When was the last perfect game thrown? This question often echoes through the corridors of baseball fans and historians alike. A perfect game is one of the rarest achievements in the sport, where a pitcher retires all 27 batters they face in a single game without allowing a single hit, walk, or error. The last perfect game thrown in Major League Baseball (MLB) was on July 2, 2012, when Felix Hernandez of the Seattle Mariners accomplished this extraordinary feat against the Tampa Bay Rays.
The significance of a perfect game cannot be overstated. It is a testament to a pitcher’s skill, concentration, and the support of their team. Felix Hernandez’s perfect game was not only a personal milestone but also a highlight in the history of the Mariners, who had been waiting for such a moment since their inception in 1977. The game was a showcase of Hernandez’s dominance, as he struck out 12 batters and allowed only one base runner, a fielder’s choice, to reach first base.
The last perfect game before Hernandez’s achievement was thrown by Dallas Braden of the Oakland Athletics on May 9, 2010, against the Tampa Bay Rays. Braden’s perfect game was equally memorable, as he became the first left-handed pitcher to throw a perfect game in the modern era. His performance was a blend of control and velocity, as he retired all 27 batters on just 112 pitches.
The rarity of perfect games in the history of baseball is a testament to the high level of competition and the numerous variables that can affect a game. Since the first perfect game was thrown by Cy Young in 1904, there have only been 23 perfect games in MLB history. This includes the two thrown by Hernandez, one by Braden, and the rest by legendary pitchers such as Don Larsen, Sandy Koufax, and Jim Bunning.
The last perfect game has become a focal point for discussions about pitching and the evolution of the game. Some argue that the introduction of specialized relief pitchers and the increased use of analytics have made it more difficult for pitchers to throw perfect games. Others believe that the game’s evolution has simply made it more challenging for pitchers to maintain the level of control required for such an achievement.
In conclusion, the last perfect game thrown in MLB was by Felix Hernandez on July 2, 2012, against the Tampa Bay Rays. This rare and remarkable achievement has left an indelible mark on the sport and will continue to be a topic of fascination for baseball enthusiasts for generations to come. When was the last perfect game thrown? The answer, in this case, is a testament to the enduring magic of baseball and the extraordinary talents of its pitchers.
