Ranking the BEST Game Saving Plays in No-Hitters/Perfect Games

[@jamesesterline]

Coming back here right after Musgrove threw the first no-hitter in Padres history.

[@RANDOMGOESSICKO]

I know right. So funny looking at it now a season later joe musgrove throught the first no hitter while people like jake peavy hasn’t

[@cdedc653]

same

[@msmonsterminecraft]

Lol

[@bordomsdeadly]

2 games into 2022 and padres are back to having bad no hitter luck.

[@joshuapatrick682]

Yeah and they offered him 8 years and less than 100 mil…wtf? That man needs a 5 year 100 mil immediately or the Dodgers will eat what’s left of Bauers contract and extend Musgrove a welcome.

[@JoshuaHenkelman]

Another great play that saved a no-hitter was Dexter Fowler’s diving catch during Ubaldo Jimenez’s no-hitter. Great video btw.

[@SportStorm23]

thanks! I just watched the Fowler play and I probably would have put it in the amazing tier. I forgot Jimenez even had a no hitter.

[@motionlessr6345]

If u saw the way Fowler plays now you would have never thought he could have made a play like that lol

[@ultrastalememer7148]

@@SportStorm23 I forgot Jimenez was a player

[@allthingscoasters2551]

@@ultrastalememer7148 I didn’t know of his existence

[@RyanMariners]

@@ultrastalememer7148Man killed the O's in the Wild Card. 😂

[@axelbroome1860]

I was at the Matt Cain perfect game. Best day of my life. We saw the perfect game with Blanco's catch. I scooped up a foul ball from Buster Posey down the 3rd base line. And this is the craziest part, the US open was in SF that year and Dustin Johnson was at the game, so Taylormade gave out brand new drivers ( R 11s) to one row in the stadium, and it just so happened to be my row. Ridiculous night

[@jacksonharris7357]

Axel Broome damn

[@ericwisniewski2636]

I know this comment is old but bro I was there too!! Me and my grandma would go to a game every year back when I lived in the Bay Area. Best day of my life

[@camicawber]

I had tickets for the next day, but my friend went to this game. I'm a teacher and had recently finished the school year. My friend is a bartender and he went with some of his bartender buddies, last minute. He said he thought about asking me to go, but didn't. He felt bad. I told him not to - I'm glad he didn't ask, because I absolutely would have said no. I was tired and was already going the next day. I'm perfectly fine with not getting invited to the game. I'd never have forgiven myself if I had said no to what ended up being a perfect game.

[@agentcalifornia3587]

13:06 in 2012, I was in 10 years 5th grade in San Francisco and living in the Townsend Street apartments, pretty close to the Giants stadium. I remember being able to hear the noise of the crowd that night from my bedroom.

[@55giantsfan22]

Sick!!!

[@joaquinbaranchuk2863]

I was 6 years old and that is one of my first baseball memory’s that I have

[@josephan5159]

Go giants!

[@Dashi18n]

@@55giantsfan22 I was in 7th grade and you could probably hear me cheer from San Jose

[@DavidDykes-dm9lc]

You are one blessed mutha!!!

[@TheLucasValone]

Thank you for including Galarraga. Everyone who watched that game live or who has seen the recording knows it was perfect. Forever the "28-out perfect game"

[@Aviator43]

You have no idea how insane it was to see that Steven Souza Jr. catch live in person.

[@parkercrossland410]

@M Detlef The broadcast team nailed the call.

[@superadam2112]

Looks like the video’s officially dated. Giolito just got a no-no.

[@Lebronisthegoat3]

Yup Engel had saving play imo

[@billyhagen1137]

Or Anderson but Engels catch had the highest hit probability

[@jacobkoelle-pittel4816]

Didnt another guy get a no hitter today or smth

[@Lebronisthegoat3]

Jacob Koelle-Pittel Alec mills did

[@ultrastalememer7148]

Nothing for the white Sox will beat the catch

[@CongestedCamel]

Gregor Blanco and hunter pences catches give me goosebumps

[@corgansowers7732]

Everytime

[@corgansowers7732]

Ishikawa walk off too

[@kennansnipes]

That Rich Hill 9 inning no-hitter and then appearing in the tenth is one of my favorite moments in recent baseball history. I wish he had won that game.

[@shivvers519]

Love Rich Hill straight OG!

[@Karmy.]

