Complete History of Perfect Games in MLB History

In the long and storied annals of Major League Baseball, there is no single achievement more elusive, more nerve-wracking, or more prestigious than the Perfect Game. While a no-hitter is a monumental feat, a perfect game demands a level of flawless execution that borders on the supernatural. To achieve it, a pitcher must retire all 27 consecutive batters they face without allowing a single runner to reach base via hit, walk, hit-by-pitch, or error.

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Throughout over 150 years of professional baseball and more than 235,000 games played, only 24 pitchers have ever stood atop the mound and achieved perfection. This is the complete history of those rare afternoons where time stood still and the scoreboard remained a haunting row of zeros.

What Defines Perfection?

Before diving into the chronology, we must define the legalistic strictness of the feat. According to the official MLB rules established in 1991:

“A perfect game occurs when a pitcher (or combination of pitchers) retires each batter on the opposing team during the entire course of a game, which must be at least nine innings long.”

If a pitcher loses a perfect game in the 10th inning, it is erased from history. If a runner reaches on a dropped third strike, the perfection is shattered. It is the ultimate “guilty or innocent” verdict in sports; there is no middle ground.

The Pioneer Era: The First Brush with Perfection

The first two perfect games in history occurred within five days of each other in 1880, during an era when the rules of baseball would be unrecognizable to modern fans.

1. Lee Richmond (June 12, 1880)

Pitching for the Worcester Ruby Leggings against the Cleveland Blues, Lee Richmond recorded the first-ever perfect game. Interestingly, Richmond was a medical student at the time and had stayed up all night prior to the game to celebrate his graduation.

2. John Montgomery Ward (June 17, 1880)

Five days later, Monte Ward achieved perfection for the Providence Grays. Following this burst, the league would go 24 years without another perfect game, marking the longest drought in history.

The Deadball Era and the Rise of Legends

As the 20th century dawned, the game moved toward the “Deadball Era,” characterized by low scoring and dominant pitching.

3. Cy Young (May 5, 1904)

The man whose name is now synonymous with pitching excellence, Cy Young, threw the first perfect game of the modern era for the Boston Americans. At 37 years old, he dismantled the Philadelphia Athletics, proving that perfection wasn’t just for the young.

4. Addie Joss (October 2, 1908)

In one of the most high-stakes games ever played, Addie Joss threw a perfect game for the Cleveland Naps in the heat of a pennant race. He needed only 74 pitches to navigate the entire Chicago White Sox lineup.

5. Charlie Robertson (April 30, 1922)

Robertson’s feat for the Chicago White Sox was controversial; the opposing Detroit Tigers accused him of “doctoring” the ball with oil and sandpaper. Despite multiple ball inspections by the umpire, the perfect game stood.

The Golden Age and the World Series Miracle

For 34 years, perfection disappeared again. It returned in the most spectacular fashion imaginable—on the world’s biggest stage.

6. Don Larsen (October 8, 1956)

Don Larsen’s perfect game for the New York Yankees remains the only perfect game in World Series history. Facing the powerhouse Brooklyn Dodgers in Game 5, Larsen retired 27 straight, ending with the iconic image of catcher Yogi Berra leaping into his arms.

7. Jim Bunning (June 21, 1964)

Pitching for the Philadelphia Phillies on Father’s Day, Bunning became the first pitcher in the modern era to throw a perfect game in both the American and National Leagues.

8. Sandy Koufax (September 9, 1965)

Often cited as the greatest game ever pitched, Koufax struck out 14 Chicago Cubs. The opposing pitcher, Bob Hendley, allowed only one hit, making the total “1 hit” for the entire game—a Major League record for fewest combined hits.

The Expansion Era: Perfection Becomes More Frequent

As the league expanded and scouting became more sophisticated, the 1980s and 90s saw a steady increase in perfect performances.

9. Catfish Hunter (May 8, 1968)

The Oakland A’s legend not only pitched perfectly but also drove in three of the team’s four runs.

10. Len Barker (May 15, 1981)

Barker’s masterpiece for the Cleveland Indians occurred on a cold, misty night in front of only 7,290 fans. He didn’t reach a three-ball count on a single batter.

