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The Only Two: A Complete Guide To The San Diego Padres' Historic No-Hitters

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For over five decades, the San Diego Padres were the only Major League Baseball franchise without a no-hitter in their history, a frustrating drought that spanned 8,206 games. That curse was finally broken, and as of the current date in December 2025, the Padres have proudly recorded two official no-hitters, transforming a half-century of futility into a narrative of historic triumph. This article delves into the details of these two monumental pitching performances, celebrating the pitchers who etched their names into Padres lore and the context of the long, arduous wait for history to be made.

The significance of a no-hitter in San Diego extends beyond a single game's box score; it represents the overcoming of a franchise-defining statistic. The two historic no-hitters—one thrown by a hometown hero and the other by a recently acquired ace—have redefined the Padres' pitching legacy and given the Friar Faithful two unforgettable moments of pure baseball glory. Let's explore the careers and the game logs of the two men responsible for finally bringing the no-no to San Diego.

The Two Historic San Diego Padres No-Hitters: A Complete List & Biography

The San Diego Padres franchise, established in 1969, waited longer than any other MLB team for its first no-hitter. The two pitchers who accomplished the feat are forever linked in the team's record books. Here is a complete breakdown of the only two no-hitters in Padres history, including a brief profile of the men who threw them.

1. Joe Musgrove: The Drought-Breaker (April 9, 2021)

  • Player: Joe Musgrove
  • Date: April 9, 2021
  • Opponent: Texas Rangers
  • Location: Globe Life Field, Arlington, Texas
  • Final Score: Padres 3, Rangers 0
  • Significance: First no-hitter in Padres franchise history, ending a 52-year, 8,206-game drought.
  • Only Baserunners: Hit by Pitch (Joey Gallo in the 4th inning). Musgrove faced 28 batters, one over the minimum.

Joe Musgrove Biography & Profile

  • Full Name: Joseph Anthony Musgrove
  • Born: December 8, 1992 (San Diego, California)
  • High School: Grossmont High School (El Cajon, CA)
  • MLB Debut: August 2, 2016, with the Houston Astros
  • Padres Tenure: Began in 2021 (Acquired via trade from the Pirates)
  • Career Highlights: World Series Champion (2017 with Astros), MLB All-Star (2022)
  • The Story: Musgrove’s no-hitter was a storybook moment, as he grew up in the San Diego area, rooting for the Padres. He became the first and only San Diego native to throw a no-hitter for the team he cheered for as a child, forever solidifying his legacy as the local kid who broke the biggest curse.

2. Dylan Cease: The 2024 Masterpiece (July 25, 2024)

  • Player: Dylan Cease
  • Date: July 25, 2024
  • Opponent: Washington Nationals
  • Location: Petco Park, San Diego, California
  • Final Score: Padres 3, Nationals 0
  • Significance: Second no-hitter in Padres franchise history and the first one thrown at Petco Park.
  • Pitch Count: 114 pitches
  • Only Baserunners: Two walks (one in the 1st, one in the 7th). Cease faced 29 batters.

Dylan Cease Biography & Profile

  • Full Name: Dylan Lee Cease
  • Born: December 28, 1995 (Milton, Georgia)
  • MLB Debut: July 3, 2019, with the Chicago White Sox
  • Padres Tenure: Began in 2024 (Acquired via trade from the White Sox)
  • Career Highlights: AL Cy Young runner-up (2022)
  • The Story: Cease’s no-hitter demonstrated the immediate impact of the high-profile trade that brought him to San Diego. His dominant performance, which included a three-game sweep of the Nationals, proved that the Padres' pitching staff was capable of sustained excellence and confirmed that Musgrove's no-no was not an isolated incident, but the beginning of a new chapter for Padres pitching.

The 52-Year Drought: Near-Misses and the Long Wait for History

The road to the first Padres no-hitter was paved with agonizing near-misses, close calls, and the constant pressure of being the last team without one. For 52 seasons, the "no-no drought" was a running joke and a painful reality for San Diego fans. This long wait is essential context for understanding the euphoria of Musgrove’s achievement.

The Agony of the Close Calls

Before Musgrove’s historic night in 2021, the Padres had several pitchers come tantalizingly close, often falling short in the late innings. These close calls, or "near-misses," only amplified the franchise's unique historical burden. Key pitchers who came closest include:

  • Chris Paddack: In 2019, Paddack pitched seven no-hit innings against the Cincinnati Reds before allowing a hit, a performance that remains one of the most memorable near-misses of the modern era.
  • Clay Kirby: A legendary figure in Padres history, Kirby had multiple late-inning no-hit bids in the early 1970s. His most famous near-miss involved him being pulled for a pinch-hitter in the 8th inning of a scoreless game in 1970, a move that prioritized winning over the no-hitter.
  • Andy Benes: The former Padres ace had several dominant outings in the 1990s where he carried a no-hitter deep into the game, only to see it broken up in the 8th or 9th inning.

This history of frustration created one of the most unique narratives in Major League Baseball. When the New York Mets finally threw their first no-hitter in 2012, the Padres were left as the sole franchise without one, a distinction they held for nearly another decade. The relief and pride that washed over the entire organization when Joe Musgrove recorded the final out were the culmination of over 8,200 games of waiting.

Dylan Cease's 2024 Masterpiece: Breaking the Short-Lived Curse

While Joe Musgrove will forever be known as the pitcher who broke the initial, monumental curse, Dylan Cease's no-hitter in 2024 is equally significant for the Padres. It proved that the team had truly turned the corner from a franchise of pitching futility to one of pitching excellence.

The First No-Hitter at Petco Park

Cease's performance against the Washington Nationals was remarkable for several reasons, not least of which was that it was the first no-hitter ever thrown at Petco Park, the Padres' home stadium since 2004. Musgrove's gem was on the road in Texas, meaning San Diego fans had to wait an additional three years to witness a no-no in person. Cease delivered that historic moment, completing the second no-hitter in franchise history and the first one in front of the Friar Faithful.

The game itself was a dominant display of power pitching. Cease’s 114-pitch effort featured his signature high-velocity fastball and a devastating slider, keeping the Nationals off balance all afternoon. The only blemishes on his line were two walks, making it a near-perfect game. The final out, a strikeout, sent the Petco Park crowd into a frenzy, celebrating not just a win, but a confirmation that the Padres' pitching staff—led by aces like Cease and Musgrove—had finally shed the historical weight of the no-hitter drought.

Topical Authority: The Padres' No-Hitter Entities

The two no-hitters involve a rich tapestry of entities that contribute to the Padres' topical authority:

  • Pitching Staff: Joe Musgrove, Dylan Cease, Yu Darvish, Blake Snell (former Padres Cy Young winner), Chris Paddack.
  • Opposing Teams: Texas Rangers, Washington Nationals.
  • Venues: Globe Life Field (Musgrove's no-no), Petco Park (Cease's no-no).
  • Historical Figures: Clay Kirby, Andy Benes, Trevor Hoffman (Padres Hall of Fame closer).
  • Franchise Milestones: 52-year drought, 8,206 games, First no-hitter at home.

The two historic no-hitters are more than just statistics; they are defining moments that have fundamentally changed the narrative of the San Diego Padres franchise. Joe Musgrove and Dylan Cease stand as the two pillars of this new era, ensuring that the Padres are no longer the answer to the trivia question, "Which team has never thrown a no-hitter?" but rather a team with a proud, albeit short, list of pitching masterpieces.

The Only Two: A Complete Guide to the San Diego Padres' Historic No-Hitters
san diego padres no hitter
san diego padres no hitter

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