The most recent came in 2012 when Felix Hernandez stifled the Tampa Bay Rays with 113 ‘unhittable’ pitches while recording 12 strikeouts.
A perfect game boils down to “27 up, 27 down”, meaning that the starting pitcher must pitch a minimum of nine innings and no batter can reach base. This means no hits, walks, errors, or batters being hit by a pitch. It meant the pitcher threw a no-hitter, a complete game, and a win.
Since 2000, there have only been seven pitchers to accomplish this feat. Randy Johnson in 2004, Mark Bueherle in 2009, Dallas Braden in 2010, Roy Halladay in 2010, Phillip Humber in 2012, Matt Cain in 2012 and the aforementioned Felix Hernandez in 2012.
Other pitchers who have etched their names in baseball history to accomplish the impossible include Cy Young (1904), Don Larsen (1956), and Sandy Koufax (1965).
Larsen is the only pitcher to have thrown one in the World Series, helping the New York Yankees secure a Game 5 victory and eventual championship. Larsen will be named the World Series MVP thanks to his incredible performance.
Which teams have thrown the most perfect games in MLB history?
Of the 23 perfect games thrown in baseball history, only five teams have thrown multiple times in their franchise history. The Oakland Athletics, Cleveland Indians and Philadelphia Phillies have thrown two each. The New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox have thrown three apiece in their history.
While it remains to be seen when the next one will occur, it may not happen anytime soon given the fact that modern teams are reluctant to allow their pitchers to throw late into games.
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