MLB history: Which teams have thrown the most perfect games?
Since the start of the 1880 season, only 23 perfect games have been tossed in the history of Major League Baseball. A perfect game is defined by a complete game pitched without a runner reaching base via a hit, walk, or error.
It is one of the rarest accomplishments in all of Major League Baseball, and a reason why a perfect game hasn’t been logged since the 2012 season.
While rare, some franchises, however, have seen it happen more than once in their history. In fact, there are two franchises that have each had three perfect games thrown by a pitcher.
The Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees have each thrown three perfect games, the most in MLB history
A brief history of perfect games thrown by the New York Yankees
Let’s start with the Yankees, who also hold the distinction of being the only franchise to have a perfect game thrown during a World Series. Don Larsen’s gem in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series will forever be a part of not only MLB history, but also World Series lore as well.
You can read more about Larsen’s perfect game, thrown on October 8, 1956, here.
It would be a little less than 42 years before another Yankees hurler would throw a perfect game. David Wells would accomplish the feat on May 17, 1998, in a 4-0 victory at Yankee Stadium over the Minnesota Twins.
The next season, David Cone would add his name to the record book with the first-ever perfect game thrown during interleague play as he handcuffed the Montreal Expos during a 6-0 win on July 18, 1999.
A brief history of perfect games thrown by the Chicago White Sox
The first-ever perfect game by a White Sox hurler came on April 30, 1922, when Charlie Robertson, in the third start of his eight-year MLB career, tossed a 2-0 decision over the Detroit Tigers. Robertson’s surprise gem was the first in MLB since 1908 and would be the last perfect game until Larsen threw his in the 1956 World Series.
It would be the 21st century before another White Sox pitcher would throw a perfect game. That came courtesy of Mark Buehrle in a 5-0 win over the Tampa Bay Rays (a team that holds a unique place in MLB perfect game history) on July 23, 2009.
Finally, taking the mound in Seattle against the Mariners on April 21, 2012, Philip Humber tossed a 4-0 perfect game. It would be the first of three perfect games thrown during the 2012 campaign.
Next. What was the highest-scoring game in MLB history?. dark
If you’re curious to know more about MLB’s perfect games, check out these interesting facts about the 23 perfect games.