4. Buehrle’s Perfect Game/The Catch
On July 23, 2009, Mark Buehrle would further ingrain himself into U.S. Cellular Field history as he threw his second career no-hitter and the first perfect game in U.S. Cellular Field history.
Buehrle would lead the White Sox to a victory over the Tampa Bay Rays and become the first pitcher at the time to throw a perfect game since Randy Johnson did it in May of 2004 versus the Atlanta Braves. It was just the second perfect game in White Sox history, and the 17th no-hitter in franchise history as well.
Buehrle would get some help from former White Sox outfielder Dewayne Wise as he climbed the wall to make a marvelous game saving catch late in the game, which would go on to be known as “The Catch” on the south side of Chicago.
During Buehrle’s next start on July 29, 2009, the southpaw tossed five and 2/3 scoreless innings to begin the game, giving him the Major League Baseball record for consecutive batters retired at 41 in a row, with number 41 being former teammate Joe Crede.
Illinois Governor Pat Quinn would name July 30, 2009 “Mark Buehrle Day” across the State of Illinois, and Buehrle even received a congratulatory phone call from President Barack Obama on the day of the perfect game.