What is a Perfect Game?
A perfect game is a rare feat in baseball that has only been achieved 22 times in the history of Major League Baseball (MLB). It is a game in which every batter that a pitcher faces is retired without any getting on base. This means that no hits, walks, hit batters, or errors occur during the entire game. A perfect game is the ultimate accomplishment for a pitcher and is one of the rarest occurrences in MLB, making it one of the most sought-after records in the sport.
How Many Pitchers Have Pitched Perfect Games?
In the history of MLB, there have been a total of 22 perfect games pitched by 18 different pitchers. The first perfect game was thrown in 1880 by John Lee Richmond of the Worcester Ruby Legs, and the most recent perfect game was thrown in 2012 by Félix Hernández of the Seattle Mariners. The 18 pitchers who have thrown perfect games are listed below:
- John Lee Richmond (1880)
- Cy Young (1904)
- Addie Joss (1908)
- Charlie Robertson (1922)
- Don Larson (1956)
- Jim Bunning (1964)
- Sandy Koufax (1965)
- Catfish Hunter (1968)
- Len Barker (1981)
- Mike Witt (1984)
- Tom Browning (1988)
- Dennis Martínez (1991)
- Kenny Rogers (1994)
- David Wells (1998)
- David Cone (1999)
- Randy Johnson (2004)
- Mark Buehrle (2009)
- Félix Hernández (2012)
Who is the Most Recent Pitcher to Throw a Perfect Game?
The most recent pitcher to throw a perfect game is Félix Hernández of the Seattle Mariners. On August 15, 2012, Hernández threw a perfect game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Safeco Field in Seattle. It was the first perfect game in Mariners’ franchise history and the first in the American League since David Cone’s perfect game in 1999. Hernández’s perfect game was the third of his career and the 22nd in MLB history.
Who is the Most Prolific Perfect Game Pitcher?
The most prolific perfect game pitcher in MLB history is Randy Johnson, who threw a total of four perfect games during his career. Johnson’s four perfect games are the most in MLB history, and he is the only pitcher to throw multiple perfect games. His first perfect game was thrown in 2004 for the Arizona Diamondbacks against the Atlanta Braves, and his second came in 2009 for the San Francisco Giants against the Florida Marlins. His third perfect game was thrown in 2010 for the San Francisco Giants against the Houston Astros, and his fourth was thrown in 2012 for the Arizona Diamondbacks against the Atlanta Braves.
What is the Longest Perfect Game in MLB History?
The longest perfect game in MLB history was thrown by Dennis Martínez in 1991 for the Montreal Expos against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Martínez threw a total of 149 pitches in the game and took 2 hours and 25 minutes to complete it. This was the longest perfect game ever thrown and is also the longest nine-inning game in MLB history.
What is the Shortest Perfect Game in MLB History?
The shortest perfect game in MLB history was thrown by Mark Buehrle in 2009 for the Chicago White Sox against the Tampa Bay Rays. Buehrle threw a total of 88 pitches in the game and completed it in only 1 hour and 55 minutes, making it the shortest nine-inning game in MLB history.
What is the Youngest Pitcher to Throw a Perfect Game?
The youngest pitcher to throw a perfect game in MLB history is Félix Hernández. Hernández was just 25 years old when he threw his perfect game in 2012 for the Seattle Mariners against the Tampa Bay Rays. This made him the youngest pitcher to throw a perfect game, surpassing the previous record set by Jim Bunning, who was 28 when he threw his perfect game in 1964.
What is the Oldest Pitcher to Throw a Perfect Game?
The oldest pitcher to throw a perfect game in MLB history is Charlie Robertson. Robertson was 39 years old when he threw his perfect game in 1922 for the Chicago White Sox against the Detroit Tigers. This made him the oldest pitcher to throw a perfect game, surpassing the previous record set by Cy Young, who was 37 when he threw his perfect game in 1904.
How Many Perfect Games Have Been Thrown in the Postseason?
Only one perfect game has ever been thrown in the postseason, and it was thrown by Don Larson in 1956 for the New York Yankees against the Brooklyn Dodgers in Game 5 of the World Series. Larson’s perfect game was the first in World Series history and is the only one to have been thrown in the postseason.
Conclusion
In conclusion, a total of 22 perfect games have been thrown in MLB history by 18 different pitchers. Of these pitchers, Randy Johnson holds the record for the most perfect games thrown with a total of four, and Félix Hernández holds the record for the youngest pitcher to throw a perfect game at 25 years old. The only perfect game to have been thrown in the postseason was thrown by Don Larson in 1956. Perfect games are one of the rarest records in baseball and are the ultimate accomplishment for a pitcher, making them one of the most sought-after records in the sport.