List of Southern League no-hitters
Since the foundation of the Southern League in 1964 its pitchers have thrown 101 no-hitters, which include four perfect games. Of these no-hitters, 52 were pitched in games that lasted at least the full nine innings, while 49 were pitched in games shortened due to weather or that were played in doubleheaders, which are typically seven innings. Only two of the league's four perfect games were tossed in full nine-inning games. Thirty no-hitters were combined—thrown by two or more pitchers on the same team.
A no-hit game occurs when a pitcher allows no hits during the entire course of a game. A batter may still reach base via a walk, an error, a fielder's choice, a hit by pitch, a passed ball or wild pitch on strike three, or catcher's interference. Due to these methods of reaching base, it is possible for a team to score runs without getting any hits. While the vast majority of no-hitters are shutouts, teams which went hitless have managed to score runs in their respective games nine times in Southern League games, some in extra innings.
The first Southern League no-hitter was thrown on May 3, 1964, by Doug Gallagher of the Knoxville Smokies against the Asheville Tourists at Bill Meyer Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, as part of a seven-inning doubleheader. The first nine-inning feat occurred on August 11, 1965, when Bill Whitby of the Charlotte Hornets no-hit Asheville at Clark Griffith Park in Charlotte, North Carolina. The first perfect game was pitched on July 6, 1967, by George Lauzerique of the Birmingham A's against the Evansville White Sox at Bosse Field in Evansville, Indiana, as part of a seven-inning doubleheader. The first nine-inning perfect game occurred on August 14, 1970, when Charles Swanson of the Montgomery Rebels accomplished the feat against the Savannah Indians at Grayson Stadium in Savannah, Georgia.
Five league pitchers have participated in multiple Southern League no-hitters. Jimmie Brown, who pitched two for the Montgomery Rebels in 1968, is the only pitcher with two solo no-hit games. Griffin Canning, Ryan Clark, Ryan Franklin, and Eric Torres have each participated in two combined no-hitters. Franklin's were made in back-to-back starts with the Memphis Chicks, with the second being a solo affair. Canning and Clark were the starting and closing pitchers, respectively, for the same no-hit games with the Mobile BayBears.
The team with the most no-hitters is the Knoxville Smokies, with 11. They are followed by the Birmingham Barons and the Jacksonville Suns. Four teams have each thrown one perfect game.