Hill is one of my favorite underrated players

[@tannerb1527]

Imagine throwing a no hitter through 9 but receiving no run support, yeesh

[@LilShrooms]

that Souza catch was ridiculous... reminds me of the catches you see WRs make in the NFL

[@Neckrollios18]

I'll preface by saying I'm biased. I've been a Rays fan for years. But I do feel the Matt Garza no hitter, which to this point is the only no hitter (if you don't count 7 inning no-nos) in franchise history could be represented on a list like this. 2 plays come to mind for me. The first being in the top of second with one out, Longoria robbed *I believe* Ryan Raburn of a hit when he crossed over the third base foul line to get a ball and quickly got it to second base to get the lead runner out. Why it's important is because Garza had given up a walk, but that was the only baserunner. Because the double play was turned, Garza ended up facing the minimum amount of batters (27) in his no-no. The second play that comes to mind is at the top of the third, Ben Zobrist who was playing right field that night, with 2 outs robbed Danny Worth of a hit with an over the shoulder grab on his left side. It was a tough play to make, and despite him being a super utility man, RF technically wasn't Zobrist's primary position. He was primarily a second baseman. Either way, it was a great catch to end the inning and save extra bases. 2010 was a great year for the Rays, they won their division, and July was arguably their best month of the season. Garza had already cemented himself as one of the Rays best pitchers, having won ALCS MVP two seasons prior, but going into that night Garza had never beaten the Tigers. Him and Max Scherzer dominated that game, and both had competing no-nos until the 5th inning. Garza also threw a season high 120 pitches in his effort. I'll grant you that these big defensive plays happened earlier on in the game, so they won't rank super high on a tier list like this. But I still think it's a notable game to represent, and it definitely had its moments of drama! Otherwise, great list!

[@syan7558]

Not sure how a man slipping and ending up with a ball that wouldn't have changed the score is higher than Laureano robbing Votto of a game tying HR. Like okay? List made sense until that one. Apparently no hitting the best team in baseball at that time is worth less than Hamels going to the Rangers. I'm baffled.

[@justinlatini4725]

Laureano didn’t rob Votto of a HR. It would have hit off the wall. FYI. And I think it has to do more with home insanely hard it is to still be able to catch a ball after slipping and falling, with your equilibrium and sense of direction thrown way off. Both were great plays in different ways and I don’t really care which is ranked higher. But just wanted to bring a different perspective.

[@syan7558]

@@justinlatini4725 If OP had ranked the slip n fall higher because of the technical difficulty of the play, I'd be more inclined to agree. Instead he ranked it higher citing Hamels being traded a week later as reason. That's what I think is bogus. Also, on the side view of Laureano's catch; where his glove is in relation to the wall, and the angle the ball came down from makes it a homerun imo.

[@lttfan9185]

@@syan7558 If he doesn't catch it, it's an error and the nono is still in effect. Should have been a Nah.

[@joelavalle7313]

@@lttfan9185 that's exactly what I came here to say. This play shouldn't even be in the list to begin with. It was a routine fly ball if he doesn't overrun it

[@haydenross4688]

I think it’s something that is definitely perceived definitely from a Phillies fan, if you look at Coke Hamels, he’s a Phillies icon, one of the most fond memories we have of the franchise growing up in the 2000s, and for him to go out like that was honestly incredible, he was one of the last remnants of the 2008 team, and while the play itself wasn’t spectacular, that moment was incredible.

[@Reaper_ginger]

Listening to giants games on on the radio and through the free section at AT&T Park were a huge part of growing up for me. Listening to Jon Miller brings up huge nostalgia

[@watericesalt6499]

The Padres finally have a no hitter!

[@jysprk7395]

Benny barely went out the baseline on that olson play. My mind hates that play so much it completely erased it from my memory until now

[@joshuapatrick682]

You’re a sucker for diving catches even though it’s hard to make a running barehand grab and throw in one stride then a standing diving catch. That Visquiel play is one that everyone who has ever even heard of baseball has seen. It’s iconic above all but the very first one you showed.

[@mayitakeyourhatsir8632]

That Austin Jackson catch is what made me a Tigers fan

[@cnissenbaum2019]

The gregor blanco catch will forever be my favorite baseball moment

[@danielbergks]

That vizquel play is the best on this list

[@joshuapatrick682]

12:00 to be fair Cabrera hit himself in the nuts to save a no hitter thru 5 innings. You can see him limping afterwards

[@witonisaurus]

Haha this list was doomed to be top-heavy just by the nature of the topic! Great video either way, I'm a sucker for these plays

[@Sledgehammer2340]

Carlos Ruiz play in Roy Halladay’s no hitter to end the game is super underrated. Also Jimmy Rollins throwing out Maybin in Halladay’s perfect game was very nice.

[@padraigoleary9770]

Biased???

[@joshuapatrick682]

Did this man speak a Padres No-hitter into existence?!?! Wtf even is time?!?

