umpire's judgment on such matters] is final." Part of the duties of the umpire making calls at home plate includes defining the strike zone, which "is defined as that area over homeplate (sic) the upper limit of which is a horizontal line at the midpoint between the top of the shoulders and the top of the uniform pants, and the lower level is a line at the hollow beneath the kneecap." These calls define every baseball game and are therefore integral to the completion of any no-hitter. Sixteen different umpires presided over the White Sox’ twenty no-hitters. Notably Eric Cooper umpired both Buehrle's no-hitters, and Doug Eddings, who umpired Carlos Rodón's no-hitter, was also the umpire of the White Sox' 2005 American League Championship Series game 2 win over Los Angeles involving the infamous dropped third strike call.
The manager is another integral part of any no-hitter. The tasks of the manager include determining the starting rotation as well as the batting order and defensive lineup every game. Seventeen different managers have led the team during the White Sox’ twenty no-hitters.
No-hitters ¶ Indicates a perfect game £ Pitcher was left-handed * Member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum # Date Pitcher Final score Base-runners Opponent Catcher Plate umpire Manager Notes Ref 1 –0 3 Detroit Tigers First no-hitter in franchise history First no-hitter at home (South Side Park) First right-handed pitcher to throw a no-hitter in franchise history First no-hitter in American League history Tied for the latest calendar date of White Sox no-hitter (tie) 2 –0 3 @ Detroit Tigers First White Sox no-hitter on the road Largest margin of victory in a White Sox no-hitter 3 –0 4 Philadelphia Athletics Smallest margin of victory in a White Sox no-hitter (tie) Tied for the latest calendar date of White Sox no-hitter (tie) 4 * –0 2 Boston Red Sox First White Sox no-hitter at White Sox Park (later known as Comiskey Park) 5 –1 5 Cleveland Naps First White Sox no-hitter while allowing a run 6 –0 6 @ St. Louis Browns Tied for the earliest calendar date of White Sox no-hitter (tied) 7 –0 0 @ Detroit Tigers First perfect game in White Sox history and fifth in MLB history See also: Charlie Robertson's perfect game 8 * –0 2 @ Boston Red Sox 9 –0 4 Cleveland Indians 10 –0 2 St. Louis Browns 11 –0 2 Washington Senators Longest interval between no-hitters in franchise history Second game of a doubleheader 12 –0 2 Detroit Tigers First game of a doubleheader Second no-hitter at White Sox Park 13 & Francisco Barrios –1 12 @ Oakland Athletics Smallest margin of victory in a White Sox no-hitter (tie) Most baserunners allowed in a White Sox no-hitter 14 –1 7 @ California Angels Last win of his career 15 –0 6 @ Baltimore Orioles Second career game; second career start First left-handed pitcher to throw a no-hitter in franchise history 16 –0 1 Texas Rangers First no-hitter since U.S. Cellular Field (formerly Comiskey Park II) was opened in 1991 17 –0 0 Tampa Bay Rays Second perfect game in White Sox history and eighteenth in MLB history See also: Mark Buehrle's perfect game 18 –0 0 @ Seattle Mariners Third perfect game in White Sox history and 21st in MLB history See also: Philip Humber's perfect game 19 –0 1 Pittsburgh Pirates 13 strike outs were the most in a no-hitter in franchise history 20April 14, 2021Carlos Rodón£8–01Cleveland IndiansZack CollinsDoug EddingsTony La RussaCarried a perfect game until the 9th inning, with a Cleveland hitter hit by pitch Tied for the earliest calendar date of White Sox no-hitter (tied) Shortest interval between no-hitters in franchise history
See also List of Major League Baseball no-hitters
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