View source for Perfect game (baseball)

{{Short description|Game where at least one team has no baserunners}}
{{Other uses|Perfect game (disambiguation){{!}}Perfect game}}

[[File:PerfectLarsen.jpg|thumb|right|The "everlasting image" of [[New York Yankees]] catcher [[Yogi Berra]] leaping into the arms of pitcher [[Don Larsen]] after the completion of [[Don Larsen's perfect game|Larsen's perfect game]] in Game 5 of the [[1956 World Series]]<ref>{{cite web|author=Madden, Bill|author-link=Bill Madden (sportswriter)|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2008/09/11/2008-09-11_yogi_berras_favorite_stadium_moment_don_-2.html|title=Yogi Berra's Favorite Stadium Moment: Don Larsen's Perfect Game|work=Daily News|date=September 12, 2008|access-date=February 5, 2010|archive-date=November 2, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101102163956/http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2008/09/11/2008-09-11_yogi_berras_favorite_stadium_moment_don_-2.html|url-status=live}}</ref>]]

In [[baseball]], a '''perfect game''' is a game in which one or more [[pitcher]]s complete a minimum of nine [[inning]]s with no batter from the opposing team reaching base safely.<ref name="MLB-perfect-game">{{cite web
 | url = http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/official_info/about_mlb/rules_regulations.jsp
 | title = MLB Official Info
 | year = 2019
 | publisher = MLB Advanced Media
 | access-date = July 14, 2019
 | archive-date = November 8, 2020
 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201108091810/http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/official_info/about_mlb/rules_regulations.jsp
 | url-status = live
 }}</ref> To achieve a perfect game, a team must not allow any opposing player to reach base by any means: no [[hit (baseball)|hits]], [[base on balls|walks]], [[hit by pitch|hit batsmen]], [[Interference (baseball)|catcher's interference]], [[Obstruction (baseball)|fielder's obstruction]], and no [[Error (baseball)|fielding error]], or [[uncaught third strike]] that allows a batter to reach base.

A perfect game, by definition, is also a [[no-hitter]], and is also guaranteed to result in a [[Win–loss record (pitching)|win]] and a [[Shutout (baseball)|shutout]] if the game does not go into [[extra innings]]. In leagues that use a [[World Baseball Softball Confederation|WBSC]] tiebreaker (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. A [[fielding (baseball)|fielding]] [[error (baseball)|error]] that does not allow a batter to reach base, such as a misplayed foul ball, does not spoil a perfect game.<ref name="MLB-rules">{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/official_info/about_mlb/rules_regulations.jsp|title=MLB Miscellany: Rules, Regulations and Statistics|publisher=Major League Baseball|access-date=August 20, 2007|archive-date=November 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108091810/http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/official_info/about_mlb/rules_regulations.jsp|url-status=live}}</ref> 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 in [[extra innings]] also do not qualify as perfect games.

The first known use of the term ''perfect game'' was in {{Baseball year|1908}}; its current definition was formalized in {{Baseball year|1991}}. In [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB), it has been achieved [[List of Major League Baseball perfect games|24 times]]&nbsp;– 22 times since the modern era began in 1901, [[Domingo Germán's perfect game|most recently]] by [[Domingo Germán]] of the [[New York Yankees]] on June 28, 2023, against the [[Oakland Athletics]]. Although it is possible for two or more pitchers to combine for a perfect game (which has happened 21 times in MLB no-hitters<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/all-the-combined-no-hitters-in-baseball-history |title=Looking at MLB's 21 combined no-hitters |publisher=mlb.com |date=2024-09-04|access-date=2025-04-09}}</ref>), every MLB perfect game so far has been thrown by a single pitcher.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/history/rare_feats/index.jsp?feature=no_hitter|title=History: No-hitters|publisher=Major League Baseball|access-date=August 22, 2007}}</ref> A combined perfect game occurred in Game 5 of the [[2007 Japan Series]] of [[Nippon Professional Baseball]].

