A perfect game in baseball is defined as a game in which a pitcher (or combination of pitchers) faces and retires every batter they face without allowing any baserunners. Because every batter is retired by a strikeout or a batted ball that results in an out, a perfect game can have anywhere from 0 to the maximum number of strikeouts possible in a nine-inning game, but most often it features a high number of strikeouts.
What Is a Perfect Game?
A perfect game is a rare and extraordinary achievement in Major League Baseball (MLB). To complete a perfect game, a pitcher must retire all 27 batters faced over nine innings without allowing any to reach base. This means no hits, no walks, no hit-by-pitches, and no errors that could allow a batter to reach base. The feat is so challenging that it has been accomplished only 23 times in MLB history as of October 2023.
Number of Strikeouts in a Perfect Game
The number of strikeouts in a perfect game varies depending on the pitcher’s style and game circumstances. Because the definition of a perfect game involves retiring every batter without anyone reaching base, every batter who makes an out could be via a strikeout, a groundout, or a flyout. Theoretically, the maximum number of strikeouts in a perfect game is 27, which would mean every batter was retired via strikeout. Such a game has never occurred in MLB history.
In reality, most perfect games feature a mix of strikeouts and contact outs. For example, the most strikeouts recorded in a perfect game is 14, achieved by several pitchers, including Nolan Ryan, who struck out 14 batters in his perfect game on May 1, 1991, for the Texas Rangers against the Toronto Blue Jays. Nolan Ryan’s perfect game remains notable not only because of the number of strikeouts but also because of his dominance and the rarity of perfect games with such a high strikeout total.
Other perfect games have featured fewer strikeouts. For instance, Cy Young’s perfect game in 1904 featured 8 strikeouts, and Felix Hernandez’s perfect game in 2012 included 12 strikeouts. The number of strikeouts in perfect games is often reflective of the pitcher’s style—power pitchers tend to rack up more strikeouts, while control pitchers may rely more on inducing contact for outs.
Common Misconceptions About Strikeouts and Perfect Games
A common misconception is that a perfect game must always have the maximum number of strikeouts—27. In reality, perfect games often involve a combination of strikeouts and contact outs. While strikeouts are generally seen as more dominant and impressive, a perfect game is defined solely by the absence of any baserunners, regardless of how the outs are achieved.
Another misconception is that a perfect game is always a blowout or a game dominated solely by strikeouts. In fact, many perfect games are tight, low-scoring affairs, with the pitcher inducing weak contact or striking out key batters at crucial moments. The key is the flawless execution that prevents any batter from reaching base, whether via strikeout or contact.
Historical Examples and Notable Cases
Some of the most famous perfect games in MLB history include:
- Cy Young (June 30, 1904): The first perfect game in MLB history, pitched by Cy Young for the Boston Americans (now Red Sox) against the Philadelphia Athletics. It featured 8 strikeouts and was a pioneering feat that set the standard for perfection.
- Nolan Ryan (May 1, 1991): Struck out 14 batters in a perfect game for the Texas Rangers against the Blue Jays, showcasing his legendary power and control.
- Felix Hernandez (August 15, 2012): Known as
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