The Milwaukee Brewers are dealing with a no-hitter curse. Since Juan Nieves tossed the franchise’s first and only no-no on Tax Day way back in 1987, there have been 94 more no-hitters thrown by Major League pitchers. That sole Brewers no-hitter ties the franchise for the fewest by a team. Milwaukee’s current no-hitter drought of 34 years (!!!) is the longest by a National League team and the second longest in MLB at this point.
While throwing just one hit-free game in the organization’s more than 50-year run, the Brewers have witnessed four no-hitters from opposing pitchers firsthand. Along the way, Miller Park was even the site of a no-hitter thrown by Carlos Zambrano in a game against the “home team” Houston Astros, who were displaced by a hurricane.
Beyond it being a fairly random occurrence that can happen at almost any time (hell, Homer Bailey threw TWO of them in a nine-month span), there’s really no explanation why no-hitters seems to avoid Brewers pitchers. It’s not like the franchise has bad pitchers. In fact, there are six pitchers who have thrown a combined total of seven no-hitters after leaving the Brewers. The latest instance of this happened last night, when Zach Davies did the brunt of the work in a Cubs combined no-hit effort, tossing six scoreless frames as Chicago’s starting pitcher. Amazingly, that’s the second no-no by a former Brewers hurler to happen this season alone. As we shake our fist at the sky and ask WHY US?!, let’s look at all seven times ex-Brewers threw no-hitters after leaving Milwaukee.
June 24, 2021 — Zach Davies (Chicago Cubs)
Yesterday, Davies—who spent his first five big league seasons in Milwaukee—threw six hitless frames against the Dodgers before handing the game and the fate of his no-hitter over to the bullpen. Ryan Tepera, Andrew Chafin, and Craig Kimbrel did their part to preserve the win and the 312th no-hitter in MLB history.
May 7, 2021 — Wade Miley (Cincinnati Reds)
Last month, Wade Miley (who spent an injury-shortened 2018 season with the Brewers) became the fourth pitcher to throw a no-hitter in the 2021 season when he blanked Cleveland on May 7.
May 7, 2019 — Mike Fiers (Oakland Athletics)
Exactly two years before Miley’s no-hitter, Mike Fiers became the 34th pitcher in Major League histor to toss two career no-hitters when he went the distance against the Reds in an interleague matchup. And yes, both of those no-hitters came after his time with the Brewers.
August 21, 2015 — Mike Fiers (Houston Astros)
The first Fiers no-hitter came less than a month after he was traded to Houston with Carlos Gomez in exchange for Josh Hader, Domingo Santana, Brett Phillips, and Adrian Houser. The August 21, 2015 start against the Dodgers was his first complete game as well. Years later, this game is the first thing Houston fans think of when they hear the name Mike Fiers. Oh wait…
April 4, 2001 — Hideo Nomo (Boston Red Sox)
Famed Japanese pitcher and guy who is referenced on Liar Liar Hideo Nomo spent the 1999 season with the Brewers, during which he led Milwaukee in strikeouts. That one-year stint turned out to occur between his two career no-hitters. Roughly half a decade after his 1996 no-hitter with the Dodgers, Nomo (then a member of the Red Sox) had another no-no in an early April contest against the Orioles in 2001.
April 22, 1993 — Chris Bosio (Seattle Mariners)
Following seven mostly good seasons with the Brewers, veteran starter Chris Bosio quickly made a good impression in his new city when he (a member of the Mariners) held the Red Sox hitless in an April 22 game. it was the first of just three no-hitters to happen in the Majors during the 1993 season.
May 14, 1977 — Jim Colborn (Kansas City Royals)
Over the course of five seasons with the Brewers in the early and mid-1970s, pitcher Jim Colborn managed an impressive 3.65 ERA and even notched an All-Star selection. However, he saved his greatest career achievement for a few months after his departure from Milwaukee when he threw a no-hitter against the Rangers on May 14, 1977. Coincidentally, the catcher for Colborn’s no-hitter was none other than Darrell Porter, who also left the Brewers following the 1976 season. Since there’s no footage of this game, we’ll play you off with highlights from Nieves’ no-no instead.