Both are pitching gems, but there’s a clear difference. A no-hitter means the pitcher allows no hits all game (though runners can still reach on walks or errors). A perfect game means no one reaches base at all — the ultimate outing.
The no-hitter
The pitcher gives up zero hits, but the game isn’t necessarily clean: a walk, a hit batter or an error can still put runners on. It’s rare and thrilling, and the whole ballpark holds its breath in the late innings.
The perfect game
This is the rarest feat in the sport: 27 batters up, 27 down, no hits, no walks, no errors. In more than a century of MLB, it’s happened only 24 times. Every pitch has to be flawless and the defense perfect behind it.
FAQ
Which is rarer?
The perfect game, by far: only 24 in MLB history, versus hundreds of no-hitters.
Can you have a no-hitter and still allow runners?
Yes: walks, hit batters and errors are allowed in a no-hitter — just no hits.
