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Perfect game (baseball)

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For other uses, seePerfect game.
The "everlasting image" ofNew York YankeescatcherYogi Berraleaping into the arms of pitcherDon Larsenafter the completion ofLarsen's perfect gamein Game 5 of the1956 World Series[1]

Inbaseball,aperfect gameis a game in which one or morepitcherscomplete a minimum of nineinningswith no batter from the opposing team reaching base.[2]To achieve a perfect game, a team must not allow any opposing player to reach base by any means: nohits,walks,hit batsmen,uncaught third strikes,catcher's interference,fielder's obstruction,orfielding errorswhich allow a batter to reach base.

A perfect game, by definition, is also ano-hitter,and is also guaranteed to result in awinand ashutoutif the game does not go intoextra innings.In leagues that use aWBSCtiebreaker (including MLB since 2020), runners are placed on second base, and in some leagues, also on first base at the start of each half-inning during extra innings; this automatic runner would not cause a perfect game to be lost. Therefore, if the runner advances and scores without any batters reaching base (by means of stolen base, sacrifice, fielder's choice, etc.), and this turns out to be the winning run, then the losing team will still be credited with a perfect game, despite losing the game. Afieldingerrorthat does not allow a batter to reach base, such as a misplayed foul ball, does not spoil a perfect game.[3]Games that last fewer than nine innings, regardless of cause, in which a team has no baserunners do not qualify as perfect games. Games in which a team reaches first base only inextra inningsalso do not qualify as perfect games.

The first known use of the termperfect gamewas in1908;its current definition was formalized in1991.InMajor League Baseball(MLB), it has been achieved24 times– 22 times since the modern era began in 1901,most recentlybyDomingo Germánof theNew York Yankeeson June 28, 2023, against theOakland Athletics.Although it is possible for two or more pitchers to combine for a perfect game (which has happened 20 times in MLB no-hitters[4]), every MLB perfect game so far has been thrown by a single pitcher.[5]An example of a combined perfect game occurred in Game 5 of the2007 Japan SeriesofNippon Professional Baseball.

History in Major League Baseball

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See also:List of Major League Baseball perfect games

The first known occurrence of the termperfect gamein print was in 1908. I. E. Sanborn's report for theChicago TribuneaboutAddie Joss's performance against theWhite Soxcalls 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".[6]Several sources have claimed that the first recorded usage ofperfect gamewas byErnest J. Laniganin hisBaseball Cyclopedia,made in reference toCharlie Robertson's 1922 perfect game.[7]TheChicago Tribunecame close to the term in describingLee Richmond's game forWorcesterin 1880: "Richmond was most effectively supported, every position on the home nine being played to perfection."[8]Similarly, in writing upJohn Montgomery Ward's 1880 perfect game, theNew York Clipperdescribed the "perfect play" of Providence's defense.[9]

There has been one perfect game in theWorld Series,thrown byDon Larsenfor theNew York Yankeesagainst theBrooklyn Dodgerson October 8, 1956. By coincidence, Larsen, and the catcher for that game,Yogi Berra,were in attendance when Yankee pitcherDavid Conethrew a perfect game in 1999, as Larsen and Berra were invited to throw and catch the ceremonial first pitch.[10]

Ron Hasseyis the only catcher in MLB history to have caught more than one perfect game. His first was with pitcherLen Barker(for theCleveland Indiansagainst theToronto Blue Jays) in 1981 and his second was with pitcherDennis Martínez(for theMontreal Exposagainst theLos Angeles Dodgers) in 1991.[11][12]

The most recent perfect game for MLB occurred onJune 28, 2023,withDomingo Germánof theNew York Yankeesagainst theOakland Athleticsin an 11–0 victory, finishing with 9 strikeouts.[13]Germán became the first-ever pitcher born in theDominican Republicto throw a perfect game in the MLB, as well as the third-ever non-American-born player to do so, and was the first pitcher to throw a perfect game with thepitch clockand batting clock rules in effect.[14]

Rule definition by MLB

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As of 2024,theMajor League Baseballdefinition 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 ano-hitteras a game in which the pitcher or pitchers on one team throw a complete game of nine innings or more without surrendering a hit.[15]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 Haddixdoes not receive credit for a perfect game or a no-hitter forhis performanceon May 26, 1959, when he threw 12 perfect innings against theMilwaukee Bravesbefore a batter reached in the 13th.[16]

Since MLB implementation of the softball variant of theWBSC tie-breakerin 2020, the offensive team is awarded a free runner on second base each half-inning during extra innings.[17]This itself would not end a perfect game, even if the runner scores or is erased on a double play. Another rule change effective for two seasons (2020–2021) stipulated that games that are part ofdoubleheaderslast only seven innings. Such a game in which one team did not reach first base would not have been credited as a perfect game (similar to weather-shortened games). However, if such a doubleheader game were to have at least twoextra inningsand one team still did not reach first base, then the game would have been credited as a perfect game.[18]During those two seasons, no potential perfect games were affected but there were two potential no-hitters affected.

