Oakland A’s Catfish Hunter Pitches Perfect Game

One of the premier pitchers in the 1970’s, Catfish Hunter was a star for the Oakland A’s and New York Yankees. He also pitched the first regular season perfect game in the American League in 46 years on this day in 1968.

Catfish Hunter was one of the key pitchers for the Oakland A’s during their run of dominance in the early part of the 1970’s. A pitcher who just managed to win, he helped both the A’s and the New York Yankees dominate baseball during the decade, making the postseason seven times. Despite retiring at age 33, his legend was made.

The legend that was Hunter began on this day in 1968. Having already made two All-Star Games, Hunter, at age 22, pitched the first regular season perfect game in the American League since Charlie Robertson fired his perfecto 46 years prior.

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Facing off against the Twins, Hunter struck out eleven batters, striking out the side in the sixth. Harmon Killebrew and Bruce Look struck out all three times at bat that day, as Hunter was at the top of his game. The game had been a pitcher’s duel with Dave Boswell until the A’s scratched a run across in the seventh, with Rick Monday scoring on Hunter’s bunt single to the mound. A bases loaded walk and a two run single by Hunter in the eighth provided the final margin in the A’s 4-0 victory.

As good as Hunter was in this outing, his next outing was not nearly the same. Facing the Twins once more, this time in Minnesota, he allowed eight runs on eight hits and five walks, including four home runs, in six innings. However, the A’s put up 13 runs on Minnesota pitching, allowing Hunter to pick up the win. That outing would be the worst outing following a perfect game until Philip Hunter took the “honor” away from Hunter in 2012.

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Not only did Catfish Hunter throw the ninth perfect game in major league history on this day, he helped himself with his bat, getting three hits and driving in three runs. Not only was he brilliant on the mound, but Hunter had perhaps the best all around day of a pitcher in baseball history.