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The current official Major League Baseball definition of a perfect game is largely a side effect of the decision made by the major leagues' Committee for Statistical Accuracy on September 4, 1991, to redefine a no-hitter as a game in which the pitcher or pitchers on one team throw a complete game of nine innings or more without surrendering a hit.<ref>Young (1997), p. 29.</ref> That decision removed a number of games that had long appeared in the record books: those lasting fewer than nine innings, and those in which a team went hitless in regulation but then got a hit in extra innings. The definition of perfect game was made to parallel this new definition of the no-hitter, in effect substituting "baserunner" for "hit". As a result of the 1991 redefinition, for instance, [[Harvey Haddix]] receives credit for neither a perfect game nor a no-hitter for the game described below in which he threw 12 perfect innings before allowing a baserunner in the 13th.<ref>Forker, Obojski, and Stewart (2004), p. 116.</ref>
The current official Major League Baseball definition of a perfect game is largely a side effect of the decision made by the major leagues' Committee for Statistical Accuracy on September 4, 1991, to redefine a no-hitter as a game in which the pitcher or pitchers on one team throw a complete game of nine innings or more without surrendering a hit.<ref>Young (1997), p. 29.</ref> That decision removed a number of games that had long appeared in the record books: those lasting fewer than nine innings, and those in which a team went hitless in regulation but then got a hit in extra innings. The definition of perfect game was made to parallel this new definition of the no-hitter, in effect substituting "baserunner" for "hit". As a result of the 1991 redefinition, for instance, [[Harvey Haddix]] receives credit for neither a perfect game nor a no-hitter for the game described below in which he threw 12 perfect innings before allowing a baserunner in the 13th.<ref>Forker, Obojski, and Stewart (2004), p. 116.</ref>

===No-hit, no-walk, no–hit batsman games===
In Major League Baseball play since 1893, with the essential modern rules in place, there have been eight instances when a pitcher allowed not a single baserunner through his pitching efforts over a complete game of at least nine innings, but was not awarded a perfect game because of fielding errors:<ref>Vass (2007). This article predates the Sánchez game. Vass mistakenly includes two games: the one thrown by Cy Young, then with the [[Cleveland Spiders]], on September 18, 1897; and the one thrown by [[Chicago White Sox]] pitcher [[Joel Horlen]] on September 10, 1967. In addition to three Spiders errors—including two that were originally scored as hits—Young walked a batter. See Lewis (2002) and Elston (2006), p. 246. In addition to one White Sox error, Horlen hit a batter in the 3d inning. See [http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1967/B09101CHA1967.htm Boxscore—Game Played on Sunday, September 10, 1967 (D) at Comiskey Park I]. Retrosheet. Retrieved on April 22, 2009.</ref>
*On June 13, 1905, [[Christy Mathewson]] of the New York Giants pitched masterfully, but two Cubs nonetheless reached base on errors by shortstop [[Bill Dahlen]] and second baseman [[Billy Gilbert]]. In a classic pitching duel, the Cubs' [[Mordecai Brown|Mordecai "Three Finger" Brown]] also carried a no-hitter into the ninth, losing it and the game, 1–0.<ref>Schott and Peters (2003), p. 410.</ref>
*On September 5, 1908, the [[Brooklyn Dodgers]]' [[Nap Rucker]] blanked the [[Atlanta Braves|Boston Doves]] with a flawless pitching performance, despite errors that allowed three Doves to reach base. In more than a century since, no otherwise perfect game has been spoiled by multiple errors.<ref>{{cite web|author=Fenster, Kenneth R.|url=http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-2995|title=Nap Rucker (1884–1970)|date=May 1, 2006|publisher=New Georgia Encyclopedia|accessdate=June 1, 2009}}</ref>
*On July 1, 1920, an error by Senators second baseman [[Bucky Harris]] was the lone defect in what was otherwise a perfect game by [[Walter Johnson]]. [[Harry Hooper]], the Red Sox who reached base, was batting leadoff in the seventh.<ref>Deveaux (2001), p. 53; Robbins (2004), pp. 238–239.</ref>
*On September 3, 1947, with one out in the second, Philadelphia Athletics first baseman [[Ferris Fain]], after fielding a routine grounder, threw wildly to pitcher [[Bill McCahan]], covering first base. [[Stan Spence]] of the Senators made it all the way to second, the only blemish on McCahan's otherwise perfect game.<ref>Robbins (2004), p. 239. See also Deveaux (2001), pp. 170–171.</ref>
*On July 19, 1974, flawless through 3{{fraction|2|3}} innings, [[Cleveland Indians]] pitcher [[Dick Bosman]], handling a grounder off the bat of Oakland Athletic [[Sal Bando]], threw over the first baseman's head. Not one other Athletic would reach base, making this the only occasion in major league history when the sole demerit on an otherwise perfect defensive line was the pitcher's own fielding error.<ref>Schneider (2005), p. 142; Robbins (2004), p. 240; [http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1974/B07190CLE1974.htm Boxscore—Game Played on Friday, July 19, 1974 (N) at Cleveland Stadium]. Retrosheet. Retrieved on April 22, 2009.</ref>
*On June 27, 1980, [[Jerry Reuss]] of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitched a virtually immaculate game, but without hope of perfection—a first-inning throwing error by shortstop [[Bill Russell (baseball)|Bill Russell]] allowed the [[San Francisco Giants]]' [[Jack Clark (baseball)|Jack Clark]] to reach base. Russell atoned for his gaffe with a sharp fielding play in the eighth inning.<ref>McNeil (2003), p. 342; Robbins (2004), pp. 240–241; [http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1980/B06270SFN1980.htm Boxscore—Game Played on Friday, June 27, 1980 (N) at Candlestick Park]. Retrosheet. Retrieved on April 22, 2009.</ref>
*On August 15, 1990, Philadelphia Phillies pitcher [[Terry Mulholland]] lost a perfect game in the seventh inning when the Giants' [[Rick Parker]], batting leadoff, reached base on a throwing error by third baseman [[Charlie Hayes]]. Parker was retired when the next batter, [[Dave Anderson (infielder)|Dave Anderson]], grounded into a double play. Mulholland pitched flawlessly ''and'' faced the minimum 27 batters, but still did not qualify for a perfect game. Hayes redeemed himself for the fielding error by making a spectacular catch on a line drive in the ninth inning, protecting Mulholland's no-hitter.<ref>Westcott (2005), p. 77; Robbins (2004), pp. 241–242; [http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1990/B08150PHI1990.htm Boxscore—Game Played on Wednesday, August 15, 1990 (N) at Veterans Stadium]. Retrosheet. Retrieved on April 22, 2009.</ref>
*On July 10, 2009, the Giants' [[Jonathan Sánchez]] pitched perfectly against the San Diego Padres through one out in the eighth inning. Third baseman [[Juan Uribe]], who switched positions from second base to start the seventh inning, committed an error on a ground ball, his first chance at third, that allowed [[Chase Headley]] to reach first—the latest an error has resulted in the sole baserunner in an otherwise perfect game. Headley advanced to second on a wild pitch. It was the first complete game of Sánchez's career.<ref>{{cite web|author=|url=http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=290710126|title=Sanchez Makes Most of Opportunity, Throws No-hitter in Front of Father|date=July 10, 2009|publisher=ESPN.com/Associated Press|accessdate=July 11, 2009}} [http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2009/B07100SFN2009.htm Boxscore—Game Played on Friday,  July 10, 2009 (N) at AT&T Park]. Retrosheet. Retrieved on June 3, 2010.</ref>

