How many perfect games are there in MLB history?

No-hitters are impressive but there’s something extra special about a pitcher throwing a perfect game. So, how common are perfect games, and how many are there in MLB history?

There’s nothing quite as compelling on a baseball field as the gradual buildup through nine innings as a pitcher inches closer and closer to the rarest of rare feats, the elusive perfect game. It has been over 10 years since the last perfect game in the MLB. Just how many perfect games are there in MLB history?

There are only 24 official perfect games recorded in MLB history. That’s not many when you consider there have been over 140 years of major league baseball. That tells you how hard it is to keep 27 opposing batters from reaching base, whether by hit, walk or error.

Lee Richmond threw the first perfect game on June 12, 1880 for the Worcester Ruby Legs against the Cleveland Blues. Shockingly, five days later, the second-ever perfect game occurred as Monte Ward of the Providence Grays shut down the Buffalo Bisons.

How many perfect games have been thrown in MLB history?

The rest of the pitchers who have immortalized themselves with a perfect game look like this, chronicling all 24 instances (including Richmond’s in 1880) in MLB history.

• Cy Young (May 5, 1904) threw the first perfect game in American League history for the Boston Pilgrims against the Philadelphia Athletics.
• Addie Joss (Oct. 2, 1908) threw his perfect game versus the Chicago White Sox as part of a 24-11 season for the Cleveland Naps.
• Charlie Robertson (April 30, 1922) managed a perfect game pitching for the Chicago White Sox against the Detroit Tigers in only the third start of his major league career.
• Don Larsen (Oct. 8, 1956) remains the only pitcher with a perfect game in postseason history, beating the Brooklyn Dodgers in game five of the World Series for the New York Yankees.
• Jim Bunning (June 21, 1964) threw the first perfect game in the National League in the 20th century for the Philadelphia Phillies versus the New York Mets.
• Sandy Koufax (Sept. 9, 1965) won a 1-0 pitcher’s duel and his fourth career no-hitter with 14 strikeouts for the Los Angeles Dodgers, a game in which his counterpart tossed a one-hitter for the Chicago Cubs.
• Catfish Hunter (May 8, 1968) pitched a perfect game, collected three hits, and drove in three runs for the Oakland Athletics against the Minnesota Twins.
• Len Barker (May 15, 1981) of the Cleveland Indians threw his gem against the Toronto Blue Jays in the first perfect game with the DH rule in place.
• Mike Witt (Sept. 30, 1984) tossed a perfect game for the California Angels against the Texas Rangers on the season’s final day.
• Tom Browning (Sept. 16, 1988) of the Cincinnati Reds beat the eventual World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.
• Dennis Martínez (July 28, 1991) of the Montréal Expos became the first player born outside the USA to pitch a perfect game when he completed the feat against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
• Kenny Rogers (July 28, 1994) threw a perfect game for the Texas Rangers in a 4-0 win over the California Angels.
• David Wells (May 17, 1998) pitched a perfect game against the Minnesota Twins, after which he famously admitted to being hungover.
• David Cone (July 18, 1999) tossed the third perfect game in New York Yankees history with a 6-0 win over the Montréal Expos.
• Randy Johnson (May 18, 2004) of the Arizona Diamondbacks became the oldest pitcher, at 40, to throw a perfect game when he blanked the Atlanta Braves 2-0.
• Mark Buehrle (July 23, 2009) of the Chicago White Sox had his perfect game saved by Dewayne Wise’s famous 9th-inning over-the-wall catch against the Tampa Bay Rays.
• Dallas Braden (May 9, 2010) threw the Oakland Athletics’ second perfect game in franchise history, beating the Tampa Bay Rays, who had the league’s best record and offense at the time.
• Roy Halladay (May 29, 2010) threw his perfect game for the Philadelphia Phillies versus the Florida Marlins, and along with Braden, they became the first pair of pitchers with perfect games in the same season in 130 years.
• Philip Humber (April 21, 2012) gave the Chicago White Sox their third perfect game in franchise history when he handled the Seattle Mariners, needing only 96 pitches.
• Matt Cain (June 13, 2012) of the San Francisco Giants racked up 14 strikeouts, tying the perfect game record set by Koufax, against the Houston Astros.
• Félix Hernández (Aug. 15, 2012) threw his perfect game for the Seattle Mariners against the Tampa Bay Rays, marking the first time three perfect games had been thrown in the same season.
• Domingo Germán (June 28, 2023) threw his perfect game for the Yankees, the fourth in franchise history, against the Oakland A’s.

Magic can happen at any moment when it comes to baseball.