Ranking MLB's perfect games: 15-11
Over the next week, theScore is ranking the 23 official perfect games in MLB history based on opposing lineup strength, the importance of the game, and the pitcher's performance. Today, we continue with Nos. 15-11.
23-21 | 20-16 | 15-11 | 10-6 | 5-1
15. Charlie Robertson, 1922
Date: April 30, 1922
Score: Chicago White Sox 2, Detroit Tigers 0
Site: Navin Field
Pitches: 90
Game Score: 93
Robertson is likely the most unknown and least accomplished member of the perfect game club. He did it in just his fourth major-league start, but finished his brief career with a 4.44 ERA.
Because there was no video to study in 1922, Robertson presented a challenge to a potent Tigers lineup that posted the AL's second-best offense and featured two future Hall of Famers (Ty Cobb and Harry Heilmann). Robertson's brilliant stuff rattled the Tigers, who repeatedly accused him of doctoring the baseball. Cobb, Detroit's player-manager, had umpires check Robertson's uniform and even confiscated baseballs to send to the league office, though no evidence of wrongdoing was discovered.
While Cobb complained, Robertson kept rolling. White Sox left fielder Johnny Mostil reached into the roped-off overflow crowd standing on the outfield grass to steal a hit in the second inning, and that was the closest Detroit got. Robertson struck out six and allowed only six balls out of the infield en route to perfection. He was the first pitcher to throw a perfecto on the road.
Arm issues ended Robertson's career within six years of his feat, and he retired with just 6.2 WAR to his name, per Baseball-Reference. That he was able to hold down a Tigers team that sported a .373 on-base percentage for one day is nothing short of remarkable.
14. Addie Joss, 1908
Date: Oct. 2, 1908
Score: Cleveland Naps 1, Chicago White Sox 0
Site: League Park
Pitches: 74
Game Score: 90
With six games to go in the 1908 season, Joss' Naps were in a three-way battle for the AL pennant with the Tigers and White Sox, sitting a half-game back of Detroit and 1.5 games ahead of Chicago. So Joss - who led the majors in ERA and WHIP - put the Naps on his back and outdueled White Sox ace (and fellow Cooperstown inductee) Ed Walsh with a perfect performance.
The closest call came on the 27th batter, when pinch-hitter John Anderson hit a long fly ball that went foul by inches before grounding out to end it on the next pitch. Aside from that, the White Sox had no answer for Joss, who needed little help from his defense despite notching only three strikeouts. His 74 pitches represent the lowest known pitch count in a perfect game.
Joss effectively eliminated the White Sox from the pennant race, but it was only momentary joy for the Naps, as Detroit also won that afternoon. The Tigers clinched a few days later, holding off the Naps by a half-game.
Though the Naps ultimately fell short, Joss' perfecto with his team's season on the line against a club they were fighting with for the pennant is probably the most clutch ever thrown in the regular season.
13. Philip Humber, 2012
Date: April, 21, 2012
Score: Chicago White Sox 4, Seattle Mariners 0
Site: Safeco Field
Pitches: 96 (67 strikes)
Game Score: 96
You'd likely be forgiven if you forgot about Humber's perfect game. In fact, the most memorable part of it is likely how unmemorable it is. Of the list of 23 names, he might be the most anonymous.
But, if you look closer, Humber's perfecto was no accident. The right-hander was up against a pretty potent Mariners lineup, which included Ichiro Suzuki, who led the league in hits in seven different seasons. Even further, though, Humber pulled the feat off on a mere 96 pitches. When you consider the fact every single perfect game of this millennium has taken at least 109 pitches, that's a remarkable feather in Humber's cap.
He may have had an underwhelming career that wound up ending with an inauspicious stint in the KBO, but, for one day, Humber was the best pitcher in baseball. And, in a sport that appeals to the everyman, that's perfection.
12. Dallas Braden, 2010
Date: May 9, 2010
Score: Oakland Athletics 4, Tampa Bay Rays 0
Site: Oakland Coliseum
Pitches: 109 (77 strikes)
Game Score: 93
The 19th perfect game in baseball history came in 2010 when unsuspecting southpaw Dallas Braden retired all 27 Tampa Bay Rays hitters in front of his home crowd at Oakland Coliseum.
Braden's gem was full of interesting side stories and deservingly sits 12th on our list.
He recently admitted to pitching the game while hungover, and his batterymate Landon Powell was called up from the minor leagues 18 days before the outing.
However, the most engaging of the side stories was that his grandmother was in attendance for the outing that took place on Mother's Day. Braden was raised by her after his mother died of cancer while he was in high school.
Braden was also just 26 years old when he completed the feat, making him the youngest pitcher to throw a perfect game since Mike Witt in 1984.
11. David Wells, 1998
Date: May 17, 1998
Score: New York Yankees 4, Minnesota Twins 0
Site: Yankee Stadium
Pitches: 120 (79 strikes)
Game Score: 98
Sticking with the theme of pitchers who threw a perfect game while hungover, Wells said he was out partying with Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers until 5:30 a.m. on the day of his perfecto. Regardless, he became only the 15th hurler to accomplish the feat and just the second in New York's illustrious history. Up until that point, Don Larsen's perfect game in the 1956 World Series was the only one recorded by a pitcher dawning Yankee pinstripes.
The lack of sleep clearly didn't faze Boomer, as the burly left-hander whiffed 11 Twins in front of a raucous crowd of almost 50,000 at Yankee Stadium. His effort tied the Yankees with the Cleveland Indians for most perfect games by an MLB franchise at the time.
The win also gave New York its 28th victory over the first 37 games to begin the season, dropping Minnesota to six games under .500.