No otherwise perfect game in major league history has ever been spoiled solely by a third-strike [[passed ball]], third-strike [[wild pitch]], [[interference (baseball)|interference]], or an outfield error. More than one online survey incorrectly lists the game pitched by the Los Angeles Dodgers' [[Bill Singer]] against the Phillies on July 20, 1970, as perfect aside from two throwing errors by Singer; in fact, he also hit batter [[Oscar Gamble]] in the first inning.<ref>Lewis (2002). See also [http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1970/B07200LAN1970.htm Boxscore—Game Played on Monday, July 20, 1970 (D) at Dodger Stadium]. Retrosheet. Retrieved on April 22, 2009. One of the mistaken websites is [http://www.hickoksports.com/history/nohitter.shtml HickokSports.com], which contains several errors.</ref>

This also happened in [[NCAA baseball]] on March 23, 2013, when [[Arizona State]]'s Ryan Kellogg no-hit [[Oregon State]] without walking or hitting a batter, and the Beavers' only 2 baserunners coming on fielding errors.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/college/2013/03/saturday-roundup-asus-ryan-kellogg-no-hits-beavers/ | title=Saturday Roundup: ASU’s Ryan Kellogg No-Hits Beavers | work=[[Baseball America]] | date=March 23, 2013 | accessdate=March 25, 2013 | author=Fitt, Aaron}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==

Revision as of 05:12, 3 April 2013

For other uses, see Perfect game (disambiguation).
The "everlasting image" of New York Yankees catcher Yogi Berra leaping into the arms of pitcher Don Larsen after the completion of Larsen's perfect game in the 1956 World Series[1]

A perfect game is defined by Major League Baseball as a game in which a pitcher (or combination of pitchers) pitches a victory that lasts a minimum of nine innings and in which no opposing player reaches base.[2] Thus, the pitcher (or pitchers) cannot allow any hits, walks, hit batsmen, or any opposing player to reach base safely for any other reason: in short, "27 up, 27 down". The feat has been achieved 23 times in the history of major league baseball—21 times since the modern era began in 1900, most recently by Félix Hernández of the Seattle Mariners on August 15, 2012.