11. Mike Witt (September 30, 1984)

Witt achieved perfection on the final day of the season for the California Angels, requiring only 94 pitches.

12. Tom Browning (September 16, 1988)

Browning’s game for the Cincinnati Reds was delayed by rain for over two hours. He stayed focused, eventually retiring the Los Angeles Dodgers in order.

13. Dennis Martinez (July 28, 1991)

“El Presidente” became the first Latin American-born pitcher to throw a perfect game, leading the Montreal Expos over the Dodgers.

The Era of the “Flawless Southpaws” and the 2012 Explosion

The turn of the century brought a mix of Hall of Famers and “one-hit wonders” into the club of perfection.

14. Kenny Rogers (July 28, 1994)

Rogers threw the first perfect game for the Texas Rangers, aided by an incredible 9th-inning diving catch by center fielder Rusty Greer.

15. David Wells (May 17, 1998)

The boisterous Yankees lefty claimed he achieved his perfect game while “half-drunk” or at least severely hungover from a late night out, adding to the lore of his legendary career.

16. David Cone (July 18, 1999)

In a stroke of poetic timing, Cone threw his perfect game on “Yogi Berra Day” at Yankee Stadium, with Don Larsen (the 1956 perfect game pitcher) in attendance to throw the ceremonial first pitch.

17. Randy Johnson (May 18, 2004)

At 40 years old, “The Big Unit” became the oldest pitcher to throw a perfect game. His 13 strikeouts for the Arizona Diamondbacks were a display of pure power.

18. Mark Buehrle (July 23, 2009)

Buehrle’s perfect game was saved by arguably the greatest defensive play in history: Dewayne Wise’s leaping catch over the wall in the 9th inning to rob a home run.

19. Dallas Braden (May 9, 2010)

Braden achieved perfection for the Oakland A’s on Mother’s Day, just years after his own mother had passed away, making it one of the most emotional moments in MLB history.

20. Roy Halladay (May 29, 2010)

“Doc” Halladay needed just 115 pitches to dismantle the Florida Marlins, cementing his status as the premier workhorse of his generation.

21. Philip Humber (April 21, 2012)

Perhaps the most unlikely name on the list, Humber’s career was otherwise unremarkable, but for one day in Seattle, he was untouchable.

22. Matt Cain (June 13, 2012)

Cain tied Koufax’s record with 14 strikeouts during his perfect game for the San Francisco Giants.

23. Félix Hernández (August 15, 2012)

“King Félix” provided the Seattle Mariners with their first perfect game. This marked the third perfect game of the 2012 season, a record for a single year.

The Modern Drought and the 24th Entry

After 2012, baseball entered an 11-year drought. The “Three True Outcomes” (strikeouts, walks, home runs) made perfection nearly impossible as hitters became more patient and pitchers threw fewer innings.

24. Domingo Germán (June 28, 2023)

The most recent entry into the history books. Pitching for the New York Yankees against the Oakland Athletics, Germán retired all 27 batters on 99 pitches. It was the fourth perfect game in Yankees history, the most by any franchise.

The Anatomy of the Near-Misses

In the world of law and sports, the “almost” doesn’t count, but in baseball history, two games are frequently discussed alongside the 24.

• Harvey Haddix (1959): Pitched 12 perfect innings only to lose the game in the 13th.
• Armando Galarraga (2010): Retired 26 straight batters. The 27th batter hit a ground ball, but umpire Jim Joyce mistakenly called him safe. Replay later showed the runner was out by a step. Joyce apologized after the game, and the “28-out Perfect Game” became a symbol of the need for expanded instant replay.

The Statistical Rarity

To put these 24 games into perspective:

• Franchise Leaders: The New York Yankees (4), Chicago White Sox (3).
• Months: May and June are the most common months for perfection.
• Strikeouts: The average number of strikeouts in a perfect game is approximately 9.5.

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Conclusion

The perfect game is a confluence of skill, defensive brilliance, and immense luck. It requires a pitcher to be dominant, a defense to be airtight, and an umpire to be consistent. From Lee Richmond in the horse-and-buggy era to Domingo Germán in the age of analytics, these 24 men represent the absolute peak of athletic consistency.

Penulis: marfel