James Paxton’s no-hitter for Seattle Tuesday was impressive.
John Chidley Hill tells you five things you need to know:
1 73 years in the making
Paxton is the second Canadian to throw a no-hitter in MLB history. The first was Toronto’s Dick Fowler, who led the Philadelphia Athletics to a 1-0 victory over the St. Louis Browns at Shibe Park on Sept. 9, 1945. It was Fowler’s first game in three years after serving with the Canadian Army during the Second World War. He pitched for the Athletics until 1952, amassing a 66-79 record with a 4.11 earned-run average and 382 strikeouts.
2 Close but no cigar
Between Fowler’s nohitter in 1945 and Paxton’s on Tuesday, other Canadian pitchers have come close to going nine innings without giving up a hit. Erik Bedard of Navan, Ont., went 61/3 innings for the Houston Astros without giving up a hit on July 21, 2013. He pulled himself out of the game because he was getting sore and didn’t want to damage his career.
3 Dominance is a habit
Paxton had 16 strikeouts over seven innings in his previous start, a no-decision against the Oakland Athletics the Mariners went on to lose 3-2 on May 2. He became only the eighth pitcher in MLB history to have more than 16 strikeouts in a game and then record a nohitter in the same season, joining the likes of Max Scherzer (2015), Nolan Ryan (1991 and 1974) and Sandy Koufax (1962).
4 Heart on his sleeve
After getting Blue Jays all-star Josh Donaldson to ground out to third base for the final out of the game, Paxton tapped his elbow as part of the celebration. The pitcher nicknamed “The Big Maple” has a maple leaf tattooed on his forearm, with a mural of an island his family has a cabin on. “It’s a special thing for me, having not lived in Canada for the past 10 years, it just reminds me of home,” Paxton said after the win.
5 Almost a Blue Jay
Paxton was drafted out of the University of Kentucky by the Blue Jays in 2009, 37th overall. However, negotiations went poorly, with the sides unable to agree on a signing bonus. Paxton was represented by Scott Boras and Blue Jays officials referred to Boras as Paxton’s “agent” when, as a collegiate player, he could only have an “adviser.” That cost Paxton his final year of NCAA eligibility and he had to play for an independent league team before the Mariners drafted him in 2010.