Buster Posey caught his third no-hitter, but still trails Jason Varitek for the most in history

Posey celebrates with Heston, Varitek celebrates with Lester Al Bello/Getty Images and Jim Davis/Boston Globe

By Jack Andrade

June 10, 2015

1 minute to read

Giants catcher Buster Posey caught his third career no-hitter Tuesday night, as rookie Chris Heston became the fourth pitcher in as many seasons to put a goose egg in the opponent’s hit column for San Francisco.

Posey joins several catchers in being one no-hitter shy of the all-time major league record held by former Red Sox backstop Jason Varitek, according to MLB.com. Varitek caught no-hitters from Hideo Nomo in 2001, Derek Lowe in 2002, Clay Buchholz in 2007, and Jon Lester in 2008.

The 28-year-old Posey is a former National League MVP and widely regarded as the best all-around catcher in baseball. He was playing first base last June when Tim Lincecum threw a no-hitter for San Francisco, but he caught Lincecum’s first no-no in 2013, as well as Matt Cain’s perfect game in 2012.

Varitek was 36 when he caught his fourth no-hitter, Lester’s blanking of the Royals in 2008. That means Posey has plenty of time, health permitting, to catch a fourth. But it still takes a phenomenal pitching performance (and often a spectacular defensive play or two) to make a no-hitter happen.