==Rule definition==
{{As of|2024}}, the [[Major League Baseball]] definition of a perfect game is largely an adjunct to the decision made by the major leagues' Committee for Statistical Accuracy on September&nbsp;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]] does not receive credit for a perfect game or a no-hitter for [[Harvey Haddix's near-perfect game|his performance]] on May 26, 1959, when he threw 12 perfect innings against the [[1959 Milwaukee Braves season|Milwaukee Braves]] before a batter reached in the 13th.<ref>Forker, Obojski, and Stewart (2004), p. 116.</ref>

Since MLB implementation of the softball variant of the [[World Baseball Softball Confederation|WBSC tie-breaker]] in 2020, the offensive team is awarded a free runner on second base each half-inning during extra innings.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/mlb-ghost-runner-rule-league-makes-extra-innings-change-permanent-for-regular-season-games-per-report/|title=MLB ghost runner rule: League makes extra-innings change permanent for regular-season games, per report|date=February 14, 2023 |work=[[CBS Sports]] }}</ref>  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 of [[doubleheader (baseball)|doubleheaders]] last 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 two [[extra inning]]s and one team still did not reach first base, then the game would have been credited as a perfect game.<ref name="MLB-no-hitter-rules">{{cite web |last=Kelly |first=Matt |date=August 5, 2020 |title=Rules for pitcher feats in 7-inning twin bills |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/seven-inning-doubleheaders-no-hitter-rules |access-date=May 11, 2022 |publisher=MLB Advanced Media |archive-date=May 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220512005120/https://www.mlb.com/news/seven-inning-doubleheaders-no-hitter-rules |url-status=live }}</ref> 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 the [[Official rules of Major League Baseball]] regular season rules in February 2023.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/automatic-runner-permanent-new-mlb-rules-for-position-players-pitching|title=Automatic runner permanent; new position-player pitching rules|last=Casella|first=Paul|publisher=[[Major League Baseball]]|date=13 February 2023}}</ref>  The WBSC tiebreaker is not used in postseason play.

==History in MLB==
{{See also|List of Major League Baseball perfect games}}

The first known occurrence of the term ''perfect game'' in print was in 1908. I. E. Sanborn's report for the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' about [[Addie 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".<ref name="auto3">Deutsch et al. (1975), p. 68. This source also includes an 1880 clipping from the ''New York Herald'' describing [[Lee 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".</ref> Several sources have claimed that the first recorded usage of ''perfect game'' was by [[Ernest lanigan|Ernest J. Lanigan]] in his ''Baseball Cyclopedia'', made in reference to [[Charlie Robertson]]'s 1922 perfect game.<ref name="auto1">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.</ref> The ''Chicago Tribune'' came close to the term in describing [[Lee Richmond]]'s game for [[Worcester Worcesters|Worcester]] in 1880: "Richmond was most effectively supported, every position on the home nine being played to perfection."<ref name="auto2">Buckley (2002), p. 15.</ref> Similarly, in writing up [[John Montgomery Ward]]'s 1880 perfect game, the ''[[New York Clipper]]'' described the "perfect play" of Providence's defense.<ref name="auto5">Buckley (2002), p. 26.</ref>

There has been one perfect game in the [[World Series]], thrown by [[Don Larsen#The perfect game|Don Larsen]] for the [[New York Yankees]] against the [[Brooklyn Dodgers]] on October 8, 1956. By coincidence, Larsen, and the catcher for that game, [[Yogi Berra]], were in attendance when Yankee pitcher [[David Cone]] threw a perfect game in 1999. Larsen and Berra had been invited to throw and catch the ceremonial first pitch.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/boxscore/07181999.shtml |title=David Cone Perfect Game Box Score by Baseball Almanac |publisher=Baseball-almanac.com |date=1999-07-18 |access-date=2016-11-18 |archive-date=2011-11-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111108115234/http://www.baseball-almanac.com/boxscore/07181999.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Ron Hassey]] is the only catcher in MLB history to have caught more than one perfect game. His first was with pitcher [[Len Barker]] (for the [[Cleveland Indians]] against the [[Toronto Blue Jays]]) in 1981 and his second was with pitcher [[Dennis Martínez]] (for the [[Montreal Expos]] against the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]]) in 1991.<ref>{{cite web|title=Len Barker Perfect Game Box Score|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/boxscore/05151981.shtml|work=Baseball-Almanac|access-date=April 27, 2012|archive-date=August 18, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818002719/http://www.baseball-almanac.com/boxscore/05151981.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Dennis Martinez Perfect Game Box Score|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/boxscore/07281991.shtml|work=Baseball-Almanac|access-date=April 28, 2012|archive-date=November 8, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111108115430/http://www.baseball-almanac.com/boxscore/07281991.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref>

