Few achievements in professional sports carry the mystique and rarity of the perfect game in Major League Baseball (MLB). It is the ultimate pitching performance—flawless, efficient, and historically unforgettable. Over more than a century of professional baseball, the perfect game has remained one of the most difficult feats to accomplish, serving as a benchmark of pitching excellence and precision.
TLDR: A total of 24 perfect games have been recorded in Major League Baseball history since 1876, with 23 occurring in the modern era. A perfect game requires a pitcher to retire all 27 batters faced in a nine-inning game without allowing a single baserunner. The rarity of the feat underscores its difficulty, as only a handful of pitchers have achieved it across tens of thousands of MLB games. It represents the pinnacle of pitching performance and remains one of baseball’s most revered accomplishments.
What Is a Perfect Game?
Before examining how many perfect games have occurred, it is essential to understand precisely what qualifies as one. In MLB, a perfect game is defined as a game in which:
- The pitcher (or combination of pitchers) faces 27 batters in a standard nine-inning game.
- No batter reaches base by any means.
- No hits, walks, hit-by-pitches, errors, or catcher’s interference occur.
In other words, every batter makes an out. No exceptions. Unlike a no-hitter—where pitchers may allow walks or errors—a perfect game allows absolutely no offensive success from the opposing team.
To put this in perspective, MLB teams play 2,430 regular-season games each year. Over more than a century, that amounts to well over 200,000 games. Yet perfect games have occurred only 24 times.
Total Perfect Games in MLB History
As of the 2025 MLB season, there have been 24 officially recognized perfect games in Major League Baseball history.
However, there is an important distinction:
- 23 perfect games have occurred in the modern era (since 1901).
- 1 perfect game was thrown in 1880 by Lee Richmond of the Worcester Ruby Legs.
MLB officially recognizes Richmond’s 1880 performance as the first perfect game in league history.
Chronological List of Perfect Games
Here is the complete list of MLB perfect games and the pitchers who achieved them:
- Lee Richmond – June 12, 1880
- John Montgomery Ward – June 17, 1880
- Cy Young – May 5, 1904
- Addie Joss – October 2, 1908
- Charlie Robertson – April 30, 1922
- Don Larsen – October 8, 1956 (World Series)
- Jim Bunning – June 21, 1964
- Sandy Koufax – September 9, 1965
- Catfish Hunter – May 8, 1968
- Len Barker – May 15, 1981
- Mike Witt – September 30, 1984
- Tom Browning – September 16, 1988
- Dennis Martínez – July 28, 1991
- Kenny Rogers – July 28, 1994
- David Wells – May 17, 1998
- David Cone – July 18, 1999
- Randy Johnson – May 18, 2004
- Mark Buehrle – July 23, 2009
- Dallas Braden – May 9, 2010
- Roy Halladay – May 29, 2010
- Philip Humber – April 21, 2012
- Matt Cain – June 13, 2012
- Félix Hernández – August 15, 2012
- Domingo Germán – June 28, 2023
The listing reveals an interesting pattern: perfect games often occur in clusters. For example, three occurred in 2012 alone.
The Only Postseason Perfect Game
One perfect game stands apart from all the others: Don Larsen’s 1956 World Series performance. On October 8, 1956, pitching for the New York Yankees against the Brooklyn Dodgers, Larsen delivered the only perfect game ever thrown in postseason play.
Image not found in postmetaUnder the immense pressure of the World Series, Larsen retired all 27 batters, cementing his legacy forever. While several postseason no-hitters have occurred, no other pitcher has matched this flawless October achievement.
Why Are Perfect Games So Rare?
Considering the number of games played in MLB history, 24 total perfect games illustrate extreme rarity. Several factors explain why:
1. The Skill Level of MLB Hitters
Major League hitters represent the elite of professional baseball. Even average hitters are capable of capitalizing on small mistakes. Facing 27 consecutive batters without allowing any form of baserunner requires exceptional control and precision.
2. Defensive Support
A perfect game depends not only on pitching excellence but also flawless defensive execution. A single error—whether a misplayed ground ball or dropped fly ball—ends the bid immediately.
3. Mental Pressure
As the innings progress, psychological intensity mounts. Pitchers are acutely aware of what is at stake. Managing adrenaline and maintaining focus through the ninth inning is extraordinarily difficult.
4. Modern Pitch Counts
In today’s era of pitch management and bullpen specialization, starters are often removed before completing nine innings. This may reduce opportunities for future perfect games.
Perfect Games by Era
Analyzing perfect games across baseball eras offers additional insight:
- Pre-1920 (Dead Ball Era): 4 perfect games
- 1920–1969: 5 perfect games
- 1970–1999: 7 perfect games
- 2000–Present: 8 perfect games
Interestingly, contrary to expectations, perfect games have not disappeared in modern baseball. In fact, there was a noticeable surge between 2009 and 2012.
Near Misses and Controversies
Baseball history also includes several famous near-perfect games:
- Armando Galarraga (2010) lost a perfect game due to an incorrect umpire call at first base.
- Max Scherzer (2015) lost his perfect game with two outs in the ninth inning after a hit-by-pitch.
- Harvey Haddix (1959) pitched 12 perfect innings but lost in the 13th under unique circumstances.
These near-misses highlight how razor-thin the margin is between perfection and heartbreak.
Comparison: Perfect Games vs. No-Hitters
To further understand rarity, consider the difference between perfect games and no-hitters.
| Category | Perfect Game | No-Hitter |
|---|---|---|
| Total in MLB History | 24 | Over 320 |
| Walks Allowed? | No | Yes |
| Errors Allowed? | No baserunners at all | Errors permitted |
| Rarity | Extremely rare | Rare but more common |
The dramatic numerical difference underscores the extraordinary nature of a perfect game. While no-hitters are celebrated achievements, they occur far more frequently.
Teams Most Associated with Perfect Games
Some franchises appear repeatedly in perfect game history:
- New York Yankees: 4 perfect games (including Larsen and Germán)
- Chicago White Sox: 3 perfect games
- Oakland Athletics: Multiple perfect game pitchers during franchise history
The Yankees, as one of baseball’s oldest and most successful franchises, have played a central role in several historic pitching performances.
Will We See More Perfect Games?
Predicting future perfect games is difficult. On one hand, advancements in analytics and pitcher training produce more refined, specialized pitchers. On the other hand, increased pitch counts and bullpen interventions limit starters’ opportunities to complete games.
Additionally, today’s hitters emphasize power and launch angle, which can result in more strikeouts—but also more home runs. This volatile offensive environment creates both opportunity and risk for pitchers.
While perfect games remain possible, their inherent difficulty ensures they will continue to be exceptionally rare.
The Legacy of the Perfect Game
Ultimately, perfect games endure not because of their frequency, but because of their scarcity. Each one becomes a permanent chapter in baseball history. Fans remember where they were when Félix Hernández completed his masterpiece in Seattle. They recount Roy Halladay’s precision in 2010. They revisit Don Larsen’s calm dominance under World Series pressure.
In a sport defined by failure—where even Hall of Fame hitters fail most of the time—a perfect game represents total control. It is mathematical precision applied to athletic performance: 27 up, 27 down.
Over nearly 150 years of Major League Baseball, only 24 pitchers have completed that sequence. Given the vast number of games played, that statistic alone illustrates its rarity. More than a pitching performance, a perfect game is a historical milestone, a benchmark of excellence, and one of the purest demonstrations of competitive mastery in professional sports.
As long as baseball endures, the perfect game will remain one of its most sacred achievements—difficult to attain, impossible to forget, and forever respected.