A no-hitter is impressive. But the perfect game is a rare masterpiece, achieved just 20 times in the history of baseball and only 18 times since the modern era began in 1900. No hits. No walks. No errors. Futility for 27 batters. A place in the history books for the pitcher. Let's take a look at the talented pitchers who can count this among their glorious accomplishments
I do have to say these players have some very interesting stories lol, hope you enjoy reading them as i didJ. Lee Richmond June 12, 1880 (Pre-modern era)Richmond was pitching in his first full season in the bigs. He batted second in the lineup. The only run was unearned. The game featured an unusual 9-3 putout and three outs were recorded on "foul bounds", ie: balls caught after bouncing once in foul territory (a rule eliminated three years later). Richmond's perfecto came after staying up all night following a pregraduation dinner at Brown University, pitching in an early morning game, and taking a train to Worcester just in time for the game. Richmond pitched full-time for only three seasons. He became a medical doctor.
John Montgomery Ward June 17, 1880 (Pre-modern era)Monte Ward threw his perfecto at the Grays' park, but Buffalo, by virtue of a coin toss, which was the custom under the rules at that time, was officially the home team. At the 20 years, 105 days, Ward is the youngest pitcher to throw a perfect game. Beginning in 1881, the year after his perfect game, Ward spent more time as a position player than a pitcher; in 1885, following an arm injury, he became a full-time infielder. The five days between Ward's game and Richmond's is the shortest amount of time between major-league perfect games. In the modern era, the gap is 20 days (Braden and Halladay). He was the only pitcher on the Grays all season
Cy Young May 5, 1904Young's perfect game was part of a hitless inning streak (23) and a scoreless inning streak (45). The last out of the game was a pop-out by the opposing pitcher. Baseball's most cherished pitching award is named for this legend, who pitched for five different teams in 22 years. The right-hander (pictured as a Cleveland Indian in an undated photo) holds other records, including: games started (815); complete games (749); and innings pitched (7,356). He is one of six pitchers to throw both a perfect game and a no-hitter. Young was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1937
Addie Joss Oct. 2, 1908Joss threw just 74 pitches in his perfect game. This is one of five perfect games to be won by one run and one of four to be won on an unearned run. Joss pitched a second no-hitter in 1910, also against the Chicago White Sox; Joss is the only pitcher in major league history to no-hit the same team twice. He's one of six pitchers to throw both a perfect game and a no-hitter. His 1.89 career ERA is ranked second all-time. He was elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veteran's Committee in 1978.
In the offseasons and after retirement Joss was a popular columnist and Sunday sports editor for the Toledo News-Bee.
Charlie Robertson April 30, 1922In only his fourth career game, and second start, Robertson became the first pitcher to throw a perfect game on the road. The opposing lineup had an OBP of .369. Throughout the game, the Tigers accused Robertson of doctoring the ball and submitted game balls to American League President Ban Johnson, who found no trace of tampering. Until his death, Ty Cobb said that Charlie Robertson doctored the ball. Ray Schalk, who caught this perfect game and a record three other no-hitters, sent a telegram of congratulations to every catcher who caught a no-hitter until his death. MLB's next perfect game would not occur for 34 years, the longest gap ever.
Don Larsen Oct. 8, 1956; World Series Game 5Larsen's remains the only postseason no-hitter. In Game 2 Larsen lasted less than two innings, allowing four runs on four walks. He didn't know he was going to start Game 5 until he arrived at the stadium. Only one Dodger (Pee Wee Reese) reached a three-ball count. The Dodgers had the highest season winning percentage (.604) of any team to surrender a perfect game.
On the day of the game, Larsen's wife Vivian filed for divorce. Asked years later if he ever gets tired of talking about the perfect game, Larsen said "No, why should I?" In this iconic photo, Yankees' catcher Yogi Berra leaps into Larsen's arms.
Jim Bunning June 21, 1964The father of nine pitched his perfect game on Father's Day, becoming the first in 42 years (since Robertson) to pitch a regular-season perfect game. Bunning, who also pitched a no-hitter in 1958 (for the Tigers), is one of six pitchers to throw both a perfect game and a no-hitter, and one of five to throw a no-hitter in both leagues. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame by the Veteran's Committee in 1996.