The most recent perfect game for MLB occurred on [[Domingo Germán's perfect game|June 28, 2023]], with [[Domingo Germán]] of the [[New York Yankees]] against the [[Oakland Athletics]] in an 11–0 victory, finishing with 9 strikeouts.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Chen |first1=Sonja |title=Germán delivers MLB's 1st perfect game since 2012 |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/domingo-german-perfect-game-vs-athletics?game_pk=717579 |website=MLB.com |publisher=MLB Advanced Media, LP |access-date=29 June 2023 |archive-date=29 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629055018/https://www.mlb.com/news/domingo-german-perfect-game-vs-athletics?game_pk=717579 |url-status=live }}</ref> Germán became the first-ever pitcher born in the [[Dominican Republic]] to 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 the [[pitch clock]] and batting clock rules in effect.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Axisa |first=Mike |date=2023-06-29 |title=Domingo Germán perfect game: Seven notable facts, including good omen for Yankees and the righty's inspiration |url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/domingo-german-perfect-game-seven-notable-facts-including-good-omen-for-yankees-and-the-rightys-inspiration/ |access-date=2023-06-30 |website=CBS Sports |language=en}}</ref>

==History in NPB==
{{See also|List of Nippon Professional Baseball perfect games}}
In Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), the first perfect game was thrown by [[Hideo Fujimoto]] of the Giants on June 28, 1950, against the Nishi Nippon Pirates.<ref>{{Cite web |title=完全試合をくらった球団 |url=https://www.nishinippon.co.jp/item/n/621024/ |access-date=2022-03-19 |website=西日本新聞me |language=ja |archive-date=2022-03-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319220527/https://www.nishinippon.co.jp/item/n/621024/ |url-status=live }}</ref> 16 total have been thrown in NPB, with the most recent perfect game for NPB by [[Chiba Lotte Marines]] pitcher [[Rōki Sasaki]] on [[Rōki Sasaki's perfect game|April 10, 2022]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://slate.com/culture/2022/04/roki-sasaki-back-to-back-perfect-games-almost.html|title=Roki Sasaki Just Pulled Off One of the Greatest Feats in Sports History|work=Slate.com|date=April 17, 2022|accessdate=June 29, 2023|first=Josh|last=Levin}}</ref> Sasaki tied an existing NPB record by [[strikeout|striking out]] 19 batters, and set a new world record by striking out 13 consecutive batters.<ref name=nytimes>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/11/sports/baseball/roki-sasaki-perfect-game.html |title=Roki Sasaki of Japan Strikes Out 19 in Perfect Game – The New York Times |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=11 April 2022 |access-date=April 11, 2022 |last1=Mather |first1=Victor |archive-date=11 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220411135748/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/11/sports/baseball/roki-sasaki-perfect-game.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Sasaki compiled a [[game score]] of 106, surpassing the 105 for [[Kerry Wood]]'s 20 strikeout game from the [[1998 Major League Baseball season]], which was the highest MLB game score since the end of the [[baseball color line]].<ref>{{cite web |date=April 11, 2022 |first=R.J. |last=Anderson |url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/20-year-old-pitching-phenom-roki-sasaki-throws-perfect-game-with-19-strikeouts-in-japans-npb/ |title=20-year-old pitching phenom Roki Sasaki throws perfect game with 19 strikeouts in Japan's NPB |work=CBS Sports |access-date=April 11, 2022 |archive-date=April 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220410140234/https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/20-year-old-pitching-phenom-roki-sasaki-throws-perfect-game-with-19-strikeouts-in-japans-npb/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=April 11, 2022 |first=R.J. |last=Anderson |url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/roki-sasaki-scouting-report-what-to-know-about-japanese-phenom-his-possible-mlb-debut-date-and-elite-heat/ |title=Roki Sasaki scouting report: What to know about Japanese phenom, his possible MLB debut date and elite heat |work=CBS Sports |access-date=April 11, 2022 |archive-date=April 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220411181110/https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/roki-sasaki-scouting-report-what-to-know-about-japanese-phenom-his-possible-mlb-debut-date-and-elite-heat/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On November 1, 2007, a combined perfect game was thrown by the [[Chunichi Dragons]] during Game 5 of the [[2007 Japan Series]]. Starting pitcher [[Daisuke Yamai]] pitched eight perfect innings and received the win, with [[Hitoki Iwase]] receiving the [[Save (baseball)|save]]; 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 a [[complete game]], it is recognized as a perfect game by the [[World 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.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2007-11-01 |title=Chunichi Dragons win Series with perfect game |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/01/sports/01iht-jbase1.8146311.html |access-date=2024-02-21 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

