Reply #75: There was a precedent set in 1991 when 50 no-hitters were thrown out. [View All]

[Are_grits_groceries]

There used to be many more no-hitters on the record books, but in September 1991 the Committee on Statistical Accuracy, chaired by then MLB Commissioner Fay Vincent, changed the official definition of a no hitter, declaring it a game of nine innings or more that ends with no hits. That leaves 266 sanctioned no-hitters (243 in the A.L. and N.L.), detailed here.

The stringent definition eliminated 38 no-hitters from the books that were shortened by rain or darkness and losing efforts by the away team in which the home team doesn’t bat in the bottom of the ninth.

It also wiped out 12 no-hitters by pitchers who threw nine innings of no-hit ball only to yield a hit in extra innings. That narrow definition kept Pedro Martinez out of the exclusive no-no club, even though his ball is featured in the National Baseball Hall of Fame’s “No-Nos and Perfectos” exhibit. Martinez threw nine innings of perfect ball on June 3, 1995, but his Expos couldn’t score a run and Martinez wound up giving up a hit in the 10th. It’s not considered a no-hitter.
http://www.nonohitters.com/near-no-hitters /

They changed the rule and made it retroactive. Rules are apparently changed at times when MLB deems it to be necessary.
They put an asterisk by Roger Maris's name when he broke the HR record for a year. They said it was because he played more games than Babe Ruth. They monkey with the rules when they want to.

I am torn about changing it. However, they can't claim they never do change anything a lot.