There's nothing quite like the anticipation that builds in a ballpark during a no-hitter, the tension in every chest as those final innings tick down, the simultaneous release from a pitcher, his teammates and 40,000 strangers when the 27th out is made. No matter the team's record or the pitcher's background it is a special day, in part because it so often comes out of nowhere.
Tim Lincecum's two no-hitters were pitched far from the peak of his powers. He never no-hit an opponent during his Cy Young days, but twice did it when a diminished fastball relegated him to the back of the rotation.