There have been 24 official perfect games in modern Major League history: 21 in the regular season and 3 in the postseason. A perfect game is defined as 27 up, 27 down with no batter reaching base by any means (hit, walk, hit-by-pitch, error, etc.).
Perfect games are among the rarest and most remarkable feats in the history of Major League Baseball (MLB). Below is a detailed look at each perfect game, the pitcher, the context for each, and some notable trivia about these legendary performances.
What Is a Perfect Game in MLB?
A perfect game means the pitcher retires all 27 batters in a nine-inning contest, with no one reaching base for any reason, which is truly a “perfect” performance.
All 24 Perfect Games in Major League Baseball History
Date
Pitcher
Team
Opponent
Score
Game Description
June 12, 1880
Lee Richmond
Worcester Ruby Legs
Cleveland Blues
1–0
First official perfect game in MLB history; took place just days before the second.
June 17, 1880
John Ward
Providence Grays
Buffalo Bisons
5–0
Historic feat only five days after the first; Ward also played shortstop later in his career.
May 5, 1904
Cy Young
Boston Americans
Philadelphia Athletics
3–0
Legendary Hall of Famer with the third perfect game, cementing his legacy.
Oct 2, 1908
Addie Joss
Cleveland Naps
Chicago White Sox
1–0
Joss required only 74 pitches, lowest in perfect game history.
Apr 30, 1922
Charlie Robertson
Chicago White Sox
Detroit Tigers
2–0
Unheralded pitcher threw a gem; Tigers disputed the ball’s condition.
Oct 8, 1956
Don Larsen
New York Yankees
Brooklyn Dodgers
2–0
The only perfect game in World Series history.
June 21, 1964
Jim Bunning
Philadelphia Phillies
New York Mets
6–0
Bunning’s Father’s Day perfect game was the first in modern NL history.
Sep 9, 1965
Sandy Koufax
Los Angeles Dodgers
Chicago Cubs
1–0
Hall of Famer threw his fourth career no-hitter as a perfect game.
May 8, 1968
Catfish Hunter
Oakland Athletics
Minnesota Twins
4–0
Hunter was just 22 years old, also drove in three runs.
May 15, 1981
Len Barker
Cleveland Indians
Toronto Blue Jays
3–0
Only perfect game in Indians franchise history.
Sep 30, 1984
Mike Witt
California Angels
Texas Rangers
1–0
Threw perfect game on the last day of the season.
Sep 16, 1988
Tom Browning
Cincinnati Reds
Los Angeles Dodgers
1–0
Browning came just one walk shy of another perfect game in 1989.
July 28, 1991
Dennis Martínez
Montreal Expos
Los Angeles Dodgers
2–0
First perfect game by a pitcher born outside the U.S..
July 28, 1994
Kenny Rogers
Texas Rangers
California Angels
4–0
Struck out eight batters in Arlington.
May 17, 1998
David Wells
New York Yankees
Minnesota Twins
4–0
Wells claimed he was hungover; threw 11 strikeouts.
July 18, 1999
David Cone
New York Yankees
Montreal Expos
6–0
Occurred on “Yogi Berra Day” at Yankee Stadium.
May 18, 2004
Randy Johnson
Arizona Diamondbacks
Atlanta Braves
2–0
Oldest pitcher (age 40) with a perfect game.
July 23, 2009
Mark Buehrle
Chicago White Sox
Tampa Bay Rays
5–0
Famous for Dewayne Wise’s leaping catch in the ninth.
May 9, 2010
Dallas Braden
Oakland Athletics
Tampa Bay Rays
4–0
Braden pitched on Mother’s Day with his grandmother in attendance.
May 29, 2010
Roy Halladay
Philadelphia Phillies
Florida Marlins
1–0
Halladay won the Cy Young that year; his second no-hitter in 2010.
Apr 21, 2012
Philip Humber
Chicago White Sox
Seattle Mariners
4–0
Humber struck out the final batter on a disputed check swing.
June 13, 2012
Matt Cain
San Francisco Giants
Houston Astros
10–0
Cain tied the record for most strikeouts (14) in a perfect game.
Aug 15, 2012
Félix Hernández
Seattle Mariners
Tampa Bay Rays
1–0
“King Felix” marked the Mariners’ first perfect game.
June 28, 2023
Domingo Germán
New York Yankees
Oakland Athletics
11–0
First Dominican-born pitcher to throw a perfect game; highest-scoring perfect game in MLB history.
Game Highlights and Notable Stories
– First Ever: Lee Richmond (1880)
Richmond’s perfect game came just five days before the second in history, in an era with vastly different rules and conditions.
– Don Larsen’s World Series Classic (1956)
The most famous perfect game, Larsen’s accomplishment in the World Series remains unmatched, with no other postseason perfect games since.
– Catfish Hunter and Offensive Prowess (1968)
Hunter not only pitched a perfect game but also drove in three of the team’s runs, a rare feat.
– Randy Johnson’s Age-Defying Performance (2004)
At 40 years old, Johnson became the oldest pitcher to throw a perfect game, demonstrating elite stamina and skill.
– 2012: Year of the Perfect Game
Three perfect games were recorded in 2012: Humber, Cain, and Hernández, matching 1880 for the most in a single season.
– Domingo Germán’s Milestone (2023)
Germán set a new mark for the highest-scoring perfect game (Yankees won 11-0), and was the fourth Yankee to achieve the feat, breaking their tie with the White Sox for most by a franchise.
Franchise Perfect Game Leaders
Franchise
Perfect Games
New York Yankees
4
Chicago White Sox
3
Cleveland Indians
2
Oakland Athletics
2
Philadelphia Phillies
2
Others (One Each)
11
Conclusion
Perfect games in MLB history are rare and legendary, with only 24 ever accomplished in over 238,500 league games. Every perfect game carries its own unique story of dominance, pressure, and, often, a touch of baseball magic. With evolving statistical analysis and pitching technologies, the next perfect game could be just around the corner, but each one remains an enduring testament to pitching excellence.