Perfect game (baseball)

Since 1991, a perfect game is defined by Major League Baseball as a game in which a pitcher pitches a complete game victory that lasts a minimum of nine innings and in which no opposition player reaches first base. In short, no hits, walks, hit batters, or any other baserunners for any reason. And of course no runs scored either. Since the pitcher cannot control whether or not his teammates commit any errors, the pitcher must be backed up by a solid defense to pitch a perfect game. However, an error which does not allow a baserunner, such as a misplayed foul ball, may occur in a perfect game. Several games have, heart breakingly, not qualified under this definition.

A perfect game is widely regarded as the pinnacle of pitching performance, and is one of the most difficult achievements in baseball or indeed any sport. It is the masterpiece of a pitcher's career and, in Major League Baseball, places one in exceptionally elite company. In fact, it is so difficult that luck, as much as skill, plays an enormous role; there have been great pitchers who have never pitched a perfect game, and several not so great pitchers have one. Over the past 120 years, there have only been 17 perfect games:

Major League Baseball perfect games

Pitcher	Teams	Date
Lee Richmond	Worcester Ruby Legs vs. Cleveland Blues	June 12, 1880
Monte Ward	Providence Grays vs. Buffalo Bisons	June 17, 1880
Cy Young (Bos), 37/? pitches	Philadelphia A's at Boston Pilgrims, Huntington Avenue Grounds/day/10267/3-0	May 5, 1904
Addie Joss (Cle), 28/74 pitches	Chicago White Sox at Cleveland Naps, League Park/day/10598/1-0	October 2, 1908
Charlie Robertson (Chi), 26/90 pitches	Chicago White Sox at Detroit Tigers, Navin Field/day/25000/2-0	April 30, 1922
Don Larsen (NY), 27/97 pitches	Brooklyn Dodgers at New York Yankees, Yankee Stadium/day/64519/2-0	October 8, 1956
Jim Bunning (Phi), 32/90 pitches	Philadelphia Phillies at New York Mets, Shea Stadium/day/32026/6-0	June 21, 1964
Sandy Koufax (LA), 29/113 pitches	Chicago Cubs at Los Angeles Dodgers, Dodger Stadium/Chavez Ravine/night/29139/1-0	September 9, 1965
Catfish Hunter (Oak), 22/107 pitches	Minnesota Twins at Oakland A's, Oakland-Alemeda County Coliseum/night/6298/4-0	May 8, 1968
Len Barker (Cle), 25/103 pitches	Toronto Blue Jays at Cleveland Indians, Cleveland Stadium/night/7290/3-0	May 15, 1981
Mike Witt (Cal), 24/94 pitches	California Angels at Texas Rangers, Arlington Stadium/day/8375/1-0	September 30, 1984
Tom Browning (Cin), 28/102 pitches	Los Angeles Dodgers at Cincinnati Reds, Riverfront Stadium/night/16591/1-0	September 16, 1988
Dennis Martinez (Mon), 36/95 pitches	Montreal Expos at Los Angeles Dodgers, Dodger Stadium/day/45560/2-0	July 28, 1991
Kenny Rogers (Tex), 29/98 pitches	California Angels at Texas Rangers, The Ballpark in Arlington/night/46581/4-0	July 28, 1994
David Wells (NY), 34/120 pitches	Minnesota Twins at New York Yankees, Yankee Stadium/day/49820/4-0	May 17, 1998
David Cone (NY), 36/88 pitches	Montreal Expos at New York Yankees, Yankee Stadium/day/41930/6-0	July 18, 1999
Randy Johnson	Arizona at Atlanta	May 18, 2004

Larsen pitched the first and only post-season no-hitter/perfect game in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series. Note that the first two perfect games ocurred when pitching was underhanded (hand could not rise above the belt), from 45 feet away from home plate, 8 balls were required for a walk, hitters could direct a high or low ball, and so on. They were fundamentally different than the rest of those listed and only arguably belong in this list; changes in the rules since Cy Young's perfect game have been much less. Also note that Cy Young's perfect game was part of a hitless innings streak (24 straight adn still a record) and a scoreless innings streak (45 straight, no longer a record).

Near-misses or "hidden" perfect games

The official definition of a perfect game requires that a pitcher allow no baserunners over the course of entire nine inning (or more) game, and that the pitcher pitch a complete game. However, there are a few instances in which a pitcher retired every batter over nine innings (that is, 27 consecutive batters), but was not recognized as having pitched a perfect game, either because the game went into extra innings, or because he did not pitch a complete game.

On June 23, 1917, Babe Ruth walked the first batter in a game against the Washington Senators. Ruth was so enraged with the calls made by umpire Brick Owens, that he punched Owens in the face and was ejected. Ernie Shore came in to replace Ruth. The runner on first was caught stealing, and Shore proceeded to retire the next 26 batters. All 27 outs were made while Shore was on the mound.

On May 26, 1959, Harvey Haddix of the Pittsburgh Pirates carried a perfect game through an amazing twelve innings against the Milwaukee Braves and Warren Spahn, only to have it ruined by an error in the 13th inning. And Haddix, and the Pirates, lost the game!

On June 3, 1995, Pedro Martinez of the Montreal Expos had a perfect game through nine innings against the San Diego Padres. In the 10th inning, he gave up a leadoff double to Bip Roberts.

Four other "perfect games" are unofficial because the games ended before nine innings were completed. Dean Chance (1967) and David Palmer (Expos, 1984) pitched perfect games through 5 innings and won rainouts, but neither gets credit for a perfect game as they didn't go nine innings. The weather has to cooperate too!

Hooks Wiltse (Giants, 1914) hit the opposting pitcher with two out in the ninth of an otherwise perfect game. Tommy Bridges (Tigers, 1932) gave up a single to pinch-hitter Dave Harris while winning 13-0 against the Senators. Billy Pierce (White Sox, 1958) gave up a double to Ed Fitzgerald with one out left. Milt Pappas (1972) lost a perfect game to a called ball four on a 3-2 count to the 27th batter. The umpire was a first year man, Bruce Fremming. Milt Wilcox (Tigers) lost a perfect game on a singe by Jerry Hairston. Dave Steib and Brian Holman (both in 1988) gave up hits to the 27th batter. Ron Robinson (Reds) gave up one to the 26th batter Wallace Johnson (Expos). Mike Mussina had the same thing happen in Fenway Park (Labor Day, 2000) to Carl Everett -- a two strike pinch hit single.

Major League Baseball perfect games

Near-misses or "hidden" perfect games

See also