By now every Dodger (and baseball) fan is well aware that Dodgers right-hander Josh Beckett threw a no-hitter on Sunday afternoon against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Ballpark in the city of brotherly love. It was the first no-hitter of 2014 and the first Dodger no-hitter since Hideo Nomo’s on September 17, 1995 against the Colorado Rockies at, of all places, Coors Field. It was also the 21st Dodger no-hitter in franchise history – more than any other MLB team.

Josh Beckett became the 21st pitcher in Dodgers history to throw a no-hitter on Sunday afternoon.
(Photo credit – Eric Hartline)

Most fans are also aware that baseball players are a very superstitious lot – more so than in any other professional sport. In fact, many of baseball’s superstitions are detailed in Jason Turbow’s entertaining book “The Baseball Codes” – one of which is that teammates are not supposed to talk to a pitcher in the dugout while he is throwing a no-hitter and another that you never sit next to a guy in the dugout while he is throwing a no-no.

Prior to Monday afternoon’s game against the Cincinnati Reds at Dodger Stadium, Beckett spent some time in the Dodgers dugout to talk with repoters about his historic day. After fielding a number of questions about his no-hitter and his remarkable recovery from last season’s thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) surgery, I asked Josh if he got wrapped up in all of the superstition stuff associated with no-hitters. His answer was quite surprising, if not humorous.

“People talk about superstitions. I think the way I try to be superstitious is by not being superstitious, like purposely not putting the same socks on every day,” said Beckett. “That’s kind of my superstition, to try not to be that way. If you get caught up in that, the next thing you know you’re adding something new every day and it just consumes your life. I’d prefer to be clear-minded.”

Asked if he was superstitious when a teammate was throwing a no-hitter, Beckett took the more universally accepted approach.

“If he would talk to me I would talk to him,” said Beckett. “I think that’s kind of what everybody was doing yesterday.”

But even if Beckett isn’t (or wasn’t) superstitious during his no-hitter, several of his teammates were.

“Chone Figgins didn’t move the whole game,” Beckett said. “Like he didn’t get up out of his seat. You hear about all of that stuff afterwards. I think [Chad Billingsley] was watching videos or something, some mechanical stuff. I can see him getting stuck in the video room for a few innings. You hear about that stuff afterwards but I think that if somebody came and talked to me if I had a no-hitter I would probably talk back.”

Beckett said that he has been in that exact situation before – a teammate was throwing a no-hitter. What did he do?

“I remember [Clay] Buchholz and [Jon] Lester both throwing their no-hitters [with the Boston Red Sox] but I don’t really remember what was going on,” said Beckett. “I think I was more nervous during their games than I was during mine. Obviously you want them to do it and it’s special for them but it’s also special for us.”

When it was pointed out that superstar outfielder and noted prankster Yasiel Puig was seen on television walking over to him and saying something to him in the dugout between innings, Beckett broke into a big smile.

“I kind of have an on-going joke when I get out of the bullpen after warming up,” said Beckett. “I come down and like ‘Alright guys, all I need is 10 runs and airtight defense and I’ll take care of the rest.’ So [Puig] came down and said ‘How many more you need?’ I said ‘You heard me, man, I need 10 and airtight defense and I’ll take care of the rest.’ He was just joking with me.”

Beckett makes his 128th and final pitch to strike out Phillies second baseman Chase Utley for his first career no-hitter. (Photo credit – Jon SooHoo)

Regardless of Beckett’s unique superstition about superstitions, no one can argue that he was dialed in on Sunday or that he is having a great season. He now sports a 3-1 record with an excellent 2.43 ERA – second only to Zack Greinke’s Cy Young-like 2.01 ERA among all Dodger starters. Beckett leads all Dodger starters with his remarkable .189 BAA and 1.02 WHIP. He has walked 20 while striking out 52 for a 2.60 K/BB ratio.

Although Beckett’s chances of tying Johnny Vander Meer‘s record of being the only pitcher in MLB history to throw back-to-back no-hitters are extremely remote (if not impossible), he is now the only active starting pitcher with an opportunity to do so – superstitions notwithstanding.