New York Yankees pitcher Domingo Germán accomplished a remarkable feat on Wednesday night, throwing baseball’s first perfect game since 2012. He struck out all 27 batters he faced for the Oakland A’s, carving his name in MLB history.
Domingo Germán, a pitcher for the New York Yankees, made headlines by throwing the first perfect game in Major League Baseball since 2012. The accomplishment came as he flawlessly retired all 27 Oakland A’s batters he faced.
Germán’s Perfect Game Makes History in MLB
Germán’s perfect game, the 24th in baseball history, marks a significant moment for the sport. The latest perfect game in Major League Baseball was played in 2012, when Felix Hernandez of the Seattle Mariners defeated the Tampa Bay Rays.
In their long history, the New York Yankees have already recorded four perfect games. Domingo Germán joins David Cone (1999), David Wells (1998), and Don Larsen (1956), who tossed the only perfect game in World Series history.
Germán’s effort against the A’s was exceptional, despite entering the game with less-than-stellar statistics. He delivered a strong outing, shutting out the opposition club in an 11-0 victory with nine strikeouts with only 99 pitches.
Revealing a personal touch to his achievement, Germán shared that he played with a heavy heart. He dedicated the game to his recently deceased uncle, saying that his presence on the mound inspired his determination to succeed.
Germán’s perfect game also marked the first no-hitter of the 2023 season. This date on the calendar for the season’s initial no-hitter is the latest since July 2, 2013, when the Cincinnati Reds’ Homer Bailey achieved the feat against the San Francisco Giants.
More than a 100 years without suffering a perfect game
Surprisingly, the Oakland A’s had not received a perfect game since 1904, when Cy Young, the all-time wins leader, tossed one against the Philadelphia Athletics, who were known as the Philadelphia A’s at the time. This is the Yankees’ 13th no-hitter, with Corey Kluber’s achievement in 2021 being the most recent.
The Yankees’ catcher, Kyle Higashioka, expressed joy for Germán’s achievement, acknowledging the difficulties he had faced in recent starts. Higashioka believed that Germán had the potential to accomplish something extraordinary, and witnessing it all come together was nothing short of amazing.
All the perfect games in MLB’s history
In its history, the league has seen 24 perfect games. Below is a list of all the pitchers who have pitched a perfect game:
- Lee Richmond (Worcester Ruby Legs): June 12, 1880 vs. Cleveland Blues
- John Montgomery Ward (Providence Grays): June 17, 1880 vs. Buffalo Bisons
- Cy Young (Boston Red Sox): May 5, 1904 vs. Philadelphia Athletics
- Addie Joss (Cleveland Naps): October 2, 1908 vs. Chicago White Sox
- Charlie Robertson (Chicago White Sox): April 30, 1922 vs. Detroit Tigers
- Don Larsen (New York Yankees): October 8, 1956 vs. Brooklyn Dodgers (World Series)
- Jim Bunning (Philadelphia Phillies): June 21, 1964 vs. New York Mets
- Sandy Koufax (Los Angeles Dodgers): September 9, 1965 vs. Chicago Cubs
- Catfish Hunter (Oakland Athletics): May 8, 1968 vs. Minnesota Twins
- Len Barker (Cleveland Indians): May 15, 1981 vs. Toronto Blue Jays
- Mike Witt (California Angels): September 30, 1984 vs. Texas Rangers
- Tom Browning (Cincinnati Reds): September 16, 1988 vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
- Dennis Martínez (Montreal Expos): July 28, 1991 vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
- Kenny Rogers (Texas Rangers): July 28, 1994 vs. California Angels
- David Wells (New York Yankees): May 17, 1998 vs. Minnesota Twins
- David Cone (New York Yankees): July 18, 1999 vs. Montreal Expos
- Randy Johnson (Arizona Diamondbacks): May 18, 2004 vs. Atlanta Braves
- Mark Buehrle (Chicago White Sox): July 23, 2009 vs. Tampa Bay Rays
- Dallas Braden (Oakland Athletics): May 9, 2010 vs. Tampa Bay Rays
- Roy Halladay (Philadelphia Phillies): May 29, 2010 vs. Florida Marlins
- Philip Humber (Chicago White Sox): April 21, 2012 vs. Seattle Mariners
- Matt Cain (San Francisco Giants): June 13, 2012 vs. Houston Astros
- Félix Hernández (Seattle Mariners): August 15, 2012 vs. Tampa Bay Rays
- Domingo Germán (New York Yankees): June 28, 2023 vs. Oakland Athletics