A perfect game is also a no-hitter and a shutout. Since the pitcher cannot control whether or not his teammates commit any errors, the pitcher must be backed up by solid fielding to pitch a perfect game. An error that does not allow a batter to get on base, such as a misplayed foul ball, does not spoil a perfect game. Weather-shortened contests in which a team has no baserunners and games in which a team reaches first base only in extra innings do not qualify as official perfect games under the present definition. The first confirmed use of the term "perfect game" was in 1908; the current official definition of the term was formalized in 1991. Although it is possible for multiple pitchers to combine for a perfect game (as has happened ten times at the major league level for a no-hitter), to date, every major league perfect game has been thrown by a single pitcher.[3]

History

See also: List of Major League Baseball perfect games and Nippon Professional Baseball § Perfect games

The first known use in print of the term perfect game occurred in 1908. I. E. Sanborn's report for the Chicago Tribune about Joss's performance against the White Sox calls it, "an absolutely perfect game, without run, without hit, and without letting an opponent reach first base by hook or crook, on hit, walk, or error, in nine innings."[4]  Several sources have claimed (erroneously) that the first recorded usage of the term "perfect game" was by Ernest J. Lanigan in his Baseball Cyclopedia, made in reference to Robertson's 1922 game.[5] The Chicago Tribune came close to the term in describing Richmond's game in 1880: "Richmond was most effectively supported, every position on the home nine being played to perfection."[6] Similarly, in writing up Ward's perfect game, the New York Clipper described the "perfect play" of Providence's defense.[7]

The current official Major League Baseball definition of a perfect game is largely a side effect of the decision made by the major leagues' Committee for Statistical Accuracy on September 4, 1991, to redefine a no-hitter as a game in which the pitcher or pitchers on one team throw a complete game of nine innings or more without surrendering a hit.[8] That decision removed a number of games that had long appeared in the record books: those lasting fewer than nine innings, and those in which a team went hitless in regulation but then got a hit in extra innings. The definition of perfect game was made to parallel this new definition of the no-hitter, in effect substituting "baserunner" for "hit". As a result of the 1991 redefinition, for instance, Harvey Haddix receives credit for neither a perfect game nor a no-hitter for the game described below in which he threw 12 perfect innings before allowing a baserunner in the 13th.[9]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Madden, Bill (September 12, 2008). "Yogi Berra's Favorite Stadium Moment: Don Larsen's Perfect Game". Daily News. Retrieved February 5, 2010.
  2. ^ "MLB Miscellany: Rules, Regulations and Statistics". Major League Baseball. Retrieved August 20, 2007.
  3. ^ "History: No-hitters". Major League Baseball. Retrieved August 22, 2007.
  4. ^ Deutsch et al. (1975), p. 68. This source also includes an 1880 clipping from the New York Herald describing John Richmond's perfect game for Worcester. A double error by Cleveland resulted in the lone run scoring, and the writer described it as "the only lapse from perfect play made by the Clevelands during the game"; the use of the word "perfect" in this context refers only to defensive play, a different meaning than its modern baseball sense, as Cleveland's pitcher also surrendered three hits and a walk. See Deutsch et al. (1975), p. 14. Writeups for the Ward perfect game of 1880 and the Young game of 1904 describe the games as "wonderful" and other effusive terms, but do not use the term "perfect game".
  5. ^ Buckley (2002), p. 16, citing Paul Dickson, The Dickson Baseball Dictionary (1989); Coffey (2004), p. 50. The Baseball Cyclopedia reference came in a supplement to the 1922 edition of the book (a publication of Baseball Magazine) and was worded thus: "Charles Robertson of Chicago Americans pitched an absolutely perfect no-hit game against Detroit on April 30, 1922, no one reaching first." The publication listed all the perfect games to that point (a total of five, including Robertson's) and used the term "perfect game" matter-of-factly, possibly indicating the term was already familiar to the readership. Lanigan's work references a 1914 book called Balldom as a source for his list of perfect games, although Balldom itself does not use the term "perfect game", merely characterizing the games as "no batter reached first base." Lanigan was also familiar with Sanborn's baseball articles, making various references to him elsewhere in the Cyclopedia, although there is nothing indicating that Sanborn necessarily inspired Lanigan's use of the term.
  6. ^ Buckley (2002), p. 15.
  7. ^ Buckley (2002), p. 26.
  8. ^ Young (1997), p. 29.
  9. ^ Forker, Obojski, and Stewart (2004), p. 116.

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