[@Sh3rk69]

Never be anything as hype as Wise

[@enthusiastJD]

I was at the Zimmermann no hitter, I still can not believe I witnessed that

[@jackstevens585]

I can’t believe I’ve never seen this video!!! Love your channel!!! You always put a smile on my face with the joy you share the stories your report on!

[@outtaherebaseball3205]

That Olson play may not have been the flashiest but that route was so smart. Good stuff man

[@SportStorm23]

Thanks man

[@K9AF]

While I basically agreed with NEARLY all of your placements, the one that GLARINGLY stands out was your putting the Hamels/ Herrera one at the top! That AT BEST was a 'MEH'

[@SamBowers114]

K9AF I KNOW! If he hadn’t slipped it would have just been a routine catch.

[@sauceman5337]

Nice video! I have no idea why the Phillies centerfielder one is in the top tier tho lol

[@josephbartels8998]

The Thaiss play isn’t a play every good third baseman could make lol, sure arenado or Matt Chapman could make that play look easier I think it was still a great play

[@DayvDoberne]

Just want to weigh in on two plays I was familiar with: Blanco/Cain: Two things about this play. The first is that Blanco is positioned wayyy the heck toward center, and he catches this ball in a part of the ballpark you never see RFs in, which is pretty noteworthy. The other is part of my irrational love for Blanco -- he's a player who was signed as a minor league free agent in 2012 after not playing in the majors in 2011, wound up with a starting role because of the Melky Cabrera suspension, and made some memorable plays and got some big hits to help the Giants win the WS in 2012. In 2014, he was again slated to be a fourth outfielder, but started again for the injured Angel Pagan, and again made some big plays (and one major almost-gaffe) as the Giants won again in 2014. Vizquel/Bosio: The thing that's mind-boggling to me about this one is that I don't think Vizquel even needed to barehand it, with a strong throw I think he could have fielded it normally and gotten the out. IDK if he's increasing the difficulty of the play so that if he fails it's an error and not a hit to preserve the no-hitter, or if he's just that much of a baller that he knows he can make the play, but wow Vizquel is really something else.

[@barleymepodcast2301]

He was just that much of a baller. He regularly barehanded a ton of much harder hits. What made this impressive to me was him getting to the second base side and hard charging forward with all that momentum to ensure the out.

[@BadMintonFrog]

Who is here after after Joe Musgrove throws the first Padres No Hitter

[@jamesesterline]

Me

[@stevendeckert6373]

Vizquel made everything defensively look easy.

[@sugarhoneyicetea92]

11:35 how could you not give Cabrera props on that play. He's the one that saved a throwing error on Verlander's side

[@omarrios2802]

Cuz he’s a snowflake and subjective

[@Thracianking51]

Omar Rios everyone is subjective big fella lmao

[@omarrios2802]

Thracianking51 could do a better job of covering it up.

[@zackrymcallister6598]

Ah a fellow Padres fan, someone else who feels my pain

[@oidking]

Eventually we’ll get one 🤞

[@rywhyyy6299]

Clevinger is gonna get one for y’all

[@Edgxr]

Haha

[@darkstar9751]

What's worse... your team never throwing a no hitter/perfect game or have your team be on the loosing side of 2 perfect games

[@MooseBear-ob2wh]

How in the world do you give the reasons for hamels/Herrera to be Hang A Star then give almost the exact same reasons AND a much better catch with Baxter/Santana in amazing? That just made no sense lol

[@GotDamBoi]

robin yount looked like he was diving after he made the catch lol

[@michaelsingleton3144]

Just stumbled across your videos... They are awesome.... Subscribed

[@josephtitus6318]

Here after Adam Engel 🤗

[@ryanwitkop23]

Austin Jackson made an amazing play in Armando Galarraga's Perfect Game

[@MrMansontaco]

Greatest play of my childhood followed by the most crushing moment

[@ryanwitkop23]

@@MrMansontaco right!?

[@spittle8]

Ranking the Vizquel play anything less than hang a star actually made me mad, ruined the video for me. That play was incredible and hearing it described as not especially athletic... umm, okay bro lol. Otherwise great video, haha.

[@drefore2642]

I remember watching wise catch with my buddy live on tv what a great catch!

[@pandabearmadness6263]

The Blanco catch was so amazing i loved that game

[@ryanmccarthy7381]

Glad i found your content today. Can’t wait for you to break out, keep this up!

[@wagnerbaseballgloverepair6853]

Nicely done. Arbitrary as anyone's individual rankings may be, its all part of the fun! Thanks for posting!