After baseball, Bunning returned to his native Kentucky and took up politics. He was elected to the city council, the state senate, the U.S. House of Representatives and the United States Senate.
Sandy Koufax Sept. 9, 1965Koufax was the first lefty to pitch a perfect game. This was the first nighttime perfect game. Koufax struck out 14, the most in a perfect game. The opposing pitcher, Bob Hendley, pitched a one-hitter, allowing only two men to reach base, and had a no-hitter intact until the seventh. The game's only run was unearned Lou Johnson walked, reached second on a sacrifice bunt, stole third and scored on an error. Koufax's perfect game gave him a then-record four no-hit games; he is one of six pitchers to throw a perfect game and a no-hitter.
Arthritis ended his career at age 30. The three-time Cy Young winner was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1972.
Jim "Catfish" Hunter May 8, 1968In Hunter's perfect game the first in the AL since 1922 the pitcher also went 3 for 4 at the plate with a double and 3 RBI, driving in the winning run. Hunter (right, with Jim Pagliaroni and Sal Brando) received a $5,000 bonus. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1987.
Hunter spent his first year in the majors on the DL after being shot in the foot in a hunting accident. A's owner Charlie Finley gave Hunter his nickname. He was the subject of the Bob Dylan song, "Catfish," which was also released by Joe Cocker and Kinky Friedman. Hunter died in 1999 at age 53 after a fall at his home. He had Lou Gehrig's disease.
Len Barker May 15, 1981Barker stuggled with control early in his career; he once threw a fastball that landed in the pressbox nearly 50 feet above home plate. But on this night, control was't an issue. "The Big Donkey" struck out 11 and each went down singing. No batter reached a three-ball count. Spectacular plays by third baseman Toby Harrah in the sixth and second baseman Duane Kuiper in the seventh kept the perfecto alive. It was the first perfect game in which the DH was used. Only a handful of fans braved the 49-degree cold. Toronto shortstop Alfredo Griffin was on the losing side of two other perfect games Tom Browning's and Dennis Martνnez's.
Mike Witt Sept. 30, 1984The 6-foot-7 Witt struck out 10 and threw just 94 pitches to complete his perfect game. It is one of two no-hitters pitched on the final day of the MLB regular season. (The other was a combined no-hitter pitched by Vida Blue, Glenn Abbott, Paul Lindblad and Rollie Fingers for the A's in 1975.) Witt was the fourth pitcher (with Richmond, Joss and Koufax) to win a perfect game by a 1-0 score, on an unearned run. Doug DeCinces scored on a passed ball; Reggie Jackson got the RBI. In the ninth, California made three defensive changes. Witt struck out the first batter and Texas countered with two pinch hitters, both of whom grounded out.
Tom Browning Sept. 16, 1988The game was delayed 2.5 hours. The perfecto came against the eventual World Series winner the only time that has happened. Reds OF Paul O'Neill played for the winner in two more perfect games Wells' and Cone's. Reds owner Marge Schott put a clause in Browning's contract (nixed by the NL) that his wife would get $300,000 if he pitched a perfect game the next year. He took a perfect game into the ninth in '89.
The superstitious hurler did not shave between starts and wore red underwear when he pitched. He wrote "Tom Browning's Tales from the Reds Dugout." In '09, he was arrested for not paying child support and held on $99,000 bail. <----interesting lol
Dennis Martinez July 28, 1991"El Presidente," from Nicaragua, is the only foreign-born pitcher with a perfect game. Mike Morgan had a no-hitter into the sixth, the latest the opposing starter in a perfect game remained perfect. Two days earlier, Expos pitcher Mark Gardner no-hit the Dodgers through nine but
lost the no-hitter in the 10th. Catcher Ron Hassey also caught Len Barker's perfect game. This was the third perfect game vs. the Dodgers (joining Larsen's and Browning's); the other teams to lose more than one are the Twins (to Hunter and Wells) and the Rays (to Buehrle and Braden).
