How Many Perfect Games in MLB History: A Complete Guide
Baseball fans often ask, “how many perfect games in MLB history have there been?” That’s a great question! A perfect game is one of the rarest accomplishments in baseball. It happens when a pitcher (or pitchers) faces 27 batters and retires them all without anyone reaching base. That means no hits, no walks, no errors and no hit batsmen — 27 batters, 27 outs.
In the long history of Major League Baseball (MLB), which goes back to the 1800s, this feat has only happened 24 times. That makes it very special. Throwing a perfect game takes skill, focus, and a bit of luck. Let’s explore this historic baseball achievement in a fun and easy way!
Table of Contents
What Is a Perfect Game in Baseball?
A perfect game means a pitcher stops every batter on the other team from reaching base. That includes no:
- hits
- walks
- hit by pitch
- fielding errors
- catcher’s interference
This is even rarer than a no‑hitter, because in a no‑hitter, players can still reach base without getting a hit. But in a perfect game, absolutely no one reaches base. Baseball fans around the world see this as one of the greatest single‑game achievements.
How Many Perfect Games in MLB History?
The answer is simple but impressive:
There have been 24 perfect games in MLB history.
These perfect games span over 150 years, from the first in 1880 to the most recent in 2023. Some came in regular season play, and one even happened in the World Series! Perfect games are so uncommon that you might never see one in person during a lifetime of watching baseball.
Why Perfect Games Are So Rare
Perfect games are incredibly hard to throw. A pitcher must perform perfectly under pressure for all nine innings. That means:
- No walks
- No hits
- No errors
- No batter reaching base for any reason
Only experienced pitchers with great control, strategy, and defense behind them can achieve this. That’s why perfect games are so loved by baseball fans.
List of Every Perfect Game in MLB History
Here is the full list of the 24 perfect games, with the pitcher, team, and the date:
| # | Pitcher | Team | Date |
| 1 | Lee Richmond | Worcester Ruby Legs | June 12, 1880 |
| 2 | John Ward | Providence Grays | June 17, 1880 |
| 3 | Cy Young | Boston Americans | May 5, 1904 |
| 4 | Addie Joss | Cleveland Naps | October 2, 1908 |
| 5 | Charlie Robertson | Chicago White Sox | April 30, 1922 |
| 6 | Don Larsen | NY Yankees (World Series) | Oct 8, 1956 |
| 7 | Jim Bunning | Philadelphia Phillies | June 21, 1964 |
| 8 | Sandy Koufax | LA Dodgers | Sept 9, 1965 |
| 9 | Catfish Hunter | Oakland A’s | May 8, 1968 |
| 10 | Len Barker | Cleveland Indians | May 15, 1981 |
| 11 | Mike Witt | California Angels | Sept 30, 1984 |
| 12 | Tom Browning | Cincinnati Reds | Sept 16, 1988 |
| 13 | Dennis Martinez | Montreal Expos | July 28, 1991 |
| 14 | Kenny Rogers | Texas Rangers | July 28, 1994 |
| 15 | David Wells | NY Yankees | May 17, 1998 |
| 16 | David Cone | NY Yankees | July 18, 1999 |
| 17 | Randy Johnson | Arizona Diamondbacks | May 18, 2004 |
| 18 | Mark Buehrle | Chicago White Sox | July 23, 2009 |
| 19 | Dallas Braden | Oakland A’s | May 9, 2010 |
| 20 | Roy Halladay | Phillies | May 29, 2010 |
| 21 | Philip Humber | Chicago White Sox | April 21, 2012 |
| 22 | Matt Cain | SF Giants | June 13, 2012 |
| 23 | Félix Hernández | Seattle Mariners | August 15, 2012 |
| 24 | Domingo Germán | NY Yankees | June 28, 2023 |
Yep — a true list of perfect pitching legends!
Interesting Perfect Game Highlights
Here are some fun facts about these games:
World Series Perfect Game
Don Larsen threw the only perfect game in World Series history in 1956.
Most Recent Perfect Game
The most recent perfect game was thrown by Domingo Germán of the New York Yankees in 2023.
Hall of Famers on the List
Many pitchers who threw perfect games went on to the Baseball Hall of Fame — like Cy Young and Sandy Koufax.
Fun Baseball Terms You Should Know
Here are simple meanings of related terms:
- No‑hitter: A game with no hits allowed (but players might reach base).
- Perfect game: No one reaches base at all — the hardest feat.
- Strikeout: When a batter misses the ball three times and is out.
- Walk: A batter gets to first base after four balls.
Perfect games mean no walks, no hits, no one makes it on base!
FAQs About Perfect Games in MLB History
How many perfect games in MLB history are there?
There have been 24 perfect games thrown in Major League Baseball history.
Who threw the first perfect game in MLB history?
The first was by Lee Richmond on June 12, 1880.
Who is the only pitcher with a perfect game in the World Series?
That honor goes to Don Larsen.
Has any pitcher thrown more than one perfect game?
No. Every perfect game was thrown by a different pitcher.
Which teams have perfect games?
Many teams have had pitchers throw perfect games — but the Yankees have the most with four.
When was the most recent perfect game?
The latest perfect game was thrown by Domingo Germán in June 2023.
Conclusion: The Magic of Perfect Games
Answering “how many perfect games in MLB history” shows how rare and thrilling this achievement really is. Only 24 perfect games have ever happened in over 150 years of baseball. Every one of them tells a unique story of skill, focus, and great baseball play.
