Tom Browning's perfect game

Tom Browning's perfect game

Browning in 1991
Los Angeles Dodgers Cincinnati Reds 0 1
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Los Angeles Dodgers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Cincinnati Reds 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 X 1 3 0
Date	September 16, 1988
Venue	Riverfront Stadium
City	Cincinnati,Ohio
Managers	Tommy Lasorda(Los Angeles Dodgers) Pete Rose(Cincinnati Reds)
Umpires	HP:Jim Quick 1B:Mark Hirschbeck 2B:John Kibler 3B:Eric Gregg
Attendance	16,591

On September 16, 1988,Tom Browningof theCincinnati Redspitched the 12thperfect gameinMajor League Baseball(MLB) history, blanking theLos Angeles Dodgers1–0 atRiverfront Stadium.Browning became the first left-handed pitcher to pitch a perfect game sinceSandy Koufax's perfect gamein 1965. As of 2024, this perfect game is also the only one in Major League history to be pitched onartificial turf.

Background

Perfect game

In baseball, aperfect gameoccurs when one or morepitchersfor one team complete a full game with nobatterfrom the opposing teamreaching base.In baseball leagues that feature nine-inninggames likeMajor League Baseball(MLB), this means the pitchers involved must record an out against 27 consecutive batters, without allowing anyhits,walks,hit batsmen,uncaught third strikes,catcher's or fielder's interference,orfielding errors.It is widely considered by sportswriters to be the hardest single-game accomplishment in the sport, as it requires an incredible pitching performance, defensive support, and immense luck to pull off.Since 1876, there have been over 237,000 games officially recognized by MLB; only 24 have been perfect games.Prior to Browning's perfect game, the most recent occurrence was in 1984, whenMike Wittof theCalifornia Angelsthrew one against theTexas Rangers.

Tom Browning

A ticket from Browning's perfect game

Tom Browningmade his MLB debut in 1984 for theCincinnati Reds.In his first full season, Browning became the first rookie sinceBob Grimto win 20 games, and finished second inNational League Rookie of the Yearvoting.By the 1987 season however, Browning's pitching had worsened, and in June, he was demoted toTriple-A.While in Triple-A, Browning revealed he had been pitching through a sore elbow.He later described the demotion as "the lowest I've every been... It made me realize how far I had fallen, and how hard I had to work to get back what I had lost."For the 1988 season, Browning signed a one-year contract with the Reds, and pitched well.Prior to his perfect game, he had awin-loss recordof 15-5 and a 3.56earned run average(ERA).On June 6, he took ano-hitterinto the ninthinningagainst theSan Diego Padres,which was broken up byTony Gwynnsingle.

The game

Riverfront Stadium, the site of Browning's perfect game

A two-hour, 27 minute rain delay forced the game to start at approximately 10 PM local time. The rain delay lasted longer than the game itself, played in a brisk one hour, 51 minutes.

The game's lone run came with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Batting against Dodger starterTim Belcher,himself working on a no-hitter, Reds shortstopBarry Larkindoubled and advanced to third onChris Sabo's infield single; an error by Dodger third basemanJeff Hamiltonon the play enabled Larkin to score.

In the top of the seventh inning, Dodger left fielderKirk Gibsonwas ejected by home plate umpireJim Quickafter striking out.

In the top of ninth inning, Browning first gotRick Dempseyto fly out to right field.Steve Saxthen grounded out to the shortstop. Facing pinch hitterTracy Woodson,Browning recorded his seventh strikeout of the evening, completing the perfect game.

Browning threw 70 of his 102 pitches for strikes with Catcher Jeff Reed behind the plateand did not run the count to three balls on a single Dodger hitter.

Later developments

The Dodgers would go on to win the1988 World Series—the only time, to date, that a team has won a World Series after having a perfect game pitched against it during the season. Only one other team has since earned a postseason berth after having a perfect game pitched against it during the season: the2010 Tampa Bay Rays,who were on the losing end ofDallas Braden's perfect gameon May 9, went on to win theAmerican League Easttitle. Not untilSean Manaeaof theOakland Athleticsno-hit the eventualWorld ChampionBoston Red Soxon April 21, 2018, would a no-hitter again be pitched against a team that would go on to win that year's World Series.

Browning's perfect game was the first of a record three thatPaul O'Neillwould play in as a member of the winning team. With theNew York Yankees,he would be on the winning end ofDavid Wells' andDavid Cone's in 1998 and 1999, respectively.

On July 4, 1989, Browning narrowly missed becoming the first male pitcher to throw two perfect games. Against thePhiladelphia PhilliesatVeterans Stadium,Browning retired the first 24 batters he faced.Dickie Thonthen broke up the bid with a ninth-inning leadoff double. After striking outSteve Lake,Browning gave up a single toSteve Jeltz,scoring Thon.John Francothen relieved Browning and gotLenny Dykstrato hit into a game-ending double play, giving theRedsa 2–1 win.

Browning pitched for the Reds through 1994, and finished his career with the1995 Kansas City Royals.His MLB totals include an overall record of 123–90, 3.94 ERA, and exactly 1,000 strikeouts in 1,921 innings pitched.

Line score

September 16, 1988 10:02 p.m.ETatRiverfront Stadium

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Los Angeles Dodgers	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
Cincinnati Reds	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	x	1	3	0
WP:Tom Browning(16–5)LP:Tim Belcher(10–5) Attendance:16,591 Notes:Duration 1:51 Umpires:Jim Quick(HP),Mark Hirschbeck(1B),John Kibler(2B),Eric Gregg(3B) Boxscore

Further reading

• Cox, Jim."September 16, 1988: Reds' Tom Browning waits out rain delay and delivers perfect game".SABR.RetrievedAugust 3,2019.

External links

• Box scoreatRetrosheet