When Was the Last Perfect Game in Baseball?

The last perfect game in baseball was thrown by Félix Hernández of the Seattle Mariners on August 15, 2012.

Introduction

Nine innings, 27 batters up, 27 batters down. A perfect game in baseball is when a pitcher (or pitchers) retires every batter they face during the course of a game. It’s considered the highest achievement a pitcher can attain, and it’s something that fans dream of seeing. So, when was the last perfect game in baseball?

The answer might surprise you. The most recent perfect game was thrown by Seattle Mariners pitcher Felix Hernandez on August 15th, 2012. He became just the 23rd person in MLB history to achieve the feat, and the third pitcher in Mariners franchise history to do so.

But Hernandez isn’t the only one with a perfect game to his credit. In 2010, Dallas Braden of the Oakland Athletics and Roy Halladay of the Philadelphia Phillies both accomplished the same feat. In fact, there have been a total of 23 perfect games thrown in MLB history dating back to 1880.

While it’s an impressive achievement, it’s one that is becoming increasingly rarer in today’s game. Part of that has to do with the fact that teams are more specialized than they used to be. Pitchers don’t often stay in for nine innings anymore, and there are more relief pitchers available to come into the game if needed.

There’s also the matter of offense. Batters are stronger and more skilled than they were in previous years, making it harder for pitchers to retire them all.

Still, it’s an exciting moment for any fan when a perfect game is happening right before their eyes. And who knows? Maybe we’ll see another one soon enough.

What is a perfect game in baseball?

In baseball, a perfect game is when a pitcher pitches an entire game without giving up a single hit or walk, and no errors are committed by the defensive team. A perfect game is a rare feat, and only 23 have been pitched in the history of Major League Baseball (MLB). The last perfect game was thrown by Fernando Alvarez of the Chicago White Sox on July 23, 2009.

A brief history of perfect games in baseball

In baseball, a perfect game is defined as a game in which a pitcher or pitchers complete a game without allowing any opposing player to reach base. This feat is exceedingly rare, with only 23 perfect games having been recorded in the history of Major League Baseball (MLB).

The first perfect game in MLB history was pitched by Cy Young on May 5, 1904. Young, who played for the Boston Americans (now the Red Sox), retired all 27 batters he faced in a 4-0 victory over the Philadelphia Athletics.

The most recent perfect game was thrown by Felix Hernandez of the Seattle Mariners on August 15, 2012. Hernandez faced all 27 batters he faced in a 1-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.

There have been three perfect games thrown in postseason play. The first was by Don Larsen of the New York Yankees in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series. Larsen retired all 27 batters he faced in a 2-0 victory over the Brooklyn Dodgers. The second was by Dave Stewart of the Oakland Athletics in Game 1 of the 1990 World Series. Stewart retired all 27 batters he faced in a 4-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. The third and most recent was by Roy Halladay of the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 1 of the 2010 National League Division Series. Halladay retired all 27 batters he faced in a 4-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.

Only two pitchers have threw more than one perfect game in their careers. The first is Young, who also accomplished the feat on October 8, 1908. The second is Sandy Koufax, who did it on September 9, 1965 and again on May 11, 1972.

The most recent perfect game in baseball

The most recent perfect game in baseball was thrown by Félix Hernández of the Seattle Mariners on August 15, 2012. Hernández became the 23rd pitcher in MLB history to throw a perfect game, and the first since Roy Halladay did so in 2010.

Why perfect games are so rare

A perfect game in baseball is defined as a game in which no opposing player reaches base. This means that all 27 batters are retired in order. A pitcher who accomplishes this feat is said to have thrown a perfect game.

While perfect games are certainly considered a rare feat, they are not as rare as one might think. In fact, there have been 23 perfect games in Major League Baseball history. The first perfect game was thrown by Cy Young in 1904, and the most recent one was thrown by Felix Hernandez in 2012.

There are a number of reasons why perfect games are so rare. First, pitchers generally only throw around 100 pitches per game, so they need to be very efficient in order to retire all 27 batters. Second, any hits or walks given up will likely lead to runs being scored, making it more difficult to complete the game with a 0-0 score. Finally, even the best pitchers can have an off day, making it more difficult to throw a perfect game on any given day.

Despite the rarity of perfect games, they are still an exciting part of baseball history. Every time a pitcher takes the mound with a chance to make history, fans across the country tune in and root for the impossible.

Conclusion

It’s been more than eight years since the last perfect game in baseball, and there’s no telling when the next one will be. In the meantime, enjoy watching your favorite team and keep your eye on the pitcher—you never know when history will be made.