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Baseball History: Angel Macias Throws Perfect Game in LLWS

By David Hill |
SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, PA - AUGUST 28: Baseballs sit on a ledge during the first inning of the Little League World Series Championship Game between the Mid-Atlantic Team from New York and the Asia-Pacific team from South Korea at Lamade Stadium on August 28, 2016 in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, PA - AUGUST 28: Baseballs sit on a ledge during the first inning of the Little League World Series Championship Game between the Mid-Atlantic Team from New York and the Asia-Pacific team from South Korea at Lamade Stadium on August 28, 2016 in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

With pitch counts in Little League, it is safe to say that we will never see another performance like the one that Angel Macias had on this day in 1957. He became the only pitcher in baseball history to throw a perfect game in the championship game of the Little League World Series.

There are certain things that will never happen again in baseball history. Given the way the game has changed over the years, such feats as Old Hoss Radbourn winning 59 games, or Leon Cadore and Joe Oeschger each throwing a 26 inning complete game, will never be equaled. On this day in 1957, Angel Macias, a 12 year old from Monterrey, Mexico, threw a perfect game in the championship game of the Little League World Series.

The fact that the Monterrey team was even in the Little League World Series was a bit of a surprise. They were the first team from outside the United States or Canada to qualify. Macias had also become a fairly well known player at the time, as he was a rarity on the mound. Able to throw with both arms, he threw left handed at times during their run to the championship game.

The Monterrey team also had financial issues. They had run out of money three days into their stay, and were allowed to remain in the United States until they were eliminated. As it turned out, they would more than take advantage of the offer, staying until the finals.

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Naturally, Monterrey threw their star, Macias, in that championship game. Throwing right handed, the 12 year old was more than up to the challenge, as he shut down the La Mesa, California squad, earning a 4-0 victory, striking out 11 of the 18 batters he faced.

Macias had two close calls on his way to perfection. The leadoff hitter, Lew Riley, hit his first pitch down the right field line, foul by an inch. Then, Macias went to a 3-0 count against the last batter he faced, Byron Haggard. He battled back to get two strikes, then fired a curve to strike Haggard out swinging. With that pitch, Monterrey became the first team outside the United States to win the Little League World Series, and Macias fired the only perfect game in a championship match.

Macias later spent two years in the Angels system as an outfielder. He did not hit well as a teenager, and headed back to the Mexican Leagues. He would go on to have a 13 year career in Mexico, with his four seasons spent with his hometown Monterrey Sultanes before retiring in 1974.

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In an era of pitch counts, Angel Macias may have accomplished something that will not be equaled in baseball history. On this day in 1957, he fired the first, and thus far, only, perfect game in a championship match in the Little League World Series.

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