Both rule changes were expected to be reversed prior to the 2022 season, but the international tiebreaker was permanently added to theOfficial rules of Major League Baseballregular season rules in February 2023.[19]The WBSC tiebreaker is not used in postseason play.

In other leagues

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TheAll-American Girls Professional Baseball League(AAGPBL) existed from 1943 to 1954. Four of its players pitched a perfect game:Annabelle Leein 1944,Carolyn Morrisin 1945,Doris Samsin 1947, andJean Fautin 1951 (against the Rockford Peaches) and again in 1953 (against the Kalamazoo Lassies).[20][21]Faut is the only professional baseball player, male or female, to have pitched two perfect games.[22]

See also:List of Nippon Professional Baseball perfect games

In Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), the first perfect game was thrown byHideo Fujimotoof the Giants on June 28, 1950, against the Nishi Nippon Pirates.[23]16 total have been thrown in NPB, with the most recent perfect game for NPB byChiba Lotte MarinespitcherRōki SasakionApril 10, 2022.[24]Sasaki tied an existing NPB record bystriking out19 batters, and set a new record by striking out 13 consecutive batters.[25]Sasaki compiled agame scoreof 106, surpassing the 105 forKerry Wood's 20 strikeout game from the1998 Major League Baseball season,which was the highest MLB game score since the end of thebaseball color line.[26][27]On November 1, 2007, a combined perfect game was thrown by theChunichi Dragonsduring Game 5 of the2007 Japan Series.Starting pitcherDaisuke Yamaipitched eight perfect innings and received the win, withHitoki Iwasereceiving thesave;the Dragons' victory also resulted in them winning the Japan Series. Although NPB does not recognize this as a perfect game due to it not being acomplete game,it is recognized as a perfect game by theWorld Baseball Softball Confederation.This makes it the only perfect game thrown during the Japan Series, and the only combined perfect game in history to span a regulation nine innings.[28]

On August 23, 1957, Ángel Macías (12) from theMonterrey,Mexico,team pitched the only perfect game of theLittle League World Series,inWilliamsport, Pennsylvania.Macías struck out 11 out of the 18 batters he faced (Little League games are 6 innings).[29]

The only perfect game thrown inChinese Professional Baseball Leagueplay was byRyan Verdugoof theUni-President Lionson October 7, 2018, against theChinatrust Brothers,in a game where Kuo Fu-Lin had to hit awalk-off home runin the bottom of the ninth to win the game and preserve the perfect game, 1-0.[30]

