What Is A Perfect Game In Baseball? The 27-Pitch Gem Explained (2024)

A perfect game in baseball happens when a pitcher gets every opposing batter out without anyone reaching base the entire game. Over a 9-inning game, each team gets three outs per inning for a total of 27 outs. If a pitcher gets all 27 outs without one batter reaching base for any reason, then that pitcher is awarded with a “perfect game”.

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Who has pitched a perfect game?

In the history of baseball, there have been 23 pitchers that pitched a perfect game. The first recorded perfect game happened in 1880 by Lee Richmond, and the most recent perfect game was in August of 2012 by Felix Hernandez. There has not been a perfect game since. Here is a full list of all 23 pitchers who have thrown a perfect game in Major League Baseball.

  • Lee Richmond
  • John Montgomery Ward
  • Cy Young
  • Addie Joss
  • Charlie Robertson
  • Don Larsen
  • Jim Bunning
  • Sandy Koufax
  • Catfish Hunter
  • Len Barker
  • Mike Witt
  • Tom Browning
  • Dennis Martínez
  • Kenny Rogers
  • David Wells
  • David Cone
  • Randy Johnson
  • Mark Buehrle
  • Dallas Braden
  • Roy Halladay
  • Philip Humber
  • Matt Cain
  • Félix Hernández

Perfect game vs no-hitter

The difference between a no-hitter and a perfect game is that in a perfect game, no batter ever reaches base, ever. It does not matter if it is because of a hit, a walk, an error, or if they were hit by a pitch. If a batter reaches base for any reason whatsoever, then the game is not a perfect game.

A no-hitter happens when no batter on an opposing team reaches base by getting a hit. No-hitters can include batters getting on base from walks and errors but cannot include a recorded base hit.

One example of the perfect game/no-hitter situation happened in 2007. During a game between the Chicago White Sox and the Texas Rangers, White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle had a perfect game in progress at the start of the 5th inning. In that inning, Buehrle walked Rangers hitter Sammy Sosa, but got him out at first base immediately afterwards by a pickoff play. However, because Sosa walked and reached first base, Buehrle was not awarded a perfect game.

To clarify, even though Sosa was picked off at first base, and Buehrle only faced the minimum 27 hitters and got them out consecutively over 9 innings, but because one person reached base, it was a no-hitter and not a perfect game. To see highlights of that game, follow this link.

Perfect game vs. complete game

The difference between a perfect game and a complete game is that a complete game only signifies that the pitcher who started the game pitches all the way until the end of the game. For a pitcher to throw a perfect game, they must complete the entire game but not allow any baserunners for any reason. A complete game is a baseball statistic that signals only that the starting pitcher finished the game they started. A pitcher can earn a complete game and not be victorious. They simply must finish the game that they started to the final out.

How rare is a perfect game?

Statistically speaking, a perfect game in baseball has an average likelihood of 1 in 46,800 to happen. However, this is not an exact science due to many variables like the weather, the experience of the players, and more. From 1880 to today, there have been 23 perfect games recorded in baseball which averages to one perfect game approximately every 6 years.

FAQ

Has anyone thrown a perfect game in a World Series game?

Yes, one pitcher has thrown a perfect game in the World Series. On October 8, 1956, Don Larsen of the New York Yankees threw a perfect game against the Brooklyn Dodgers in game 5 of the World Series. The Yankees would go on to win the championship in seven games that year.

Can a pitcher lose a perfect game?

No, a pitcher cannot lose a 9-inning perfect game. However, if the game goes into extra innings and the perfect game is lost, then the pitcher does not get credit for the perfect game that happened in the first 9 innings. The pitcher must finish the entire game to be awarded a perfect game.

An example of this happened in 1959 when Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Harvey Haddix pitched 12 perfect innings before losing the game entirely in the 13th inning to the Milwaukee Braves.

Has anyone thrown two perfect games?

No, no pitcher in major league history has thrown 2 perfect games. Some pitchers who have thrown one perfect game have come very close to throwing a second, but each one allowed one batter to reach base in their second attempt. Examples of this scenario include Cy Young, Sandy Koufax, and Mark Buehrle.

Who was the last person to pitch a perfect game?

The last perfect game in Major League history was on August 15, 2012, by Felix Hernandez of the Seattle Mariners. Hernandez defeated the Tampa Bay Rays during a regular season game played in Seattle.

What is the lowest pitch count in a perfect game?

The lowest pitch count in a perfect game is 74 pitches by Addie Joss of the Cleveland Guardians (then known as the Cleveland Naps) on October 2, 1908, against the Chicago White Sox.

Has there ever been a 27-strikeout baseball game?

No, there has never been a 27-strikeout baseball game. The all-time record for strikeouts in a 9-inning game is 20. This has been done by both Roger Clemens of the Boston Red Sox, and Kerry Wood of the Chicago Cubs.

It is worth noting that in 1962, Tom Cheney of the Washington Senators recorded 21 strikeouts in one game, but Cheney pitched 16 innings that game instead of just 9.

The record for most strikeouts during a perfect game is 14 by Matt Cain of the San Francisco Giants on June 13, 2012.

The 23 Perfect Games of Baseball

Pitching the perfect game is referred to in baseball lingo as a “gem”. It’s called a gem because it is very rare, just like the precious stones. In over 140 years of recorded baseball statistics, there have only been 23 perfect games. There have been many close calls over the years, but only 23 gems in total.