[@EvanRothfeld-f6u]

This is my new favorite KZbin channel

[@mr.gullible2506]

Definitely make a similar type of video but on inside the park homeruns

[@damonrosania]

Utleys play was insane and the fact that rich hill didn’t get the no-hitter still hurts me to this day

[@colin3472]

i love you for putting the un official perfect game

[@JorgeFuentes_cpp]

I hate him for saying it was only amazing 😆😆😆

[@ryanhiga3]

Two words baby. Joe musgrove!! Congrats on your teams no no!

[@tressler2]

Padres have a no hitter now lmao

[@AirtimeThrills]

Great list. The ones that immediately came to mind were wise and souza

[@doctorsuave]

Rizzo’s play to save German’s no hitter in the fifth today, two and a half years after the video was posted was solid

[@markclark1429]

Okay now switch the Verlander with the Hamels. Wtf bro

[@Monsterr713]

Video starts at 2:00

[@MorgenBaird_888]

great content keep it up. Also hi

[@SportStorm23]

Morgen Baird hello 👋

[@kyriea]

Wow I’m a fan of KTO and he’s a great KZbinr ngl

[@rickkassner4555]

Nice list, another good one was Danny Espinosa fielding a ball in shallow right and throwing out the runner for Scherzer's. Was at the game and could've sworn it was a hit.

[@Samuelito.11]

16:01 the yelling he did was hilarious

[@Monsterr713]

What does Verlander being on the astros have anything to do with a play he did while in tigers uniform

[@treeleavesofficial9460]

Wow, maybe it was a joke

[@joseallaurador-garcia244]

Hes stuck in 2017

[@jpsned]

15:10 I heard Zimmerman bought Sousa a new car for making that catch 😀

[@MG-ng6zl]

Very nice topic to cover!

[@zachpeterkoski1664]

I dont see the relevance behind the crowd reaction and commentary and i wouldnt personally use that as part of my criteria. That olsen play is criminally underrated

[@rowangraves7327]

Got that Padres no hitter now eh?

[@korkskrew5358]

Giolito's no-no the other day had a couple really nice plays.

[@dcyt-ti4vv]

Any opinions on where the catch by Adam Engels catch falls?

[@billyhagen1137]

I would say solid

[@nicholasnapoleon7274]

Literally found your channel today and have watched a handful of videos but it is a crime you have the amount of views and subs you do, very well made videos and content overall.

[@lordrevanz16]

Finally, someone who not only remembers and talks about Pedroia's play, but gives it the respect that it deserves.

[@jasongabrielson4179]

Revan Redeemed thank u

[@ElJohnno42]

I've got two more for a Part 2 if you ever decide to do another one. 1: I saw another commenter mention this one, so consider it seconded - 8th inning, 2nd out of Dallas Braden's perfecto. Kevin Kouzmanoff makes the running grab at the top step of the dugout. I imagine you'd take points off for it being in foul territory, so no immediate danger of a hit if he missed it, but there's the mother's day storyline, it's later in the game so the announcers and crowd are awake, and it is a heck of a play. 2. 9th inning, 2nd out of Jonathan Sanchez' no-no. Aaron Rowand glides back on a towering fly to deep center and makes a jumping catch. It's not Blanco, but another great effort in that big ballpark. I was lucky enough to catch most of the Giants and A's no hitters in recent memory on TV. What an era it was.

[@boomskipow1363]

You should do some kind of tier list for the nastiest pitch. Even if it's only over one season. A lot of the rookies comin in are providing plenty of examples. I feel like pitchers are throwing the craziest stuff I've ever seen this year.

[@stevenhamann4344]

Put the final out of the Hisashi Iwakuma no hitter Edit: Watched it again and it was pretty routine, do the Seager catch, I think final out of the 8th inning

[@trevorschmitt-ernst4813]

I got to put Nievas/Yount top tier, seems much better then the Hamels. But fantastic video!

[@luhgeekyperc]

this is an amazing video idea

[@AleKlay]

I’ve been lucky enough to have been in Matt cains perfect game, but was too young to remember lots of things from the game

[@BUSTERPOSEYFAN111]

12:55 remember being in left field foul line bleachers. Was rocking the whole game after the 6th. No one from our side could see if he caught it, so there was like a 5 second delay from RF section crowd erupting and us. Still the most magical baseball i’ve ever watched. The giants will forever hold the biggest spot in my heart out of all my sports teams 🖤🧡

[@ericwisniewski2636]

As long as Blanco’s catch was top tier I’m happy, I know this is an old ass video but it was very entertaining

[@LuizBjrqz]

i dissagree with some of the placment of the plays, but i still enjoyed the video. keep up the good work! :)

[@55giantsfan22]

The blanco catch is epic

[@markjensen7091]

Surprised you don't have the Kouzmanoff catch in the 8th inning. He literally sprinted from 3rd base to the dug out to make the catch in the Dallas Braden perfect game. It's significant because Oakland has MASSIVE foul territory areas that tend to generate unique catches. He makes that catch it effects the outcome of the game.

