The Last Perfect Game: A Century-Old Riddle in Baseball History
Baseball, an age-old sport with rich history and traditions, is full of miraculous performances. One such performance is the perfect game, a rare event where a pitcher faces 27 batters and records every out. Who is the last pitcher to throw a perfect game? This article delves into the history and details of this rhetorical question.
Domingo Germán: Recent History in Perfect Games
The most recent perfect game was thrown by New York Yankees pitcher Domingo Germán on August 16, 2023, in Oakland. Germán's performance was a historic moment in baseball, a first in MLB since 2012. It marked the 24th perfect game in major league history. Germán faced just 27 batters and got every single one out, ensuring no opposing players reached base. This incredible feat was part of a 11-0 win for the Yankees, a testament to Germán's skill and control.
Felix Hernandez: The Most Recent Perfect Game in MLB
While Domingo Germán made history in 2023, the most recent perfect game in Major League Baseball (MLB) belongs to Seattle Mariners' pitcher Felix Hernandez. His perfect game happened on August 15, 2012, against the Tampa Bay Rays. Hernandez struck out 12 batters and retired all 27 batters faced, securing a 1-0 victory.
Sepia-Skinned Stardom: Felix Hernandez
Hernandez, known in the baseball world as "King Felix," is a Venezuelan pitcher who had an outstanding career, retiring in 2019. His perfect game not only brought glory to himself and the Mariners but also marked the first perfect game in the team's franchise history. This was part of a remarkable season in 2012, where three perfect games were thrown within the same year. The three pitchers who achieved this were:
Philip Humber of the Chicago White Sox in victory over the Seattle Mariners on April 21, 2012 Matt Cain of the San Francisco Giants in victory over the Houston Astros on June 13, 2012 Felix Hernandez of the Seattle Mariners in victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on August 15, 2012Together, these pitchers achieved the unprecedented feat of tossing three perfect games in a single season, breaking the previous record of two perfect games in the same season.
The Complexity of Perfect Games
One of the things about perfect games is that they are viewed with a certain perspective. Dom DeLuise, a legendary figure in baseball, once famously recounted that he watched the first perfect game of his life thrown by Don Larsen. Larsen, who had struggled with a 3-21 record with the Baltimore Orioles a couple of years earlier, was traded to the Yankees. Ironically, Larsen was the last surviving member of that perfect game.
It's important to note that a perfect game, while seemingly flawless, is not immune to imperfections. Every game may have slight flaws that can be pointed out by critics or fans. Some might argue that such a performance is impossible to achieve, with some batters bound to make a mistake. This raises an interesting discussion about what constitutes a "perfect" game.
Finding a Perfect Game
Perfect games are not only rare but also highly subjective. Many argue that while these games are remarkable, they may inevitably have some flaws that can be analyzed or critiqued. For instance, Larsen's perfect game was significant in its own way, but it's also true that he had a challenging time before achieving this milestone.
Perfect games, therefore, are not just about the flawless performance on the field but also about the context in which they are played. As Dom DeLuise mentioned, the perfect game is often a part of a much larger narrative, with its own complexities and challenges.
Ultimately, the question of who is the last pitcher to throw a perfect game is a question that captures the essence of baseball: a sport where moments of beauty and skill often coexist with the unyielding reality of human imperfection.