Four Puerto Rico pitchers combined for an 8-inning perfect game against Israel in the2023 World Baseball Classic.StarterJosé De Leónrecorded ten strikeouts in5+2⁄3innings, and relieversYacksel Rios,Edwin Diaz,andDuane Underwood Jr.recorded seven more outs before the game ended early because of the mercy rule. It was ruled to not be an official perfect game by theElias Sports Bureauas they stipulate that a perfect game must last at least 9 innings. De León responded to this saying "It's perfect for us".[31]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^Madden, Bill(September 12, 2008)."Yogi Berra's Favorite Stadium Moment: Don Larsen's Perfect Game".Daily News.Archivedfrom the original on November 2, 2010.RetrievedFebruary 5,2010.
  2. ^"MLB Official Info".MLB Advanced Media. 2019.Archivedfrom the original on November 8, 2020.RetrievedJuly 14,2019.
  3. ^"MLB Miscellany: Rules, Regulations and Statistics".Major League Baseball.Archivedfrom the original on November 8, 2020.RetrievedAugust 20,2007.
  4. ^"Looking at MLB's 19 combined no-hitters".MLB.Archivedfrom the original on 2022-07-01.Retrieved2022-06-25.
  5. ^"History: No-hitters".Major League Baseball.Archivedfrom the original on May 10, 2021.RetrievedAugust 22,2007.
  6. ^Deutsch et al. (1975), p. 68. This source also includes an 1880 clipping from theNew York HeralddescribingLee 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".
  7. ^Buckley (2002), p. 16, citing Paul Dickson,The Dickson Baseball Dictionary(1989); Coffey (2004), p. 50. TheBaseball Cyclopediareference came in a supplement to the 1922 edition of the book (a publication ofBaseball 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 calledBalldomas a source for his list of perfect games, althoughBalldomitself 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 theCyclopedia,although there is nothing indicating that Sanborn necessarily inspired Lanigan's use of the term.
  8. ^Buckley (2002), p. 15.
  9. ^Buckley (2002), p. 26.
  10. ^"David Cone Perfect Game Box Score by Baseball Almanac".Baseball-almanac. 1999-07-18.Archivedfrom the original on 2011-11-08.Retrieved2016-11-18.
  11. ^"Len Barker Perfect Game Box Score".Baseball-Almanac.Archivedfrom the original on August 18, 2012.RetrievedApril 27,2012.
  12. ^"Dennis Martinez Perfect Game Box Score".Baseball-Almanac.Archivedfrom the original on November 8, 2011.RetrievedApril 28,2012.
  13. ^Chen, Sonja."Germán delivers MLB's 1st perfect game since 2012".MLB.MLB Advanced Media, LP.Archivedfrom the original on 29 June 2023.Retrieved29 June2023.
  14. ^Axisa, Mike (2023-06-29)."Domingo Germán perfect game: Seven notable facts, including good omen for Yankees and the righty's inspiration".CBS Sports.Retrieved2023-06-30.
  15. ^Young (1997), p. 29.
  16. ^Forker, Obojski, and Stewart (2004), p. 116.
  17. ^"MLB ghost runner rule: League makes extra-innings change permanent for regular-season games, per report".CBS Sports.February 14, 2023.
  18. ^Kelly, Matt (August 5, 2020)."Rules for pitcher feats in 7-inning twin bills".MLB Advanced Media.Archivedfrom the original on May 12, 2022.RetrievedMay 11,2022.
  19. ^Casella, Paul (13 February 2023)."Automatic runner permanent; new position-player pitching rules".Major League Baseball.
  20. ^All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Record Book– W. C. Madden. Publisher: McFarland & Company, 2000. Format: Paperback, 294pp. Language: English.ISBN978-0-7864-3747-4
  21. ^"Jean Faut, Star Pitcher in Women's Baseball League, Dies at 98".The New York Times.March 9, 2023.Archivedfrom the original on March 16, 2023.RetrievedMarch 21,2023.
  22. ^"Jean Faut (1925–2023), AAGPBL pitcher with two perfect games".The American Girls Baseball, Inc. 6 March 2023.Archivedfrom the original on 21 March 2023.Retrieved21 March2023.
  23. ^"Hoàn toàn thí hợp をくらった cầu đoàn".Tây Nhật Bản tin tức me(in Japanese).Archivedfrom the original on 2022-03-19.Retrieved2022-03-19.
  24. ^Levin, Josh (April 17, 2022)."Roki Sasaki Just Pulled Off One of the Greatest Feats in Sports History".Slate.RetrievedJune 29,2023.
  25. ^Mather, Victor (11 April 2022)."Roki Sasaki of Japan Strikes Out 19 in Perfect Game – The New York Times".The New York Times.Archivedfrom the original on 11 April 2022.RetrievedApril 11,2022.
  26. ^Anderson, R.J. (April 11, 2022)."20-year-old pitching phenom Roki Sasaki throws perfect game with 19 strikeouts in Japan's NPB".CBS Sports.Archivedfrom the original on April 10, 2022.RetrievedApril 11,2022.
  27. ^Anderson, R.J. (April 11, 2022)."Roki Sasaki scouting report: What to know about Japanese phenom, his possible MLB debut date and elite heat".CBS Sports.Archivedfrom the original on April 11, 2022.RetrievedApril 11,2022.
  28. ^"Chunichi Dragons win Series with perfect game".The New York Times.2007-11-01.ISSN0362-4331.Retrieved2024-02-21.
  29. ^Morrison, Jim (5 April 2010)."The Little League World Series' Only Perfect Game".Smithsonian.Retrieved28 September2015.
  30. ^"Uni-Lions' Ryan Verdugo Throws First Perfect Game in CPBL History".CPBLStats.7 October 2018.Retrieved2023-08-18.
  31. ^"Puerto Rico pitchers 'perfect' in 10-0 win at WBC".ESPN.2023-03-14.Archivedfrom the original on 2023-03-21.Retrieved2023-03-14.

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