Yes it's been 365 days since the absolutely incredible happened. Mark Buehrle is certainly the ace of the White Sox staff, but is also the LEAST likely member to toss a no-no. The guy simply throws the ball over the plate too often and doesn't have overpowering stuff. He gives up hits. Lots of them.

But not on this night one year ago.

April 18, 2007.

I was out of the house all day when it happened. Came home from a nice dinner out to find the news. I had to do a double take when I saw it. Buehrle? BUEHRLE? You kidding me? If someone had told me he'd tossed a 10-hit shutout I'd have believed them in a heartbeat. A no hitter? No way. Vazquez or Contreras on a good night, sure. Garland when the sinker was on, absolutely. Even the kid, Danks, has the kind of stuff that I'd have thought he might get lucky one night.

But Buehrle? Never in my wildest dreams. For the last 6 years he's allowed over 200 hits. Usually WELL over 200. Don't get me wrong, he's a great pitcher, it's just that giving up hits is part of what he does. With a fast ball that only reaches 90 on the kindest of radar guns he's probably the last Sox pitcher in the last 10 years I'd have expected this out of. 

Yet there is was. Mark Buehrle. No-hitter. And the only thing that kept it from being a perfect game was a walk to Sammy Sosa who he proceeded to pick off of 1st base. That's how close Mark came to a perfect game that day. Faced the minimum 27 batters.  

Hat tip to MB on the anniversary of his improbable no hitter.