Johan Santana pitches a no-hitter for the New York Mets, a first in the fifty-one-year history of the franchise. (Photo from “USA Today”)

Congratulations from the Right Off the Bat project to Johan Santana, the first Mets pitcher to twirl a no-hitter. Philip Gregory Humber and David Cone had pitched perfect games for other teams. Former Mets stars Nolan Ryan, Tom Seaver, and Doc Gooden had pitched a total of nine no-hitters for other clubs. Pitchers in Mets uniforms have pitched an astonishing thirty-five one-hitters. “No-han” has come all the way back from shoulder surgery to no-hit the World Champion St. Louis Cardinals and throw a second consecutive shutout.