Is the no-hitter jinx still an unwritten rule?

One of baseball’s oldest and most taboo subjects has always been no-hitters. What should one do when in the dugout for a no-hitter? Should they talk about it? Avoid the subject all together?

Join former All-Stars Jimmy Rollins and Ron Darling as they discuss a question as old as time in the Unwritten podcast. Both have been on both the good and the bad sides of one of baseball’s most iconic feats, and they will share their stories in episode four.

Rollins had a front row seat to one of the most iconic no-no’s in baseball history: Roy Halladay’s postseason gem in Game 1 of the 2010 NLDS.

“This is no exaggeration, being perfectly honest: Three pitches into the game, I look at Chase [Utley]. I said, ‘They have no chance. None,’” Rollins said.

“You knew what Doc had in his repertoire, you knew how he prepared and I'd been behind him enough to know when he's completely on. Now I didn't think of no-hitting them, but I knew he had no-hit type stuff that day three pitches into the game.”

The no-hitter evaded Darling during his career, but he once battled another former All-Star, Frank Viola, for 11 innings without giving up a hit in a loss at Yale. Darling offered some insight on what he would have liked to happen had he thrown one in the big leagues.

“I always wanted someone to slap my leg, like ‘Go get it, big fella’ or something like that. You know, just some encouragement that we're all in this together,” Darling said. “Because every pitcher will tell you who's had a no-hit bid -- unless they strike out 27, which hasn't happened yet -- that you need a little help from your friends.

“So I always wanted guys to continue to kind of act the way they usually act in the dugout. Now I don't want some guy hitting me with shells or hitting me with gum or something like that, but I would like it to be how it usually is.”

After their playing careers were over, both Rollins and Darling took their talents to the broadcasting booth. And as many know, the broadcaster’s jinx is a very sensitive topic around no-hitters. Should it be mentioned? Or should it be stated outright for the folks at home?

“At the end of the day, you go ask the player, the pitcher, when were you aware of it? Did you notice people not talking to you? You're not gonna walk in a clubhouse and hear the announcer talking about you. You have a no-hitter,” Rollins said. “You might go to the bat rack area, go to the bathroom and you come right back and you sit by your lonesome. So I think it's fun for everyone listening and watching.

“I don't think it has any bearing on the game itself. But then again, I'm not a superstitious guy, so I don't think any of it matters.”

You can listen to Jimmy and Ron talk about no-hitters and more of baseball’s unwritten rules every Wednesday. Listen and subscribe now on Audacy, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.