Breaking News — Buehrle Joins Elite List of Perfect Game Pitchers
Posted by Brian Joseph on Thursday, July 23, 2009 at 4:12 pm
Pitch a game that ends in under two hours… CHECK!
Become the first pitcher to win and save consecutive World Series games… CHECK!
Win a World Series… CHECK!
Toss a no-hitter… CHECK!
Hit a home run… CHECK!
Have everyone question your desire by talking about early retirement… CHECK!
Have everyone in awe of your ability by tossing the 18th perfect game in Major League history… CHECK!
White Sox left-handed hurler shut down an impressive Tampa Bay Rays lineup tossing just the 18th perfect game in Major League history today.
Buehrle previously tossed a no-hitter on April 18, 2007 against the Texas Rangers and was just one walk short of a perfect game on that day.
Fast forward to today and Buehrle bettered that outing the only way he could… by retiring all 27 batters consecutively in a 5-0 win over the Rays. No hits, no walks, no errors, no base runners. Period!
Including Don Larsen’s perfect game in the World Series, Buehrle is the 18th pitcher to toss a perfect game and second in White Sox history. It was the first since Randy Johnson threw a perfect game as a Diamondback against the Atlanta Braves on May 18, 2004.
Here’s the list:
July 23, 2009 — Mark Buehrle, Chicago White Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays
May 18, 2004 — Randy Johnson, Arizona Diamondbacks at Atlanta Braves
July 18, 1999 — David Cone, New York Yankees vs. Montreal Expos
May 17, 1998 – David Wells, New York Yankees vs. Minnesota Twins
July 28, 1994 – Kenny Rogers, Texas Rangers vs. California Angels
July 28, 1991 – Dennis Martinez, Montreal Expos at Los Angeles Dodgers
September 16, 1988 – Tom Browning, Cincinnati Reds vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
September 30, 1984 – Mike Witt, California Angels at Texas Rangers
May 15, 1981 – Len Barker, Cleveland Indians vs. Toronto Blue Jays
May 8, 1968 – Jim “Catfish” Hunter, Oakland Athletics vs. Minnesota Twins
September 9, 1965 – Sandy Koufax, Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Chicago Cubs
June 21, 1964 – Jim Bunning, Philadelphia Phillies at New York Mets
October 8, 1956 – Don Larsen, Brooklyn Dodgers at New York Yankees (World Series Game)
April 30, 1922 – Charlie Robertson, Chicago White Sox at Detroit Tigers
October 2, 1908 – Addie Joss, Cleveland Naps vs. Chicago White Sox
May 5, 1904 — Cy Young, Boston Americans vs. Philadelphia A’s
Two additional notes:
1. Buehrle also had a 2-hitter in which he faced the minimum 27 batters, making 3 for his career (the no-hitter was also a minimal game).
2. The Rays gave him a standing ovation after it was over. I thought that was pure class.