What is a Perfect Game? MLB's Greatest Pitching Performances (2024)

What is a Perfect Game? MLB's Greatest Pitching Performances (1)

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Are you wondering what a perfect game is in baseball? Let's talk about it!

Baseball is one of the oldest known institutions in American culture. The sport has been dubbed 'Americas Pastime" because of how important the sport has been over the course of its history. A little game that was invented in 1839 is now enjoyed by millions of people around the world at the highest level.

Related: The 30 Best Baseball Nicknames Ever

Now almost 200 years later, the game has been tried and tested amongst several generations of newcomers to the sport. While there have been renaissance and shifting popularity in different positions, pitching has always been the premier position. That's because pitching controls the game on defense, in the same way a quarterback controls the offense in football.

There have been a number of exceptional pitchers to come through the MLB in its history, but only a select few have completed a 'perfect game'.

Here's a breakdown of what a perfect game is and the players who have completed this rare feat.

What is A No Hitter?

A no-hitter in baseball refers to a game in which a pitcher (or a combination of pitchers) does not allow the opposing team to record a hit throughout the entire game, whether it's a single, double, triple, or home run. The pitcher(s) must pitch a complete game (nine innings) or more without allowing a hit for it to be officially recognized as a no-hitter.

To achieve a no-hitter, the pitcher(s) must display exceptional skill and accuracy in their pitches, as well as receive support from their teammates in the field. They need to effectively retire all opposing batters without allowing them to reach base via a hit. However, it's important to note that a pitcher can still allow baserunners through walks, hit-by-pitches, or errors, and still have a no-hitter intact as long as no hits are recorded.

No-hitters are considered rare and remarkable achievements in baseball, often resulting in significant media attention and celebration for the pitcher and their team. There have been a total of 318 no-hitters completed in the MLB, with Nolan Ryan holding the record of seven of them across his hall-of-fame career.

What is A Perfect Game?

A perfect game in baseball is an even more exceptional feat than a no-hitter. It occurs when a pitcher or a combination of pitchers retire every batter from the opposing team in order, without allowing any batter to reach base in any way. This means no hits, walks, hit-by-pitches, or errors are allowed throughout the entire game.

It requires the pitcher(s) to display exceptional skill, precision, and consistency throughout the game. The pitcher must throw strikes, induce weak contact or strikeouts, and receive support from their teammates in the field to make all the necessary defensive plays.

Perfect games are extremely rare and require a touch of luck. Like no-hitters, perfect games receive significant attention and are celebrated as extraordinary accomplishments in the sport. There have been a total of 23 perfect games in MLB history, with no pitcher throwing more than one, and only once has one been thrown in a postseason game.

Lee Richmond: June 12, 1880

John Montgomery Ward: June 17th, 1880

Cy Young: May 5th, 1904

Addie Joss: October 2nd, 1908

Charlie Robertson: April 30th, 1922

Jim Bunning: June 21st, 1964

Sandy Koufax: September 9th, 1965

Catfish Hunter: May 8th, 1968

Len Barker: May 15th, 1981

Mike Witt: September 30th, 1984

Tom Browning: September 16th, 1988

Dennis Martínez: July 28th, 1991

Kenny Rogers: July 28th, 1994

David Wells: May 17th, 1998

David Cone: July 18th, 1999

Randy Johnson: May 18th, 2004

Mark Buehrle: July 23rd, 2009

Dallas Braden: May 9th, 2010

Roy Halladay: May 29th, 2010

Philip Humber: April 21st, 2012

Matt Cain: June 13th, 2012

Félix Hernández: August 15th, 2012

Postseason Perfect Game

  • Don Larsen: October 8th, 1956
  • Score: Brooklyn Dodgers 0 - New York Yankees 2
  • Venue: Yankee Stadium, Game 5 of the World Series)
  • Last Pitch Caught By: Yogi Berra

Don Larsen's perfect game is one of the most iconic moments in baseball history. It took place on October 8, 1956, during Game 5 of the World Series between the New York Yankees and the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Larsen, a pitcher for the New York Yankees, achieved perfection by retiring all 27 Brooklyn Dodgers in order, without allowing a single baserunner. He recorded 7 strikeouts and was backed by stellar defense from his teammates.

