Perfect game

Since 1991, a perfect game has been 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, the pitcher cannot allow any hits, walks, hit batters, or any other baserunners for any reason, even if they are thrown out trying for extra bases. By definition, such games must also be shutouts. 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.

Near-misses or "hidden" perfect games

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

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On June 23, 1917, Babe Ruth (Boston Red Sox) 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 tried to strike Owens, swore at him, 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. This was once recognized as a perfect game by Major League Baseball. It still counts as a valid combined no-hitter.

Related Topics:
June 23 - 1917 - Babe Ruth - Boston Red Sox - Washington Senators - Brick Owens - Ernie Shore - No-hitter

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On May 26, 1959, Harvey Haddix of the Pittsburgh Pirates carried a perfect game through an amazing twelve innings against the Milwaukee Braves and Lew Burdette, only to have it ruined by an error in the 13th inning, followed by an intentional walk and a home run (which became a single when Hank Aaron passed Joe Adcock on the bases. Haddix, and the Pirates, lost the game. Perhaps the most agonizing of all the 'hidden' perfect games.

Related Topics:
May 26 - 1959 - Harvey Haddix - Pittsburgh Pirates - Milwaukee Braves - Lew Burdette - Hank Aaron

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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, and was relieved. The Expos went on to win 1-0.

Related Topics:
June 3 - 1995 - Pedro Martinez - Montreal Expos - San Diego Padres - Bip Roberts

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Four other "perfect games" are unofficial because the games ended before nine innings were completed. Dean Chance (Minnesota Twins, 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 due to bad weather. Both Rube Vickers of the Philadelphia Athletics (5 innings) and Ed Karger of the St. Louis Cardinals (7 innings) pitched unofficial perfect games in 1907, each game being ended due to darkness.

Related Topics:
Minnesota Twins - St. Louis Cardinals

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Perfect games barely missed

• Cy Young (again) in 1908 came within a walk of another perfect game in his third no-hitter.
• Sandy Koufax walked one batter in his third no-hitter, against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1964.
• In his pitching debut, Addie Joss gave up a lead off hit to Jesse Burkett of the St. Louis Browns. He retired every one of the next twenty-seven batters who faced him.
• Hooks Wiltse (Giants, 1914) hit the opposing pitcher with two out in the ninth of an otherwise perfect game.
• Tommy Bridges (Tigers, 1932) gave up a pinch-hit single to Dave Harris while winning 13-0 against the Senators.
• Milt Pappas (Cubs, 1972) lost a perfect game against San Diego due to a walk on a 3-2 count to the 27th batter, pinch hitter Larry Stahl. The umpire was a first year man, Bruce Froemming, who would go on to umpire in a record 11 no-hitters.
• Milt Wilcox (Tigers ) lost a perfect game on a single by Jerry Hairston .
• Dave Stieb (Toronto) and Brian Holman (Seattle) (both in 1988) gave up hits to the 27th batter. The perfect game that Stieb missed was one of two consecutive starts in which Stieb lost a no-hitter with two outs in the ninth.
• Billy Pierce (White Sox, 1958) also gave up a hit to the 27th batter: a double, which landed just inches in fair territory, to Washington's Ed Fitzgerald.
• Ron Robinson (Reds ) gave up a hit to the 26th batter, Wallace Johnson (Expos).
• Mike Mussina lost a perfect game against the Cleveland Indians at Camden Yards with one out in the 9th on May 30, 1997.
• Mike Mussina's second perfect game bid was halted when he gave up a two strike pinch hit single to 27th batter Carl Everett in Fenway Park on September 2, 2001.
• In a 2000 spring training game (for which statistics are not kept rigorously, due to the varying levels of competition), the Red Sox used six pitchers to retire all 27 Blue Jays batters in a 5-0 victory.
• In 1998, in just his fifth Major League start and against a strong-hitting Astros team, Kerry Wood of the Cubs allowed just one infield single and no walks, while earning 20 strikeouts (tying the record). This is widely thought to have been one of the most dominating pitching performances ever. In Bill James' Game Score, this game is ranked the best pitched 9-inning game of all time.

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