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. And, of course, no runs are allowed 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 that pitcher in exceptionally elite company. In fact, it is so rare (and difficult) that luck, as much as skill, plays an enormous role; there have been many great pitchers who have never pitched a perfect game and a few otherwise forgettable pitchers who have. Over the past 120 years of Major League Baseball history, there have only been 17 perfect games, and two from the 19th century probably shouldn't be included.

Major League Baseball perfect games

19th century

Pitcher, Age	Date	Game
John Lee Richmond (Wor), 37	June 12, 1880	Cleveland Blues, 0 at Worcester Worcesters, 1 Venue: Worcester Agricultural Fairgrounds
Monte Ward (Prov), 37	June 17, 1880	Providence Grays, 5 vs. Buffalo Bisons, 0

Modern era

Pitcher, Age	Date	Game
Cy Young (Bos), 37	May 5, 1904	Philadelphia A's, 0 at Boston Pilgrims, 3 Venue: Huntington Avenue Grounds, day game Attendance: 10267, Time: 1:23
Addie Joss (Cle), 28,   74 pitches	October 2, 1908	Chicago White Sox, 0 at Cleveland Naps, 1 Venue: League Park, day game Attendance: 10598, Time: 1:29
Charlie Robertson (Chi), 26,   90 pitches	April 30, 1922	Chicago White Sox, 2 at Detroit Tigers, 0 Venue: Don Larsen (NY), 27,   97 pitches || October 8, 1956 || Brooklyn Dodgers, 0 at New York Yankees, 2 Venue: Yankee Stadium, day game Attendance: 64519, Time: 2:06
Jim Bunning (Phi), 32,   90 pitches	June 21, 1964	Philadelphia Phillies, 6 at New York Mets, 0 Venue: Shea Stadium, day game Attendance: 32026, Time: 2:19
Sandy Koufax (LA), 29,   113 pitches	September 9, 1965	Chicago Cubs, 0 at Los Angeles Dodgers, 1 Venue: Dodger Stadium, night game Attendance: 29139, Time: 1:43
Catfish Hunter (Oak), 22,   107 pitches	May 8, 1968	Minnesota Twins, 0 at Oakland A's, 4 Venue: Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, night game Attendance: 6298, Time: 2:28
Len Barker (Cle), 25,   103 pitches	May 15, 1981	Toronto Blue Jays, 0 at Cleveland Indians, 3 Venue: Cleveland Stadium, night game Attendance: 7290, Time: 2:09
Mike Witt (Cal), 24,   94 pitches	September 30, 1984	California Angels, 1 at Texas Rangers, 0 Venue: Arlington Stadium, day game Attendance: 8375, Time: 1:49
Tom Browning (Cin), 28,   102 pitches	September 16, 1988	Los Angeles Dodgers, 0 at Cincinnati Reds, 1 Venue: Riverfront Stadium, night game Attendance: 16591, Time: 1:51
Dennis Martinez (Mon), 36,   95 pitches	July 28, 1991	Montreal Expos, 2 at Los Angeles Dodgers, 0 Venue: Dodger Stadium, day game Attendance: 45560, Time: 2:14
Kenny Rogers (Tex), 29,   98 pitches	July 28, 1994	California Angels, 0 at Texas Rangers, 4 Venue: The Ballpark in Arlington, night game Attendance: 46581, Time: 2:08
David Wells (NY), 34,   120 pitches	May 17, 1998	Minnesota Twins, 0 at New York Yankees, 4 Venue: Yankee Stadium, day game Attendance: 49820, Time: 2:40
David Cone (NY), 36,   88 pitches	July 18, 1999	Montreal Expos, 0 at New York Yankees, 6 Venue: Yankee Stadium, day game Attendance: 41930, Time: 2:16
Randy Johnson (Ari), 40,   117 pitches	May 18, 2004	Arizona Diamondbacks, 2 at Atlanta Braves, 0 Venue: Turner Field, night game Attendance: 23381, Time: 2:13

Notes:

1. Larsen pitched the first and only post-season no-hitter (and perfect game, too) in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series.
2. The first two perfect games occurred when pitching was underhanded (the 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 of much less significance.
3. Cy Young's perfect game was part of a hitless innings streak (24 straight and still(!) a record) and a scoreless innings streak (45 straight, no longer a record).
4. The Boston Pilgrims became the Red Sox; the Huntington Avenue Grounds became the home of the Boston Braves and the Red Sox moved to Fenway Park when it was finished in 1911. The Cleveland Naps (so-called after they acquired Napoleon Lajoie) finally settled on 'Indians' for a name.

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 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.

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 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. This was once recognized as a perfect game by Shore.

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. 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 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 (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 Froemming.
• Milt Wilcox (Tigers ) lost a perfect game on a single by Jerry Hairston .
• Dave Steib and Brian Holman (both in 1988) gave up hits to the 27th batter ,
• and so did Billy Pierce (White Sox, 1958) who gave up a double to Ed Fitzgerald .
• Ron Robinson (Reds ) gave up a hit to the 26th batter, Wallace Johnson (Expos).
• Mike Mussina's 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, 2000.
• In 1998 just his fifth Major League start 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 recognized as one of the most dominating pitching performances of all time. In Bill James'