There have been other perfect games pitched at the collegiate and minor league levels, but to pitch perfection at the professional level is something special. Read highlights and see media clips of each perfect game and enjoy the stories around these rare events including one pitcher who threw a perfect game on Mother’s Day in front of his grandmother who helped raise him.

What Is A Perfect Game In Baseball? The 27-Pitch Gem Explained (2024)

FAQs

What is considered a perfect game in baseball? ›

A perfect game is a complete game pitched without a runner reaching base either by hit, base-on-balls, or error. It is one of the rarest feats in baseball and a subset of no-hitters. The first major league perfect game was thrown in 1880 by Lee Richmond.

Has there ever been a 27 pitch perfect game? ›

On May 13, 1952 while pitching for the Class-D Bristol Twins, Ron Necciai tossed a no-hitter, striking out 27 in nine innings! After that summer, Necciai was drafted to fight in the Korean War, but was quickly discharged because of his ulcer problems.

Has anyone had a 27 strikeout game? ›

Necciai is the only professional pitcher to record 27 strikeouts in a nine-inning game, and a ball from that 7-0 win over the Welch Miners – which Necciai donated to the Hall of Fame in 2001 – is on display in the Museum's One for the Books exhibit.

What does it mean to pitch a gem? ›

In baseball, a "gem" refers to an outstanding pitching performance in which a pitcher throws a complete game and allows few, if any, hits and runs. Specifically, a gem is a shutout or a game in which a pitcher allows no more than one or two hits.

Who was the last MLB pitcher to pitch a perfect game? ›

When was the last MLB perfect game? The last MLB perfect game was June 28, 2023, by Domingo Germán (New York Yankees) against the Oakland Athletics.

Has anyone ever pitched a perfect game? ›

Pitchers. During baseball's modern era, 22 pitchers have thrown perfect games. Most were accomplished major leaguers. Seven have been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame: Cy Young, Addie Joss, Jim Bunning, Sandy Koufax, Catfish Hunter, Randy Johnson, and Roy Halladay.

Did Nolan Ryan ever pitch a perfect game? ›

Ryan also tossed a dozen one-hitters, tied with Bob Feller for the most in history, and 18 two-hitters. His propensity for walking batters precluded him from ever tossing a perfect game. Every Ryan start was a happening, a potential no-hitter for those in attendance.

Who is considered the greatest pitcher of all time? ›

1. Walter Johnson
IPWK/BB
5,9144172.6

Has anyone thrown an 81 pitch game? ›

Per STATS, Hendricks' 81 pitches were the fewest in a nine-inning complete-game shutout since Aaron Cook of the Boston Red Sox in 2012. Cook also threw 81 pitches, allowing just two hits with two strikeouts in a 5-0 win over the Seattle Mariners.

Who is the hardest player to strikeout? ›

Over nearly 145 years of professional baseball, no player was tougher to strike out than Hall of Fame shortstop Joe Sewell. In 7,132 career at-bats, Sewell heard the umpire say “Strike three” just 114 times. That's one strikeout for every 63 at-bats, or once every 17 games, or in just .

What is the highest strikeout ever recorded? ›

List
RankPlayerK
1Nolan Ryan5,714
2Randy Johnson †4,875
3Roger Clemens4,672
4Steve Carlton †4,136
46 more rows

Has there ever been a 21 strikeout game? ›

Tom Cheney has fanned the most hitters in a game, with 21 strikeouts versus the Orioles on September 12, 1962.

What does the Bible say about gem? ›

There are many biblical references to gemstones but the most important are considered to be Aaron's breastplate (Exodus 28: 15-20 and 39:10-13), the stones in the foundations of the wall of New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:18-21), and the precious stones that were among the King of Tyre's treasures (Ezekiel 28:13).

Can you call someone a gem? ›

If you say that something or someone is a gem, you mean that you value the quality or beauty of that person or thing highly: The building was an architectural gem.

How do you tell if a rock has a gem in it? ›

Analyze the Physical Properties of Your Rock

Most common rocks and gems can often be identified in the field using basic physical properties such as color, shape, hardness, luster, grain size & shape, texture, banding or foliation, and cleavage & fracture.

What is a perfect 9 pitch inning? ›

An immaculate inning occurs in baseball when a pitcher strikes out all three batters he faces in one inning using the minimum possible number of pitches: nine. This has happened 114 times in Major League history and has been accomplished by 104 pitchers (79 right-handed and 25 left-handed).

Do they have mercy rule in MLB? ›

'Rockies rule': Baseball fans call for MLB mercy rule after record-breaking loss. DENVER (KDVR) – There isn't a mercy rule in baseball, but some fans think there should be after the Colorado Rockies lost 16-1 in the team's season opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

How many MLB perfect games have there been? ›

In Major League Baseball (MLB) history, there have been only 24 perfect games pitched. A perfect game is one in which a pitcher faces the minimum of 27 opposing batters across nine innings without allowing anyone on base.

How rare is a perfect game in MLB? ›

In the 140+ year history of Major League Baseball, over 200,000+ games have been played, but only 24 perfect games have been pitched. The first perfect game was pitched on June 12th, 1880 by Lee Richmond at the Worcester Agricultural Fairgrounds in Worcester, Massachusetts.

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