Phillip Humber is now the 21st pitcher in Major League Baseball history to throw a perfect game and the seventh ex-New York Met to throw either a perfect game or a no hitter with a different team.
The Mets have never thrown a no-hitter in the history of their franchise.
Now, the occurrence of just a few instances could be seen as coincidence. But the fact that we're now up to seven different former Mets etching their names into baseball history is simply too much to ignore.
Let's count them, shall we? Thanks to NoNoHitters.com for this one.
Nolan Ryan pitched seven no-hitters during his Hall of Fame career, but they all came after he was traded by the New York Mets. And Tom Seaver finally got his sole no-hitter as a Cincinnati Red during his first season away from the Mets. In fact, seven former Mets pitched no-hitters after leaving New York. Mike Scott (Houston Astros), Dwight Gooden (New York Yankees) David Cone (Yankees), Hideo Nomo (Boston Red Sox) and Philip Humber (Chicago White Sox) round out the list. Alejandro Pena (Atlanta Braves) participated in a three-pitcher no-hitter in 1991 less than a month after being traded by the Mets to the Braves.
So, bottom line: if you're a major league pitcher who wants to accomplish a no-hitter or perfect game at some time in you're career, or hell, even right away, play for the New York Mets and leave.
The curse continues, 49 years and counting. There's a good chance it'll be half a century by the time the 2012 season ends.
Hey, at least it isn't a World Series drought that started in 1908.
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