What is a Perfect Game in Baseball?

A perfect game in baseball happens when a pitcher gets every opposing batter out without anyone reaching base the entire game. Over a 9-inning game, each team gets three outs per inning for a total of 27 outs. If a pitcher gets all 27 outs without one batter reaching base for any reason, then that pitcher is awarded with a “perfect game”.

Who has pitched a perfect game?

In the history of baseball, there have been 23 pitchers that pitched a perfect game. The first recorded perfect game happened in 1880 by Lee Richmond, and the most recent perfect game was in August of 2012 by Felix Hernandez. There has not been a perfect game since. Here is a full list of all 23 pitchers who have thrown a perfect game in Major League Baseball.

• Lee Richmond
• John Montgomery Ward
• Cy Young
• Addie Joss
• Charlie Robertson
• Don Larsen
• Jim Bunning
• Sandy Koufax
• Catfish Hunter
• Len Barker
• Mike Witt
• Tom Browning
• Dennis Martínez
• Kenny Rogers
• David Wells
• David Cone
• Randy Johnson
• Mark Buehrle
• Dallas Braden
• Roy Halladay
• Philip Humber
• Matt Cain
• Félix Hernández

Perfect game vs no-hitter

The difference between a no-hitter and a perfect game is that in a perfect game, no batter ever reaches base, ever. It does not matter if it is because of a hit, a walk, an error, or if they were hit by a pitch. If a batter reaches base for any reason whatsoever, then the game is not a perfect game. 

A no-hitter happens when no batter on an opposing team reaches base by getting a hit. No-hitters can include batters getting on base from walks and errors but cannot include a recorded base hit. 

One example of the perfect game/no-hitter situation happened in 2007. During a game between the Chicago White Sox and the Texas Rangers, White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle had a perfect game in progress at the start of the 5^th inning. In that inning, Buehrle walked Rangers hitter Sammy Sosa, but got him out at first base immediately afterwards by a pickoff play. However, because Sosa walked and reached first base, Buehrle was not awarded a perfect game. 

To clarify, even though Sosa was picked off at first base, and Buehrle only faced the minimum 27 hitters and got them out consecutively over 9 innings, but because one person reached base, it was a no-hitter and not a perfect game. To see highlights of that game, follow this link.

Perfect game vs. complete game

The difference between a perfect game and a complete game is that a complete game only signifies that the pitcher who started the game pitches all the way until the end of the game. For a pitcher to throw a perfect game, they must complete the entire game but not allow any baserunners for any reason. A complete game is a baseball statistic that signals only that the starting pitcher finished the game they started. A pitcher can earn a complete game and not be victorious. They simply must finish the game that they started to the final out.

How rare is a perfect game?

Statistically speaking, a perfect game in baseball has an average likelihood of 1 in 46,800 to happen. However, this is not an exact science due to many variables like the weather, the experience of the players, and more. From 1880 to today, there have been 23 perfect games recorded in baseball which averages to one perfect game approximately every 6 years. 

FAQ

The 23 Perfect Games of Baseball

Pitching the perfect game is referred to in baseball lingo as a “gem”. It’s called a gem because it is very rare, just like the precious stones. In over 140 years of recorded baseball statistics, there have only been 23 perfect games. There have been many close calls over the years, but only 23 gems in total.

There have been other perfect games pitched at the collegiate and minor league levels, but to pitch perfection at the professional level is something special. Read highlights and see media clips of each perfect game and enjoy the stories around these rare events including one pitcher who threw a perfect game on Mother’s Day in front of his grandmother who helped raise him.