The national baseball park in Managua is named for Martinez.
Kenny Rogers July 28, 1994Rogers' perfect game occurred exactly three years after MLBs last perfect game. Attendance was the largest ever at The Ballpark in Arlington for a regular-season game. The Angels and Rangers are the only major league teams to record perfect games against each other.
A few weeks after the game, Rogers appeared with singer Kenny Rogers at an event in Arlington. In 2005, Rogers was charged with misdemeanor assault for shoving a cameraman. The charge was reduced following completion of an anger management course. MLB suspended him 20 games and fined him $50,000.
David Wells May 17, 1998Wells was the second Yankee pitcher to reach perfection. The first perfect game thrown in Yankee Stadium was by Don Larsen, who attended the same high school as Wells. Wells claims that he threw the perfect game while being hung over. After the game, actor Billy Crystal approached Wells and said, "I got here late, what happened?" Wells said of the game: "In the seventh inning, I started getting really nervous. I knew what was going on, I was hoping the fans would kind of shush a little bit. They were making me nervous."
Since retiring, Wells has worked as a broadcaster for TBS.
David Cone July 18, 1999The battery of the 1956 World Series perfect game was on hand for this game; It was Yogi Berra Day at Yankee Stadium. Don Larsen threw out the first pitch. This was the only perfecto in regular-season interleague play. It was interrupted by a 33-minute rain delay. Joe Torre was present for all three perfect games at Yankee Stadium. As a 16-year-old, Torre attended Larsen's. He managed Wells' and Cone's. The latter two were the only successive perfectos by the same team. This was the Cone's last shutout.
He retired in '01; his attempted comeback with the Mets in '03 infuriated George Steinbrenner.
Randy Johnson May 18, 2004Johson was the oldest (40) and tallest (6-foot-10) man to hurl a perfect game. He struck out 13 and went to three balls just once. "The Big Unit" is one of six pitchers to throw a perfect game and a no-hitter. As a Mariner, he no-hit Detroit in 1990, giving him the longest span between no-hitters by a pitcher ever. He's one of five to throw a no-hitter in each league.
The surefire first-ballot Hall of Famer retired in 2010. In 2006, Johnson guest-starred in "The Simpsons" episode "Bart Has Two Mommies," in which he promotes left-handed teddy bears. He played himself in the film "Little Big League."
Mark Buehrle July 23, 2009Buehrle was assisted by an over-the-wall catch in the ninth by center fielder DeWayne Wise to rob Gabe Kapler of a home run. This was the first perfect game with first-time battery-mates. It was also the first perfecto featuring a grand slam by Josh Fields in the bottom of the second. Buehrle is one of six pitchers to throw a no-hitter and a perfect game. Umpire Eric Cooper was also behind the plate for Buehrle's previous no-hitter. In his start after the perfect game, Buehrle threw 5-2/3 perfect innings, setting the major league record for consecutive batters retired at 45 (including the final batter he faced in his appearance before the perfect game).
Dallas Braden May 9, 2010Before this, Braden was best known for his altercation with A-Rod over the latters breach of baseball etiquette. This was the first complete game in Braden's career. He struck out six in this Mothers Day perfect game. After the last out, Braden embraced his grandmother, who raised him after his mother died when he was a teenager. The Rays are the second team to be victims of back-to-back perfect games; the first was the Dodgers, who lost to Browning in 88 and Martinez in 91.
Roy Halladay May 29, 2010Pitching the second perfect game during the 2010 MLB season and the first Phillie to do so since Jim Bunning, Roy Halladay completed a perfect game with 11 strikeouts on his 298th career start. This game was 20 days after Dallas Braden's perfect game, by far the shortest period between perfect games in the modern era. (Richmond and Ward pitched theirs five days apart in 1880.) Halladay is the fifth pitcher (Richmond, Joss, Koufax and Witt are the others) to win a perfect game by a 1-0 score, on an unearned run. Halladay was one out away from a no-hitter in his second career start with Toronto in 1998.
Ukraine read article Update: Sportingbet plc Pays Final $6 Million to US Government.