Larsen's perfect game was the first and only perfect game ever thrown in postseason play. It came at a crucial moment in the World Series, with the Yankees and Dodgers tied at two games apiece. Larsen's remarkable performance helped the Yankees win the game 2-0 and take a 3-2 series lead. The Yankees eventually went on to win the World Series in seven games.

This game is remembered as one of the greatest pitching performances in baseball history and solidified Larsen's place in the record books. The image of Yogi Berra jumping into Larsen's arms after the final out is an iconic moment in the sport.

What is a Perfect Game? MLB's Greatest Pitching Performances (2024)

FAQs

What is a Perfect Game? MLB's Greatest Pitching Performances? ›

No pitcher has thrown more than one. The perfect game thrown by Don Larsen in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series is the only postseason perfect game in major league history and one of only three postseason no-hitters.

What was the best pitching game in MLB history? ›

In the end, Marichal's Giants were victorious over Spahn's Milwaukee Braves, 1-0, thanks to the great Willie Mays' walk-off home run off Spahn in the bottom of the 16th inning. When it was all over, Hank Aaron, on the losing side, called the game the greatest pitching display he'd ever seen.

What is the best single game pitching performance ever recorded? ›

On May 7, 1998, Kerry Wood pitched the single best game in the history of Major League Baseball. Wood, who was only 20(!) years old at the time, shut out the Houston Astros 2-0. He struck 20 batters out on 122 total pitches.

How many MLB pitchers have had a perfect game? ›

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.

Has anyone ever struck out all 27 batters? ›

You can't walk the world in the big leagues." 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.

Did Nolan Ryan ever throw a perfect game? ›

Ryan also pitched 18 two-hitters. Despite this, he never pitched a perfect game, nor did he ever win a Cy Young Award; both were largely attributed to his high walk rate. Ryan is one of only 31 players in baseball history to have appeared in MLB games in four different decades.

What pitcher pitched a perfect game and lost? ›

Yes, it has happened before. Harvey Haddix of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitched a perfect game for 12 innings against the Milwaukee Braves on May 26, 1959, but lost the no-hitter and the game in the 13th inning . Pedro Martínez also pitched nine scoreless innings but did not record a shutout on June 3, 1995.

What is the record for the most perfect games pitched? ›

Over the 154 years of Major League Baseball history, and over 238,500 games played, there have been 24 official perfect games by the current definition. No pitcher has thrown more than one.

Who was the only pitcher to pitch a perfect game in a World Series? ›

On October 8, 1956, Don Larsen threw the only perfect game ever in the World Series, pitching for the New York Yankees in Game 5 against the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Did Sandy Koufax pitch a perfect game? ›

Koufax became the sixth pitcher of the modern era, and eighth overall, to throw a perfect game. He was also the first left-handed pitcher to throw a perfect game and the first pitcher to throw a perfect game at night. It was Koufax's fourth no-hitter, breaking Bob Feller's Major League record of three.

Has anyone thrown two perfect games? ›

Faut is the only professional baseball player, male or female, to have pitched two perfect games. In Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), the first perfect game was thrown by Hideo Fujimoto of the Giants on June 28, 1950, against the Nishi Nippon Pirates.

Has anyone had a 27 pitch 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.

Who threw the most no-hitters? ›

Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax threw four no-hitters, including one perfect game, during his MLB career. The pitcher who holds the record for the most no-hitters is Nolan Ryan, who threw seven in his 27-year career.

Who pitched 3 no-hitters? ›

Justin Verlander

Four years later he tossed his second no-hitter north of the border against Toronto, and after a late-career trade to the Astros, he accomplished the feat a 3rd time--ironically also at Rogers Centre in Toronto.

What is the most pitches thrown in a game MLB history? ›

The story behind Nolan Ryan's 235-pitch start

Taking the mound for the Angels on June 14, 1974, the future Hall of Famer struck out 19 Red Sox hitters over 13 innings in the California Angels' 4-3, 15-inning victory at the Big A.

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