==In other leagues==
The [[All-American Girls Professional Baseball League]] (AAGPBL) existed from 1943 to 1954. Four of its players pitched a perfect game: [[Annabelle Lee]] in 1944, [[Carolyn Morris]] in 1945, [[Doris Sams]] in 1947, and [[Jean Faut]] in 1951 (against the Rockford Peaches) and again in 1953 (against the Kalamazoo Lassies).<ref name="auto">''All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Record Book'' – W. C. Madden. Publisher: McFarland & Company, 2000. Format: Paperback, 294pp. Language: English. {{ISBN|978-0-7864-3747-4}}</ref><ref name="NYTimes-obit-Jean-Faut">{{Cite news |date=March 9, 2023 |title=Jean Faut, Star Pitcher in Women's Baseball League, Dies at 98 |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/09/sports/baseball/jean-faut-dies.html |access-date=March 21, 2023 |archive-date=March 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230316223222/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/09/sports/baseball/jean-faut-dies.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Faut is the only professional baseball player, male or female, to have pitched two perfect games.<ref name="auto4">{{Cite web |title=Jean Faut (1925–2023), AAGPBL pitcher with two perfect games |date=6 March 2023 |url=https://americangirlsbaseball.org/jean-faut-1925-2023-aagpbl-pitcher-with-two-perfect-games/ |publisher=The American Girls Baseball, Inc. |access-date=21 March 2023 |archive-date=21 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230321010757/https://americangirlsbaseball.org/jean-faut-1925-2023-aagpbl-pitcher-with-two-perfect-games/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

On August 23, 1957, Ángel Macías (12) from the [[Monterrey]], [[Mexico]], team pitched the only perfect game of the [[1957 Little League World Series|Little League World Series]], in [[Williamsport, Pennsylvania]]. Macías struck out 11 out of the 18 batters he faced (Little League games are 6 innings).<ref>{{cite web |access-date=28 September 2015 |date=5 April 2010 |first=Jim |last=Morrison |title=The Little League World Series' Only Perfect Game |url=http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-little-league-world-series-only-perfect-game-12835685/?no-ist |website=Smithsonian.com}}<!-- auto-translated from Spanish by Module:CS1 translator --></ref> 

The only perfect game thrown in [[Chinese Professional Baseball League]] play was by [[Ryan Verdugo]] of the [[Uni-President Lions]] on October 7, 2018, against the [[Chinatrust Brothers]], in a game where Kuo Fu-Lin had to hit a [[walk-off home run]] in the bottom of the ninth to win the game and preserve the perfect game, 1-0.  <ref>{{cite web |title=Uni-Lions' Ryan Verdugo Throws First Perfect Game in CPBL History |url=http://cpblstats.com/uni-lions-ryan-verdugo-throws-first-perfect-game-in-cpbl-history/ |website=CPBLStats |date=7 October 2018 |access-date=2023-08-18 |ref=cpbl}}</ref>

Four Puerto Rico pitchers combined for an 8-inning perfect game against Israel in the [[2023 World Baseball Classic]]. Starter [[José De León]] recorded ten strikeouts in {{frac|5|2|3}} innings, and relievers [[Yacksel Rios]], [[Edwin Diaz]], and [[Duane 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 the [[Elias Sports Bureau]] as they stipulate that a perfect game must last at least 9 innings. De León responded to this saying "It's perfect for us".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-14 |title=Puerto Rico pitchers 'perfect' in 10-0 win at WBC |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/35854296/puerto-rico-de-leon-bullpen-author-perfect-game-wbc-win |access-date=2023-03-14 |website=ESPN.com |language=en |archive-date=2023-03-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230321022024/https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/35854296/puerto-rico-de-leon-bullpen-author-perfect-game-wbc-win/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Baseball}}
* [[Harvey Haddix's near-perfect game]]
* [[Armando Galarraga's near-perfect game]]
* [[Eight-ender]] in curling
* [[Golden set]] in tennis
* [[Maximum break]] in snooker
* [[Nine-dart finish]] in darts
* [[Perfect game (bowling)|Perfect game]] in bowling
* ''[[The Perfect Game]]'', 2009 film

==Notes==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Sources==
{{Refbegin|30em}}
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{{Refend}}

==External links==
* [http://www.baseball-almanac.com/pitching/piperf.shtml Perfect Games] ''Baseball Almanac'' links to boxscores of both official and unofficial games
* [http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=2814 Pitchers who retired 27 consecutive batters or more over a span of two or more games] ''[[Baseball Prospectus]]'' article by Keith Woolner on "hidden" perfect games (also see the [http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=2910 follow-up])
* [http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/history/rare_feats/index.jsp?feature=perfect_game Rare Feats: Perfect Games] MLB.com links to historical video and audio extracts

{{Major League Baseball records}}
{{MLB perfect games}}
{{Baseball}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Perfect games| ]]
[[Category:Pitching (baseball)]]
[[Category:Baseball terminology]]
[[Category:Perfect scores in sports]]
[[Category:1900s neologisms]]
[[Category:Quotations from sports]]
[[Category:1908 quotations]]
[[Category:Baseball accomplishments]]