[@selkesmooth4928]

I think David Cone's perfect game had a couple of pretty good saving catches, but one was early in the game

[@codeecomah5920]

Gregor Blancos Perfect Game saving catch for Matt Cain was AMAZING! The Giants First Perfecto! Cant shy from Timmy's 2 NO-NOs!!! Super high Pitch Count. And back to back years! It was just proved to the doubters that Tim Linecum is still an Amazing Pitcher! Wise's catch was Awesome! He was a 9th inn sub and in was in the LAST 3 OUTS! AMAZING PLAY! Whata Shoestring Catch by Moryn in the Cardwell No Hitter! If the cameras were better of course with a better angle I'm sure we'd see how difficult that catch was and it was to end the game! Yount's Catch... Classic! Cole Hamels last game NO-NO was special. An amazing play to end the game always adds magic. Justin Verlander still looking for the Perfecto...i dont think hell retire until he gets it..

[@rickastley8214]

Herrera catch and Baxter catch should both be lower imo. If you want to rank stories they should be that high, but as far as a play goes they feel a bit too sloppy, but maybe thats just me. Still very cool just not top/just below top tier, Solid or meh would make more sense to me. Yount also totally hammed his up lol, could be a meh for me. Good list overall.

[@Leonardhbrown]

When Nolan Ryan threw his record breaking fifth no-hitter, Terry Puhl made an outstanding full speed catch on the warning track on a ball in the right-center gap to close out the 7th inning.

[@thepiper5522]

I enjoyed the video, good stuff. The Vizquel play was great though. Athletic and far from routine.

[@VegeMaticPragtarian]

One thing to consider as well for the Herrera grab was that the wind at Wrigley surely played a part in him overrunning it. Especially with how high that ball was hit

[@DublinSeafoodInc]

Great video!

[@iblxdes5786]

You should make a their list on messed up plays or bad calls to ruin no-hitters/perfect games

[@NDTexan]

So you can't put in the play in galarraga's unofficial perfect game or Rich hills 10 inning game as hang a star, because they don't qualify. yet you consider combined no hitters as a real no hitter, just because it was a game after Tyler skaggs. Weak sauce, man

[@_CARKENT]

Nobody has done an MLB home run tier list yet! Get on it asap!

[@nacoran]

Were there any good ones in Mike Scott's no hitter? You couldn't get the games nationally back then but I remember it clinched the pennant for Houston. (Of course even then you had Mike Scott's sandpaper and Mickey Hatcher's exploding corked bat.)

[@coryk7859]

I saw herreras catch in person, it was insane. Bryant smoked that ball on a line and looked like a homer off the bat. Wind blew the ball back in which is why he overran it. Being a cardinals fan, watching the cubs get not hit at Wrigley was the best

[@WestCoastSamoan]

I'm happy you put the Austin Jackson play. Jim Joyce robbed them from Hang a Star

[@ethan3949]

That Yount play is so overrated. The dive was so unnecessary and almost any other center fielder woulda made that play

[@karenferguson7411]

heck no

[@ethan3949]

Karen Ferguson heck ya

[@karenferguson7411]

@@ethan3949 no freaking way

[@ethan3949]

Karen Ferguson yes freaking way. He’s admitted that if he just ran full speed there he’s b called under it waiting for it

[@mexicandruglordjerry5940]

@@karenferguson7411 you can literally see he dove after he caught the ball. So no, it wasn’t as good as people claim.

[@supervision4137]

There is no chance that robin yount’s one was worse then the next I was thinking nah on the one after robin and you put in hang a Star come on

[@theapologist6717]

Me, a Phillies Fan: sees the Herrera catch pop up Storm: This will be controversial Me: Meh. Important memory in my life, but not a good catch. Storm: Hang a star Me: Say Whaaaaaa...

[@rpwdec9910]

2:35 Buehrle was an all star with the Jays?

[@crazycreg4605]

Not when he threw the perfect game

[@aussiedaboii1175]

No way this man actually predicted Musgrove's no-hitter

[@josephan5159]

Matt Cain Gregor blanco has the be the best one

[@mularys]

I am impressed by Danny Espinosa's throw to first base to save Max Scherzer's perfect game bet.