Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.

Chris Paddack has moved to the top of the list I’ve kept for years.

It all started shortly after July 21, 1970. That was the night that original Padres manager Preston Gomez pulled right-hander Clay Kirby for a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Kirby was throwing a no-hitter at the time against the New York Mets at San Diego Stadium. But the Padres were losing. So Gomez pinch-hit for Kirby. The fans were not happy. And it got a bit ugly when the Mets’ Bud Harrelson led off the ninth with a single against Padres reliever Jack Baldschun.

Kirby had a clear shot at throwing a no-hitter in only the Padres second season.

It was shortly after that when I started my list -- Who would be the first Padre to throw a no-hitter?

Kirby, of course, topped my list back then. I honestly believed “The Kid” would do it. I thought he was going to do it on July 21, 1970. Kirby was an interesting study. His overall record wasn’t great. But on certain nights, his stuff could be devastating.

That was again the case in back-to-back starts in September of 1971 when Kirby took no-hitters into the eighth. Neither bid reached the ninth. But Kirby was almost unhittable.

His is one of two names appearing three times on the Padres’ list of 21 “close calls.”

The Padres keep that “close call” list because they are the only Major League team that has never had a no-hitter ... and we’re deep into the 51st season of Padres baseball.

It’s interesting to look at the names on my list. I’d usually add a name after watching a pitcher several times.

The second name added to my list was Steve Arlin, who came as close as anyone on July 18, 1972, when he gave up a two-out, bad-hop single to the Phillies' Denny Doyle in the ninth because the Padres had mis-positioned third baseman Dave Roberts.

Jimmy Jones, who threw a one-hitter in his Padres’ debut on Sept. 21, 1986, in the Astrodome was added. But Randy Jones, who threw two one-hitters in his career, never was added. Jones was the ultimate throw-to-contact pitcher. I didn’t see him throwing a no-hitter.

I thought Bruce Hurst had a chance. He didn’t. But his name is one of 10 pitchers on my list.

Two of the most recent additions were Chris Young and Andrew Cashner.

I loved Young’s chances. He was No. 1 on my list for a long time ... and he came close three times. Twice he took a no-hitter into the eighth. His closest call came on Sept. 22, 2006, when Pittsburgh pinch-hitter Joe Randa broke up the bid with a two-run, one-out homer to center in the ninth at Petco Park.

I firmly thought Young was going to end the “Curse of Kirby” no-hitter jinx. Although his fastball didn’t have overwhelming velocity, it was delivered from full extension out of a 6-foot-10 frame. It must have looked like 100 mph when it rode high in the strike zone.

Cashner’s stuff could be electric at times. He is the only pitcher in Padres history to face the minimum 27 hitters in the first of his two one-hitters.

Now, Paddack is on my list. He’s actually been there since earlier this season. Not only does he have the stuff, he’s got the attitude. And he’s one of four Major League pitchers this season who have allowed only one hit in seven or more innings.

Wednesday night in Miami was officially his first close call. He took a no-hitter into the eighth, before Starlin Castro ended the bid with a leadoff homer. But I don’t think that is his last shot.

Here’s hoping Paddack forces me to wad up my list and toss it in the trash. I think he’s the guy. I think he’ll throw the first no-hitter in Padres history.